Rainfall bandaid for local graziers

SCATTERED rainfalls across southwest Queensland have graziers in the region holding out hope for a better season.

Yardings were reduced significantly at the Toowoomba saleyards on Monday due to the forecast of further rain.

“The rain was patchy – we’ve had reports yesterday from anywhere to 5–60mm,” said Elders Toowoomba branch manager Darren Hartwig.

“Leyburn and Inglewood were the areas that received 50–60mm.

“More locally around Toowoomba it was anywhere from 10–20mm.”

He said the market improved from 5c to 10c across most categories at this week’s sale.

“I think it will improve when we get good general rain across the whole of eastern Australia, through New South Wales and western Queensland,” Mr Hartwig said.

“Down south in New South Wales it’s very dry.”

Mr Hartwig said more rain is needed to make any real improvements on the cattle market.

“We’ll definitely need follow up rain,” he said.

“If we get another 20-50mm in the next week it’ll improve.

“If we don’t get it, then it won’t be any good.”

Landmark Toowoomba stock agent Simon Booth agreed that more rain was needed to help farmers and improve the market.

“The rain we’ve had will help people out a little bit, but there’s a lot more needed,” Mr Booth said.

“It’s just a bandaid at the moment.

“The rain didn’t fall over a big enough area to make too much of a difference to the prices.

“It might affect them a tiny little bit, but not much. The shortage of numbers will affect the prices more than anything.”