Grain and hay prices are as expected when yields are high and a comment from north of Condobolin was worth repeating: “In our area, we are always happy if we produce a 10-bag wheat crop and this year’s is going better than 20 bags to the acre. Price is right down, yield is way up and we’re real happy.”

AS yet another good merino flock is changing hands in the Bathurst district we must consider what the wool industry meant to our city and workforce.

Right up to the crash of the Reserve Price Scheme in the early 1990s wool was the major industry of the rural scene and lots of men were employed as shearers, shed staff, stock contractors, farm managers and station hands.

In many cases, the station hand was much more capable than the owner or the manager.

The crash of the wool reserve price scheme remains as the largest (in actual monies lost) financial crashes in Australia’s corporate history. No wonder a generation left the wool industry but those who remain are probably enjoying some of the most rewarding years of their lifetimes.

It’s great to see the revival of the traditional superfines.

RECENT sales of significant numbers of merino rams into Central and Western Queensland are signalling a return of sheep breeding to those districts.

A combination of low wool returns, lack of interested workers, 10 years of drought and increased attacks by wild dogs has decimated the sheep population and the wool industry workforce.

We recently watched 45 hogget rams loaded at a small merino stud near Wellington that were destined for a large property near St George in Queensland and their new owners have experienced success with dog trapping and specialised electric fences.

Meanwhile, there has been a report from a family property south of Hawker SA where recent losses of 90 grown sheep from dog attacks have caused owners of four large properties to employ a dog trapper to help ease the increasing dog attacks.

In the Bathurst/Oberon area the ongoing activities of wild dog control groups are having good results with some landholders becoming pretty handy dog trappers. 

Of course, not all the attacks on livestock come from wild dogs as some are caused by big sooks of domestic dogs “that never leave the house yard”.

RESPECTED veterinarian Nick Scott has recently retired from the Stewart Street vets and his clients and friend would want to join with me in thanking him for his many years of valued service to the Bathurst community and their animals and pets.

I know that they wish Nick much happiness in the years to come.

A WORD of caution: When overtaking or passing a cyclist or group of cyclists, please make sure that you leave almost tw metres between your vehicle and the nearest cycle.

Many drivers are very frustrated when trying to get around bikes on busy roads but many cyclists carry on-board cameras that can provide evidence and lead to fines that can start in hundreds of dollars.

We can curse the bikes, but please don’t get too close or fines may quickly follow.

SUE Hatcher and Phil Graham from the Department of Primary Industries will conduct two workshops next week on sheep weaner survival.

The first will be on Monday, December 19 at Paling Yards, just north of Taralga and the second on Tuesday, December 20 at “Wellagalong”, Duramana, about 15 minutes north of Bathurst.

Cost is $40 and the workshops run from 9.45am to 12.30pm. Registration via https/weanersurvivalplus.eventbrite.com.au.

Hosts of the properties are Charlie Bell and Charlie Dutton.

DAD said:  “I read that a single oyster can lay between one and eight million eggs in a year.”  Mum said: “Goodness, think of what a married one can do.”

***

CONSCIENCE is:

***

THE workman asked the grazier: “I’ve come to ask your kind permission, sir, to marry your daughter Karen, sir.” The grazier looked down his nose and said: “Well, well, my lad, before I say anything, have you seen my wife as yet?” The workman replied: “I surely have, sir, but I still prefer your daughter.”