Life on the land continues as COVID-19 lockdowns remain
Marking lambs last week near Greenhill in Victoria, Pat Halloran said producers were buoyed with optimism at prospects for the season.
WHILE metro Melbourne returns to strict COVID-19 lockdown, it’s business as usual for producers such as Pat Halloran.
Marking lambs last week near Greenhill in Victoria, Mr Halloran said producers were buoyed with optimism at prospects for the season.
“It’s probably the best season all around, Australia-wide,” Mr Halloran said.
“There are still pockets where people are struggling, but it’s probably been the best June start in about 20 years. The stock numbers have been down, wool prices have come down, but the price for sheep and cattle has stayed pretty good. And with stock numbers at their lowest, it’s kept the restockers in against the meat market.”
Mr Halloran is gearing up to shear his sheep in early August. “We’re an essential service, being a farmer, and we’ve got to keep going. We’re just lucky it’s been such a good season,” Mr Halloran said.
“The lambing percentages have also been pretty good. If we can get a bit of follow up rain in spring, that’ll carry us through.”
MORE:
Capitalising on the ‘beautiful food bowl’ of South Gippsland
No chemicals. No outside soil. No worries. This is the approach taken by Chippin Estate’s Shane O’Keefe at his bountiful vegetable farm.
High stocking rate paying off at Dryburgh
Ben Whiteley has turned this former run down hobby farm into a showstopping, productive property running 760 Angus cattle at Neerim Junction. See how he did it.