What a difference a week, month, year makes.
Only as recently as two weeks ago, an article by Stephen Paull in the Stock & Land, where a gloomy picture was painted regarding the upcoming season.
What a turn around, rain right through central and Southern Queensland and a lot of areas through NSW have sparked a complete about face.
This has seen cattle market prices soar, while cattle numbers in Qld have fallen.
One wise old stock agent told me years ago there are three things that farmers can’t handle, fire, flood and feed. This might be an omen that has negative effects one way but certainly positive effects if you are selling livestock at the present.
In saying that, at the time of print MC Kerr’s big spring sale would have been held. This yarding of cattle always presents outstandingly and just having a quick look over them they present very well.
This sale is always a preview of where the future pricing for weaner sales will be. Given there has been these good rains and with their quality, all should go well.
Our season in the South West is one out of the box. Extraordinary wouldn’t be a fair enough description.
We are basically experiencing our third spring, with a spring last year, one in the autumn and now. No doubt it is going to help with our lamb selling season, which is right at our doorstep.
With lamb numbers literally drying up in the north (and more referring to condition) our southern lambs, now with warmth will explode. Northern processors are already moving south chasing quality and one can see that this will only increase.
Whilst on the subject of lamb, this then gives me a good lead into RFID’s you would have to have your head in the sand if you were of the opinion that RFID’s in sheep and lambs weren’t going to be introduced. It is inevitable and will eventually be so for all states.
The problems we are facing at the present are basically two fold .The first being money and the second being time.
I can’t personally see our infrastructure going in by the deadline we will need a lot more time!!
Surely to goodness common sense has to prevail and Minister Jaala Pulford needs to give us more time.
*Warren Clark is a Partner in K P Lanyon Pty Ltd and Southern Region Committee ALPA chairman