ON FARM NATIONAL SEASONAL CHALLENGES: PROGRESS AGAINST LONG‑TERM GOALS: It was a disappointing summer, although I We’ve fallen short of the production goals visited Brewarrina (in western NSW) recently we set 12 months ago because of the difficult so I can’t complain when I see what they’ve summer we experienced. However, we’ve been dealing with. However, we did set some built a little on our stock numbers, which was records here over summer, with temperatures one of the long‑term goals we set ourselves up to 44 degrees and howling winds. As last year and one we hope will pay dividends. a result there has been no turnaround After receiving government drought from last year; stock have struggled and management finance, we’re building more SNAPSHOT: underperformed on the summer feed and drought‑management areas for containing Will, Simone and things are generally below par. The market ewes for feeding. ■ is still strong but it hasn’t jumped up as I Mandy Onus, anticipated, because supply hasn’t tightened. Adjungbilly, NSW It could still happen, but it doesn’t seem to be Sl coming any time soon. WHAT’S ON MY PLATE: We’ve been feeding our 2017‑drop weaner cattle. Even though we bought feed as cheaply as we could, margins are skinny and it’s proving difficult. We had to start offloading animals towards the end of February, early March, even though the cattle were 50kg lighter and the lambs 10kg lighter than we’d Area: like them. Now we’re focusing our energies 2,630ha plus 4,850ha of on next year’s stock: the 2018 weaners, and state forest lease the calves and lambs being born. Enterprise: We’ve been planning, with a consultant and Steers and wool production an agronomist, what feed we’ll grow and what mouths we’ll have to consume it. Now Will Onus it’s up to me to work out how to fund it. E: will.onus@gmail.com 14