The Boundary Rider’s Report January 2024

The New Year is off and running.  We trust everyone has had an opportunity to relax, and enjoy time off with family and friends.  We wish everyone a prosperous New Year ahead.  Tom and Ben have had a break over Christmas and New Years.  While, for us the School holidays have been great with Abbott & Arthur on deck to help out with many jobs around the farm.  We really appreciate the daily contribution of our team.

Bald Blair

This year's Bull Sale will be held once again on the first Tuesday in August, the 6th at 1 pm.  Once again we will have on offer a strong lineup of Bulls Rising Two Years, Bulls rising 18 Months and Yearling Bulls also.   We will also be offering a group of Bulls, 18 Months of age for sale in the Autumn, by Private Treaty for those clients who wish to consider purchasing Bulls for Autumn Joining.  Anyone wishing to discuss their bull breeding needs, please do not hesitate to call 0438 792 140 or email me samwhite@baldblair.com.au.

Don’t forget, anyone interested in the Bredwell Fedwell workshop to be held on Bald Blair, to check out details below.

Our time is currently spent weaning the last of our lambs, tagging autumn calves, weed spraying and getting ready for cattle preg testing.  In addition we are preparing our country for new pastures which we will start sowing in early February.     

Seasonal Update at Bald Blair

We had good rain throughout Christmas and New Year and January, to date we have received from 64 mm of rain at Bald Blair, up to 84 mm in places to the east of here.    Grass is growing rapidly, our stock are doing well.  We look forward to more rain in the coming weeks.  With an impending Cyclone up North there could be changes to our weather in the next few days. 

Market Update

Kirsty has attached a link to the MLA market report, a very strong turn around from last year in the pricing of cattle, currently.

There are good prices being paid for new season weaners down South, and one would expect this to continue in the New England in the coming months, when weaners will be turned off.   I see this as necessary in the current season to lighten off for winter;  the dry Sept/Oct saw a lot of pastures pressured, which need recovery, in preparation for winter.

 https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/cattle/eycireport/. 

NSW Farms of the Future

With the assistance of the NSW Farms of the Future program, we were able to upgrade our water monitoring systems at Bald Blair, Kolora and Gatwood.  Our Observant systems were 3G and about to be made redundant, so we (read: Abbott White) upgraded & installed all 4 units and they are operating well.  Thank you to Phil Whitten, Farm Monitoring Solutions, +61 488 093970/ 1800 848482, phil@farmmonitoringsolutions.com.au https://farmmonitoringsolutions.com.au/ and Justin Matthews, Development Officer, Climate | Farms of the Future | #FoTF, Department of Primary Industries, M 0491 462 592   E justin.matthews@dpi.nsw.gov.au, Farms of the Future overview | Department of Primary Industries (nsw.gov.au)

Trees

Another 1200 mixed native trees and shrubs have been planted at Bald Blair and the recent rain has provided an excellent start to their life.  Thank you Black Mountain Nursery for the trees and the Walcha lads, Steph and Simon for planting.  We look forward to seeing the next shade and shelter belt grow, grow, grow.

Pastures: Prograze course available in 2024

PROGRAZE™ looks at how pasture and livestock interact to provide a basis for more efficient and effective grazing systems. It covers key topics namely in pasture assessment, livestock assessment and plant species recognition, and will explore how these skills can be used in daily decision making on farm.  Prograze sessions are 3-4 hours, run across 8 days over the course of 6 months.  -- Dates – looking to commence mid to late February 2024.

Link to register your interest: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IYjvljkqHEe4mmewgz3TuYOA_n4IfVZIkFDGLq6b_P1UNTRHVldNUFZHT1FJTE1DMkY4V1NZNkw3WCQlQCN0PWcu&web=1&wdLOR=cB209C22D-9F18-4253-8867-9C200F1B499E

Change of Date: BredWell FedWell

We are very appreciative of the opportunity to host a BredWell FedWell this year.  So keep Friday 22 March 2024 free, this workshop will be held here at Bald Blair, Guyra.  These workshops are very good and well worth attending. https://www.mla.com.au/extension-training-and-tools/Bred-Well-Fed-Well/ 

Workshops are aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of producers so they can:

• develop a customised breeding plan for their livestock enterprise aligned to their profit drivers
• identify sires and select animals that help them meet their objectives
• feed animals well to achieve their objectives and maximise their genetic investment.

