WOOL producers are positive of hooking in to some solid returns for their clip as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator continues to lift, closing on 1242 cents last week.
The shearing shed at Habnarey, south-west of Dirranbandi, is one place the familiar buzz of electrical handpieces has been heard singing of late.
Five shearers worked for six days last week to shear 5690 weaners - the August and September 2014 drop consisting of 4520 ewes and 1170 wethers.
The Fletchers-owned operation has another 2800 weaners on agistment north of Brewarrina. The whiff of sweat and lanolin in the air is set to return when they are shorn at the end of this week.
Station manager Bruce Finlayson said the wool was "coming off quite well", considering the difficult season.
"It is sound and not containing too much Vm [vegetable matter] or dust," he said.
"The short wools are in demand at the moment, and we would be hoping it would make the 1200 to 1250c/kg clean range - which we would be happy with."
Co-ordinating staff, stock movements in and out of the yards, as well as feeding requirements for the stock are all in a day's work for Mr Finlayson during shearing.
"We have a very reliable shearing team, so it is quite straight forward - only five stands operating."
The time is comparatively less frantic than their main shearing time in January/February each year, where all 10 stands are usually operating to pass 20,000 to 22,500 head over the boards.
Only 16,500 ewes were shorn this year. Like many properties in the area, Habnarey has been battling dry conditions since late 2012. With the current rolling rainfall of 219mm less than half the annual average of 450mm, Mr Finlayson has had to cut back their flock considerably.
"Our numbers have dropped from joining 22,000 ewes on Habnarey to 7100 ... with the balance on agistment and the cfa (cast for age) being processed at Dubbo."
