Herald 20171205

HIGH COUNTRY
FARMING
Avocado prices unlikely to fall as crop forecast cut
An early start to the storm
season and a lower than expected
fruit set means Australia is
unlikely to hit its original avocado
production target for 2017-
18.
Prices for avocados look set
to be maintained as a result.
Sharing in the prospects for
lower production and good prices
are avocado producers north
of Toowoomba, in Cabarlah,
Hampton, Ravensbourne, Mt
Binga and Blackbutt.
QUALITY STORE CATTLE
25 Charbray/Droughtmaster Steers
12-14 mths $715
20 Braford/Droughtmaster Steers
12-14 mths $695
25 Hereford Mickeys 10-14 mths $630
30 Charbray Cross Steers 8 mths $615
22 Charbray Steers 6-8 mths $595
80 Crossbred Heifers 8-12 mths $565
20 Brahman Heifers 8-14 mths $550
50 Crossbred Heifers 8-10 mths $530
15 Hereford/Braford Heifers 10 mths $530
40 Droughtmaster/Charbray X Heifers
8-10 mths $495
20 Crossbred Heifers 6-8 mths $425
20 Mixed Sexes 6 mths $425
47 Santa Heifers % calved $1,450
• View Photos at
wwwbarronbroslivestockcomau
• Will sell in small lots
• Delivery & NLIS scanning arranged
• More lots available on website
Paul Barron 0429 926 111 or 0746 926 111
Avocados Australia CEO
John Tyas said, based on the
early flowering, there were early
forecasts that up to 75,000
tonnes of fruit could be harvested
throughout 2017-18 but
this was looking increasingly
unlikely.
“Now that orchards have
been through the fruit set period,
some regions are reporting
poorer fruit set than was expected,
despite a very good flowering
initially,” Mr Tyas said.
“Added to this, we have already
had hail storms in avocado
growing regions in North
Queensland and Northern New
South Wales, plus repeated severe
spring storms in Central
Queensland.
“Obviously, we still have
the summer storm season and
the usual hot dry conditions in
southern areas to come as well.”
Mr Tyas, pictured, said the
situation was compounded for
the local market by a potential
50 per cent reduction in the
New Zealand crop.
“New Zealand supplements
our Australian supply during
spring and summer, so although
Australia’s supply forecast for
the year is still up, New Zealand’s
‘off-year’ means total
supplies are likely to be similar
to last year,” he said.
“I’d expect supply to be
steady during the next couple of
months and fruit could be a bit
short in the first quarter of 2018.
Mr Tyas said that as for prices,
they are determined by supply
and demand, and it has to be
said Australian demand for avocados
continues to grow.
“The total supply forecast
for this year, Australia and NZ
combined, doesn’t suggest there
will be anything that looks like
a glut of fruit, so I wouldn’t expect
to see any major price discounting.”
Blackbutt Study Group workshop this Thursday
Avocado growers and those associated
with the industry are invited
to a workshop at Blackbutt on
Thursday, December 7.
It is component of a study group
series for South Queensland.
The event starts at 10am at the
Clark family’s Green Nugget orchards
at 25 Corcoran Road, Blackbutt,
before moving onto the Beutel
family’s Googa Farms next door at
556 Crows Nest Road in the afternoon.
The day includes an update
from Avocados Australia South
Queensland Director Daryl Boardman,
a presentation on different
types of irrigation, results from the
second year of the Small Tree High
Productivity Initiative project, information
from the recent nutrition
practices survey and two farm walks
(Green Nugget and Googa Farms)
focussing on canopy management
systems.
Morning tea and lunch will be
provided but for catering purposes
please RSVP with names and numbers
attending to Simon Newett
at simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au or
send a text with name and numbers
attending to 0400 56 57 84 or leave
a message.
- Miles Noller reporting
CROWS NEST CATTLE SALE
SALE RESULTS
Milk tooth steers from Tabletop made
$1380 at Zeller & Co, Crows Nest’s
cattle sale on December 2. Their
little brothers made $1120. A pen of
Droughtmaster bull calves made to
$1050. David Quinlan, Emu Creek,
sold light Droughtmaster steer calves
to $750.
Next sale December 16 – 10am
In the last fortnight, we have sold 327
steers to feedlot. If you have feeder
steers, give us a call. We can handle
any number.
First sale for 2018 will be held on
Saturday, January 13.
Thank you to all for your ongoing
support and we would like to
take this opportunity to wish you
all Season’s greetings and see
you for the last sale for 2017 on
December 16.
For bookings & info, please
phone Rick 0428 879 531
Real Estate
Caroline Cook 0427 134 636
BUYING ALL TYPES OF CATTLE
Fax: 4698 2580
E: rick@zlp.net.au
Your local agent
12 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD, DECEMBER 5, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
CATTLE: A total yarding of 1126 cattle at Elders
Harristown Saleyards today, Monday 27th
November 2017, Elders share 710 head. Dry
conditions saw numbers increase and prices
decreased. Best bulls topped at 273.2c/kg with a
heavy bull ex Millmerran sold to $2263. Limited
bullocks on offer the tops a/c Ian Cornford,
Cambooya returning $2024. Limited feeder steers
came in at a top of 296.2c/kg a/c Brian Garth, with
a smaller yarding of heavy heifers saw a pen of
Angus heifers a/c Jeff Campbell, Haden sell to
289.2c/kg to return $289.2c/kg to return $1263. A
grain assisted Braford steer weighing 495kgs a/c
John Kynoch returned $1634. Best cows reached
239.2c/kg in pen lots ex Goondiwindi, boners
eased in price. Trade steers ex Kingaroy sold to
320.2c/kg to return $1168. Dowling Farm, Geham
sold grain assisted steers to return $1296 while
heifers a/c same vendor reached $1377. Trade
weight steers suitable to feed reached 363.2c/kg to
return $1026. A pen of lightweight Charolais steers
a/c Steve & Nikki Kahler sold for a top of 348.2c/kg
at $860/hd with heifer mates reaching 326.2c/kg at
$678/hd. Vealers topped at $312.2c/kg with cows
& calves selling in pen lots making $1610/unit.
PIGS: 182 pigs yarded at Harristown pig sale on
Monday 27th November 2017. Pork sold a little
dearer this week, sows sold similar to last week,
store pigs in large numbers sold on par to last
week’s sale except for light weight stores hard to
sell. Pork $185, light bacon $178, bacon $165,
boars $48, sows $200, stores $140, weaners $105,
suckers $78.
NEXT SALE: Monday, December 11
FOR BOOKINGS
Contact Darren Hartwig 0428 736 470
Avocado consumption production 1997 - 2017
reporting on Toowoomba Cattle Sale
Booking Agent
for Toowoomba,
Dalby & Warwick
Cattle Sales
David O’Sullivan
0412 501 116
Paul O’Sullivan
0400 910 088
osullivanauctions@bigpond.com.au
Ray White
Cattle Sale
December 16 – 11am
– Canteen Operating –
Bookings at hand:
Droughtmaster Cows (1st calf) &
Charolais X Calves
Murray Grey Cows & Calves
Charolais X Heifers & Steers 12mths
Charolais Hereford X Heifers
18-24mths
30 Mixed Sex Santa, Charolais,
Santa/Charolais X Cattle 14-16mths.
– Taking More Bookings –
LAST SALE FOR 2017
Phone for details
Geoff Trost 0418 182 296
Mal Berlin 0437 247 020
Livestock
CROWS NEST
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