RAM hits 20K!
In a market dominated by utes, Ram Trucks Australia has just put the finishing touches on its 20,000th right-hand drive pick-up.
The Canterbury A&P Association's Stud Ram & Ewe Fair, held Wednesday and Thursday, January 9-10, produced a quality line up of 235 rams and 18 ewes.
The average sale price was up on last year with $2422 for rams and $446 for ewes; total sales of $288,030 were recorded over the two days.
The highest price was reached on Wednesday with a Texel ram sold for $13,000 by Sam & Viki Holland of Culverden to DC & CM Graham of Hinton. Thursday's highest sale price was $6,800 for a Southdown ram sold by R & J Gill of Takaka to DG Somerville of Wyndham.
Stock agents commented that while total sales and clearance rates were lower than in previous years this was systematic of the general mood in New Zealand.
"It is hard to follow up on last year which was a good year for commercial ram sales. The drop in farmers requiring rams is resulting in a reduction in sales. Throughout New Zealand it is more difficult to sell commercial flock rams than it was a decade ago," says PGG Wrightson NZ livestock genetics manager Bruce Orr.
Sale comparisons over the past four years - 2013 2012 2011 2010
Total Sales $288,030 $345,750 $293,625 $380,200
Total Avg – Ram $2,422 $2,172 $1,781 $1,925
Total Avg – Ewe $446 $225 $577 $400
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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