AFTER fighting to get through the drought, the recent rainfall has brought with it a pot of gold for local farmers.
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Those fortunate enough to keep their stock and survive the dry weather over the past few years are now being rewarded with high sale prices and a thriving spring predicted.
Clements and McCarthy stock and station agent James Hagney said Bathurst's wet winter will lead to a "terrific spring ... the best since 2016".
"It is shaping up for a pretty good season," he said.
"Mainly because we've had so much rain and the ground's so wet, as soon as we get a bit of warm weather, the grass will start growing and we'll have a terrific spring."
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Although a good season awaits, it's going to be a pricey venture for farmers who are looking to re-build their herds.
This is one of the main contributing factors to the current market being so high, though it's a big positive for the farmers who were able to keep their stock during the drought.
"There's a lot of confidence in the stock job at the moment," Mr Hagney said.
"The pre-tested heifers are making a power of money, cows and calves have been up there and even unjoined heifers being very, very solid over the last two to three months suggests that it's going to be a pretty good season price-wise and feed-wise."
Mr Hagney expects a lot of hay will be cut this year, once the paddocks have dried up and the machinery can be used without getting bogged.
"If the season goes with us, which I'm sure it will ... we'll have another good season of hay to replenish the sheds and things like that," he said.
Fortunately for the industry, it hasn't been overly affected by COVID.
Sales have been able to continue but are closed to the public, with only professional buyers and agents allowed to attend.
However, Mr Hagney said the reduced numbers attending the sales hasn't been reflected in the prices. If anything, the prices have gone up.