Home - Sheep Central

All Liberal policies up for review, except for live sheep exports

NATIONALS leader David Littleproud has added a further proviso to his party returning to a coalition with the Liberal Party under leader Susan Ley – support for live sheep and cattle exports by sea…Read More

Terry Sim, May 21, 2025

Prime & Store Sheep Reports

Lamb prices climb as contracts come out amid supply concerns

LAMB prices have risen sharply in saleyards nationally after the release of May-August forward contracts at rates of $8.70-$9.80 a kilogram and as yardings steady or start to drop…Read More

Terry Sim, May 21, 2025

Virtual fencing and stock management

Victoria commits to draft virtual fencing rules for cattle

A VICTORIAN Government decision to prepare regulations for the use of virtual fencing for cattle was an important step toward the technology also being available to sheep producers…Read More

Sheep Central, May 21, 2025

Drench resistance in sheep: Don’t guess, test!

INTERNAL parasites cost Australian sheep and wool producers an average of $28,000 in lost productivity and a further $5000 in treatment costs every year, yet the majority are unaware of the resistance status of the worm population on their farm or the efficacy of their most recent drench. ..Read More

New-crop forecasts roll out as crop sowing continues

ESTIMATES for Australia’s major crops have started to appear ahead of opening new-crop figures due from national forecaster ABARES on 3 June…Read More

Liz Wells, May 21, 2025

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 19 May 2025

HIGH pressure systems to the south of Australia brought settled conditions with little rain across most of the country, while a south-easterly airflow resulted in scattered showers along the east coast early in the week…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, May 20, 2025

News

Nationals leave Coalition, but door still open for an agreement

NATIONALS leader David Littleproud has announced the party has split from its Coalition agreement with the Liberals after not being able to come to a deal with Liberal leader Sussan Ley…Read More

Sheep Central, May 20, 2025

News

NFF supports an EU trade deal, but not at any price

AUSTRALIA’S peak farmer body has offered qualified support for the resumption of free trade agreement talks with the European Union…Read More

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Property

Western Australia’s Lake Shaster holding could make about $95m

By property editor Linda Rowley, May 19, 2025

Weather

Positive June to August rainfall forecast for inland and south

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Nutrition & Animal Health

Feedgrain Focus: White grain rallies as drought demand intensifies

Liz Wells, May 19, 2025

Community & Lifestyle

Peter Westblade Scholarship announces new finalist program

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Recruitment

Recruitment: Closing Loophole laws add obligations for ag employers

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Lamb Processing

$12 million loan to boost WAMMCO Katanning processing

Sheep Central, May 16, 2025

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

Aust. Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) - $/tonne of CO2 equiv.

Today

35.10

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6424

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

22 May 2025 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.96
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.52
Graincorp	$7.29
Ridley	$2.12
Woolworths	$36.64
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

3.10

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

838.8

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1191

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

Goat

Eastern States 12.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

Source: MLA

ASX Market Index

22 May 2025 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.96
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.52
Graincorp	$7.29
Ridley	$2.12
Woolworths	$36.64
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

What readers are saying

Farmers and CFA volunteers rally against fire levy changes

This is disgusting treatment of hard working Australians like this.....

Robert Smith

CFA volunteers go offline as fire emergency service levy passes

It is beyond comprehension that the Victorian Government is once again bashing down the people that protect and feed the community.....

Malcolm Cock

VFF calls for farmers to rally on fire services property levy

What is next, the farmers and communities go broke? The government moves the mining companies in? Not on our watch. It is unAustralian and doesn’t pass the pub test.....

Mal Johnson

Chinese top makers buy up with wool supplies to dwindle

The biggest issue across all agriculture is limited competition due to buyers buying for multiple processors, be that at wool auctions or at the sale yards.....

