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 weakening New Zealand dollar coupled with exporter pressure to meet shipping requirements and limited supply continues to underpin the wool market, says NZWSI.
Marketing executive Paul Steel says that the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies came down 2.14% compared to the last sale on 28th May.
Of the 6,876 bales on offer, 94% sold.
Steel advises that resurgent interest from China saw Mid Micron fleece 24.5 to 31.5 micron increase 6 to 12% with Fine Crossbred Fleece 33 to 35 micron 1.5 to 5% dearer against the last time offered on 21st May.
Compared to last week's North Island offering on the 28th May, Fine Crossbred Shears were 2 to 6% stronger. Good colour Coarse Crossbred Fleece were up to 1.5% firmer, average style eased slightly with poor colour firm.
Coarse Shears were firm to 3% dearer.
First Lambs Fleece received very strong support, lifting 6 to 8%.
Long Oddments were nominally 3% cheaper with good colour short oddments 6 % dearer and poor colour 2 to 3% firmer.
Competition was well spread with China dominating, supported by Australasia, Middle East and Western Europe.
The next sale is due on 11th June and comprises approximately 9,100 bales from the North Island.
However, due to insufficient wool coming forward and no stock wools on hand in brokers stores, the rostered South Island sale on 18th June has been cancelled.
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.
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