Western Plains Rural Report
Friday, January 9, 2009
Latest Report
1. Drought assistance troubles
Bogan shire mayor Ray Donald has raised concerns about farmers in his region still waiting to hear back about their Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought assistance.
Mr Donald says since Bogan shire had its EC status renewed in September there has been some rain, but farmers are still struggling to make ends meet.
The shire's EC status is due to be reviewed in March and Mr Donald expressed concerns applications would not be processed by that time.
But chair of the national rural advisory council (NRAC), Keith Perrett, says nationally there are 52 EC areas coming up for review in March.
Mr Perret says if Farmer's applications are not processed by their states rural assistance authority by that time farmers will still be considered and may be eligible for back pay.
He said when EC regions are reviewed NRAC will take into consideration time needed for farmers to recover from hard times.
2. The year that was from the saleyards
While about half of the Western plains area is still declared in drought, most places have received a higher than average rainfall over the past six months.
It did come at a pretty bad time for most people trying to harvest wheat, but those with livestock would have been pretty happy.
Bill Tatt, Dubbo livestock agent says November December were some of the best sales the Dubbo Saleyards have seen for a long while.
That trend seems to be continuing into 2009 with the first sale of the year on Monday seeing 22, 000 sheep and lambs yarded.
3. A life in the shearing shed
It's an often heard complaint that there aren't enough young people taking up the shearing game, tough working conditions and a shrinking sheep industry haven't made shearing an attractive career proposition for many young men and women,
And that's a shame according to Tom Carney who's 67 and still treading the boards at sheds across New South Wales.
Mr Carney says more young people, and particularly Aboriginal kids, should be encouraged to work in the shearing sheds, to not only hone their work skills, but to re-connect with bush culture.
3. Commodities
Wheat in Chicago overnight: The March contract fell 1 and a quarter US cents per bushel to finish on $6.12
Cotton on the New York Board of Trade: The March contract rose 95 points to close on 50.56 US cents a pound.
New South Wales Features
Spurs dig, chaps fly at rodeo
Cowboys and cowgirls gave it their best shot on both horse and bull in front of a crowd of thousands at the Wingham Summertime Rodeo on the NSW mid-north coast.
Cowboy up for the Wingham Rodeo
Throwing on his chaps for one of the first rodeos of year will be 2008 PBR Australian Champion Bull Rider Pete Farley.
Having a bell on Christmas
What flower did the early settlers use to celebrate Christmas? It was a red and yellow bell flower from New South Wales.
An ancient sport getting people fit
People are turning to dragon boat racing as a way to get fit and meet new people.
Second generation locust hatching
A second generation of locusts has started hatching in the Riverina.
Touring Australia's shearing history
Take a personal tour of the Errowanbang shed. Built in the late 1800s, the 40-stand shed is multi-level and still in use today.
Broken Hill's mining history captured through mineral art
Usually you'd associate minerals with making items like mobile phones, houses or cars - but what about using minerals to make art?
Healthy lifestyle plan cooked up in Goulburn
Once vandalised railway buildings in the New South Wales city of Goulburn have been given new life, as a place to learn new life skills, including healthy cooking.
Bushies Day Out at Bulga
Tales of rum drinking horses and bullock cuts to the throat make this small town rodeo legendary.
Getting the crop off before the rains
Farmers across the NSW grain belt are working around the clock to finish harvest before the rains.
