Snowy Monaro Farmer - June 2023

Wednesday June 7, 2023

MONARO’S FUTURE IN SAFE HANDS

The future of the Monaro’s agricultural industry appears to be in safe hands with an enthusiastic crop of young leaders coming through.

Alastair King of Muniong, between Cooma and Adaminaby, is one of the region’s young farmers, eager to make his mark on the industry.

Al and his family run the popular Avonside Merino Stud. Avonside is highly regarded for producing large framed, structurally sound sheep. Al has his sights set on continuing the stud’s reputation, and making his mark on the Monaro’s agricultural sector.

The Year 10 Monaro High School student is passionate about Merino sheep. Recently, Al was able to combine this passion and talent for public speaking as a judge at the Berridale Ewe Competition.

“It was a great experience. I assessed ewes and hoggets and made my judgements to a crowd,” Al said.

“I enjoy public speaking and am passionate about Merino sheep.”

Despite having two years left of high school, Al is hoping to study agricultural engineering at university.

Helping with the day-to-day operations of the family property, Al is already putting his studies into practice.

“I’ve been able to bring to the family business, skills around the veterinary side of things, livestock handling and safety aspects around machinery,” Al said.

Off the back of a strong 12 months, Al said the property is heading into winter in a good place.

“Going into winter pretty strong, there’s a lot of feed that will hold for quite a while now,” Al said.

“Would be ideal for some more green cover. We started to experience a dry spell towards the end of our growing season.

“Looks like fantastic feed for older sheep but younger sheep might struggle.”

With his passion for Merino sheep and love for the Monaro, Alastair King will be a key member of the region’s agricultural sector in the years to come.

Trial supports increased value of supplementing pregnant ewes

The lambing period, from scanning through to mid-lactation, is without doubt the most critical time for any sheep breeding operation, as management of ewes and lambs throughout this period can determine the success or failure of the sheep enterprise.

Mortality of ewes and lambs during the lambing period is the largest cause of lost productivity and the greatest expense to sheep production systems annually. Mortality during lambing is generally diagnosed as peri-natal mortality, dystocia, hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemia which combined account for almost $1 billion in lost production to the industry annually.

At the individual farm level, it’s not foreign to see scanning rates of 130% to 140% result in weaning percentages of 80% and 90%, with the average lamb producing operation experiencing lamb mortalities of 10% to 35%.

Interestingly, when investigating the cause of peri-natal mortalities, a combination of mismothering, starvation and stillbirth and dystocia was believed to account for 55% of lamb losses. Single born lambs were more likely to die from dystocia and stillbirth, while twin lambs were more likely to die from starvation, mismothering and a birth injury.

Although there are many variables that may lead to mortality in pregnant ewes and newborn lambs, birth weight is the largest determinant of lamb survival, and is strongly linked to maternal nutrition.

Similarly, hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemia are metabolic diseases arising from nutritional deficiencies that can be corrected with effective nutritional supplementation.

With over 45 years’ experience in sheep production and nutrition, and a wealth of experience working with producers running commercial sheep flocks, AusFarm Nutrition Products’ Chief Nutritionist, Dr Paul Meggison believes he has found a solution to improving lambing results.

“Like any business where continual improvement is a focal point. We have identified key areas of a sheep production system where small changes can make a significant difference to performance” Dr Meggison said.

Dr Meggison identifies the 110-day period from seven weeks pre-lambing until six weeks post-lambing as the critical period for success in any sheep breeding operation.

“Although there are many areas for improvement in any production system, we are interested in hitting the area where producers can make the largest impact for the smallest

amount of effort first. That’s the period from scanning through to mid-lactation,” he said. Dr Meggison highlights the key areas he believes are critical to improving lambing results. He refers to them as lambing critical control points. These include:

1. Scanning – Scan and separate twins from singles and treat twin-bearing ewes with extra care.

2. Animal health – Vaccinate and drench all ewes four to six weeks pre-lambing with an effective parasiticide.

3. Nutrition – Increase feed value incrementally throughout pregnancy, saving the best feed for lambing. Trail feed grain to twins to keep weight on, and if required offer grain to singles.

4. Supplementation – Low stress, highly productive ewes support healthy lambs. Effective lambing supplements like StockMins-EweLamLac and StockMins-Hoof n Horn provide the essential minerals vitamins and trace elements to assist immunity and health during the lambing period.

