Shane Gerken, South Island Livestock Manager for PGG Wrightson and Jamie Mackay from The Country had a recent chat around Pink Week, the IHC calf and rural scheme.  Pink Week is now celebrating a 41-year association with PGG Wrightson.  Now the team at PGG Wrightson is encouraging farmers to buy a PEL pig tail electric fence standard or two.  Each one you buy in-store this week, PGG will contribute a dollar to the IHC.

On the livestock side of things, Shane and the PGG team are flat tack in the middle of bull selling.  Is Angus still the flavour of the month?

The short answer from Shane is yes.  They're just getting through the Herefords at the moment - Angus start next week.  The Herefords are very good although clearing rates are not quite as good as last year.  Good bulls with specific breeding traits farmers are looking for are being chased hard.  In general, the bulls coming up for sale have been superb.  

Jamie remarked on the abundance of grass in the South Island thanks to the wet.  Has that meant a good store market?  Shane said that some farmers have hung on to stock.  They've now been well and truly rewarded for stock they've sold, both cattle and sheep.