Greg Piper

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 19 May 2025

Bureau of Meteorology, May 20, 2025

Nationals leave Coalition, but door still open for an agreement

NATIONALS leader David Littleproud has announced the party has split from its Coalition agreement with the Liberals after not being able to come to a deal with Liberal leader Sussan Ley…Read More

Sheep Central, May 20, 2025

NFF supports an EU trade deal, but not at any price

AUSTRALIA’S peak farmer body has offered qualified support for the resumption of free trade agreement talks with the European Union…Read More

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Positive June to August rainfall forecast for inland and south

ABOVE average rainfall is likely — 60 to 80 percent chance — for much of inland Australia and some southern parts for June to August, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s long range forecast …Read More

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

Markets

Lamb prices climb as contracts come out amid supply concerns

LAMB prices have risen sharply in saleyards nationally after the release of May-August forward contracts at rates of $8.70-$9.80 a kilogram and as yardings steady or start to drop…Read More

Terry Sim, May 21, 2025

Chinese top makers buy up with wool supplies to dwindle

CHINA’S largest top makers dominated Merino fleece buying at auctions across Australia this week as lower supplies are expected in coming weeks…Read More

Sheep Central, May 16, 2025

Wool forward trading bucks trend with low volumes

The wool auction market showed some resilience this week to the noise created offshore…Read More

Mike Avery, Southern Aurora Partners, May 16, 2025

Wool prices suffer under quality and currency constraints

WOOL prices dropped further in auctions this week despite the much smaller offering, heavily influenced by a strengthening Australian dollar against the American currency…Read More

Sheep Central, May 9, 2025

CONSUMER and grazier demand for wheat and barley lifted values last week as soaking rain continues to elude the forecast for south-eastern Australia…Read More

Liz Wells, May 19, 2025

More fodder drops planned to alleviate SA drought crisis

SOUTH Australia’s next round of fodder drops is set to take place in early June, as producers prepare to further reduce breeder numbers unless rain arrives in time to spark pasture growth before winter sets in…Read More

Liz Wells, May 15, 2025

WA sheep pellets help counter SA’s feed drought

SHEEP pellets made in Western Australia are making their way into South Australia to keep ewes going and finish lambs as the state battles its worst drought in living memory…Read More

Liz Wells, May 12, 2025

Wool Production

New-crop forecasts roll out as crop sowing continues

ESTIMATES for Australia’s major crops have started to appear ahead of opening new-crop figures due from national forecaster ABARES on 3 June…Read More

Liz Wells, May 21, 2025

Feedgrain Focus: White grain rallies as drought demand intensifies

CONSUMER and grazier demand for wheat and barley lifted values last week as soaking rain continues to elude the forecast for south-eastern Australia…Read More

Liz Wells, May 19, 2025

Peter Westblade Scholarship announces new finalist program

THE Peter Westblade Scholarship chairman Joe Walden announced a new 2025 PWS Finalist Program at the organisation recent annual ball in Wagga Wagga. The innovative program will provide six exceptional..Read More

Sheep Central, May 19, 2025

More fodder drops planned to alleviate SA drought crisis

Liz Wells, May 15, 2025

Processing

$12 million loan to boost WAMMCO Katanning processing

A $12 MILLION loan to Western Australia’s farmer-owned sheep meat processor WAMMCO will support timely processing of livestock at its Katanning plant, according to chief executive officer Coll MacRury…Read More

Sheep Central, May 16, 2025

TFI Stawell boosts lamb production and eating quality grading

THOMAS Food International’s Stawell plant is now fully equipped to market Australian lamb with improved eating quality…Read More

Sheep Central, May 14, 2025

JBS formalises plans for dual listing in the US and Brazil

GLOBAL protein giant JBS is formalising its long-touted move to dual listing on the New York and Brazilian Stock Exchanges after outlining the process last week, following a board decision on Tuesday to proceed…Read More

Sheep Central, April 28, 2025

South African and NZ partnership sets new shearing record

A NEW Zealand-South African partnership has set a new world two-stand shearing record of 970 fine wool Merino lambs in nine hours in South Africa…Read More

Sheep Central, April 24, 2025

Trade

All Liberal policies up for review, except for live sheep exports

Terry Sim, May 21, 2025

Woolworths cuts prices on 400 ‘essentials’, but not on fresh meat

NATIONAL supermarket retailer Woolworths has lowered prices on 400 ‘essential and favourite’ items from today, effective until the end of the year…Read More

