The cattle market over the past week has improved for most lines of store cattle and firmed a shade for heavier feeder and export meatworks type cattle.
Rainfall has been extremely patchy with some properties over the Western Downs and Maranoa receiving up to 100mm and others very little. However it appears that enough country has received the rain to enable the market to handle fairly substantial numbers that have come forward over the past fortnight.
Roma, for example, yarded 8136 last week and met strong competition from a large panel of buyers. Southern re-stockers were particularly strong on the backgrounder steers. Roma has booked 6800 for this week’s sale and agents have reported very good inquiry on the sale.
Dave Carter, manager of Blackall Saleyards, told me the Black Stump Bull Sale was shaping up well with 90 excellent bulls being offered on Tuesday. Nine vendors offered the multi breed bulls. Blackall Combined Agents will conduct a store and weaner sale on Thursday March 30. Agents are hoping to yard around 2500 cattle, however weather conditions could change the numbers.
There were reports of 75-80mm in the Jericho district, up to 70mm around Tambo and 20mm at Thornleigh, Blackall earlier this week. Blackall-Tambo Shire Council is planning to build a viewing platform at the Blackall Saleyards.
Roma cattle breeder and crop grower Charles Nason, Banoona, told me he had attended the Queensland Murray Darling Climate and Weather workshop in Roma on March 1. A workshop was also held in Mitchell on February 28. Rhonda Toms-Morgan, who organised the two-day workshops, said 20 graziers and crop growers attended. Speakers included:
- Roger Stone, USQ Professor of Climatology and Water Sciences (International Centre for Applied Climate Sciences).
- Grazing Consultant, Col Paton (Ecorich Grazing).
- QMDC Climate Change Officer Rhonda Toms-Morgan.
The agenda included:
- Local examples of rainfall and temperature variability.
- How to interpret forecasting products such as the ENSO, SOI trends, MJO and ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting) maps.
- How to use weather forecasting tools for grazing land and property fire planning management.
Rhonda told me that the workshops were held in response to a call from landholders to get a better handle on how to make timely property management decisions based on weather forecasts. She said that feedback was overwhelmingly positive with attendees asking for follow up workshops so they could apply their new climate knowledge. Rhonda is hopeful of getting more funding to hold more workshops across the Maranoa.
