What's Hot in Farming

Extracted from the Farm Tender weekly Newsletter - Sign up and get the email every Wednesday morning before 5 am. www.farmtender.com.au

By Dwain Duxson

See our latest fortnightly Hay Report here.

Last weekend my wife Paula and I drove from the Gold Coast to Mildura and then home to Central Victoria. It was nearly a straight line from the NE corner to the SW corner of NSW.

What did we see?

On the whole, things look exceptional. The New England region was its wintery self but had a bulk of feed, and stocking rates looked pretty high. 

Down the hill past Tamworth to Gunnedah and onto Coonabarbran, things looked good, albeit late Winter Crops due to the wet season. Most of the Cotton Crops we saw were in the bale.

We went through the Warrumbungle National Park and headed across to Collie (we caught up with Tom at the Collie Hotel, more on that later), where things looked as though they were drying out somewhat. 

I was talking to a couple of Farmers in the pub, and one said he had just finished Cropping and had to resow 1500 acres, and the other 4500 acres will be much later than usual. The other guy had about a week and a half to go still. It's been a delayed Seeding period, but the moisture is there, and they are confident that the Crops will catch up once the warmer weather hits. 

We ventured through Warren and past the Auscott site, where it was a sea of blue, yellow and pink Cotton bales.

We stopped at Cobar and then angled across to Ivanhoe, Mungo and into Mildura. The Pastoral country looked magnificent with a bevy of winter feed and what looked like a good body of moisture for growth when the weather starts warming up.

We then travelled down the Calder Highway, where the Mallee Crops looked outstanding. However, I was a little surprised at the lack of Canola. I guess these guys follow their rotations.

It was great to see things looking well, as we all need this season to come off.

It was a solid last 7 days for sales without being spectacular.

The overall trends were Urea (through the PAC), Vetch Hay, Tractors, Working Dogs, GPS Equipment, Silos (new and old), Windrowers, Farm Trucks, Oaten hay, Chemicals (PAC) and Spreaders.

We have been busy selling Urea over the last 3 weeks.

From July 1 we are changing the commission prices of a couple of categories. These prices will only apply for items listed after July 1. For those items currently listed up until June 30, the old prices will remain. This is our first price increase in over 9 years.

It's been a bit quieter on the Grain front. We sold some parcels of Faba Beans for $475 and $500 a tonne.

All prices are ex Farm.

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This is what the sales guys said happened this week:

Shane said - A steady week without breaking any records with no real trends. With EOFY around the corner, we have seen some sales happen quickly, but most accountants are getting their clients to hold off any more spending until 1st July.

Paul said - Paul is on sick leave.

Mike said - Machinery is still selling well, with Tractors being the biggest seller in the last week. Tillage Equipment is selling well also. Hay and Hay gear is starting to fire up. Many are starting to think about what they will do in the near future, whether they let it go through the Grain or cut for Hay. 

Many farmers in Southern Queensland and Central and Northern New South Wales are replanting or continuing to plant. There seems to be a shortage of short-season varieties of Wheat. 

Another rain event appears to be heading towards Queensland at the end of this week hope everyone gets their Crops in.

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Keep those listings coming and see what else sold here.

End of message.