Jamie Mackay from The Country took his monthly survey of the rural livestock market, getting the inside story from Joe Higgins, Mid South Canterbury Livestock Manager for PGG Wrightson.  The big topic is rainfall.  Has it stopped yet?  Joe confirms that it has - a beautiful, clear, frosty day in Canterbury.

He reckons the region needs ten days like this in a row.  He also reckons the last twelve months have been the best he's seen for livestock in terms of abundant feed and exceptional prices for sheep and beef livestock - a great combination.  If they get another La Nina summer like the last one, he wouldn't turn it down.

This time of year, dairy farmers are flat out calving, lambing's getting underway and farmers will be full bore in the next month or so.  But Jamie puts it to Joe that things do slow down in the stock selling area as we come into spring.  Joe agrees now is their quietest time, through July and August Jamie then asked about the hundred kilo calves - weaner calves apparently.  Joe points out that calving is underway.  Over the last two years there's been a reluctance to sign up contracts for hundred kilo calves to buy them forward.  The calf-rearers need some assurance they can sell these calves as last year the spot market was less than anticipated.  It's early days but there's certainly no contracts floating 'round.  Looks like the rearers will just sit on their hands this year.

On a completely different tack, Jamie turns to heartland rugby.  He's a big fan and is stoked to hear the NPC games this year are being taken 'round the smaller towns in South Canterbury.  It's exactly what we should be doing!    The stadium in Timaru is being done up and revamped so it can't be used for this season's NPC. So, all the home games are going to local clubs - Temuka, Fairlie, Waimate, Geraldine district and Pleasant Point.  The good news is local clubs can run the gate and get the earnings.