By Robert Hedge

 

Australia certainly is a land of contrast. With some areas still in drought, and others experiencing flooding, there has been a considerable amount of unseasonal rain from tropical Far North Queensland, right down to the Southern Temperate regions.

 

Some areas in Far Western Queensland have received significant rainfall late in the winter, which is not only unseasonal, but the first meaningful falls in over four years. Demand for tropical and sub tropical species has been very strong, with the traditional spring sales season pushing forward this year as soon as the rain started to fall mid winter. As Craig mentioned in the introduction, this demand has been driven by not only the rain, but by strong beef prices, giving farmers the confidence to invest in their livestock. Many of our seed production areas received rain at harvest time, which has delayed the harvest and availability of some species. And a late cold snap has also delayed the locking up of some of the tropical grass species, which again will mean main supplies will not come on stream until later in the season.

 

Please refer to Roger's "Tropical Supply Update" in this Newsletter for specific supply information, and we would encourage all our customers to advise of their requirements as soon as possible.

 

Please do not hesitate to make contact should you have a specific requirement, and all the best for the selling season ahead.