A SNAPSHOT of late summer on our lovely Central Tablelands:
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- Continuing hot, dry weather has taken the shine off pastures and green pick is scarce. My Norwegian weather site predicts the dry to continue.
- Auctions of Merino rams in New England are not achieving good clearances and lower numbers of breeding ewes are being blamed.
- Not much fodder oats has been sown at this stage but many paddocks are well prepared when useful moisture becomes available.
- Thanks go to trotting driver Emma Turnbull for her ongoing support for fundraising for ovarian cancer research. Great photo in last Saturday’s Western Advocate.
- And to end on a positive note, a friend who is in his 70s and still dreams of younger ladies, assures me that excellent rains nearly always follow serious heatwaves. We can only hope that his dreams and his predictions are rewarded.
Home truths
SELLERS of all types of real estate across the country are pleased with sale results and local prestige homes in prime localities are trading in a $800,000 to $1.1 million band.
If we try to put a realistic value on farmland that is big enough to remain viable we find that the figures won’t add up unless we put a ridiculous DSE (dry sheep equivalent) figure in the equation.
My rule of thumb has been $300 per DSE for a decade but that value is outdated by much improved livestock and wool values and probably needs lifting to $400 per DSE.
Even at that figure we would not buy any farmland that is worth buying and the alternative is to wait for a market slump.
Ewe little beauty
PLANS are currently being finalised for this year’s Bathurst Merino Association’s maiden merino ewe competition with entries being received from the western side of our district.
Interest will be maintained for spectators as the competing teams will be judged on properties in the Vittoria, Lewis Ponds and Euchareena area.
This year’s judges are Nigel Kerin from the Kerin Poll stud at Yeoval and Frank Kaveney from Tallawong stud at Yass.
This competition was modelled on a similar event that had been conducted at Cooma for some time in the 1980s and the advice from their Monaro Merino Association was important:
- Selected judges must appear to be really independent.
- Organisers are strongly advised to not compete in the competition.
- Commercial and stud breeders should conduct separate events.
- In many cases, spectators are more interested in properties and infrastructure than they are in merino sheep.
Weighty results
REPORTS of 34kg dressed weight lambs being sold for $246 at last week’s Ballarat sale give us some idea of the excellent demand for all types of red meat as we head toward autumn 2017.
Demand for both beef and store cattle, all types of sheep and lambs and the once humble goat is close to lifetime highs and world demand for meat protein seems to assure producers that the demand will continue.
![FLASHBACK: Blade shearers pose for the camera when shearing in the open at a pioneer’s shed near Burra [SA] in 1890.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/QxukpFBZJiAgENVqiH8x9E/9240232a-51f7-4703-a5d8-98caebee377b.jpg/r0_0_3264_1835_w576_h298_fmax.webp "FLASHBACK: Blade shearers pose for the camera when shearing in the open at a pioneer’s shed near Burra [SA] in 1890.")
Beetle mania
TRACY Sorensen’s article in last Saturday’s Western Advocate was a practical update on the elm tree beetle invasion of the historic Uniting Church and Hall on the Vale Road at Perthville.
The beetle plague has caused the church congregation to cease using their little church until the problem is solved and the damage to the elm tree canopy above the road is severe.
The foliage damage appears to be so severe that the trees themselves may battle to survive in future years.
All concerned are looking for practical answers at Perthville prayers don’t seem to be working.
Wool market report
MERINO wool prices bounced back this week after last week’s dip.
The most significant gains were in the fine wools as supply and solid demand continue to drive prices higher.
Medium merino wool prices also lifted but prices for 22 micron wools were a little softer and cross-bred wool sales were very sporadic.
While some wools which had been passed previously sold for more money, on the whole the cross-bred indicators fell again.
The northern market indicator finished the week on 1499c/kg, up 12c/kg.
Next week will see 45,861 bales on offer nationwide.
Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark
Laugh lines
- FOUR ladies were asked what would they do it they were shipwrecked on an island with a dozen soldiers. The English lady said she would hide; The American said she would seek the protection of the commanding officer; The German said she would be out marching; The French lady asked: “And what seems to be ze problem?”
- THE doctor asked: “Is there any history of insanity in your family?” She replied: “Oh yes, doctor - my husband thinks he’s the boss.”
- She argued: “And one more word and I’ll go home to mum.” He called: “Taxi.”
