Speakers will discuss biosecurity, pastures, soil health, and reducing the risk of disease outbreaks. 

Having attended several of these discussion days, I know that the speakers appreciate the many problems of small or newer landholders and my description of the events would be practical and specialising in common sense. 

The Ag Institute is not far up the road from the Orange Base Hospital. It’s on the right and look for the LLS sign with its big red Waratah. 

The day will run from 9am to 1pm.

CLIENTS report a pleasant experience when delivering wool or selling privately to the recently opened AWN woolstore on upper Stewart Street, Bathurst.

The business is in the giant Australian Wool Handlers building. Come in the main entrance, follow the driveway to the left and watch for the bright blue Australian Wool Network signs.

This provides another opportunity for private sales of small wool lots and I’m told that Richard Butcher and David Mahilraj are competitive bidders for small lots.

David is now employed as a full-time wool and sheep specialist at AWN Bathurst and his mobile is 0438 639 238 and email is dmahilraj@woolnetwork.com.au.

HAVING been involved in the OJD debate of the 1990s, I was delighted to read some of the submissions to Animal Health Australia from the Victorian Farmers Federation.

The summary reads: “The VFF is calling upon the National Sheep Industry to adopt self regulation. The solution is straight forward; treat OJD as an endemic disease that requires a national approach to monitoring. This is an opportunity to build robustness and a consistent approach that reflects our industry, not the straight lines on a map drawn by colonists.”

MANY thanks to the fire volunteers who put in huge efforts at Gowan and Canobolas.

It’s a great sight for very mature eyes to see the huge plane and various choppers as they deliver retardant onto key fire fronts.

Summer is not yet over and landholders across the district will rely on our great fire volunteers to continue to help them.

FOLLOWING last week’s mention of the Violet Hills Charolais Stud at Rydal, I picked up the stud’s summer 2017 newsletter at the Elders Bathurst office.

There is an important discussion on the regressive poll gene, as well as some topical insights into joining ratios for young bulls.  Copies of this valuable newsletter are available from the Elders front office in Russell Street.

HOT, dusty conditions that are continuing towards autumn are worrying the rural community and carting of water for household purposes is a common sight.

Many producers have seriously lightened stocking rates in an effort to limit long-term damage to pastures and to preserve dwindling fodder supplies.

THERE is a rapid uptake in pregnancy scanning or testing of cow and ewe breeders and no doubt the contract operators are as busy as brick layers in Iraq.

For those who urgently need for the female animals to be preg-tested, a call to Sarah Barnes in Bathurst may assist with your needs.

Sarah is keen and capable and her phone number is 0411 535 023.

Others in this line of business are Damien Sotter Beef Genetics on 0490 067 968 and Justin May on 0499 866 522.

WHILE these extremely dry conditions at present may be looked at as character building, many difficult decisions are being made.

Producers are urged to discuss the estimated value of their sale animals with their trusted agent before the stock are consigned to sale. 

Many market quotes focus on the price of the better lines and there is a pretty marked difference between top and bottom values at present.

PRODUCERS are disappointed that the forecast La Nina event turned out to be a really dry summer and the Norwegian weather site that has been reliable for several years has failed dismally.

Its forecast of almost six inches of stormy rain during Christmas week was a real dud.

TELEVISION segments that show lots of young people undergoing hands-on training for wool harvesting are a positive sign for the industry.

These jobs are well-paid but they require big hearts, good work ethics and determination.

Not every school leaver dreams of a 6.15am pick up and a 6pm arrival home, but for the great young people who are proud of what they can do, there is plenty of sheep and wool work and it is a source of good income. 

The people who put in those hours and work hard every day are a real credit to themselves.

A VERY mixed result in the wool market this week with losses for all Merino wool and gains for crossbreds.

Merino wools lost around 30 to 40c/kg while the crossbreds gained around 15c/kg.

The northern indicator finished the week on 1893c/kg, down 16c/kg. The 28 micron crossbreds have now  gained around 90c/kg in the last two weeks.

The market is now tracking along with the Aussie dollar – when the dollar goes up the market comes back around the same percentage and vice versa.

Demand is still strong so we should see the market hold around these levels with some fluctuations in the coming weeks.

Next week will see 41,815 bales offered nationwide.

Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark

IF you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you it will always be yours. If it doesn’t come back it was never yours to begin with.

But if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your phone, shares your money and doesn’t seem to realise that you had set it free, then you either married it or gave birth to it.

**

AN old mate was skiting that he was off the grog for Lent and “not a single drop has passed me lips”.

His friend said he was getting to be a regular saint.

“But I must confess that I’ve downed a pint of Irish whisky every night of Lent, as the orders of my good doctor,” he said. “He advised it to help me sleep better. The whisky hasn’t touched the insomnia, but now I’m really enjoying staying up.”