News

Like many other farmers, Clarke and Megan Horrell are always open to different ways to diversify revenue, particularly if that adds value for their local community. Clarke and Megan farm Huntly Farm, a 720 hectare fourth generation sheep and beef property at Waikaia, Southland, breeding and...

Sheep and beef farmers throughout the country are increasingly seeking New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) certification. NZFAP is a voluntary nationwide programme that verifies best practice in animal raising and production at a standard recognised by international customers. Originally...

One of the closest races in the half-century of the national shearing championship has developed, as the 2022-2023 PGG Wrightson Vetmed Shearing Circuit heads towards the last of its five preliminary rounds at the Pahiatua Shears on February 26. While defending champion and Southland shearer Nathan...

While we once again note that crossbred prices are unsustainable at present levels, longer term positives for the wool market are consistent and growing: the fundamentals of the sustainable, biodegradable fibre that we produce have not changed, and the world wants these characteristics ever more...

Jamie pointed out that two sheep farmer mates have just sold their main shear clip. One got $1-25 net. The other got $1-36 net. And it's costing $6-40 to shear a sheep. Wool is surely at an all-time low. But with China opening up, is there light at the end of the tunnel? Grant believes there are...

Rowena Duncum from The Country had her monthly catch-up with Peter Newbold, General Manager of PGG Wrightson Real Estate to dig deep into the rural property market. So how is rural New Zealand sitting? Peter believes 2022 finished strongly, especially December. A lot of things finished off and...

Bernie McGahan left school after sitting School Certificate. “Dad became ill and needed my help on the farm. Although I’d always thought I’d get a farming job, I was a bit anxious because I hadn’t passed my exams. Once my father recovered, I needed to find myself a job. Previously he had farmed...

Steve Wilkinson loves seeing a plan come together. As Lower North Island regional manager for PGG Wrightson Livestock, covering a broad and diverse part of the country, taking in the large hill country units around Taihape, the variety of Wairarapa and Dannevirke, lush productive land in Manawatu...

Average prices up from last year, as Korean market propels demand for velvet January stag sales are a highlight of the deer farming year. After a productive Southland spring, the quality and weight of animals offered at this year’s auctions was excellent, and buyers responded positively, despite...

Planning ahead the key to success for buyers and sellers For anyone planning to sell or buy a dairy herd this autumn, the guidance is clear: talk to your PGG Wrightson Livestock representative today. On the back of strong global prices, herd sales last year were solid. Although the payout trend is...

On-farm field days provide substantial gains for beef farmers In 2021, along with several like-minded industry partners, PGG Wrightson initiated ‘What’s the Beef,’ seeking to add significant value to the bottom line for commercial beef farmers. This year, after a Covid-enforced break, the farmer...

Famers increasingly using PGG Wrightson stock procurement tool to ease cashflow PGG Wrightson Livestock launched Go-Stock in December 2016. Six years later Go-Stock recently reached two significant milestones: the two millionth lamb purchased on a Go-Lamb contract, and the 300,000th cattle beast...

Abundant feed drives heavy demand Commencing in early January, South Island store lamb sales are delivering excellent results for breeders. With plenty of moisture in most areas, feed is abundant in quantity and excellent in quality, motivating strong demand. As works schedules have dropped away...

Good values based on heavy demand and excellent stock condition feature in most sales Regular rainfall and mild weather prior to Christmas resulted in exceptional grass growth in most North Island districts, enabling farmers to retain greater numbers of stock than they would expect through what is...

After marvelling at the rapid passing of forty years, the lads turned to the glory days of the Gore Ram Fair, when they sold Romney rams for days and days. Jamie wondered whether the Romneys are playing a part at all in the current Gore Ram Fair. Simon says they are - probably about 15 rams out of a...

Jamie started by raising anecdotal talk doing the rounds of a sheep and beef farm in the Hawke's Bay selling for twenty-two and a half thousand dollars per hectare - for trees. Peter confirmed he knows of one property selling for north of twenty - but that's the exception. The majority are between...

Jamie Mackay from The Country has caught up with Palle Petersen from PGG Wrightson for the monthly report on the state of the wool market. Things kicked off on a low note as Jamie wonders whether Palle has ever known the wool market to be as bad as it currently is. Palle agrees the outlook for the...

The first of two world record shearing attempts this week has been a successful one, with 19-year-old Kiwi Reuben Alabaster challenging the solo strong wool lamb shearing record of 744 lambs, set by Irish shearer Ivan Scott at Opepe (near Taupo) in 2012. Alabaster started his attempt at 7am this...