The season in Warrnambool and the South West of Victoria has been tough and we are in desperate need of an early break. Hay is currently in strong demand due the dry spring and poor season.
Cattle are holding their condition due to mild season, but the shorter days and cooler nights will start to impact livestock. Cattle markets have eased slightly, but we are still seeing strong competition.
This is allowing farmers to sell any excess livestock. Dairy farmers have had no word on the opening price for supply for the coming season. Low milk prices and high feed costs has made the recent season very hard, but one positive has been the good price for cull cows. The live export for un-joined dairy heifers between 200-300kg has also helped cash flow.
The lack of rainfall from spring onwards has been meant that beef farmers relying on run off for dams have had to offload cattle. Producers have either sold or weaned their spring drop calves to look after the cows now that winter is approaching.
On a lighter note – Warrnambool has its famous three-day May racing carnival right on our door step. This begins Tuesday May 3 and concludes on Thursday May 5, with over 30 jumps and flat races it is an event not to be missed.
Nominations have opened for the 2016 ALPA Fairfax Media Agency Award. The award acknowledges an innovative marketing campaign that achieves the best outcome for the client. This award was inaugurated in 2005 following the untimely death of Mike Nixon, a Victorian Stock and Land rural journalist and livestock commentator. In recognition of Mike’s involvement with the agency industry, the award was established to reward excellence in livestock marketing, and has now evolved to incorporate all facets of agency marketing including livestock, property, wool, merchandise and insurance.
ALPA’s chief executive Andy Madigan says “an agent’s job is synonymous with marketing and we are extremely proud to be able to showcase such enormous talent to the industry and wider agricultural community”.
The ALPA Agency Award winner will walk away with a fully paid trip to the 2017 Calgary Stampede, therefore, not only allowing them to showcase their capabilities but also offering them a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain exposure to international agricultural practices and providing them with unrivalled professional development.
ALPA encourages all agents with less than 10 years’ industry experience to consider nominating for the ALPA Agency Award. Candidates will provide submissions based on a marketing initiative they have executed and one final winner will be awarded the Mike Nixon Shield for Excellence in Marketing at the 2016 ALPA AGM in Sydney.
Nomination forms and guidelines are available by contacting ALPA on (02) 9262 6633 or email admin@alpa.net.au.