THIS is the last call for bookings for the Bathurst Merino Association ewe competition bus and dinner on Friday, March 3.
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Some very handy teams will compete for the Jack Seaman Memorial Trophy that is prized by merino breeders across our district.
There are teams entered for this year’s event that carry genetics from the modern parent studs of Leahcim and Wallaloo Park and these sheep have adapted well to the Central Tablelands.
Our forefathers would have shuddered at the thought of Collinsville blood in the Bathurst area, but the world has somehow changed.
Cost is $50 for bus, lunch and dinner; $25 for bus and lunch; or $25 for dinner only.
Phone Rob Mcleod today on 0427 311 973 or email robmc3@hotmail.com.
Pest baits course
A REMINDER that training courses for use of pest animal baits are now being held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Local Land Services office on Corporation Avenue, Bathurst.
Cost of the course is $55 and accreditation is valid for five years.
Without this certificate or a full Chemcert, it is not possible to purchase baits from LLS.
This is a practical, commonsense training half day and bookings can be made by phoning 6333 2300.
Sad stock losses
WITHOUT going into details, two of our long-term BMA members who conduct sheep and wool enterprises in our district have suffered serious stock and property loss in nasty bushfires in recent weeks.
Our thoughts are with both families and we wish them a quick return to green pastures and running water.
Here’s to hay run
CONTINUING hot, dry weather is providing conditions that are making properties prone to bushfire damage across much of our state.
Our local Cranston’s Trucks at Kelso have weighed in with a convoy of trucks and donated hay for distribution in the Dunedoo, Cassilis and Coolah areas and hay donations are greatly appreciated.
Small fires in our local area have also caused heartbreak and the swift response from Rural Fire Service Brigade has been a huge help.
Please be extra careful with everything we do in the open air until general rains fall.
Even the farm motor bikes or farm utes can quickly start a major fire during the present conditions.
Crutching trailer
TO hand is a flier for Fisher Shearing and Crutching that details 20 years’ experience and a two-stand mobile crutching trailer.
Clinton Fisher tells of his professional, friendly team, quality, prompt service, customer satisfaction and fast job quotes.
With many merino sheep now rivalling some of the terminal breeds for weight and body size, the job of dragging 500 head of 75kg ewes for six days of many weeks makes the mobile crutcher seem attractive.
Details from Clinton Fisher on 0459 525 539.
Board elections
COMMUNITY members who are interested in the many facets of agriculture should seriously consider selecting prospective candidates for the upcoming election for board of directors of Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
Many producers are critical of LLS but the work of the hands-on-staff at recent major bushfires is being greatly appreciated by affected farmers, and the assistance will be ongoing for many months.
We must ask ourselves, if there were no LLS who would go onto the devastated properties with advice, assistance and just to be a mate?
The LLS board is not an ideal spot for hard working “get things done” type producers, but my involvement has been to make sure that the seat polisher types don’t make all the decisions without hearing a practical view point.
All in the family
A RURAL media item caught my eye as it detailed the work of a Skipton harvesting contractor Dan Bingham and his three daughters aged 20, 18 and 15.
The business involves 18 headers that have stripped 40,000 hectares from the Liverpool Plains to Skipton, Victoria.
The girls learnt to operate smaller machines and two of them now operate JD 690 headers with 60-foot fronts.
Of course, the girls are either studying at university or senior school and their careers may be vastly different from header driving.
Father Dan makes a strong point when he insists that the girls are not involved on farms where the owner is a know-all type until they are widely experienced.
Many of us avoided working with these types if at all possible.
Wool report
THE wool market saw mixed results this week with superfine wools rising around 10c/kg while the medium to broader merinos were up to 20 c/kg cheaper.
Cross-bred wool experienced a little rally, gaining around 20c/kg for all microns.
The northern market indicator finished the week on 1521c/kg, up 3c/kg.
The fine wools have now risen over 300c/kg in six weeks since the start of the year while the 21 micron merinos have lost around 50c/kg in the same period.
The 28 micron and finer cross-bred wools have held their ground since the Christmas break but the broader 30 and 32 micros have lost around 60c/kg.
Cross-bred cardings have also lost around 100c/kg since Christmas.
Sales next week will see 46,922 bales on offer nationwide.
Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark
Laugh lines
- DAD came home much earlier than expected and found his dear wife curled up in bed. Smoke wisped up from a cigar on the bedside table. “Where the hell did that come from?” yelled dad, and a quiet voice from the wardrobe answered: “Cuba, I think.”
- AUNTY from out of town arrived late for the wedding. She whispered to a young man: “Who gave the bride away?” He replied: “Oh ghost, about a dozen of us could have, but we decided to keep quiet.”
- SHE said: “My hubby wears the pants at our place, but I tell him which ones to wear.”