Wool pellets to boost gardens
With wool prices steadily declining and shearing costs on the rise, a Waikato couple began looking for a solution for wool from their 80ha farm.
THE NORTH Island sale saw wool prices continue their upward trend, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
With interest still continuing from China and pressure for exporters to meet shipping requirements, wool prices climbed to higher levels than expected.
The trade weighted currency index moved from 0.7269 to 0.7071 down 2.72%. This also contributed to today's lift.
Compared to the last North Island Sale on the September 18 a nominal offering of coarser crossbred fleece was 4% dearer.
Fine crossbred fleece 34 and 35 micron 4 to 6 inch rose 6 to 7% while 36 micron lifted up by 5%.
Fine crossbred early shorn and second shear 32 and 33 micron 3 to 5 inch rose by 2.5%, 33.5 to 36 micron 3 to 5 inch was 5% dearer, 31 to 36 micron 3 to 4, 2 to 4 and 2 to 3 inch were 5 to 7% dearer while 34 to 36 micron 2 to 4 inch rose 12%.
Coarse crossbred early shorn and second shear 38 micron and coarser 3 to 4 and 2 to 4 inch climbed 9%.
Crossbred combing oddments remained firm while clothing oddments, average style were 2.5% dearer and poor style 6.5% dearer.
The next sale on the October 9 comprises about 8900 bales from the South Island.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.