SEVERAL media discussions have recently focused on the highs and lows of livestock trading in good seasons and high prices.

Scanned in lamb (averaged on Auctions Plus) young merino ewes: in autumn 2019 at $188; autumn 2020 at $273; and in autumn 2021 at $247.

When we add in the cost of a decent ram at $1000, transport, scanning, chemicals and a few deaths, we can see that profit margins are skinny.

In a similar vein, there doesn't have to be something much go wrong with PTIC cows or heifers that have incurred all the "must do" costs.

The rewards can be great when all the strategies result in the way they were planned.

Old traders remember the year that they made 100 per cent profit on a mob of 800 shorn wethers.

They cost $1 each, sold for $2 and, bingo, the profit was there. Not much money involved, but 100 per cent was true.

GREAT rainfall during March has our district looking at its very best as we head into the cooler months.

It's good to see councillor Warren Aubin leading the push to plan for increased water supply for Bathurst's future and he discusses the possible 14 metre raising of the wall of Chifley Dam at a ballpark cost of $200 million.

Councillors with a positive track record of getting projects done will be urgently needed when a new council is elected in September, and teamwork will be a priority.

The levee banks at Bathurst and Perthville remain to be tested by a serious flood; the Vale Creek only ran about one-third of a creek bank-full as the really heavy rain did not fall in its catchment.

Most farm dams to the south of Bathurst are still less than half full.

THE shortage of staff for every rural job is being raised every day and farm projects should be planned some months ahead.

The cattle jobs of A.I. and preg. testing are usually left to the specialists and they need to follow a program.

Likewise, producers who employ shearers for a late winter/spring shearing should be booking their staff now.

The days of bumbling farmers seem to be over with good woolshed facilities, no hold-ups and prompt payment being needed to ensure that jobs will be done on time.

Farming is a great job, but financial stakes are high with $3000 cows and $300 ewes being the values of the day.

When $4000 per acre is outlaid to run the livestock, we can see why many farmers are still awake at 2am.

Perhaps the most valuable asset is a well-designed cattle yard with man gates and a top quality crush.

A SHORT flight across our district shows us the majority of farmland is looking at its autumn best.

Country that has been topdressed is off to a great start and crops of oats, Mabo barley and brassica appear as the answer to a farmer's prayer.

Of particular interest are the early sown commercial lucerne stands on river and creek flats.

This autumn break is being seen as our best in at least 40 years.

Could this be the start of a 40 year cycle again or is it a flash in the pan?

THE years have rolled on since PM Tony Abbott announced the selection of Badgerys Creek as the site for our country's newest international airport and construction of all the affiliated infrastructure is going on at a great pace.

Some owners of land in the area surrounding the major airport have become multi-millionaires almost overnight and a lot of Sydney's residential growth must occur in the region.

Of real value to the primary producer is the fact that two-thirds of our world's population will live within 12 hours of flying time from the new airport.

This must mean that much of our state's frozen produce can arrive at its destined market as fresh as can be.

In the airport region, I believe that almost 150 nationalities are residents of Liverpool and its adjoining suburb.

TWO reminders. Please have your fleeces ready for the Royal Bathurst Show. Phone Brian Seaman for details: 0428 3738 28. And daylight saving ends this weekend.

WEEK 39 saw our wool market fully firm to tending dearer, the Eastern Market Indicator moving up 8ac/kg to 1285ac/kg.

However, we did see a drop of 23usc/kg or 2.3 per cent in US dollar terms.

The biggest movers of the week were the finer merino fleece types, which saw gains of up to 30ac/kg.

Despite the logistical problems exporters are facing due to global shipping issues, the merino market continues to perform extremely well.

While China is taking approximately 85 per cent of the wool that is being sold at present, the shipping disruptions into Europe and the subcontinent are apparently worse than those being experienced into China.

This is thus ultimately affecting competitive tension in the wool sale rooms.

Let us hope that this global shipping situation is cleared up sooner rather than later, in order to allow supply chains to start to flow smoothly again.

Crossbred wool remained unchanged as demand remains subdued for these wool types.

Week 40 sees a roster of 49,000 bales Australia-wide followed by a week's recess in sales for Easter.

A safe and happy Easter to all!

A BISHOP and a barrister arrived at the Pearly Gates and the Good Saint showed them to their rooms.

The barrister's set-up was top notch: marble ensuite, media room, heated indoor pool, etc.

The bishop's rooms were basic: no carpets, limited views and a shower only.

The bishop complained and was told: "We've got hundreds of old bishops, but this is our first ever barrister."

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OLD friend was retiring from the family business and his niece was at the microphone.

She said: "Uncle doesn't know the meaning of impossible tasks, lunch break or the word no. So the family have thrown in and bought him an Oxford Dictionary."

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GEORGE hates the idea of growing old alone. He says the missus hasn't had a birthday for six years.