A RAM sale with full clearance in the current conditions has been an “outstanding” result for Farrer, its white Suffolk manager has said.
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Wednesday’s on-school sale – the 24th annual event – grossed $86,700 from 50 rams, with a top of $9100.
Darren Smith said that was despite the agricultural high school in Tamworth facing “a fair few challenges like everybody else” due to the drought.
“Having a pretty dry north here and being able to clear all our rams at this stage – when the outlook isn’t that great for a lot of farmers – is a good result,” Mr Smith said.
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With buyers from NSW, Western Australia and Victoria, bids were taken in person and via AuctionsPlus in the Helmsman auction, where all lots are on offer at once.
“The buyer registration was about half [the usual number], so to get a clearance with half the amount of vendors to start with … it did make it awfully hard,” Mr Smith said.
“A couple of blokes stayed home and bid using AuctionsPlus because they didn’t have time to leave their farm.”
Year 10 sheep and wool science students took part in sire selection, DNA testing, crutching, shearing, vaccinating, drenching, lambing supervision and the sale.
Mr Smith said the school was lucky it could juggle stock between its Loomberah and irrigated school land.
“That’s made it a little bit easier, but we still have to source grain and stuff like that. It has to be brought in from a long way and the prices are high.”
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Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
