Hot, damn hot! That great line of Robin Williams in the well known movie Good Morning Vietnam is the best way to describe the weather conditions this summer across much of the state and the biggest topic dominating our conversations.
Records around the north of the state are starting to be broken for the number of hot days in a row, so it is turning out to be a seriously hot summer cycle.
Something which is very rare is how good all the markets have been while this hot dry weather persists.
Localised storms and the record spring is no doubt sticking to a lot of the areas, but a concern to me is that a lot of producers suddenly go from being buyers of cattle to sellers this time of year, particularly if there is not widespread rain before long.
Time will tell and of course it can only go the other way if widespread rain eventuates heading into the autumn months.
The store cattle market is very strong and AuctionsPlus (one of the main barometers for store stock these days) has been having good clearances at consistently high levels.
Suitable steers for backgrounding have been tight in supply as we are at that in-between stage where the yearling steers are mostly headed for the feed yards and the weaners are still six weeks away in any numbers.
Females have met strong demand both from lotfeeders on the unjoined heifers and breeders wanting to bump their numbers up on joined females and cows with calves.
The weaner sales should open up strongly with the Glen Innes sales commencing on March 31 with the feature EU-accredited sale.
This will be the first of four big sales of very good quality weaners through April.
The calves will present well and they are a real highlight on the northern NSW circuit.
The number of slaughter cattle are just starting to flow which is customary for this part of the world.
There will not be huge numbers, but the usual few months of steady supply before winter will eventuate.
The prime lamb selling season is in full swing through the north of the state and the market is excellent.
Prices are hanging about the 550 to 620 cents a kilogram (carcase weight), plus good skin values contributing to a healthy return.
Mutton is strong with 400c/kg readily available for the medium and lighter weights and slightly less for the big heavy sheep.
The interesting fact will be whether of not the wool market can sustain its current bullish run.
If it can, sheep breeders will retain more numbers and put further pressure on supply for processors of mutton.
Here’s hoping you can survive the heat in your area and that general rain is not far away.
