Brett Taylor will discuss Rural Fire Service possible actions on illegal burning. Anne Maree Shearer, representing Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital, plans to address topical vet issues, while Jenny Menzies will present an update on raising the lovable alpacas. 

Also on the meeting agenda will be the selection of branch delegates to the NSW Farmers Annual Conference. 

Meeting attendees can buy a bistro meal at the RSL Club from 6pm and the AGM will start at 7pm sharp. 

Inquiries to secretary Nino DiFalco on 6337 5289.

LONG-TERM community members across the district will note with sadness the recent death of former Southern Mitchell County Council staffer Barrie Best. 

He was the go-to person at SMCC for country clients and held that role for decades until his retirement. 

Barrie is remembered as a problem solver for his legion of clients and as a genuine friend to generations of some families.

DURING a brief discussion with a Bathurst Regional councillor recently, I suggested that members of councils are “sitting ducks” for all and sundry to attack on social media and by letters/emails to printed media. 

The councillor did not agree with my comment, but it does raise a topical point: if a person is critical of someone who holds an elected public position and believes that they could do the job much better, please raise your right hand and see if you can muster enough support to become a publicly elected person. 

Then you can be a “sitting duck”.

PROSPECTIVE buyers of the popular range of medium sized SUV passenger vehicles are now being offered the Haval 6 machine that comes from a Great Wall factory. 

Of real interest is the fact that 580,000 Haval 6s were sold in China during 2016. Members of my generation who have blown out many candles appreciate the SUVs because of their ease of entry/exit and shorter body length.

THE succession of heavy frosts has taken the shine off pastures across the district and further lightening of stocking rates will probably occur after the start of the 2017/18 financial year in three weeks. 

With mutton prices at really attractive levels, we may see plenty of medium to heavy wethers arriving at saleyards. 

During one of the -6 degree frosts, we worked on a mob of Nerstane blood weaners and were impressed by the complete absence of body wrinkle and the long stapled fleeces. 

Old-fashioned, thick-skinned merinos are almost at a collector’s item stage, even though these sheep produce good wool cuts of quality fibre.

AN article in a rural newspaper in another state quotes an operator of a farm supplies business saying “the buyers surge at present is reminiscent of the 1950s when farmers actually had a fair bit of excess spending cash”. 

A district producer commented on current tax planning strategies: “During my 50 years in this game I’ve never seen a cockie go bust by paying income tax or buying woolpacks.”

AFTER weeks of positive sentiment in the wool market, it is slowly changing to the negative.

All merino categories lost ground for the fourth week in a row.

The 17 and 18 microns have lost around 200c/kg since the middle of March while the 19 to 21 microns have lost around 120c/kg over the same period. However, crossbred wools have been very stable and remain at the same price as they were in the middle of March.

Although the market has slipped it is still around 200c/kg better than the same period last year.

Analysts are sitting on the fence on where the market goes in the next couple of weeks but are saying in the long term that things are still looking positive.

Next week 25,278 bales will be offered nationwide, a very small offering.

Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark