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Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 2 July 2024

WEEKLY rainfall totals of 25-50mm were recorded in many areas in the west of Western Australia, south-eastern Australia, north-west New South Wales extending into north-east South Australia, and south-west and central-eastern Queensland…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, July 2, 2024

Live Export

Senate passes law to ban Australia’s live sheep exports by sea

THE ALBANESE Government’s policy to ban live sheep exports by sea from Australia on 1 May 2028 was passed into law tonight, despite vocal opposition from several Nationals, Liberal and Independent senators…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Live Export

Government cuts live sheep debate before vote tonight

LEGISLATION to end live sheep exports by sea was debated in the Senate today, limited by a government ‘guillotine’ motion as a Keep The Sheep delegation arrived in Canberra to lobby key senators…Read More

Terry Sim, July 1, 2024

Nutrition & Animal Health

Feedgrain Focus: Grazier demand bolsters easing values

AS GLOBAL markets respond to the weight of the Northern Hemisphere harvest, feedgrain values in south-eastern Australia are finding support from grazier demand…Read More

Liz Wells, July 1, 2024

Research & Development

MLA’s $300m operating budget for 2024/25: How will it be spent?

INDUSTRY service delivery company Meat & Livestock Australia has released its annual investment plan for the 2024-25 year ahead…Read More

Jon Condon, July 1, 2024

Prime & Store Sheep Reports

Crossbred and composite lamb prices improve online

PRICES for most categories of lambs were firm to higher on AuctionsPlus last week, with clearance levels showing buyers’ clear preferences for crossbred, composite and shedding breed lines…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Weather

Below average July rainfall likely for Australia’s far south

BELOW average rainfall is likely – 60 to 70 percent chance – across much of far southern Australia including Tasmania in July, according to the Bureau of Meteorology…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Recruitment

Recruitment: ‘More to Meat’ campaign targets meat workers

THE Australian Meat Processor Corporation’s latest round of advertising as part of its More to Meat campaign has recently wrapped up, before it recommences later in the year…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Carbon

Denmark to bring in $144.5/head methane tax

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Domestic Lamb

Terang baker’s first lamb pie is a trans-Tasman winner

Terry Sim, June 28, 2024

Sheep meat

NZ lamb output set to moderate as Australian turn-off peaks

Sheep Central, June 28, 2024

Live Export

Teal MP backs off live sheep ban, others target cattle exports

Eric Barker, June 28, 2024

Live Export

Nationals Senate push for a live sheep export inquiry fails, but …..

Terry Sim, June 27, 2024

Property

Blackall’s certified organic powerhouse makes $25.5m

By property editor Linda Rowley, June 28, 2024

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 2 July 2024

Bureau of Meteorology, July 2, 2024

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

Aust. Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) - $/tonne of CO2 equiv.

Today

34.25

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6660

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

03 Jul 2024 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.96
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.52
Graincorp	$7.29
Ridley	$2.12
Woolworths	$36.64
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-3.90

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

748.4

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1142

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

Goat

Eastern States 12.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

Source: MLA

ASX Market Index

03 Jul 2024 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.96
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.52
Graincorp	$7.29
Ridley	$2.12
Woolworths	$36.64
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

What readers are saying

Government cuts live sheep debate before vote tonight

As a sheep producer from another state, it is staggering to read the absurd comments coming from politicians to get votes. Everyone else has moved away from this trade.....

David Griggs

Nationals Senate push for a live sheep export inquiry fails, but …..

I’m writing to implore you and your fellow Senators to vote against the live sheep export ban now before parliament. My sister has predominantly been a sheep farmer in WA....

Dennis Bell

Opinion: Live sheep ban, through a different lens

We strongly support the ban of live animal export. I've seen pictures and reports the sufferings of the animals on the cruel journey which made my family heartbroken.....

Shirley Trezise

Prime Minister called out on ‘keep the sheep’ comments

The government should leave the sheep industry to the farmers. They know what they are doing and are the best ones to know how to run this industry. They’re....

