Dec 13, 2018
Digital divide is not just a country issue
By Robbie SeftonImagine if Australia had stayed as it was in 1861, when nearly half the population could not read.We are today (almost) universally literate, thanks to the compulsory schooling introduced in the 1870s to overcome Australia’s…
Dec 13, 2018
Southern Wool Indicator closes out the year at 1843 cents, up 1 for the day
Karee Wool market report South. December 13SMI: 1834 +118: 2371 +1019: 2248 +520: 2188 +1021: 2156 +322: 2155 +1223: 2121 -2228: 863 ucMerino Cardings: 1138 -26Passed in: 8.8%Today was the final sale of the year. Sales resume the…
Dec 13, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Prem Merino fleece supplies trending up
By Andrew Woods | Source: AWEX, ICS. Shearing at shorter intervals continues to be popular. Cardings prices are in the process of re-setting themselves at a lower price in relation to combing length wool (larger discounts in effect)…
Dec 13, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Heavy slaughter and rain should see a strong open
By Angus Brown | Source: MLA, ABS. Cattle slaughter has been running well ahead of the last eight months, but there is a good chance this will come to an end over the coming quarter. With plenty of rain forecast for the east coast…
Dec 13, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - The final WASDE for the year
By Andrew Whitelaw | Source: CME, ASX, Mecardo. The US Department of Agriculture released their final World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimates (WASDE) for 2019. Although the WASDE receives plenty of criticism (often from me),…
Dec 13, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Regional Rainfall Update - November 2018
By Matthew McAdam | Source: BOM, MecardoMecardo have created a series of regional rainfall charts across the nation in order to compare the current seasonal rainfall on a monthly basis to the long term average levels and the normal/extreme…
Dec 12, 2018
Rabaobank survey reports a lift in overall Farmer confidence but many are still concerned about the drought
Much-needed rains have finally fallen over some of the country’s drought-affected regions, but seasonal concerns continue to hang over the outlook for Australia’s agricultural sector, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has…
Dec 12, 2018
NZ Farmers rewarded or punished - Fonterra takes a stand on animal welfare and environment
Fonterra farmers will receive rewards for better care for the environment and their animals, but laggards will be punished.From July next year they will also be able to fix the price of a percentage of their milk in a hedging scheme…
Dec 12, 2018
Grain Growers get an insight to the growing market of the products they produce
A group of grain growers gained a good grasp of the importance of wheat quality for noodles and bread as part of a special National Agriculture Day event hosted by GrainGrowers and AEGIC.Eight farmers from around Australia converged…
Dec 12, 2018
Ag needs new people with new skills - By Darren Hughes
Agriculture is having its moment in the sun. Growing global demand for food supported by a significant injection of new capital is creating opportunities not seen in the industry for a very long time. To capitalise on opportunities…
Dec 12, 2018
Farm gross value only down 3% on last year despite drought
The gross value of Australian farm production is forecast to decrease by 3 per cent to $58 billion in 2018–19, 6 per cent lower than the record production in 2016–17 but still above the 10-year average of $56 billion.ABARES Executive…
Dec 12, 2018
LambEx next gig is Melbourne in 2020
Australia’s premier sheep and wool conference LambEx is bound for Melbourne in 2020 and will be chaired by experienced farmer and agribusiness professional Georgina Gubbins.In making the announcement on behalf of the LambEx Executive…
Dec 12, 2018
How can I manage summer weeds without spraying at night?
By Mary O’Brien - Private ConsultantThe recent changes to 2,4-D label instructions have re-focussed attention on the need to avoid night spraying, particularly after 10 pm through to after sunrise. Concerns are being raised about…
Dec 12, 2018
The Rising Cost of Meat Processing in Australia
Earlier this year, the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) commissioned respected consultant economist Selwyn Heilbron to examine production costs for local meat processors. With onshore processing being directly responsible…
Dec 11, 2018
All dressed up with nowhere to go… By Peter McMeekin
A deal has supposedly been done, Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean futures moved 2.5 per cent higher last week in anticipation of some sales, but the market is still waiting for clarity, and action, around the trade truce between…
Dec 11, 2018
Finer microns kick in the South
Karee Wool market report South, December 11thSMI: 1824 +618: 2355 +2919: 2218 +1620: 2168 +1221: 2139 +628: 836 -14MC: 1169 -5PI: 9.2%www.kareewool.com.auAd - Support our "Prime" Preferred Partners (PPP), they include. Mulcahy & Co…
Dec 11, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Visualising wheat percentiles
By Andrew Whitelaw | Source: CME, Matif, Mecardo. As we fast approach the end of the year, it is worthwhile examining the current market structure as we move into 2019. In this update, I look at percentiles in relation to wheat futures…
Dec 11, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Victorian lambs coming early should leave a gap
By Angus Brown | Source: MLA, NLRS, ABS, Mecardo. The predicted tight supply of lambs in New South Wales seems to have come to fruition. However, Victoria and South Australian supply appears to be compensating as we move through the…
Dec 11, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Real broad wool prices
By Andrew Woods | Source: Eurostat, BWMB, Meat and Wool NZ, Beef + Lamb, AWEX, RBA, IWTO, ICS. A reader has asked about British broad wool prices, (as in mid-30 micron and broader) which make up only a very small part of the Australian…
Dec 11, 2018
Mecardo Analysis - Volatile times ahead for feedlot utilisation
By Trent Severin | Source: AFLA, MLA, Mecardo. Feedlot utilisation levels are a key performance indicator of feedlot operations. Using saleyard data that indicates buyer behaviour of feeder cattle, we have created a forecast model…