5. Paddock planning – Ideally lambing paddocks should contain wind breaks and flocks should be limited to 200 ewes for twins and 500 for singles for ease of management.

“Although not practical for all production systems, each critical control point offers an opportunity for an improvement to the operation that can significantly alter the success of lambing. All control points are interrelated and compounding, where each has a positive effect on the next” he said.

According to Dr Meggison, nutritional supplementation is commonly overlooked to the detriment of the businesses bottom line.

“A one percent, two percent or five percent increase in the survival rate of lambs can

generate thousands of dollars in previously unrealised profit, and the use of an effective mineral supplement during lambing can make this happen,” he said.

“Like with energy, between late pregnancy and peak lactation, the outflow of minerals, vitamins and trace elements from the ewe into the lamb massively outstrips supply from feed alone.”

Extreme deficiencies can lead to hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemia, however, well before they hit critical levels, mineral deficiencies reduce the efficiency of essential bodily functions, leading to low immunity, poor production and stress.

Stressed ewes with poor mineral reserves and low immunity are more likely to lose lambs due to mismothering, starvation, dystocia and stillbirth.

Dr Meggison said not all supplements are equal, and not all supplements generate the same results”.

StockMins-EweLamLac is a weatherproof, granular, mineral supplement designed to supply pregnant and recently lambed ewes with balanced levels of essential minerals, vitamins and trace elements to assist in correcting deficiencies and boosting reserves during times of high demand.

StockMins-Hoof n Horn is a high specification weatherproof, granular supplement designed to be fed to assist in controlling lameness, strengthening hooves and boosting ewe immunity during times of high production stress such as lambing.

A recent independent trial highlighted the significant value in supplementing pregnant ewes with a complete lambing supplement like StockMins-EweLamLac.For 1000 ewes supplemented the difference in revenue can be upwards of $16,000.

Independent Trial: StockMinsEweLamLac HE lambing supplement vs Causmag®, lime and salt

A recent independent study, compared the performance of ewes supplemented with Causmag (magnesium oxide), lime and salt (288 single bearing ewes) with ewes supplemented with StockMinsEweLamLac HE (197 single bearing ewes) over a 98-day period from four weeks prelambing until 4 weeks post-lambing.

The trial group offered StockMinsEweLamLac HE performed significantly better than Causmag, lime and salt, including:

• 3.3% more lambs weaned

• An average of 6.1kg heavier lambs at weaning

• An average of 4.8kg heavier ewes at weaning

What does this mean to your bottom line?

For 1000 single bearing ewes over a 98day supplementary period (four weeks pre-lambing, six weeks lambing period and four weeks post-lambing), a sheep breeding operation can realise a $16,569 net income difference by supplementing with StockMins-EweLamLac HE over Causmag, lime and salt.

Please contact AusFarm Nutrition Products on 0412 048 055 or visit www. ausfarmnutrition.com for more information on how StockMins-EweLamLac and StockMins-Hoof n Horn can help boost your lambing results this season.

StockMins-EweLamLac and StockMinsHoof n Horn are available for purchase from South East Rural Supplies, Cooma.

Call the team today on (02) 6452 3511.

Supplements for Lambing Success

Maximise Lambing Performance this Season

-EweLamLac Supplement

StockMins-EweLamLac is a weatherproof granular loose lick supplement designed to support ewes under pre and post-partum stress. It focuses on increasing dietary levels of magnesium, calcium and phosphorous to satisfy the demands of a growing foetus.

percentage

Greater performing ewes

Higher weaning weights

maximise your weaning percentage this season lambing supplement to get the most out of your ewes.

and trace element significantly elevated during pregnancy to early post-lambing). These for ewes carrying during this period demands to sustain a foetus and support milk

StockMins-EweLamLac also boosts feed conversion efficiency and immune function, ultimately supporting ewes and lambs when they are most vulnerable to disease.

StockMins-Hoof n Horn

StockMins-EweLamLac is a weatherproof granular loose lick supplement designed to support ewes under pre and post-partum stress. It focuses on increasing dietary levels of magnesium, calcium and phosphorous to satisfy the demands of a growing foetus.

StockMins-EweLamLac also boosts feed conversion efficiency and immune function, ultimately supporting ewes and lambs when they are most vulnerable to disease.