Kerry Lee Angel

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 2 July 2024

Bureau of Meteorology, July 2, 2024

Below average July rainfall likely for Australia’s far south

BELOW average rainfall is likely – 60 to 70 percent chance – across much of far southern Australia including Tasmania in July, according to the Bureau of Meteorology…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Recruitment: ‘More to Meat’ campaign targets meat workers

THE Australian Meat Processor Corporation’s latest round of advertising as part of its More to Meat campaign has recently wrapped up, before it recommences later in the year…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

NZ lamb output set to moderate as Australian turn-off peaks

NEW Zealand lamb output is likely to moderate later this year as Australian production increases, according to Meat & Livestock Australia…Read More

Sheep Central, June 28, 2024

Markets

Crossbred and composite lamb prices improve online

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Chinese wool buying escalates as prices dip in season’s last sales

WOOL prices dropped in all categories except some crossbred wools this week in the last sales of the 2023-24 season, led by increased Chinese buying as values fell…Read More

Sheep Central, June 28, 2024

Forward wool market lacks liquidity as auction prices drift down

FORWARD wool trading again suffered from lack of liquidity this week, with auction values finishing the season on a downward trend as the spot market continued to be governed by the ‘just in time’ strategy of offshore buyers…Read More

Guest Author, June 28, 2024

Online buyers favour lambs over breeding sheep as season bites

MIXED competition met a slightly smaller online offering of sheep and lambs on AuctionsPlus last week, but clearances were noticeably stronger for lamb categories than for breeding sheep…Read More

Sheep Central, June 24, 2024

MLA’s $300m operating budget for 2024/25: How will it be spent?

INDUSTRY service delivery company Meat & Livestock Australia has released its annual investment plan for the 2024-25 year ahead…Read More

Jon Condon, July 1, 2024

Lamb producers spread grain to maximise lamb and ewe survival

WESTERN Victorian sheep producers forced to lamb down ewes on rain-starved sub-optimal pastures have successfully spread grains and pulses in lambing paddocks as a substitute for the current lack of pasture…Read More

Terry Sim and Liz Wells, June 26, 2024

Victorian sheep farmer pleads guilty to aggravated cruelty

A NORTHERN Victorian farmer has pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated cruelty involving sheep, and been fined $2000 and ordered to do 100 hours of community service…Read More

Sheep Central, June 26, 2024

Wool Production

Feedgrain Focus: Grazier demand bolsters easing values

AS GLOBAL markets respond to the weight of the Northern Hemisphere harvest, feedgrain values in south-eastern Australia are finding support from grazier demand…Read More

Liz Wells, July 1, 2024

Feedgrain Focus: Prices drop as south’s season gains ground

SOFTENING world values, southern rain, and the impending end of free warehousing at GrainCorp have all pushed more grain on to the market last week…Read More

Liz Wells, June 24, 2024

Feedgrain Focus: Southern dry boosts local demand

DRY conditions in South Australia and western Victoria have boosted demand for feed barley to lift up-country prices above weakening export values…Read More

Liz Wells, June 14, 2024

Fungi gives cropping and sheep operation its latest lift

INTRODUCTION of beneficial fungi is boosting yields and building soil carbon on the Nicholson family’s 4000ha mixed-farming operation at Pinnacle, south of Forbes in the Central West of New South Wales…Read More

Liz Wells, June 14, 2024

Processing

WoolProducers Australia pursues processing options in Vietnam

PEAK wool grower body WoolProducers Australia is continuing to pursue early-stage processing opportunities in Vietnam…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2024

PALM change too late to incite shearing industry interest

A CHANGE to the weekly minimum work hour requirement under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme seems to have arrived too late to benefit the shearing industry…Read More

Terry Sim, June 7, 2024

Shearers get quality tips at women’s shearing workshop

QUALITY was the key to keeping shearing jobs in the current more competitive environment, female shearers were told at a two-day Shear N Gear shearing workshop in north-west Victoria last week…Read More

Terry Sim, June 3, 2024

Quarterly national lamb slaughter highest on record – ABS

AUSTRALIA has recorded its highest quarterly lamb slaughter on record from January to March this year of almost 7 million head…Read More

