IT’S with a blank canvas that I stare at the screen to commence to put to words this week’s Stock Talk column. Where do you start?
The record turn off on the Tablelands during the past month; the dry that is gripping us all by the throat, or God forbid, let’s look back to the dim dark past and talk about the Commonwealth Games!
Let’s start with the weather. As every week passes the ongoing dry that is gripping the eastern seaboard is becoming more serious.
The Central Tablelands is looking down the barrel of a disaster.
Seasonal conditions are easily comparable to 2006-07, 1981-82 and even 1944 if you are old enough to remember.
Paddocks are exhausted and serious decisions are starting to be made.
Soon producers are going to have to decide between digging in and feeding or saying enough is enough and parting company with the stock.
The one big difference 2018 has over previous years is the price still being commanded by store stock.
If the decision is to sell you are far from giving stock away.
Hard figures need to be done before launching into a feeding program.
If you’re not selling, work out your requirements for the next three or four months and secure them - don’t be waiting until the middle of winter.
Once again during the past few weeks saleyard selling has proven itself to be an efficient and reliable method of transferring livestock when the going gets tough.
Last month Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange at Carcoar presented 11,300 weaners in the largest one day weaner sale in Australia.
We market livestock over all available mediums, but to sell that many cattle without a hole anywhere in the market is a credit not only to all individuals involved, but to the medium itself.
What was the old slogan – “Saleyards, everything sold everyone paid”.
As many would know I had the great privilege to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in the sport of shooting.
Without a doubt it was a lifelong ambition fulfilled.
The feeling as we walked into the opening ceremony was spine tingling.
To pull on a blazer with our coat of arms over your heart is the greatest honour, and the experience is one that will stay for a life time.
This sort of representation does not come cheaply in terms of finance, but more so in time.
I can honestly say that without the understanding and support of not only my business partners, but even more so by my own personal clients, I would never have had the chance to exercise the opportunity.
To all I send out my heartfelt thanks.
Unfortunately, as Peter Fitzpatrick said to me just before I left for the Gold Coast “the drought will still be here when you get back – worry about that then!”
