Those lines from Around the Boree Log poems seem really fitting in August 2020.

The poem Said Hanrahan can be googled to show the complete verse.

Reports from across the state tell of the breaking of the drought; major storage dams being overflowed on the coast and nearing half full in inland areas.

Sub-clover pastures that were sown in the early 1960s are looking their best for many years and would appreciate a top-dressing with single super.

Suppliers have backlogs of super orders, but conditions are much too boggy for ground spreaders and will remain so for some time.

THE optimists among us are looking to good seasons, full storage dams, viable markets and an end to the curse of COVID.

The pessimists expect a halt to the rains, rapidly falling dams, collapsed markets and the pandemic to continue unabated for generations.

As always, the farming community will do its best to handle whatever conditions are on offer, but it is important to interact with positive people, wash our hands often, don't listen to the pessimists and pray hard and often.

OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:

SHEARING operations are showing the strain of a limited workforce, regular wet days, muddy yards and plenty of veteran farmers.

To be fair, the shearing contractor should shoo anyone over 70 out of the shed for their own sake.

In a shed away to our east, the wool handlers are referred to as "Dad's Army" and they would all be given their marching orders.

Many shearers are handling small to medium sized flocks on Saturday or Sunday and they do a great service.

In the older AWU days, it was taboo to shear or crutch on weekends and most staff attended "training" at their local hotel every Saturday at 10am.

STUD sales for bulls and rams are continuing with early sales recording good averages and clearances.

ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Value) now have important influences on prices and a younger generation know exactly what they want and they are used to video presentation of livestock.

Many astute bidders want to see and handle their selections before they look at test results and ASBVs and sale offerings on the day will have to be well supervised to comply with health regulations.

Perhaps only one person per property will be given access to sale animals.

HEALTH authorities in NSW are doing a mighty job in virus testing people who may be suspected of being in contact with infected persons.

We all have fingers crossed and are hoping that the spread can be contained.

To be positive, we may be seeing some light in the distance and we dare to think of a return to some normality.

I wonder if our service clubs, social clubs and church attendances will ever return to what we knew, but I'm sure that sport and racing meetings will continue and be stronger and better presented than ever.

Meanwhile, we keep in touch with friends and keep well-informed of the world around us.

LANDHOLDERS are reminded to lodge their Annual Stock Return to Local Land Services by August 31, 2020.

This return may be lodged online and is important in assessing the agricultural data for our region.

TO remain apolitical, a big cheer for Bathurst Regional Council on the completion of the boardwalk across the edge of the Mount Panorama racetrack at the top of The Mount.

The walk gives one of our state's best views and some great photo opportunities.

From the opposite corner, it wasn't a good look for the "almost official" opening of the McNabs' roundabout in Mitre Street for Bathurst Regional Council to forget to invite Mr and Mrs McNab, who had crusaded for the essential traffic improvement for many years.

Bathurst is a great place if we each try a little kindness every day.

THIS week saw positive price rises across all merino fleece types of between 20 and 30c/kg.

Crossbred wools gained between 10 and 20c/kg.

Merino oddments and skirtings, however, moved the opposite way, with the merino carding indicator losing 65c/kg.

The Northern Market Indicator finished the week on 1046c/kg, up 2c/kg.

This market could remain around these levels if quantity remains around 35,000 bales a week, but with demand so weak, any greater quantity than this weekly could see the market retract again.

Next week will see 35,000 bales for sale nationwide.

***

Pat was interviewed for a pharmacy job and was quizzed on his knowledge of chemicals.

"Do you know what nitrate is?" he was asked.

"Not sure," Pat replied, "but I's hopin' it's time and a half."