StockMins-Hoof n Horn is a high specification weatherproof granular loose lick supplement designed to be fed to ewes, prior to and during the lambing period, to fortify hooves and chitinous tissue.

of your ewes this lambing season call the team at South East Rural 3511.

The combined power of three active ingredients targeted at hoof growth and repair & integrity, supported by essential minerals, trace elements and elevated levels of vitamin E make StockMins-Hoof n Horn an ideal supplement for highly productive ewes this season.

For more information on how to maximise your lambing performance this season call the team at South East Rural Supplies (02) 6452 3511

Cattle yardings highest in years

Cattle

The total yardings for cattle in May 2023 are up 51 percent from May 2022 with continued supply from the herd rebuild. The total yarding of 247,232 head is the highest monthly total since March 2020, when there was still some carryover supply in the north from the drought.

Throughput through the indicators has been consistently high since the April public holidays, which is placing some pricing pressure on the market. Some reports noted the absence of notable buyers which is further reducing demand pressure, especially at some of the larger markets.

This is being reflected in the processor cow indicator which has come back 12¢ week-on-week and 26 percent since 18 April. Feeder prices are seeing a similar trend, with prices easing 13 percent in the same period.

As noted in previous weeks, the continued supply and consistently

filled kill floor space at processors is impacting prices at the saleyards. These factors are increasing the impact of quality and finish on the market with premiums being paid for stock with weight.

Drier conditions in southeast Queensland could also be having some impact on restocker demand and pasture quality.

Sheep and lambs

The heavy lamb indicator eased 33¢ to 627.27¢/kg carcase weight (cwt) this week despite a 17 percent softening in throughput. Wagga Wagga, which contributed 37 percent of throughput in the indicator, eased 22¢ for heavy lambs.

Numbers at the sale lifted a little but quality was mixed. Not all the key buyers were present, with weight determining the export market sales.

The trade lamb indicator eased significantly in price this week, softening by 72¢ with a 15 percent reduction in throughput.

The absence of notable

Feds can’t rest on competition reform

trade and export buyers at some sales is playing its part in softening the market. Reduced throughput could be due to producers holding on to stock for joining. Easing restocker demand is also contributing to dampened prices.

Slaughter

Cattle slaughter has come back from the highs of last week to 116,534 head. This is still at elevated levels when compared to 2022, up 20 percent yearon-year.

Sheep slaughter has also come back week-on-week but lamb slaughter picked up. The prioritisation of kill floor space between mutton and lamb is at play. Combined sheep and lamb slaughter is still 25 percent above 2022 levels and 42 percent above 2021 numbers.

Goat slaughter has eased in the last few weeks following the seasonal decline in previous years but still 100 percent above year-ago levels.

Farmers are calling on the Federal Government to implement competition reforms that will tackle cost of living pressures.

NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle said the ACCC had made a number of recommendations in its 2020 Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry that would bring food prices down for consumers, but so far they had been largely ignored.

“We know food is the second-largest household expenditure behind housing, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting a 12.8 per cent increase over the past year,” Mr Arkle said.

“The cost of groceries is increasing not just because of inflation, but because of years and years of consolidation in the food processing and retail sector,

and that’s the crucial part that needs to be addressed.

“The entire reason the ACCC came to be in the first place was to protect the consumer, and implementing recommendations from the Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry would be an excellent starting point to bring food prices down for consumers.”

Among the ACCC recommendations NSW Farmers wanted to see implemented were:

• An economy-wide prohibition on unfair trading practices

• An overhaul of the current merger and acquisition approval process

• Making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory with civil penalties for breaches

Mr Arkle said there also needed to be an analysis of supply chain profits, with a focus on markups and price gouging.

“Families are under pressure, farmers are under pressure, we need to get to the bottom of this and – more importantly – do something about it,” Mr Arkle said.

“We believe the level of market concentration we see today has led to incredible power imbalances that are driving up the cost of food for consumers.

“If we are to get in front of the cost-of-living crisis, the government must act on these ACCC recommendations.”

Wagga sheep numbers lift moderately

Leann Dax, market reporter

Total Yarding: 43000 (+2000)

Sheep Yarding: 11000 (0)

Lamb Yarding: 32000 (+2000)

Numbers lifted moderately. Quality continues to be mixed however there were plenty of grain finished lambs on offer. At the commencement of the sale prices dipped $20 to $30/ head. The new price level meant competition was solid over all classes. Not all key supermarkets or exporters

made it to the sale

Trade competition rallied when prices remained under 550c/kg cwt. Trade lambs 21kg to 24kg averaged 497c to 530c/kg carcass weight.

