REPORTS keep coming of significant donations of cash, hay and fence-building materials to assist victims of the horrible Sir Ivan fire at Dunedoo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It would be a serious mistake to name any of the donors as there are many, so suffice to say that everyone in our community is proud and grateful for everyone who has helped in any way.
Some producers in our district have suffered severe losses of sheep and dry pasture and these people would appreciate agistment for some of their stock if any is available.
Landholders who may be able to assist should contact Trevor Toole at Elders Bathurst.
Safety first
RECENT fatalities that occurred in the use of ATV motorcycles have brought the safety of these machines into the spotlight again.
Farm safety demonstrations show us that the centre of gravity of a machine with a rider is quite high and we know that the wheel-track width is fairly narrow.
We must accept that this is where the problem lies and some users have installed rollover bars, some wear helmets and all of us must use common-sense.
These are brilliant little machines if used carefully, but they are heavy (250 to 300kg), somewhat unstable and can be deadly if things go wrong.
Authorities will make changes mandatory in the medium term but, in the meantime, please be careful.
Merino musings
ONGOING rises in wool auction prices are starting to cause a possible change of Merino breeding strategies.
After a decade of using genetics and sheep breeding values (ASBV) that favour quick maturity, high fertility, bare breech and face and wrinkle-free bodies, it may be time to stop and think.
The use of White Suffolk and/or Finn genetics in some “Merino” studs has certainly achieved most of the above qualities, but wool cuts will probably suffer as bodies become plainer.
Breeders of traditional superfines for the Italian worsted markets must be pleased that they have stuck to their type, but breeders of the modern types are not likely to change strategy either.
Laugh lines
MRS Smith next door told her widowed neighbour that it wasn’t right for her to spend an hour with the grocery boy two afternoons each week.
The widow told her not to worry.
“It’s only platonic,” she said. “Play for him and tonic for me.”
***
OLD actors never die; they just get smaller parts.
***
WITH the Royal Bathurst Show almost upon us: The young farmer noticed that her bedroom was stocked high with giant teddy bears, toy tigers and plastic toys.
After much fooling around he asked her what she thought of him and was told: “Yeah, all right I suppose. You can have anything on the bottom shelf.”