LAST Sunday’s Bathurst Merino Association lunch at Perthville Hall was well-attended and was a friendly get-together and a chance to compare experiences of a pretty tough season.
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The rewards for sheep and wool producers that will be at the end of the rainbow are obvious, but the end of the rainbow is hopefully not too far away.
Feed costs of above $1000 per cow and $100 per ewe have already been spent in some cases and the potential for financial stress is obvious.
Among many goodies that were available to farmers, many thanks is due to the students from St Joseph’s School, Oberon for the drought relief gift boxes they put together for the luncheon.
These boxes contained toiletries, cosmetics, a few goodies and, most importantly, a Prayer for Rain in every box.
This effort is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to all at St Joseph’s, Oberon.
A big thanks to president Warwick and the BMA committee for arranging the event, to the CWA who catered, and the companies who provided products for giveaways.
READ MORE: Struggle for Oberon farmers as dry continues
Decision time
MAJOR farm management decisions will be made in the very near future with cattle producers prepared to cease buying feed and start destocking properties if substantial rains don’t fall by mid-September.
Of course, producers who hold some of the $6.8 billion that is in Farm Management Deposits are in a sound position to soldier on, but the possibility of medium to long-term feeding of large mobs of cattle or sheep is daunting.
Many district producers have had long-term experience of grain or pellet feeding sheep as the 40-year cycle since 1978 has contained many character-building seasons.
Early start
SOME practical observations of the benefits (or otherwise) of weaning merino lambs at six weeks came from a sheep field day near Yeoval.
There were 3500 lambs that were vaccinated and scabby mouth scratched, but the normal mark and mules (only ewes ever mulesed) were delayed until later.
The mothers are fed four kilograms of barley per head each week, and the weaned lambs have access to pellets in sheep feeders.
We have to bear in mind that these lambs are bred for muscle and quick maturity and aren’t the specialty superfine wools that are often seen in our district.
Weaning lambs at six weeks median age is a real test of management skills of the operator and great care must be taken.
Most of us usually wean merino lambs at about 16 weeks, but 2018 certainly isn’t normal.
Saying Grace
THREE cheers to Isla Grace, who is a little daughter for Naydeen Collins and Josh Seaman, and great-granddaughter to Bruce and the late Glenda Seaman of Wyagdon.
Birthday boys
A COUPLE of celebrity birthdays in Bathurst and surrounds include:
Derek Treanor at Duramana, known as Mr Never Stay Still; John Stocks, former anchor man at CRT and Bedwells; and Lindsay Cox, retired ag pilot who is renowned across the Turon Hills.
I don’t have age details for these gentlemen, but if we start at 100 and work down, we should clarify some details.
Happy birthday to each of you.
Super effort
THE Super 6 results from the Bathurst Merino Association Ram Expo are now to hand and are as follows:
- Superfine section: Stuart and Andrew Kelly, “Ferndale”, Newbridge.
- Fine section: Scott and Donna Seaman, “Fosterfield”, Dunkeld. They were also the overall winners.
- Medium wool and champion ewe: Peter and Kaye Moore, “Blink Bonnie”, Tarana.
Sound thoughts
A REPORT of a mental health workshop in north west NSW tells of a large attendance and a fair bit of good humour as the facilitator made sure that his core messages were heard.
Like all good message carriers, he emphasised:
- No organisation can succeed if office bearers aren’t solely working for the common good of their community - certainly not for themselves.
- Every morning our first thoughts must be that we’re grateful for what we have – not for what we want.
- Find 15 minutes of every day to think of the things and the people that we’ll celebrate with when the good times return.
- Lots of people across Australia are thinking of the country people and their towns are hoping for an end to their problems.
Diary dates
- This Saturday, 9am: Don’t miss the 59th Burraga Sheep Show. Official opening by Vicki Wilson at 1pm. Dr Ross Wilson and his team of medical students will offer health checks, blood tests and advice.
- Tuesday, September 4: SWS Merino Field Day, 10am, Harden Showground.
- Thursday, September 6: Millah Murrah Angus; 110 bulls at Duramana.
- Friday, September 7: Karoo Angus; 60 bulls at Meadow Flat.
- Saturday, September 8: Perthville Fair.
- Thursday, September 13: Glengowan Angus bull and female auction at Newbridge.
Laugh lines
TWO ladies were in the coffee shop.
“Tell me honestly, Ada, how do you feel about Red China?” Dorothy asked.
“Oh Dorothy,” Ada replied, “not with your pink tablecloth.”
***
THE pretty redhead says that her new boss, when dictating, seems to end most sentences with a proposition.
***
MARRIAGE makes two people one, but it’s very hard to tell which one is the one.