TURNOVER IN farms grew 41.4% year-on-year for the three months ended January but the median price/ha eased 5.6%, latest REINZ data shows.

IF INVESTORS continue to see record farmgate prices and vendors continue to sit tight on the back of these prices there is an expectation dairy property prices could really heat up heading into summer 2014. 

A SELF-POWERED, trailed bale wrapper recently re-released by Reese Agri does not need tractor power to operate and uses much less wrap than previously, says sales manager John Norfolk.

EXPECT TO see more soft feed wheats from European, notably UK, breeding programmes, growers at PGW's agronomy group field day last week heard.

Fonterra has announced a final payout of $6.40/kgMS for the 2011-12 season, a drop of 19% over the previous year.

Movements in dairy product prices have remained mixed over the last two weeks.

The store cattle market the south island has been relatively quiet this week. There have been one or two private sales of weaner calves but even this market is slowing down. 

Farm sales are on the rise. Data released by the Real Estate Institute of NZ shows there were 153 more farm sales (+52.8%) for the three months ended April 2012 than for the three months ended April 2011.

THE NEW Zealand dollar's strength is throwing a dampener on heady days for beef.