Lambs 25kg to 26kg felt the brunt of the cheaper trend making from $130 to $158/ head. Store lambs with some weight and frame made from $72 to $102/head. Feeder lambs topped at $130/head.

In the heavy export market weight was determining price outcomes, with stronger bidding taking place over 30kg cwt. The bulk of the heavy export lambs were

$21 to $30/head cheaper. Lambs 26kg to 30kg sold at $140 to $183/head. Over the 30kg cwt topped at $212 to average 546c/kg cwt.

The sheep market struggled to find buyers with a northern processors leading the way. Stronger competition from one processors on heavy sheep held other buyers out of the market. Heavy sheep sold from $90 to $155, while trade sheep made from $70 to $88/head averaging 339 to 366c/kg cwt. Rams sold from $3 to $40

We cater to all types of animal industries including:

• Small animal breeders, such as rabbits and cavies

• Stable bedding for the family pony or champion thoroughbred

• Dairy calves

• All forms of barn-raised poultry

Our product is of the highest quality and meets all HACCP standards for use in the poultry and animal industry. Our product is clean and free of contaminates such as CCA, glues and resins.

Award winning Snowy Monaro garlic farmer

Lisa Ashurst

Vele Civijovski, of Garlic Kingdom Australia, decided to turn his passion for this wonder food into a sustainable business. His Monaro enterprise is award winning and highly acclaimed.

“When I first bought my farm, I began farming pastured chicken eggs and had been researching which vegetables and fruits could be grown easily in cool climates,” Vele said.

“To diversify, I chose garlic, as it was a vegetable I was quite fond of when growing up, eating it raw and using it extensively in all my cooking. But more importantly, it is well suited to cooler climates.”

Following a number of personal setbacks and natural disasters, Vele felt pressured to evolve his farming model, and so opted to have garlic as his main crop.

A boutique producer, Vele grows his main stock on two properties; Badja Forest Farm and Redhill Wonder in the Snowy region, and is a specialist in rustic, heirloom and rare cool climate varieties, and now produces one of Australia’s broadest ranges of garlic.

“Since having a main focus on growing garlic, I found that I shouldn’t just concentrate on growing a few cool climate varieties, but should expand to many garlic subgroups, which would help in managing time with planting and harvesting periods via different availability across the season, where some garlic variety subgroups, if stored correctly, can last for up to twelve months,” Vele said.

This ensured Vele would have stock available for sale to provide customers with fresh locally grown garlic all year round.

“And the bonus of growing garlic from all the subgroups is to be able to provide seed quality bulbs, across the varieties, within the next couple of years, which can be grown effectively in any climate,” he said.

Proudly regenerative, Vele grows his product naturally, following organic principals and employs the methods of Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) which is an agricultural system of landscape regeneration developed in the 1970s by Australian farmer, Peter Andrews.

NSF is based on having a good understanding of the landscape and ecological processes, and in the implementation of vegetation, land and water management practices in order to achieve sustainability.

Vele implemented the NSF system on both his properties to ensure the best growing environment for his crop.

Garlic Kingdom Australia carries an extensive stock of garlic and related products to delight the garlic enthusiast and Vele’s motto is “Don’t judge a bulb by its wrapper.” He has many varieties and says that each subgroup of garlic (there are 11) have different bulb and clove shapes and formations. Some have sharper flavours and different levels of spiciness, while all have their own distinctive flavours and aromas.

“With all the different varieties I grow that have originated from many different countries, my aim is to provide customers with the knowledge to match their garlic with their cultural cuisine, which helps to enhance the flavour and aroma of the food,” Vele said.

“Why would you prepare and cook a fine cultural dish with great ingredients, and then throw in some cheap imported garlic?”

Vele also believes growing garlic helps to maintain our mental, physical and social wellbeing by connecting us to the earth.

Gardening takes us outside and keeps us fit, which is why Garlic Kingdom has taken it a step further by helping other growers to grow more garlic, and to help new growers to begin their journey with ongoing consultative support, product improvement and inventory distribution opportunities through their Garlic Kingdom Sales Network.

