The rewards for sheep and wool producers that will be at the end of the rainbow are obvious, but the end of the rainbow is hopefully not too far away.

Feed costs of above $1000 per cow and $100 per ewe have already been spent in some cases and the potential for financial stress is obvious.

Among many goodies that were available to farmers, many thanks is due to the students from St Joseph’s School, Oberon for the drought relief gift boxes they put together for the luncheon.

These boxes contained toiletries, cosmetics, a few goodies and, most importantly, a Prayer for Rain in every box.

This effort is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all at St Joseph’s, Oberon.

A big thanks to president Warwick and the BMA committee for arranging the event, to the CWA who catered, and the companies who provided products for giveaways.

TODAY is the day to call in to Agriwest for a cuppa and a yarn. 

Karen and the staff have morning tea waiting for anyone who would like to join the staff for a chat and refreshments.

MAJOR farm management decisions will be made in the very near future with cattle producers prepared to cease buying feed and start destocking properties if substantial rains don’t fall by mid-September.

Of course, producers who hold some of the $6.8 billion that is in Farm Management Deposits are in a sound position to soldier on, but the possibility of medium to long-term feeding of large mobs of cattle or sheep is daunting.

Many district producers have had long-term experience of grain or pellet feeding sheep as the 40-year cycle since 1978 has contained many character-building seasons.

SOME practical observations of the benefits (or otherwise) of weaning merino lambs at six weeks came from a sheep field day near Yeoval.

There were 3500 lambs that were vaccinated and scabby mouth scratched, but the normal mark and mules (only ewes ever mulesed) were delayed until later.

The mothers are fed four kilograms of barley per head each week, and the weaned lambs have access to pellets in sheep feeders.

We have to bear in mind that these lambs are bred for muscle and quick maturity and aren’t the specialty superfine wools that are often seen in our district.

Weaning lambs at six weeks median age is a real test of management skills of the operator and great care must be taken.

Most of us usually wean merino lambs at about 16 weeks, but 2018 certainly isn’t normal.

THREE cheers to Isla Grace, who is a little daughter for Naydeen Collins and Josh Seaman, and great-granddaughter to Bruce and the late Glenda Seaman of Wyagdon.

A COUPLE of celebrity birthdays in Bathurst and surrounds include:

Derek Treanor at Duramana, known as Mr Never Stay Still; John Stocks, former anchor man at CRT and Bedwells; and Lindsay Cox, retired ag pilot who is renowned across the Turon Hills.

I don’t have age details for these gentlemen, but if we start at 100 and work down, we should clarify some details.

Happy birthday to each of you.

THE Super 6 results from the Bathurst Merino Association Ram Expo are now to hand and are as follows:

A REPORT of a mental health workshop in north west NSW tells of a large attendance and a fair bit of good humour as the facilitator made sure that his core messages were heard.

Like all good message carriers, he emphasised:

IT has been a thrilling week for the wool market as the northern market indicator hit a new record of 2163c/kg, up 136c/kg from the previous week.

Buyers were eager to secure wool as the news of the big dry is filtering through to the overseas processors and the uncertainty of production down the track is taking hold.

All merino categories saw rises ranging from 130c/kg to a massive rise of 204c/kg for the 18 microns. Crossbred wools also gained ground but not to the extent of the merinos.

Next week the market is sure to be a bit softer after such a huge rise in one week but overall the market should remain at good levels, with production dwindling day-by-day as the drought continues.

Next week will see 29,813 bales on offer nationwide.

Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark

TWO ladies were in the coffee shop.

“Tell me honestly, Ada, how do you feel about Red China?” Dorothy asked.

“Oh Dorothy,” Ada replied, “not with your pink tablecloth.”

***

THE pretty redhead says that her new boss, when dictating, seems to end most sentences with a proposition.

***

MARRIAGE makes two people one, but it’s very hard to tell which one is the one.