The Farmers Club Newsletter

The “Club Notes” for Tuesday, the 9th of January 2024.

By Dwain Duxson

If you can, please get your family, friends and colleagues to sign up. See the website link here.

Rain - The good the bad and the opportunity

It's devastating that some will be going through another flood situation, and our hearts go out to those affected. And we feel for those that are still to finish Harvestesting. Also, some haven't had any rain yet. These Summer rainfall events we have had over the Christmas/New Year period could set many up for season 2024. Each of us will see the opportunity a little differently, but it's worth sitting down, putting half an hour aside and thinking about how you can best take advantage of the situation. And yes, there will be some trade-offs. For the Cropping guys, it will mean extra Spraying, which is an extra expense. But it's sorta a good expense if there is ever such a thing. Livestock Farmers are up and about also; rain and moisture equal Grass, but the slight recovery in the markets is also a bonus. The trade-off might be more expensive buy-in prices. Where abouts do you see the opportunity for 2024? Reply to [email protected]

Did MLA leave out Australia Day?

I see where MLA has pumped out another Red Meat advertisement, this time with a focus on Lamb. Watch it here. I'm assuming this is the Australia Day ad, but there seems to be no mention of Australia Day. Has MLA decided against promoting Lamb for Australia Day because it's become controversial? Hmmmmm, a bit woke, very interesting. That's another story for another day. We were all calling for some extra marketing by MLA, well, some of us were, and they are certainly pumping them out, as this is the 2nd one in as many months. Will there be more? The question many will ask is, are they a good use of levy payers funds? MLA has thrown some money at some weird and wonderful things over the years, but anything like this that keeps Red Meat front of mind when entering the store is a good thing. I'm not a free-to-air TV watcher, so I'm wondering if they are advertised on that medium. Personally, I don't think they have to go to that expense as these ads are built for social media, and that's where most people will consume them. Do you think Red Meat promotions like this are a good use of levies? Why do you think they haven't mentioned Australia Day? Reply to [email protected]

The great Beef Bonanza 

If you are at all interested in Beef or Agricultural History in general then I have got a ripper podcast for you. Take a listen here. This Future of Agriculture podcast takes you through the evolution of the Cattle industry in the US and how they pushed the Bison to extinction. They created a Cattle boom in the 1860s, which initially advantaged the Cattle Rancher, but the balance of power was then shifted onto the Meat Packing industry, which developed once the Cattle arrived. The infrastructure created during this boom set the industry up for many years ahead. That's one thing about booms: they lay down a lot of good infrastructure, which can then be used to advantage when times are not so good. I won't spoil it for you, but I thoroughly recommend you put the 53 minutes aside for a listen. Reply to [email protected]

Your replies

Below is where we take some of the most relevant comments from your replies. All quotes will remain nameless. See a few current ones below:

• “Yes things have changed. We have had a recent increase in brass water meter theft in the mid-north of South Australia. This has caused great distress to Livestock Producers as their stock are out of water until SA Water are able to repair these meters. SA Water has had to employ a second team to help restore water meters, which is detrimental to all of us financially in the longer term”. - In regard to our Rural crime Note from the other day

• “But now there are Dorpers around, to keep them in, a barbwire is being put 2 to 3 inches under the bottom of the cyclone wire to make them respect a new fence”. - In reply to our Farm Tender Daily story on Barbed Wire.

• “We had 180mm overnight”. - Farmer near Heathcote in Central Victoria.

• “Interesting that the exact same thing happened to one of my colleagues in June in Goondiwindi, where a gang broke into a motel room next to my colleague and took the guy’s ute. They then came back later to have another crack, but a group of guys chased them away. Apparently, the gang did 4 other motels that night”. - In reply to our Note about the crimewave being experienced in Goondiwindi.

• “176mm for us near Cunnamulla” - Grazier’s total out in South West Queensland.

End of message.

Dwain Duxson
0427 011 900

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