We are entering territory that has been untrodden for a long time, with producers in the north now selling the last of their breeders, after spending a fortune to keep them alive.
At Bingara, the epicentre of northern drought, Ray White agent Russell Smyth said the emotional toll was beyond anything anybody could realise.
"People are in a haze at the moment," he said. "They are drought blind to making decisions and its frightening."
At a recent drought forum between Gwyder Valley businesses, land holders and NSW drought co-ordinator Jock Laurie, Mr Smyth asked the question: "Does government want us here?"
The repeated suggestion of lifting payroll tax while this crisis endures was hammered home on Mr Laurie, as the growing realisation that it will be years before money flows back into regional towns.
Inverell is in the same situation with CL Squires' agent Robbie Bloch saying many of his clients were looking at an early December deadline before total destock.
"There's not many options now," he said. "There's no alternative when the water runs out. Producers are giving it eight weeks."
For the moment state-wide prices remain firm to better with a drop in numbers yarded across the board. A lift in feedlot interest this week had the desired effect on quality fed cattle, while those with pockets of feed are betting by bidding on light restockers, up 10-12 cents a kilogram at Wagga, where a better season has recorded dearer trends.
Riverina Livestock agent James Tierney said Monday's sale recorded dearer trends all around, in particular for better cattle with feeder steers and heifers also up 10 to 12c/kg on last week, selling to 325c/kg, while trade weight steers made 300-315c/kg.
Wodonga was up again this week, an increase of 75pc on last year.
Compare that with Gunnedah which recorded a sharp drop in numbers to 1900 along with a drop in average price of more than 19pc on the week before or back 44pc on last year. Restocker steers under 330kg met with reduced interest yet light heifers sold to a much dearer trend.
At Inverell on Tuesday numbers were back by nearly half to 1100 with average prices up 10pc on last year. Quality fed cattle came to the fore as did some light calves to Victorian restockers.
A small yarding at Scone, well back on last week, recorded a drop in price for over 200kg vealers in spite of the rain. The average price here is down nearly 64pc on last year.
This week's rain, especially along the Pacific strip from the Illawarra to the Clarence, had the effect of encouraging North Coast production with prices for big bullocks topping at $1850 at Grafton during Tuesday's prime sale.