TopSoils project supports landholders

One of the earliest Landcare organisations to form in the Southern Monaro and East Gippsland regions has been collaborating with a range of partners to support landholders with soil health improvements in the face of global pressures.

Snowy River Interstate Landcare Committee (SRILC) is a community-based organisation with a lasting focus on rural communities, practical information for landholders, and support for environmental initiatives that help farm viability.

Local interests have seen practical activities such as chainsaw training, chemical user certification, upcoming bushfire awareness training, and a long list of high calibre guest speakers.

An important initiative has been the TopSoils project that is a grassroots project to help improve farm profitability and soil quality across East Gippsland.

Project partners have included Far East Victoria Landcare, East Gippsland Landcare, Agriculture Victoria, Southern Farming Systems and of course the important project sponsors.

This project is supported by East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

This investment has allowed

high calibre speakers to share information with landholders including soil scientist Declan McDonald, as well as farm advisors Colin Seis, Dr Christine

Jones, Graeme Hand and Dick Richardson.

SRILC Chairman, Robert Belcher says that soil health is one factor that dictates

opportunities for farmers during uncertain economic conditions.

“Good soil function ensures more water retention, better plant growth and more robust

livestock. The TopSoils project, and hopefully our future project opportunities, will help landholders to navigate healthy systems and to monitor the real cost of production, the net present value of farm input decisions,” Mr Belcher said.

“When we consider that some Eastern Australian livestock prices have declined by more 40% year on year to May 2023, with producer cost index increasing approx. 5% to March 2023, at the same time CPI hovers at nearly 7% p.a., there is growing financial risk for graziers and consumers alike.”

On this basis, there is little doubt that consumers will start to become more vigilant in seeking value for money. With higher food prices, discerning buyers will expect higher quality to justify the weekly cost of groceries.

Will this be in the form of seeking out more nutrient rich food, or food that is natural and free of contaminants, or will it be in the form of higher demand for local sources with known qualities?

The second phase of TopSoils comes to an end this month, with hopeful prospects of a third phase that will enable more demonstration activities in the region.

SOIL IMPROVEMENTS: Former Landcarer of the Year and international farm advisor, Colin Seis with local farmer Eddie Sellers of Bendoc Park Stud during a previous workshop on pasture mixes for soil health.

Bendoc battles native logging ban

East Gippsland Shire Council has slammed the Victorian Government’s decision to bring forward the end of native timber harvesting by six years, as announced in the State Budget recently.

The full closure of the industry by the end of this year, coupled with a mere $200 million statewide package to support workers and communities who underpin an industry that contributes $1.4 billion annually to Victoria, will have lasting impacts across the shire, according to Mayor Cr Mark Reeves.

In our own Snowy Monaro region of NSW the timber industry is now softwood based, but the Victorian ban will likely have some effect on Bendoc near Bombala where a small VicForests office is located with two employees.

A local Bendoc business also sources its logs for firewood sales

from Victoria and will no longer be able to do so when the ban is in place.

Far more seriously affected will be the nearby Orbost area further south, and the wider East Gippsland Shire.

“This decision tears at the fabric of our communities. The unrealistic change in timeframe means the impacts will be felt immediately and continue for years to come,” Cr Reeves said.

Referencing Council’s position paper on the native timber industry, adopted last August, Cr Reeves said the Government’s decision did not fully consider the implications for East Gippsland communities and the need for an ongoing supply of in-demand forest products.

Council has strongly advocated for a high quality, low volume native timber harvesting industry where communities can continue to

thrive, forests have multiple uses, biodiversity is protected, and where harvested timber is used for the highest value purposes.

“While recognising there are a wide range of views in relation to native timber harvesting, Council has been focussed on the impact of the Victorian Government’s decision to cease native timber harvesting by 2030 on businesses, workers both directly employed and in support industries, and communities,” Cr Reeves said.

“Now that date has been bought forward to the end of this year – six years early. It is unfathomable.

“We are now expecting that frontline timber industry and businesses will change overnight. Secondary industries will need to do the same. There has been no respect shown to the hard-working mum and dad businesses that are the backbone of our communities.”

Stock permits – Long term grazing tender invitation

Livestock producers are being invited to tender for long-term grazing access to select Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) across the South East. Stock permits – Long term grazing, previously known as Management Agreement Permits, will be allocated via a robust tender process to give producers grazing access to a TSR for periods longer than 12 months.