Sheep Central, May 17, 2024

Trade

Senate passes law to ban Australia’s live sheep exports by sea

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Government cuts live sheep debate before vote tonight

Terry Sim, July 1, 2024

Terang baker’s first lamb pie is a trans-Tasman winner

WESTERN Victorian baker Brad Burkitt is a new convert to lamb, after he helped Australia win the ANZ Bake 2024 teams event with his first gourmet pies made with the meat…Read More

Terry Sim, June 28, 2024

Teal MP backs off live sheep ban, others target cattle exports

WITH the live sheep ban passing the house of representatives and heading for the senate, members of the crossbench have started the campaign against live cattle exports…Read More

Eric Barker, June 28, 2024

Property

Blackall’s certified organic powerhouse makes $25.5m

THIS week’s property review includes this wrap up of recently completed sales, and details on recent listings across the country…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, June 28, 2024

$40m+ sought for for blue ribbon NSW property

THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of interesting recent listings across the country…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, June 14, 2024

Feedlot, farming and cropping opportunities for sale

THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of interesting recent listings across the country, across Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, June 7, 2024

Property market changing with more supply

SEVERAL years ago, demand for rural property was outstripping supply, but this has reversed, with a flood of properties on the market, as property editor Linda Rowley found in her latest property review….Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, May 31, 2024

AgCarbon Central

Denmark to bring in $144.5/head methane tax

DENMARK has become the latest country to make plans for taxing livestock methane emissions – with its government making a deal with its dairy industry to implement a $144.5 (672 krone)/cow/year tax by 2030…Read More

Sheep Central, July 1, 2024

Coalition to ditch 2030 emissions target: what does it mean for ag?

THE Federal Opposition has set the tone for its next election campaign, pledging to reverse the Federal Government’s 2030 emissions target…Read More

Eric Barker, June 11, 2024

MLA’s Carbon EDGE program heads to Tasmania for the first time

MEAT & Livestock Australia will run two Carbon EDGE program workshops in Tasmania for the first time next month…Read More

Sheep Central, June 7, 2024

‘Silver bullet’ needed for livestock producers to reduce emissions

LIVESTOCK producers will need an easily adopted and managed “silver bullet” to achieve substantive sustainable carbon emission reductions on farms, Paraway’s ‘Net Zero: Better for Business’ field day was told last week…Read More

Terry Sim, May 29, 2024

Beef Central

Renewable energy forums to kick off in Miles next week

A series of Queensland community renewable energy forums will kick off in Miles next week, with more to regional events to follow...Read More

Ten useful tips to help avoid dark cutting/high PH penalties

Partitioning slaughter cattle drawn from separate paddocks on separate vendor declarations before consignment, and avoiding overnight lairage before slaughter were listed among a bunch of handy tips to help mitigate..Read More

CA urged to go “toe-to-toe” with environmental groups on deforestation

Cattle Australia has been urged to go “toe-to-toe” with environmental groups on deforestation targets, as the organisation works towards developing a definition of deforestation in the Australian context...Read More

Picking the EYCI 12 months out: What can we learn from our forecasts so far?

‘It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future’, is a maxim (attributed to Yogi Berra, an American baseball player and coach) that I subscribe to. Another is Warren…..Read More

Grain Central

Asbestos impacts services at South Perth DPIRD site

An asbestos issue in mid-June has shut down the DPIRD South Perth site, where around 300 personnel were working at the time in mainly grain and livestock-related fields...Read More

Perdaman on track as other urea projects stymied

The dream of multi-site domestic urea production has suffered a setback, with WA's Strike Energy abandoning Project Haber and SA's NeuRizer announcing indefinite delays at Leigh Creek...Read More

Narrogin to host WA’s inaugural OATSPO

Narrogin, in the heart of WA's oat-growing area, is hosting its inaugural OATSPO in September to bring together researchers, growers and industry stakeholders...Read More

Victoria’s Australian Plant Proteins enters administration

Pulse isolates manufacturer Australian Plant Proteins has entered voluntary administration, with hopes a buyer or investor can step in to allow operations to continue. ..Read More