Cereal crops in our district are starting to ripen and a lot of oat crops will be stripped in coming weeks.

Last weekend gave us a preview of strong winds, high temperatures and grasses that are quickly drying.

This is looking like a typical Australian summer with country kids acting like meerkats as they watch for smoke on Christmas Day.

CATTLE producers have taken some of the guesswork out of their business plans for the new year by taking the excellent prices on offer at present and selling calves that are normally for sale in late summer.

At last week's special store sale at Mortlake, Victoria, 5200 cattle were yarded and sold - almost 600 sale lots and a non-stop six hours of selling.

No-one wants to be bored with price quotes as our CTLX Carcoar markets are as strong and competitive as other centres and our trusted stock agents are some of the busiest professionals in any industry.

OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:

MUTTON prices continue to surge, with the National Livestock Reporting Service quoting 660 cents a kilogram (carcase weight), and that puts a lot of heavy sheep in a price range of $200 per head or perhaps a bit more.

At a Wagga sale last week, a top price for heavy crossbred ewes was $265 and heavy shorn lambs over 30 kilograms were quoted at a high of $252.

We know Donald Trump pardoned a Thanksgiving Day turkey last week, but how many heavy wethers and old ewes will make it into the new year when they're valued at close to $230?

Not many may be pardoned.

Livestock values have surged since the breaking of the drought, with prices for purebred house pups reaching eye-watering levels, and Santa may not put many well-bred pups in adult stockings.

CHINA'S imposition of a 200 per cent tariff on Australian wine products has caused widespread concern in the industry and alternative markets are urgently being sought.

Grape and wine production provide jobs and cash income to our lovely Central Tablelands and the vineyard experts are local people who are heavily involved in our community.

Large Chinese tariffs must have serious effects on many of our rural commodities as we prepare for 2021.

Every one of us should make sure that we shop locally for Christmas as we realise how tough this year has been on a whole range of small businesses that provide jobs for our families and friends.

SOME ratepayers are showing interest in next September's local government elections and have attended information sessions in Bathurst.

Candidates know that they will need to establish a profile during the next few months and will probably set out a plan that they will follow.

An interesting path that councillor Alex Christian followed into his first term as a Bathurst Regional councillor is noteworthy.

My memory tells me that Alex campaigned for closed circuit TV cameras in the central business area of Bathurst and he supported the erection of the McNab roundabout in Mitre Street.

He has lots of runs on the board and doesn't have much time for foolish debates.

Prospective councillors need a strong desire to help our ratepayers and our local community.

AN early thought for Christmas.

Those who died yesterday had plans for this morning; and those who died this morning had plans for tonight. Please don't take life for granted.

In the blink of an eye, everything can change. So forgive often and love with all your heart. You may never know when you won't have that chance again.

(These are someone else's words, but are important for us all.)

IT was great to see Jerula's Grin win a major race at Wagga last week.

The three-year-old colt is owned in our district and is now enjoying a spell before reportedly being aimed at Menangle's Chariots of Fire in 2021.

When driver Jason Turnbull gave the colt his head, he sailed away to win by many lengths.

I thought Jason travelled fast enough to light up a highway patrolman's trusty radar gun.

The group was formed to enhance our local community lifestyle through providing a platform for the community to liaise with Bathurst Regional Council and other bodies in order to make improvements to our district, Perthville, Georges Plains, The Lagoon, Wimbledon and Chifley Dam. The group is also responsible for the upkeep and running of the Village Community Hall.

THE wool market seems to have finally plateaued for merino types, with the Northern Market Indicator finishing on 1209c/kg - within 30c/kg of the highs and lows of November.

The superfine end of the merinos were up 25c/kg to 30c/kg, while the rest were virtually unchanged.

Crossbred wools don't seem to be able to get a go on.

The fine crossbreds lost 35c/kg and the broader types lost 70c/kg.

From all the information out there, the market will stay around these levels until the Christmas break, which begins the week of December 14.

Next week will see 41,822 bales on offer.

MUM and dad were still drafting ewes and lambs in a dusty yard at dusk.

"You know, dear," she said, "this weekend is our golden wedding anniversary. Why don't we kill the pig and have a family barbecue?"

Dad was hot and bothered and gasped: "Why blame the poor bloody pig for a mistake that was made half a century ago?"

***

THE sheep cockie had been married for many decades and asked his doctor for a medicine to make him more lively.

The good doctor prescribed tablets and when our farmer friend called in for a repeat, the doctor was told of fun times and much happiness.

"No doubt your wife is pleased," doctor said.

"I dunno, doc," our man replied, "I haven't been home yet."

***

GEORGE arrived home on Valentine's Day with a faded bunch of lilies.

His long-suffering wife wasn't impressed and asked: "Were they selling leftover flowers at knock-off time?"

Then she saw the card. It read: "RIP Grandpa."