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.
A weakening New Zealand dollar and steady offshore buying saw all wool types improve for the latest South Island wool auction, reports NZWSI.
The auction, which offered 9300 bales, saw 87% selling, says NZWSI marketing executive, Malcolm Ching.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currency came down 1.29% compared to the last sale on September 3.
Merino fleece, 21.5 micron and finer, were 5-10% dearer with 22 to 23.5 microns 1- 2% firmer than the last time they sold, on August 27, says Ching.
Mid micron fleece, 24 to 29 micron, were firm to 3.5% dearer with 29.5 to 31.5 3 to 7% stronger.
Compared to the September 3 sale, fine crossbred full fleece and longer shears were 4-6.5% dearer with shorter shears 1-3% firmer.
Coarse crossbred full fleece were 5-7% stronger, longer shears 3- 6% dearer and shorter shears ranged from 1.5- 6% stronger.
Oddments were firm to 4% firmer.
The auction saw strong competition with China the principal, supported by Western Europe, Australasia, Middle East and India.
The next sale has been fixed for September 17 and comprises about 6000 bales from the North 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.