It was an outstanding day at Felix Rams sale last week, with 51 registered bidders and 191 rams on offer. The older Poll Dorset rams sold to a top of $3,050 and averaged $1,419, with a clearance of 96%. The spring drop Poll Dorset rams sold to a top of $6,200 and averaged $1,532, with a clearance of 77.7%. The White Suffolk rams sold to a top of $5,000 and averaged $1,144 and had a clearance of 81.8%. Credit must go to Rodney, Liz and Isaac Watt for their breeding and preparation of these rams, each one was exceptional.

After a month of severe losses, this week’s market showed signs of a recovery, with exporters reporting that sales had been made, which finally gave the market a base.

The first day of selling saw further losses, resulting in the NRI shedding a further 27 cents, however during the last hour of selling (in the West) there was a noticeable change of tone, and fierce competition started to push prices back in a positive direction. The positive sentiment carried into the second selling day, and prices finally started to increase.

The MPGs generally rose by 30-40 cents, pushing the NRI up by 30 cents, closing the week 3 cents in the green at 1408.

The carding market also recorded a positive result for the series, as the limited lots on offer came under strong demand pushing them up by 10-30 cents.

The crossbred market was not forgotten with 26 to 28 microns rising by 5-10 cents.

27,923 bales are currently rostered for sale next week.

Source: AWEX

With many farmers across the Central West hand-feeding livestock, Local Land Services is reminding landholders that feral pigs will also help themselves to stock feed.

Invasive Species Team Leader Nigel Boyce said landholders are seeing an increase in feral pigs around feeding and water points, which can undermine hand-feeding programs and spread disease.

“The current drought conditions are seeing feral pigs seeking out feed and water from places they would normally avoid,“ Mr Boyce said. “They are proving quite resourceful in accessing feeders and other feeding points, and cohabitating with livestock to do so.”

Feral pigs joining livestock at feed and water points also greatly increases the chance of spreading disease. “Feral pigs can carry diseases such as leptospirosis and brucellosis, which can be spread to both livestock and humans with significant health implications,” Mr Boyce said.

While the situation is not ideal, it presents an opportunity to carry out trapping, baiting or a combination of both to effectively reduce the impact caused on agricultural production and the environment.

The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is warning people to get vaccinated and take other steps to guard against Q fever, as drought and high winds may increase the risk of the disease spreading. WNSWLHD Health Protection Manager, Priscilla Stanley, said so far this year there have been 47 confirmed cases of Q fever in the WNSWLHD area. In 2018, there were 41 confirmed cases of the disease in the area.
“Q fever is a serious bacterial infection caused by inhaling dust particles contaminated by infected animal secretions that does not just affect farmers or people who deal with livestock,” Priscilla said.

Nine-year-old Seth Whiteman, from a property near Yeoval contracted Q fever in May this year. Seth’s Mum, Brooke Ryan, said, “Seth had been helping on the farm, which included being exposed to animal fluids. Some of the other kids were sick too, but Seth wasn’t getting better. He had high temperatures, but was shivering and freezing cold to touch”.

“A single dose vaccine is recommended for people who work in high risk occupations and anyone over 15 years who has the potential to be exposed to Q fever,” added Priscilla.

The following steps can protect against Q fever:

• washing hands and arms thoroughly in soapy water after any contact with animals

• wearing a properly fitting mask when handling or disposing of animal products

• wearing protective clothing and thick gloves when working with high risk animals

• removing and washing dirty clothing, coveralls, boots and equipment in outdoor wash areas to prevent exposing other household residents

• washing animal urine, faeces, blood and other body fluids from equipment and surfaces.

21,787 bales were on offer this week, the lowest weekly quantity in 12 months. The small offering may have had a negative impact, as some exporters may not have been confident about being able to fill orders. The limited number of good style wools with favourable additional measurements were highly sought after, these wools recorded minimal change for the series. Lesser style lots and those carrying poor additional measurements lost 30- 50 cents, pushing the MPGs down by 20-40 cents.

The NRI lost 26 cents, closing the week at 1,883. The crossbred sector also tracked downward but not as steeply as the merinos, prices generally fell by 5-10 cents. 30.0 micron however managed a small increase for the week, the only quoted MPG to record positive movement for the series.

The cardings also lost further ground this week and are now 571 cents, from the record high set in September last year.

Next week will see 29,989 bales put before the trade, with Fremantle back-in after a week’s recess.

Source: AWEX

Tough is the word Lake Cargelligo grain grower Andrew McFadyen is using to describe the current seasonal conditions across much of New South Wales’ grain growing regions. He said reasonable rain was needed in the next three to four weeks to give winter crops a fighting chance after a dry summer and autumn.

“Grain growers are a resilient group, but the current situation is testing everyone in the agricultural sector, including regional communities,” Mr McFadyen said.

“In seasons like this, it is really important to remember we are all in this together and it’s always rained. It will turn around this time too.”

“In the Lake Cargelligo region, the past 18 months have been incredibly dry, and we are now at a point where we need rain in the next three to four weeks to give winter crops a chance, or in some cases to get winter crops in the ground.”

At Forbes, GRDC Northern Panel member Tony Hamilton said the season had been “very patchy” with reduced canola plantings, very little chickpea planted and some irrigation water available to carry over. “Irrigators are definitely disillusioned. But the planting decision window could extend from mid-June to July if the price outlook is good and we get some rain,” Mr Hamilton said.

At Wyalong, grower and GRDC Northern Panel member Roger Bolte said it was a similar situation despite 70mm in late March giving growers hope for a great autumn start to the season.

“We had another 50mm in early May and that helped set up some growers across this area, but the conditions vary significantly through this region,” he said.

“Wheat and barley are the main crops this season at the expense of canola and legumes. Canola could be back as much as 90% this year across this district. A small area of chickpeas and lupins will really round out what’s in the ground here.”