Successful tenderers will also agree to undertake positive land

management practices on the TSR, such as protecting biodiversity and controlling pests and weeds.

This is part of our commitment to ensuring the state’s TSRs are looked after as it should be, because everybody benefits from a viable, well-maintained and connected TSR network. While some carefully assessed TSRs will be available for Stock permits – Long-term grazing, all TSRs remain available by application for short-term access

Cheaper fertiliser a relief for farmers

Reports of easing fertiliser prices are great news for Aussie farmers, but they warn more will need to be done in order to combat food inflation.

According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), fertiliser costs increased from $64 to $82 per hectare from 2019 to 2021, while the cost of chemicals increased from $30 to $63 per hectare.

the industry.

“Thankfully we’re seeing some light on the horizon with fertiliser prices, and if we can get the right policy settings in place from all levels of government we’ll be able to feed the future.”

permits such as walking stock, as well as recreational activities.

To make a tender submission visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au

Submissions close at 11:59pm on Friday June 9. All submissions must be lodged online. If you need assistance with submitting the online tender, one of our customer service officers can help you through the process. Call your closest office on 1300 795 299 to book an appointment.

The war in Ukraine and COVID-induced supply chain disruption had pushed prices for the critical farm input to record levels in recent years, placing increased cost pressure on Australian farmers as they also faced high fuel prices and worker shortages. But easing fertiliser prices meant farmers would find it easier to balance their books, NSW Farmers Grains Committee chair Justin Everitt said.

“Farmers have been concerned about the rising cost of producing food and fibre, the rising cost of power, the rising cost of fuel and fertiliser,” Mr Everitt said.

“We have very little ability to pass on price rises to our customers, and shrinking profit margins have discouraged a lot of future farmers from joining

While easing prices were welcome, Mr Everitt said more would need to be done in order to combat food inflation, such as increasing research and development to help farmers adopt new productivityboosting technologies.

“Producing more with less inputs are a fundamental way to tackle inflation and relieve the stress of rising input costs, so greater investment in into things like precision agriculture technologies would be a great help,” Mr Everitt said.

“If we can reduce the amount of fertiliser and chemical applications then we’ll be able to produce more food and fibre at a lower cost and get it to consumers at a lower cost, which will reduce cost-of-living pressures.

“Farmers and families are in this together – albeit on different ends of the supply chain – and farmers really appreciate the support of Aussie families.”

Valued

Shearers ready to honour mate

Sam Tonks

Shearers from around the region are being invited to secure their spot in the Annual Mitchell Power Memorial Quick Shear set to be held in Bombala on June 17.

The loss of the young Bombala shearer rocked the community at the end of 2021, and the event will be held in aid of mental health and suicide prevention.

Last year the Quick Shear was held on Mitch’s 23rd birthday, and there was a huge outpouring of support for the event.

“Mitch was one of the best. As well as being a great mate, son, partner and brother, he was a very talented shearer,” event organisers say.

“He travelled all around Australia and New Zealand pursuing his love of shearing. “We are pleased to be organising the quick shear again in memory of Mitch and what he spent every day doing.

“We would like to use this event to focus on mental health in the shearing industry and to encourage young men just like Mitch to speak up if they aren’t doing too well.”

The second Mitchell Power Memorial Quick Shear will be held at Bombala’s Imperial Hotel, with shearing to begin at 8.30am sharp.

Categories will include Novice,

Intermediate, Senior and Opens, and there will be a team novelty event that is sure to prove a very popular part of the day.

Entry fees for shearers are from $50 to $80 depending on your category, and all entrants will receive a free Mitchell Power Memorial Quick Shear shearing singlet.

Simply make contact through the Facebook page to register or find out more.

Over $20,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs, and in addition to last year’s proceedings there will also be a Dash4Cash, some kids activities and some great live music.

Food and beverages will be available through the Imperial Hotel, and there will be merchandise and raffle tickets available for purchase to add to the total going towards mental health and suicide prevention.

“All offers of support for the event is greatly appreciated, and we thank the community for its kindness and generosity,” organisers say.

If you’d like further information, please email adelleberry@icloud. com

Prenominations have opened for the Annual Mitchell Power Memorial Quick Shear which will be held in Bombala on June 17 to raise funds for mental health and suicide prevention.