By Robert Hedge

 

What a difference a year makes!!!!

 

After a very dry finish to 2016, 2017 kicked off with significant rainfall over some of the major tropical seed production areas in the far North of Australia. This positive start to the New Year allowed most of our contracted tropical seed production to be planted, and subsequently establish successfully.

However, challenges remain for some of our key species, and further rainfall events will be required to ensure good supply for the coming planting season. We still have 6 weeks of the official monsoon season to run, and a late cyclone is certainly possible and would be most welcome.

 

The local domestic agricultural markets in Australia are very strong at present, on the back of record high livestock prices, and increasing demand from some of our key international customers for red meat and live exports. This confidence has flowed through to all aspects of livestock production, with good demand for pasture improvement and forage options. At this time of year, if there is rain about, the phones start to ring. The rain in January allowed Katambora Rhodes Grass growers to set seed crops off earlier than usual, with harvest now underway (usually April/May). At this stage, the quality looks excellent. In regards to supply, 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.

Barenbrug will have representatives attending the ISF Congress in Hungary in May, please let me know if you would like to organise a meeting.

 

With the ISF Congress in 2018 being held in my home town of Brisbane, Barenbrug are looking forward to hosting many of our customers and friends in Australia and returning some of the fantastic hospitality we have been shown in the past. If you have any questions at all, or need some advice on what to see or do when you are here, we would be more than happy to provide some recommendations.

 

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and follow Barenbrug on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news and events. Please do not hesitate to make contact should you have a specific requirement, and all the best for the selling season ahead.

 

 

^{Robert Hedge & Adrian Dridan on a recent trip to South Africa.}