Excellent but patchy rain along the New England Tablelands, including the fire affected Eastern Fall, has lifted prices in northern prime sales this week.
It was an occasion anticipated by beef producers since 2018 but unlike recent months the weather this January has the hallmarks respite.
Of all the places to miss out on an opportunity to capitalise, this weeks' prime sale at Grafton was cancelled due to the wet, following up to 300mm for the week, and an expected lack of numbers with roads damaged throughout the district.
Armidale's sale last Thursday was ahead of the curve, in spite of the fact that the rain fell there first, breaking a drought that recorded in places just to the east some eight years of below average precipitation.
Angus Laurie, Armidale Combined Agents, recorded light black steers to 400 cents a kilogram sold to graziers at Guyra. Angus heifers went to 350c/kg. Store cows to fatten were dearer "without being silly" lifting 20c/kg.
Tamworth on Monday made good on the anticipation of more rain with Scott Schmauser, Nutrien-Landmark saying the highlight of the sale was the solid rise for plainer quality cattle going onto feed, up 10c/kg to 40c/kg, to 230c/kg - 270c/kg.
Cows made enormous rises compared to just before Christmas, with prices around 200c/kg to 280c/kg as processors came back on board.
"There was a big jump in the plainer cattle including some drought affected and it was great to see the reward for people who have held on and got a price rise," he said.
A number of cattle went to the New England and the Hunter to go on grass - a term that nearly left the lexicon in recent months.
Scone also recorded favourable results with agent Stuart Shelldrake saying light calves, 100kg to 200kg made 270c/kg to 355c/kg. Black heifers going north to the New England instead of south to Victoria made 250c/kg to 310c/kg and the steers earned 280c/kg to 355c/kg.
Inverell on Tuesday was a sober affair, although prices for yearlings reached 312c/kg and best heavy steers made more than $1700.
Heifers averaged 274c/kg and topped at 308c/kg. Heavy cows averaged 225c/kg and reached 248c/kg.
"It's a bit hard to judge prices on a yarding 60 per cent down on last week," recorded Inverell agent Ben Lehman who said district cattle numbers were just too depleted to take advantage of any rise.
At Casino on Wednesday the yarding went the other way, swelling to more than double expected numbers with prices rising by as much as 40c/kg said combined agents president Wayne Bulmer.
Processors were active as were Tablelands punters hoping to capitalise on green pick following rain.