Event Flyer: https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/news-and-events/documents/flyers/20240322-bwfw-guyra-rego.pdf 

Registration form: https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/news-and-events/documents/flyers/20240322-bwfw-guyra-rego.pdf

Learning: Getting Started with Breedplan

Conducted by the ABRI Extension Services team, the Getting Started with BREEDPLAN workshops are designed for beef breeders who are new to BREEDPLAN, and would like to learn more about the BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation. These online workshops will run for approximately one hour, and are offered free of charge. Each workshop will be capped at a maximum of 10 participants.  These are worth having a look at, there are many improvements occurring each year.

Topics covered include:

- What are BREEDPLAN EBVs and why are they needed

- Performance recording

- Submitting data

- Use of DNA information

- BREEDPLAN reporting

- Where to access assistance

- Live demonstration of the online web services area

LOCATION: Online event access details will be provided by the event organiser

Check out this course https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1147979

Meat & Livestock Australia: Lamb Video

The latest “share the lamb” advertising video is now available.  Have you seen it?  If  not check it out here.

https://youtu.be/V1e0apyGASc?si=Vx wuSM-GTZokky

Next Generation: AngusYouth Roundup

Congratulations to the AngusYouth Roundup team on conducting another great roundup this year in Tamworth. The Angus Youth National Roundup is an annual event aimed at individuals aged 8 to 25 in the Australian beef cattle industry. It features cattle-related competitions, educational sessions, and team-building activities. Hosted by Angus Youth, the event relies on partners for support and has grown in popularity as a valuable learning platform, networking opportunity, and chance to compete for prizes and scholarships, fostering a new generation's interest and involvement in the beef industry. We really appreciated the opportunity to sponsor the roundup again this year and contribute to the auction and fundraiser with Lot 1: Kelly’s Cottage Farm Stay

and congratulations to the successful bidder: U8J Cattle Co (Salter Family), we look forward to hosting your stay.  Over $49,000 was raised for the Angus Foundation. 

Click here for more information: https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/angus-youth/roundup/2024-tamworth

Events: World Angus Forum

The World Angus Forum 2025 is a global gathering for cattle enthusiasts, breeders, and industry leaders, offering a platform for learning, networking, and celebrating the Angus Community. Hosted by Angus Australia in 2025, with the aim of strengthening global connections within the Angus breed. It provides a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, promote the Angus breed worldwide, and advance cattle breeding and management practices. With borders fading away, it's a must-attend event for those passionate about Angus excellence and the cattle industry. Don't miss this chance to be part of a worldwide celebration.  We are really excited to be part of the World Angus Forum pre tour. See details below.

Pre & Post Tour - World Angus Forum (worldangusforum2025.com)

Listening: The Profitable Farmer

The grass is growing and we are mowing!  The best thing about mowing is being able to listen to podcasts.  One podcast series you may be familiar with is The Profitable Farmer.  Episode 127 covers the huge topic of succession on family farms with the very experienced expert, Isobel Knight from ProAgtive. Click here for the link: https://site.farmownersacademy.com/profitablefarmer/succession-or-just-good-business/#

Apps: Farm Safety

We are all very aware of the importance of farm safety and if something does go wrong being able to get emergency services to rural and remote locations urgently.  We recently discovered a new app called Emergency Plus: click here for the link https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/ Download this app on your phone and have access to emergency services phone number and also your gps location in latitude and longitude which we hope will save critical time in an accident.  Hopefully you will never need to use it.  Please keep safe in the workplace.

Watching: Muster Dogs

Five adorable Australian Border Collie puppies set out into the world to meet their new owners, establishing a lifelong bond as they take their first steps to becoming a Champion Muster Dog.

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/muster-dogs

Watching: Ted Lasso

American football coach Ted Lasso is hired by a wealthy divorcée to coach the English soccer team AFC Richmond. We were late to the Ted Lasso party! Which meant we didn’t have to wait for each episode to drop! 

https://tv.apple.com/au/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy

Reading

Kirsty: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride https://www.jamesmcbride.com/

Sam: Australia’s Secret Army by MIchael Veitch https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/australias-secret-army 

Abbott: The Crucible by Arthur Miller (not his choice - but for year 12!)

Arthur: The Percy Jackson series on https://www.borrowbox.com/

Keep in touch and let us know how your preg test results are going, what courses you are doing, what you are listening to, watching and reading.  Happy to share any good content with our Bald Bald Angus community and see you all soon. 

Sam & Kirsty