TEN days of fine weather and a bit of warm sunshine ahead of the last couple of rainy days had made tracks and paddocks a lot firmer and almost safe to drive machines on.
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There are obviously still a lot of areas where angels fear to tread but common sense will guide farmers and contractors as we eventually farewell a very wet winter and look to what may be a lovely spring season.
There are large quantities of baled hay and silage being offered for sale as producers look towards good cuts of lucerne and some cereal crops.
Stock carriers are getting to yards that have been cut off for several months and their services are really appreciated.
Among the busiest carriers are Alan and Sue Markwick's green machines with their drivers Alan, Geoff Williams, Dave Pratley and Ray Bennett.
The local carriers must know every back road in our district and have probably worn tracks on the highway to CTLX Carcoar.
Fertile discussions
LOTS of theories are discussed about the economics of applying fertiliser, spray foliants and time-controlled grazing and each of them has its areas of benefit.
The majority of producers on our Tablelands apply urea, superphosphate or sludge pellets after regular soil testing.
Some are using foliar sprays that reduce costs and give encouraging results, while some try regenerative agriculture, or cell grazing, and they seem to be satisfied with results so far.
Spraying contractors are looking forward to a pretty busy couple of months and producers who let saffron thistles get away last spring will be keen to spray by mid-September, probably using MCPA and using a strong penetrant and an addition of Lontril for Scotch thistle.
Farewell, Greg
MEMBERS of the Bathurst Merino Association were saddened to hear of the passing of "Hilltop" Garland identity, Greg Emms, who was a former member of the group and a breeder of some of our district's very best fine wool sheep.
Greg served a couple of years as a committee member and his input was greatly appreciated.
Sincere sympathy is offered to Gay and the family. We have lost a valued friend.
Sales will go on
THE lockdowns in coastal cities have enveloped our major states and triggered a rush of community vaccination.
Social media is a real help to sporting and school organisers but it can also cause panic and fear amongst some followers.
Agriculture has to carry on as livestock and crops of every description must be tended and operations are conducted with all the COVID-safe requirements.
Stud stock auctions will continue as will all the regular livestock and wool sales. Most of the sales will be interfaced with computerised selling with strict rules on attendees.
Who's taking the bait?
FURTHER to the wild dog and fox baiting day planned for the Turon Wild Dog Association on Friday, September 3:
Baits must be ordered by Monday, August 30 and order forms can be downloaded from the association's website and returned to boxhill6@gmail.com or marksimpson@lls.nsw.gov.au.
Pick-up for prepared baits is at at Boxhill woolshed, 1947 Turondale Road from 9am on Friday, September 3; Brenden Cole's Turon Hill Woolshed at 12.30pm; 1095 Hill End Road, Crudine at 1.30pm; and Palmers Oakey Fire shed at 4pm.
Please cut out these details and stick them to your fridge.
The Lucky Country
SOME really warm days, close to 30 degrees Celsius in Sydney's western suburbs, have brought reminders of sizzling summer days that we hope won't bring more drought years.
Groundcover is invaluable and must be a priority.
In the midst of our pandemic lockdown we must be sure to be vaccinated ASAP, keep in regular phone and IT contact, and thank The Lord twice every day that we won the lottery of life when we were born in Australia.
Patching the roads
LANDHOLDERS who live on country roads have appreciated the busy efforts of local council workers and contractors who have been patching the worst of the potholes on district roads that have been damaged by heavy vehicles and wet weather.
It's always easy to blame councils and councillors but several ratepayers have told me that their requests to either Bobby Bourke or Ian North have been rewarded with prompt repairs.
No wonder these two gentlemen have always polled well at election time. A lot of the patching work has been done on weekends.
Words to ponder
Hum bug: A singing cockroach.
Monologue: A discussion between a man and wife.
Stalemate: An over-80 husband.
Racial dispute: When the judge at Tyers Park calls for a photo.
Boxer: A bloke who stands up for the other's rights.
Condescending: A Greek in a parachute.
Coward: A man who thinks with his legs.
Floosie: A sweet girl with the gift of the grab.
You have to laugh
THE wise old cockie was protective of his cute 18-year-old daughter.
He took her rouseabout boyfriend aside and told him: "We've brought young Sally up to be a good girl and to know the meaning of good and bad."
Young Jake replied: "Well, if you've shown her the good side I can handle the rest, sir."
***
THERE were no suggestions as to the origins of the gadget that was found in a disused farm workshop.
Perhaps it is an enapolator.
Wool report
FOLLOWING a buoyant close to sale two, and after a three-week recess, week six of the Australian wool market opened with a major retracing.
The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) closed four per cent cheaper and, even with the Australian dollar being two per cent weaker against the US dollar, the market was 5.15pc cheaper in US dollar terms.
This radical downward movement took many industry pundits by surprise.
Chinese demand was poor relative to the pre-recess sentiment and surprising as we had received reports of good wool top and yarn sales during the break.
It was also a surprising result because of reports of supply of wool in the pipeline being low.
Looking at the buying figures, it was noticeable that some Chinese first stage wool processors were also very quiet in the sale room.
Italy, India and the Czech Republic once again supported the market, as they had prior to the break.
Most affected were the finer wools with greater than two per cent VM present in the wool; this included fleece pieces and belly wools.
These types were 80-150ac cheaper, with the five per cent-plus VM types up to 300ac cheaper than prior to the break.
There were 49,181 bales offered for sale Australia-wide, but at the end of the week, there had been a total of 33.2pc passed in.
At one point in Sydney, 50pc of all Merino descriptions were being passed in.
Early estimates for week seven show an estimated offering of 38,000 after early withdrawals of 8000 bales.
Richard Butcher, Nutrien Wool
Diary dates
Thursday, September 2: Millah Murrah Angus.
Wednesday, September 8: Winyar Canowindra Merinos.
Thursday, September 9: Glengowan Angus.
Wednesday, September 15: Hollow Mount rams at Bigga.