Brahman Week
An overwhelmingly positive vibe was rampant at the 2016 Rockhampton Brahman Week sale, which topped at $150,000.
This year, 822 bulls sold to gross $9,681,000, topping at $150,000.
The Johnson family, Grafton, sold polled sire Jomanda El Toro 802 for a record price of $150,000 to Darren and Sue Kent of the Ooline Brahman Stud, Goovigen.
Property gains
A run of rural property sales in southern Queensland suggested a continuation in the overall improvement of values, particularly for cattle and mixed farming properties.
Toowoomba-based Herron Todd White valuer Stephen Cameron said activity was being driven primarily by cattle prices. Sales included Oakwood at Augethella, Strathblane, Scotts Creek and Wybara north east of Roma, Ballaroo, Roma, and Fairview and Ekari Park, south of Mitchell.
Cape’s first live export in 7 years
The first live export boat to leave Weipa in almost a decade loaded with cattle from Cape York Peninsula sailed in mid October, bound for Indonesia.
The almost 2000 head of cattle were loaded by volunteers, cattle producers and members of the Cape York Peninsula Live Export Group, onto a boat chartered by Austrex.
Cattle order limits under fire
LIMITING livestock buyers to one order would put many out of business, have unintended negative consequences on competition for stock and would likely lead to the closure of smaller saleyards.
That was the feedback from processors, livestock agents and buyers as talk of a voluntary code of practice for buyers ramped up in September.
Evictions under review
QUEENSLAND’s farmer bashing environment minister Steven Miles’ competence was brought into question after is was revealed a cattle property in the process of being seized by the Palaszczuk government was wrongly identified as national park.
Biggenden landholders Sharon and Rob Lohse used freedom of information laws to obtain documents showing the necessary assessment of her family's leasehold country was not carried out.
Dirran in crisis
Enrolments at Dirranbandi State School have halved over the past two years as the local community struggles to deal with the flow-on effects of the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s water buybacks.
Businesses are also impacted, according to Karena Wilson who owns The Linen Cupboard in the town’s main street.
“The loss of custom from four irrigation farms selling their water is noticeable,” Mrs Wilson said.
Whyalla wins
NIPPONHAM Group’s Whyalla Feedlot at Texas is named the Elanco Feedot of the Year during the Beefex2016 conference’s gala awards dinner on the Gold Coast.
The 50,000 head feedlot feeds predominantly Angus cattle, which are processed through the company’s meatworks at Oakey and Wingham.
Whyalla is also recognised for its QA and product integrity systems.
Rain drives cattle prices
THE rush to secure store cattle continued unabated, driven by the ongoing shortage of cattle.
With rain severely restricting numbers at selling centres across eastern Australia, MLA’s EYCI closed unchanged on near record levels of 719 points as producers scrambled for cattle to put on grass and oats crops.
Brothers Tommy, William and Harry Grayson (pictured) sold Simmental-cross steers for 345.2c at the GNF bullock show in Warwick.
Bollgard 3
AUSTRALIAN cotton producers proved their appetite for new technology, which led to over 95pc of this year’s cotton likely to feature the Bollgard 3 trait.
The new traits allow farmers a wider planting window and have fewer restrictions.
Growers choice
Cane growers supplying MSF Sugar mills in the Maryborough, Cairns and Tableland districts were the first in Queensland to be guaranteed choice in sugar marketing.
Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri said it was the final piece of a new structure for MSF Sugar and growers who reached the historic first new Cane Supply Agreements (CSAs) in May under the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Bill 2015.
QCWA Conference
THE Queensland Country Women’s Association may be known for baking, sewing and knitting – but an emphasis on the changing dynamic of the organisation was at the forefront at their State conference held in Gladstone, with some CWA groups now meeting at yoga, or at the theatre.
