THE 2019 Royal Bathurst Show was an excellent event and it attracted a much needed 25 millimetres of steady rain in one day.
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Sam Farraway, Brett Kenworthy and the myriad of volunteers deserve much credit for putting together one of the family highlights for the year.
A couple of hours in the grandstand revives memories of great pacers such as Miniature Bill, Grogan, Last Song, Hondo Grattan, Master Musician, Smooth Satin and Lombo Pocket Watch.
This year's fireworks display also leaves great memories of our lovely showground. Thank you to the organisers of a great local show.
Weaner wonders
QUESTIONS were asked of the background of the wether weaners that were competition shorn at the Bathurst show.
I believe that they are SRS Parkdale blood, very plain bodied and unmulesed.
They had been shedded for a couple of days and only run out for a drink and a mouthful of grain lupins.
The wool is typical of the breeding, probably 65mm, 40 strength and about 16.5 micron.
That bloodline often records lambing percentages of 110-120 per cent and a local breeder tells me "there's a lot more money to be made from merino meat than merino wool".
The mob probably averaged around $30 per head of wool for six months' growth at their very first shearing.
Happy birthday
COMBINED 60th birthday wishes to Robynanne and Warwick Larnach who are well known in Bathurst Base Hospital (she) and Bathurst Merino Association (he) circles.
There is some discussion over which partner is the older member, but no argument over which is the wiser.
Happy birthday to both of you.
Rural merger
FOLLOWING the merger of the Landmark and Ruralco companies there will no doubt be a change of colours for clothing and promotional purposes and at the top of the list for the name of the new conglomerate seems to be the long ago title, Dalgety.
After many company acquisitions and a litany of agricultural ups and downs, it would seem the perfect name could well be Dalgety.
For old stagers we remember the media jingle from the 1970s: " And I wouldn't change for quids while there's you and the kids; you and me and Dalgety (Winchcombe FGC)."
Grasses workshop
A PAT on the back is due for the Oberon/Tarana landholders who organised last week's tropical grasses workshop at Tarana Fire Shed.
The session attracted more than 50 landholders from across the Bathurst/Oberon district and agriculture consultant Bob Freebairn did not disappoint them.
Producers attended from Porters Retreat, Rydal, Fremantle and close areas who don't often see each other for a yarn.
Friendly interactions are of real value in tough times. The noise from friendly discussions in a corrugated iron fire dhed is music to the ears of the planners who hope to draw a crowd.
A lot of landholders appreciated the chance to yarn with pasture specialist Clare Edwards and district vet Bruce Watt from the Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
Bob's presentation focused largely on premier digit grass and Serradella annual legume.
If we accept that our high country seems to have a growing season that probably extends to early June, we now have a seven-month window to produce fodder and hay from a tropical grass such as premier digit.
The districts where Bob has had much success with serradella are mainly light sandy soils that are naturally acidic.
Many properties in the granite belts of the Central Tablelands would fit that description and serradella pastures should perform well in our conditions.
Talking points
SEVERAL discussion points from the Bob Freebairn event included:
- In our district many producers sow winter sheat in preference to grazing oats as they believe that sheep and lambs don't scour on winter wheat. This is an important consideration for merino producers who try to cease mulesing.
- Bob mentioned that a grazing crop on his property at Coonabarabran was direct drilled following five Roundup sprayings. If our country were to lose Roundup we might have to fall back to an S7 poison spray.
- Questions were raised on the negativeeffects of growing bisurella pastures. Perhaps we should think carefully before deciding to sow.
Wool report
AUSTRALIAN wool sales resumed last week after a one-week recess.
All three selling centres recorded increases in their regional indicators as well as all merino micron price guides (MPGs).
Crossbred lots continued their upward trend.
The Northern Market Indicator gained 17 cents to 1997/kg clean.
Buyers actively sought out best and good style lots which drove the upward trend. Lots with inferior style continued to lose ground.
Quantities on offer are declining with 33,464 bales rostered for sale this week.
Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark
Laugh lines
GEORGE says he's been turned down so many times he feels like a hot page in a naughty novel.
***
HE asked: "Could I have the last dance?"
She replied: "You just had it."
***
DAD fronted the young landscaper who had brought his daughter home at 2am.
"Young man, I hope you know the difference between right and wrong," dad said.
The young fellow replied, "surely you've told her what's right, sir" and dad assured him that he had.
"Well, I've shown her the rest, sir, so everything's good."