Sheep Central, May 14, 2025

Branded Tasmanian lamb takes out Royal Queensland Award

TASMANIAN lamb processed in Victoria and sent north for high-end customers can claim to be Australia’s best after winning the ultimate prize at the prestigious Royal Queensland Awards…Read More

Sheep Central, May 9, 2025

Keep the Sheep live export campaign to keep on keeping on

LIVE sheep export by sea proponents unbowed by the Coalition’s loss in the federal election believe a majority Albanese Labor Government now had a chance to change its mind on phasing out the trade by 1 May 2028…Read More

Terry Sim, May 5, 2025

Property

Western Australia’s Lake Shaster holding could make about $95m

ARKLE Farm’s Paul and Deidre Cowan have listed their large scale, mixed cropping and grazing opportunity in Western Australia’s highly regarded South Coast region with hopes of raising around $95 million…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, May 19, 2025

Queensland Bollon Aggregation sells for $15 million

THIS week’s property review includes a wrap up of recently completed sales, including the $15 million paid for the Bollon Aggregation in south-west Queensland…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, May 16, 2025

NSW couple lists Macquarie River powerhouse for sale

NEW SOUTH Wales farmers Mark and Sally Carter have listed their agricultural powerhouse on the Macquarie River in the central west after 14 years of ownership…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, May 16, 2025

Griffins family lists ACT’s historic Uriarra Station for sale

THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of interesting recent listings across four states…Read More

By property editor Linda Rowley, May 9, 2025

AgCarbon Central

NSW wool grower to feature at Narrabri renewables expo

A MERINO wool grower grazing sheep on a solar farm will be a guest speaker at the New Energy Expo in Narrabri on 26 March…Read More

Sheep Central, March 14, 2025

US banks pull out of net zero body over anti-trust issues

SIX major banks from the United States have announced they are walking away from a global organisation aimed at aligning them on targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050…Read More

Sheep Central, January 20, 2025

Carbon markets: ACCUs soften after remarkably stable year

AUSTRALIA’s carbon market has softened in recent weeks after going over $40 for the first time in three years last month…Read More

Eric Barker, December 13, 2024

What herbivore history says about emission reduction and regenerating forests

TAKING animals off landscapes is unlikely to reduce emissions or regenerate forests, according to a leading European ecological researcher…Read More

Eric Barker, December 9, 2024

Beef Central

Hides sales big impact from US/China tariffs, says JBS

Lower demand and price for cattle hides has been one of the immediate impacts from recent tariff changes between the US and China, global meat processing giant JBS told analysts..Read More

Two in 10,000: The vital context of animal welfare that the Guardian didn’t include

A recent study from Curtin University and a follow-up article in The Guardian claim that thousands of animals are being euthanised or dying after being transported to Australian export abattoirs,..Read More

Regional cattle markets: US beef prices forge higher but local cattle markets pressured by supply

South to north cattle movement remains a strong feature in this week's regional cattle markets wrap from Elders analyst Richard Koch ..Read More

Shanghai food trade show’s strong vibe signals busy times for Aussie beef

IF the buzz around the SIAL Food Trade Show being staged in Shanghai this morning was anything to go by, Aussie beef is in for a busy time through the..Read More

Grain Central

Rain in NSW buoys hopes for germination before June

Growers in the dry half of NSW are hoping for up to 30mm of rain in coming days to get their crops up and away in the ideal window...Read More

Nufarm to review seed business as earnings drop 71pc

Nufarm has launched a strategic review of its Nuseed division, with the crop-protection company saying all options are on the table, including the possible sale of some or all of..Read More

New-crop forecasts roll out as crop goes in

Australia's winter crop is around two thirds planted, and the south-eastern portion is waiting on rain into next week to germinate area in the optimum window...Read More

Record SAF import prompts call for domestic support

Qantas, Sydney Airport and Ampol have marked Australia’s largest commercial import of SAF with nearly two million litres arriving earlier this month from Malaysia...Read More