Numbers, prices back at Roma 

Prices in a number of categories of cattle dipped at the Roma store sale yesterday, despite a significant reduction in the number of cattle available compared to the previous week. The National Livestock Reporting Service attributed the reduced yarding to livestock producers waiting to see how weather conditions will be for the spring growing season. It reported “noticeably less restocker buyers at the sale, and added that feedlot buyers were also more conservative in purchases, with the exception of bidding for grown steers, which increased by 12c/kg to average 182c/kg. Light weight yearling steers were down 2c to average 214c, medium weight yearling steers were down 6c to average 216c, heavy weight yearling steers were down 5c to average 181c, lightweight yearling heifers were down 28c to 170c, medium weight yearling heifers to feeders were down 21c to average 165c. Southern processors snapped up the cheaper light weight yearling heifers on offer, while the limited numbers of cows yarded found more processor buyer competition. Heavyweight four-score cows were up by 10c to average 145c. To view yesterday’s NLRS report on Beef's Central's market pages click here

Mixed signals on El Nino

The formation of an El Nino weather pattern this spring/summer remains likely, but there are also signs it will not be as severe as previous versions. The Bureau of Meteorology says tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures and the Southern Oscillation Index have remained close to El Nino thresholds over the past fortnight, however other indicators such as the trade winds and tropical cloud patterns have yet to show typical El Nino signatures. Long-term climate models suggest sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean will maintain values close to, or greater than, typical El Nino thresholds before returning to neutral towards the end of 2012 or early 2013. “Regardless of the ENSO state, the tropical Pacific remains warmer than average. This, combined with other influences on Australian climate such as cooler than normal waters to the north of the continent and the patterns of cloud and ocean temperatures in the Indian Ocean, tends to favour below average rainfall over eastern Australia,” the Bureau’s latest ENSO wrap-up states.

Japan resumes beef exports to US

Japan is set to resume beef exports to the United States this Friday, ending a two-and-a-half-year suspension implemented when foot and mouth disease was found in Japanese cows in April 2010. Reuters news service has reported that Washington has given the green light for Japanese cattle slaughtered on August 18 or later to enter the US, after a review of Japan’s food safety measures allayed its worries about the chance of radioactive contamination.The move paves the way for Japanese Wagyu beef to sell into the large market. Before Japan's FMD outbreak, its beef exports stood at 565 tonnes in 2009, 72 tonnes of which was bought by the United States, at a value of between US $51-$77 per kilogram. Japan is also reviewing its curbs on US beef imports as global concern over mad cow disease ebbs.

Record Australian red meat sales to South Asia

The value of Australian beef and veal exports to South Asia increased by 13pc year-on-year and 53pc on the five-year average to reach a record A$755 million in 2011-12, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. Export volumes to the region are up by 6pc on the previous year. A significant part of the growth has come from sales to Taiwan. Australian exports to the market increased by 33pc in value terms to A$206m in the past 12 months, boosted by Taiwan’s ban on US imports over the presence of feed additive ractopamine (Taiwan is currently reviewing that ban, US imports tipped to resume from September). Export values to both Singapore (A$78 million) and Hong Kong (A$76 million) also increased over the same period, rising 21pc and 41pc year-on-year, respectively. Reductions in Indonesian import quotas saw exports to that market decline by 6pc year on year to A$168 million.

CSG paddock fire contained

A coal exploration test hole on the Darling Downs that had been the site of a slow-burning fire has been successfully stabilised and capped after nine days, Queensland’s minister for natural resources and mines Andrew Cripps has confirmed. The fire at the surface of the bore was extinguished on Friday, August 24, after water was pumped into the hole from a water tanker. On the following Sunday work crews encased the test bore in concrete, and a concrete collar was laid around the surface of the hole. "I would like to thank Peabody Coal, Arrow Energy, Easternwell and Linc Energy for their cooperation in ensuring this work was undertaken safely and efficiently," Mr Cripps said. "The Queensland Government acted swiftly to ensure there were no safety concerns for the public from the fire in the exploration test hole, and as a result, the 32-year-old abandoned coal exploration test bore, and the surrounding area, is now safe and stable."

New faces on Basin Sustainability Alliance committee

The Basin Sustainability Alliance, a group established in 2010 to represent landholder and community concerns about the potential environmental, health and social impacts of the rapidly expanding coal seam gas industry, has welcomed new members to its board. Five foundation members retired at the organisation’s recent AGM after close to three years of voluntary service to the organisation – chairman Ian Hayllor, treasurer Scott Seis, secretary Katie Lloyd and committee members Jeff Bidstrup and David Armstrong. The new board is: Macalister farmer and former general manager of plant science with Qld DPI David Hamilton (chair); Dalby farmer and AgForce grains director Wayne Newton (vice-chair); Jimbour farmer and solicitor Lyn Nicholson (treasurer); Dalby cattle producer, lot feeder and ag economist Anne Bridle; Cecil Plains farmer and ecologist Ruth Armstrong; Crop Management Services agronomist principal agronomist Bernie Caffery; Dalby organic beef producers, fencing contractor and childcare centre owner Veronica Laffy; Engineer and Dalby-based lot feeder Max Winders and BMO Accountancy taxation consultant and mixed farmer Neil Cameron.

WA farm business capacity workshops

Up to 500 farm businesses will receive advice on building their planning and management skills at a series of workshops kicking off today at Dowerin Field Days. The Farm Business Capacity workshops, an initiative of the WA Department of Agriculture and Food, will enable farmers to focus on the factors that drive profit, as well as key areas such as seasonal changes, financial planning, risk management and work-life balance. The Farm Business Capacity workshops will be held in Northern, Central, Southern and SW agricultural regions from now through to November – for details or to register interest go to http://www.workshops.agric.wa.gov.au or phone 1800 198 231