THERE is a definite feeling across our tablelands that the long drought is starting to break and that the producers who have fed livestock for many months and years will soon be rewarded.
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Coastal districts that were so badly battered by fires are now sandbagging houses and businesses as flood rains arrive.
Catchments to major dams must have picked up a lot of running water, and reports from North West NSW are positive.
As I write (Sunday morning), the Bathurst area has only had light showers in spite of forecasts of near flooding rains.
As least it has looked a bit like rain for several days and the best may be yet to come.
There will be a lot of oats crops sown for early stock feed during the next few weeks and the cooler days tell us that autumn is almost with us.
Super sign
OF real interest is the number of orders for ground-spread superphosphate currently on hold as producers fear that really heavy rains will wash much of the fertiliser away on bare paddocks.
Super is still the number one priority for most long-time tablelands farmers.
OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:
For the team
IT was good to see our local Calare member Andrew Gee appointed as the Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education.
This recognises his ability as a team worker and his strong support for the quiet Australian Nationals leader Michael McCormack.
I hope that Barnaby can keep his powder dry and let the Morrison/McCormack Government get on with its business of running our great country.
We've seen enough of the politics of hate both here and in the US as it's really a case of "the winners can cheer and the losers can please themselves what they do".
Take on board
LANDHOLDERS who would like to be involved in Local Land Services policy-making may be interested in board member elections that are being held soon.
Nominations are currently being sought and key points of the process are as follows:
- Any resident of a board area who is over 18 years can be nominated.
- Nominations close at noon on January 28, 2020;
- Voting by land occupier or their representative opens on April 9 and closes on May 8.
- Board members are paid for their services so you won't be a volunteer.
Having been involved with the board system, I recommend that landholders who are capable and who like to be involved should seriously consider their nomination.
The system is not perfect, but it often becomes involved with the day-to-day problems of country NSW as well as Landcare and environmental issues.
High spirits
NICK Fogarty from B and L Livestock presented an excellent YouTube report of last week's Blue Ribbon Sale at CTLX Carcoar and he outlined a great sale and a significant jump in values.
There is a definite feeling across many districts that this long drought is starting to break and that good quality livestock will be hard to find and expensive to buy.
The Blue Ribbon Sale originated at the old Bathurst saleyards and memories of Charlie Maher and his team, as well as the red shirts of the B and L crew with the full complement of other agencies and rows of quality calves, made it a top notch sale from day one.
Looking south
ED Cordingly, Lorelmo Stud, explains that the stud aims for a 140-millimetre wool staple length as it plans for a six-monthly shearing, mules-free, for its clients.
As Lorelmo has a history of involvement with the Willalooka Stud in South Australia and now employs a stud classer from that state, we should see a lot more genetic influence from the southern state.
This bloodline has a strong influence in merino flocks in our district.
Electric dream
THE great win by the British Bentley in the Mount Panorama 12 Hour classic reminds me of wins by British Jaguars and Ford Sierras in earlier years on the same track.
Still with cars, Wheels Magazine selected a $140,000 electric SUV Mercedes as its car of the year with a similar priced Tesla electric as runner-up.
Our motor world is quietly changing with many small hybrids on sale.
A road tester described the new Nissan Warrior 4WD as "tougher than a $2 steak".
Wool report
EVEN with all the doom and gloom about the effect the coronavirus would have on the wool market, the market rose significantly.
All merino types saw rises of around 40 to 50 cents a kilogram and the crossbred wools gained around 10c/kg.
The Northern Market Indicator finished the week on 1612c/kg, up 34c/kg.
The big problem is all the uncertainty regarding the effect the virus will finally have on the market - if any.
Next week will see 42,932 bales on offer nationwide.
There will be a change to the name of the wool report after February.
As most people would know, Landmark, which owned TWG Wool, has bought out Rural Co, which also had subsidiary companies, so the parent company, Nutrien, has decided to role all entities under the one name, which will be Nutrien Ag Solutions.
So from March, TWG Wool and Landmark will merge wool catalogues and sell under the one name, Nutrien Wool.
Nothing else will change. All personnel and selling procedures will remain the same.
Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark
Diary dates
- Thursday, February 20: Perthville Neighbourhood Group, 7pm at the hall.
- Friday, March 6: Bathurst Merino Association Annual Maiden Merino Ewe Competition on properties. Details from Rob McLeod on 0427 311 973 or Warwick Larnach on 6337 9335.
Laugh lines
AFTER 30 years of wedded bliss, she is suspicious: if George comes home early he is after something; if he comes home late he must have found it.
***
THE 14-year-old explained to his grandma that WTF in his text message means "wow, that's fantastic".
***
THEY were at the pond in the park and admiring the black swans.
"And do you know they mate for life?" she said.
Hubby replied: "Notice how bad tempered they are."