Record audience at bull sale
A record number of farmers took part in the largest service bull sale in New Zealand – many from the comfort of their own homes.
Tainui Group Holdings' annual Hereford sale at Hangawera Station this month was a sellout; all 159 bulls were sold for an average $2800 per head.
Prices were markedly up on last year's sale and bids reached as high as $3200.
Rural operations manager Ian Mathieson says the bidders were eager.
"We had 60 registered buyers at the station Monday and we sold all the Herefords presented. The weather was fine and it was a family day out for many, given that it was school holidays."
Mathieson says its finance plans were a magnet for would-be buyers.
"We had some positive feedback on the finance plans available this year. It's been a tough season, particularly for dairy, but we worked hard with our agents PGG Wrightson and RD1 Livestock.
"Months of preparation went into this day and it was great to see it go really well," he says.
All the Herefords sold were purebred, aged 18-30 months. They were fertility tested and double vaccinated and tested for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL).
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.
A New Zealand agritech and dairy services group has big plans as it expands its dairy services footprint across dairy hygiene, data, and milk cooling with the purchase of nationwide refrigeration business Dairy Technology Services (DTS).
The 2026 Holstein Friesian sales season has already delivered outstanding results across New Zealand and Australia - including a new Australasian record.
OPINION: At a time when farmers are advocating for less government spending and no new taxes, the dairy sector is rightly concerned by ACT's new immigration policy.
Wool Impact and ASB have signed a new partnership with the bank set to provide financial backing to support the revitalisation of New Zealand's strong wool industry.
OPINION: Reckless action by Greenpeace in 2024 forced Fonterra to shut down a drying plant for four hours, costing the co-op…
OPINION: The global crusade against fossil fuel is gaining momentum in some regions.