DESPITE rain providing some relief across the State, stock route permits are still in high demand.
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Currently, there are about 380 temporary grazing permits and 300 annual grazing permits active in the Northern Tablelands, according to Local Land Services (LLS) team leader for travelling stock reserves (TSRs) Ross Fuller, Inverell.
Mr Fuller said producers were seeking relief from dry conditions and a lack of feed.
Farmers are also opting to put their cattle on the route rather than selling them in the current market due to low cattle prices.
"People are hanging on to their stock at the moment," Mr Fuller said.
There are standard restrictions on the route at the minute, which means permit holders are required to maintain a certain level of feed on their patches and adhere to the conditions of their permit.
However, Mr Fuller said if the season continued the way it was, restrictions would have to tighten.
Parts of the TSR in the Northern Tablelands are patchy and without rain Mr Fuller said the LLS would have to consider asking farmers with permits to destock cattle and possibly reject new applications.
"It's getting more and more of a consideration as the season goes on and growth rates slow down," he said.
"We are required to actively manage those places (TSRs) on everybody's behalf and sadly we have to be willing to turn people down."
Mr Fuller said the LLS tried to provide feed for travelling stock on the route and maintain a good level of feed for spring, but also offer relief to local farmers wanting to rest their land.
"We will give them every opportunity to obtain a permit if we think it's the right thing."
North West LLS team leader of TSRs land services unit, Gerard O'Connor, Moree, said there were currently 14 walking mobs and 220 grazing permits in force in the North West.
Mr O'Connor said most spots on the route, apart from the western sector, had received good rainfall and could be maintained for another couple of months.
Mr O'Connor said rainfall enabled the TSR to germinate good patches of grass but without more rain it would turn around very quickly.
Central West LLS TSR ranger Mick Ryan, Dubbo, said areas north and west of Dubbo had constant requests for TSR permits although requests have lessened since March after graziers received rain.
Mr Ryan said most of the route in his region was reasonably good but areas north of Coonamble required more monitoring.
"It just hasn't had the rain, we're being very selective on where we can and can't put stock there," he said.
"Over the rest of the area, we're hanging in there, it's going alright at the moment."
Mr Ryan said local cattle producers were looking for a bit of extra feed from the route but the LLS had to be cautious of allowing cattle even on the better sections.
With winter's arrival, Mr Ryan said he was not expecting an abundance of growth on the TSR and he wanted to avoid putting cattle on areas with no feed value.
"The fringe areas may start extending into some of the better areas soon," he said.
"The route is looking reason- ably good, but it's not going to improve too much at this time of year."