Jake Passfield, Hoch & Wilkinson Clermont, advised me that the Clermont Show was held on May 30 with a very good line up of cattle, and the yarding consisted of 500 prime and 250 store cattle.
The Grand Champion Exhibit went to Steve and Lizzie Burnett, Monteagle, while the most successful exhibitor went to Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantaur Park.
Jake added that the season around the Clermont district is very patchy with the town being on the edge of the good rain. To the north and east of town is good but was late coming with cyclone Debbie, but to the west and south of town is marginal.
With the late rain there was a very small summer crop plant in the district, while on the back of the late rain we have seen a big winter crop plant with mainly chickpea.
Jake said cattle were weighing very well at the moment with big winter rain last year and a late start this year.
On July 12 the complete breeding herd dispersal sale will be held for the late Bill and Dorrie Appleton, Native Bee, Clermont, with a yarding of 850 breeders, to be either PTIC or cow and calf units at the Clermont Saleyards.
As Native Bee has been sold, this marks the end of another era.
NSW and Victoria border news
My old Vic and NSW border mate from Moama, Bill Grant, advised me that the Victorian Wimmera and Mallee district are copping a mice plague in enormous size.
The shortage of bait in these areas is not helping. He added that mice are grazing with growing crops eaten down to ground level.
Grain Growers say they are as bad as 2011. At night the ground is just a moving mass.
Big rain would do well and let’s hope it arrives soon.
By the way, Bill Grant and I catch up every year when Bill and his southern mates (all QCL avid readers) make the pilgrimage north the Brisbane for the Ekka. So I suppose this year it could be my first “shout”.