LAST Friday's auction at Blink Bonnie, Tarana attracted around 50 people and resulted in a clearance of 41 young rams at an average of $1146 and a top price of $3500.
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A nice line of one-year-old merino ewes, July shorn, sold for $228.
The buyer list featured a line-up of return buyers who appreciate good sheep and a no-nonsense studmaster.
The Tarana valley looks as good as most of us can remember and a run of good seasons would put a lot of farm businesses back on their feet.
Peter and Kaye Moore have built their Blink Bonnie Stud into an impressive enterprise and their return buyers every year show their faith in the stud breeders.
Will be missed
A HIGHLY respected member of the country community, Tony Press, passed away recently.
Tony and his family conducted the Sunny Hills property at Burraga for many years and he was a professional woolclasser in his off-farm work.
He attained the status of Master Classer in latter years and was always happy to pass his wool knowledge on to a younger generation.
OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:
Work available
THERE are financial incentives included in the recent federal budget for school leavers and young people to work in the harvesting of cereal grains, etc.
The usual influx of overseas backpackers isn't here for the harvest, so there are lots of casual jobs available in orchards, market gardens, packing sheds and wool sheds, as well as the varied jobs that go with the grain harvest across the nation.
A call to the Member for Calare or Member for Bathurst's office will give all the details of the incentives that are available and we all know that it's a great feeling to find a well-paid job and earn the money in our pocket.
Growing toll
THE list of Australian exports that are being affected by trade restrictions to China continues to grow.
Cotton is the latest product to be discussed, with a 40 per cent import tariff into China being mentioned as a probability for the raw product.
Wool exports felt the brunt of import controls, but prices continue to claw their way back to viable levels.
An Eastern Market Indicator of 1000c/kg is loosely seen as a break-even wool price and the present level of around 1140c/kg is encouraging.
Meanwhile, beef prices are excellent, while lamb and mutton returns are very viable.
A couple of quotes from Brooklyn, Victoria wool auctions. Sale M15:
- 16.1 mic; 70 yld; 51 newtons 1500c;
- 15.7 mic; 70 yld; 22 newtons 1338c;
- 19.2 mic; 67 yld; 61 newtons 758c.
- 25.2 XB 72 yld. No test; 556c.
Doing our bit
WHEN we see the vast amount of money that is being budgeted for federal budget distribution, we have to think of the massive task that lies ahead as future generations attempt to pay off the trillion-dollar debt.
Our country doesn't have much of a manufacturing industry, but we do have massive amounts of coal and iron ore to export and we do have a vast agricultural industry to produce mountains of protein and fibre.
Rural Australia has a great capacity to produce raw product and an even greater capacity to service a huge national debt.
Memories are made
VAST areas of barley grass are now in full head and will ripen quickly as warmer days arrive.
The seed has the potential to damage the eyes and skins of all classes of sheep and lambs and will bring severe price discounts to shorn wool.
In the probable worst year for barley grass since the 1970s, we must do our utmost to keep stock away from the risk if at all possible.
Has the Central Tablelands ever looked as good as it does in late October 2020?
This season will be discussed for a lifetime, just as my generation talk about the 1950s with sub clover a foot high (just like now).
Please take lots of photos as this may be the best you'll ever see.
Numbers game
MLA market information tells us that 15,572 cattle were processed at meatworks last week - 40 per cent down on the same week of 2019, when 27,480 went to slaughter.
The Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator settled on 730c/kg and a leading beef exporter is quoted as saying: "In the past 40 years, we've never been this low in terms of the cattle herd and our prices are at record levels."
It's great to see the confidence in the rural industry that is being shown by a younger generation and we often see young Aussies on little motorbikes counting sheep and cattle in the paddock and checking fences or troughs to save mum and dad some time.
There's nothing like soaking rain to lift spirits in town gardens and rural paddocks.
Consider this
A FEW notes for the week;
- As Premier Berejiklian holds onto power, an old song said "ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs".
- A real worry on that matter; former PM Turnbull says the Premier has his full support. Is that a confidence builder for her?
- Which Dan has been the biggest help for Victorians as they battle the pandemic, Andrews or Murphy?
- A wise lady at the boat ramp on Chifley Dam, looking at the vast expanse of blue water, said: "Whoever prayed for rain, well done."
Laugh lines
"WHAT do you do with your spare time?" cockies were asked. Eighty didn't understand the question, seven didn't know which day it was and 13 couldn't hear.
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"TREAT your wife just like you did on your first date," the wise man's little book said. So George had dinner with her and took her home to her parents.
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THE world has changed. Today, a cough is much more dangerous than a terrorist with a backpack.
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OUR man says he didn't survive shotgunning pints of Jim Beam every weekend in his teens to get taken out by a virus called after a light beer.
Diary dates
- This Sunday: Fosterfield Finewools; 35 hogget rams at Dunkeld.
- Thursday, November 5: Mt. Bathurst Poll Dorsets; 70 rams at Black Springs.
- Saturday, November 7: Pomanara Merinos; 34 rams at Sallys Flat.
