MOST of our state's major water storages are now spilling over and the very welcome news of an overflowing Oberon Dam was great to hear.
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The boom in real estate values in towns and country has caused many changes to ownership and the long-time farming families are being replaced by speculators or escapees from the Sydney rat race.
No doubt the COVID pandemic accelerated the rush to get away from the city crowds and into the crisp, fresh air of our landscape.
In many cases the new owners of rural land may restore their property to its former productive state and control a lot of runaway weed problems.
Water everywhere
FOLLOWING decades of near drought conditions it's great to see our lovely Central Tablelands looking fully dressed with full dams and lots of running water.
The very costly downside to the livestock owners is the damage that ongoing heavy rains must be doing to ripe cereal crops across the eastern states.
Oats and barley crops have already been harvested in warmer climates but the valuable crops of canola and wheat must be being delayed and probably downgraded.
Several weeks of hot, dry weather are needed to allow a successful harvest and an avalanche of hay making in our district.
Let's shake on it
FEW weeks go by without a report of a sportsperson breaking a signed contract to sign with another club and selling agents must despair of both buyers and sellers who change their minds at crucial times.
Most of us found our own level as kids at school, sporting teams, school P&Fs and the multitude of community issues that involved us.
We had to learn that a handshake was always binding, that we must always think before we talk and that ultra reliable workers are gold.
Neighbour group AGM
THE annual general meeting of the Perthville Neighbourhood Group is on this Thursday, November 18 at 7pm.
Because the village hall is closed for minor repairs to the facade, the meeting is to be held at the Perthville convent.
Drive in and follow the crowd. This is a keen and active group and everyone is very welcome to attend the meeting.
Praise for leaders
THE spectre of an upcoming federal election is looming on the horizon, just as out people are starting to emerge from all the soul-destroying problems of the COVID pandemic.
Uptake of the vaccines has been great with only about seven per cent of our nation's population (over 16) not being protected.
Our federal and state leaders deserve praise for their efforts in guiding our approach to a deadly problem and each of them should benefit electorally in the medium term.
Some state premiers have been heavily criticised for using lockdowns but the end results and low death rates should be appreciated.
Shear brilliance
IN the days before the flood rains arrived I called in on the Kookaroo shearing team who were working on a mob of merino ewes on a Palmers Oakey property.
The wool is prepared for a Fibre Direct sale with no wool rolling or classing and an obvious saving in direct costs.
The Taylor family at Hill End have a great reputation for getting on with the job and their motto could well be "heads down and tails up".
New councillors?
CANDIDATES for the local government elections on December 4 are now at the barrier and incumbents may have a distinct advantage as many of the listed candidates are not really well known and will have to build a profile over the next couple of weeks.
The flooding of the Edgell Bridge and the detour of a lot of traffic into Gilmour Street has again showed the urgent need for an improved access road in the Hereford Street area and a must-have four lane bridge at above flood level across the Macquarie.
If I were punting with your money, I would expect five new councillors and a couple of surprise omissions.
Spending in the US
THE spectre of rising inflation and subsequent interest rates increases in the United States has caused us all to pause.
American President Biden is leading a government that intends to use cash stimulants to strengthen labour markets and induce more household spending.
If our economy reacts to interest rate increases and rural loans involve say 10 per cent this would cause land holders to be cautious if thinking of buying more land.
Fortune usually follows the brave but sometimes it may be wiser to be a live coward than a dead hero.
Wool market report
THE rollercoaster ride for the Australian wool market continued in week 19.
Producers offered up 37,630 bales Australia-wide with the indicator dropping 21ac/kg, or 1.57 per cent.
Wools under 17 micron were hardest hit with up to an 80ac/kg drop while 17.5-18.5 micron wools sold to 50ac cheaper.
Broader merino types were the least affected by the downturn by still experienced a 25ac drop.
Merino carding types were dearer for the week while crossbred types were basically unchanged.
There are reports of more power shortages in China playing a negative role in their capacity to run factories at 100 per cent.
COVID restrictions in the general population may also be having a dampening effect on the Chinese consumers' ability to source our woolen products.
It seems that the current pattern we are experiencing will continue for some time. Reports over the weekend of quantity being sold should see a market trending upwards in week 20.
Continuity of demand is what is required for a firm market, as now it is very difficult to get an idea of future market movements.
Week 20 has an estimated offering of 44,754 bales.
Richard Butcher, Nutrien Wool
You have to laugh
- GEORGE sets a new record every day for the number of days he has stayed alive.
- BEHIND every successful man is a quite surprised woman.
- THOUSANDS of years ago man would curse and beat the ground with sticks. It was called witchcraft. Now it's called golf.
- HE asked the surgeon if he'd be in hospital for long and was told: "If all goes well about six days, but if it doesn't go well you'll be out in no time."
