The Boundary Rider's Report June 2026
The Boundary Rider’s Report June 2026
We have received some very welcome rain. This current Dry commenced with lower than average rain through December 2025 and Jan 2026, lower falls February and March culminating with bugger all of nothing in April. In May we received between 40 and 65 mm across all properties. Annual Rainfall in the order of 180 to 200 mm for the year to date, way behind last year with nearly 500mm by June. As painful as limited rain is, the rainfall has had an impact, with growth occurring as the soil is still warm. We sowed pastures at the beginning of February, they germinated on this last series of falls and continue to grow. The current rainfall has been very helpful but not nearly enough. There is more rain predicted this week.
We would like to officially welcome Alec Grainger to the team at Bald Blair. Alec, Sean and Abbott have reduced the average age of the team considerably! Nothing beats youthful enthusiasm mixed with dogged hardwon experience and determination.
We are extremely grateful for the response we received from our agistment advertisement. We have been talking to some tremendous people that have reached out to offer us some options and we really appreciate them contacting us.
As with many farmers in the New England North West, we have been doing a major reshuffle to match our stock with available grass and feedings options. Supplementary feeding has been going on for some time. We have a few more moves before we start confinement feeding and start up the faresin feeder. Once we start it will be 6 days a week feeding for us and our team.
We hope you can make a cuppa and take the time to read this Boundary Rider’s Report - there are some great links at the end, which we hope will be of interest to you and of course some information about the upcoming bull sale at 1pm on Tuesday, 4th August 2026!
Bull Sale Preparations
Preparations are in full swing for the bull sale, this list is being ticked off.
- 600 Day Weights, traits and scans with Roger Evans
- Bull testing with Dr Leisa Brown
- Independent Structural Assessment by Dick Whale
- Drench and vaccinations
Still to do:
- Freeze branding
- Catalogue list
- Submit list to Angus Australia
- AuctionsPlus listing
- Video bulls
Open Day, 10 - 2pm Sunday 2nd August 2026
Bull Sale 1pm, Tuesday 4th August 2026
We have an exciting line up of young sires for your consideration
On offer will be 90 rising 2 years and 18month sons of:
- Connealy Craftsman
- Hart Network
- Baldridge Heat Seeker H925
- Sterling Confidence Plus
- Sterling Pacific 904
- Myers Fair-N-square M39
- Tehama Patriarch F28
- Murdeduke Quarterback Q011
Home grown sires include:
- Bald Blair Patriarch T183 & T23
- Bald Blair Phenotype P97
- Bald Blair Stirling S86
- Bald Blair Thomas T228
We have enjoyed catching up with bull buyers and it is great to hear how their Bald Blair bulls are holding up, preg testing results, cow herd retention and seasonal improvements. Obviously this is a challenging season for breeders. In discussions with many of our clients we have heard of many different strategies from selling down the majority of breeders, to selling a portion of breeders and retaining younger stock, and agistment of stock and also some of us are digging in for the long haul. It is great everyone is making good decisions, best for their circumstances. While for some your bull needs for this year may be different,
we do encourage the continual investment in genetics moving forward. This is important and practical in terms reinvesting in your bull team even in times like this. There will be an ongoing need for heifer bulls as you start to purchase replacement females.
If we have not caught up with you about how your bulls are going, sincere apologies. Please reach out and let us know how they are going, we appreciate any feedback. Inspections of the bull sale team are welcome anytime. Please give us a call to arrange a time. Sam 0438 792 140 or Kirsty 0427 722 908.
Bald Blair Angus Bull Sale: 1pm Tuesday, 4th August 2026
https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/event/bald-blair-angus-2026-bull-sale
In the Stud game it is important to remember our roll remains unchanged in terms of providing good quality stock ready to work for our clients. Also, we must continually reinvest in our own breeding programme by carefully caring for our cow herd to get optimum production even in these tough times. Supplementary Feeding, Confinement feeding, early weaning, agistment, feedlotting are all the tools we use to ensure this does occur. Once again we scrutinise our cow herd for the resilient breeders, hold them and replicate them with the use of AI/ET.
Season
This season is not yet over, so we have a bit in front of us, but what gives us encouragement is the market signals that appear to be showing up.
Market
How good is the market going…we hope you have the opportunity to participate in it. In our local area thousands of stock have left the area, breeders, weaners (steers and heifers), the weekly stock sales have diminished considerably. Starting to consider fortnightly sales. A brief check of EYCI, shows a strong upward trend. The market is strengthening and has a bit to go.
For more detailed reports you can check out Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator | Meat & Livestock Australia or subscribe to https://agritrends.com/
Water
Still waiting for bore drillers for our Kolora block. Shouldn’t be much longer - our water crisis will probably be over by the time they arrive, but we will be ready for the next one! If you detect a note of frustration; u r right.
Weeds
The quick spray units are off the vehicles and have received some repairs and maintenance. We are noticing the rosettes of the nodding thistles and know they are not going to wait for us!
Fencing
The team fenced off the Kolora Lagoon to ensure it is stock proof again, as the old fence was not keeping the heifers off the lush grass on the protected highland wetland. Now this very special place of biodiversity is stock proof again and we look forward to the lagoon filling up and enjoying all the birdlife again.
Farm Safety
There have been some very serious accidents in the district.
Please stay safe on the farm and look after your family and your team.
If you have mobile service this app is a good one for your family and team: https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/
Quad bike safety information: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/quad-bikes-and-side-by-side-vehicles/quad-bike-safety
Events
Low Stress Cattle Handling Course
CLICK HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/cattle-handling-course-hernani-june-2026
Join Northern Tablelands and North Coast Local Land Services to build confidence in low‑stress cattle handling with this two‑day practical course led by Boyd Holden.
Event details: This Low Stress Cattle Handling Course includes both theory and practical components of livestock handling, where participants will build confidence in cattle handling within a safe, controlled environment.
This course is suitable for landholders of all degrees of experience and will be presented by Boyd Holden, a trainer in best practice livestock handling techniques, in partnership with the North Coast and Northern Tablelands Local Land Services.
This course will cover: livestock behaviour and handling principles, yard design and safe work practices, best practice techniques when carrying out cattle husbandry.
Cost: $200 per person, or $300 for 2x people for the 2-day course.
This course will be run over two short days and the course cost is subsidised by Local Land Services.
Additional details: Catering supplied.
Please bring:Hat, Sunscreen, Water, Enclosed footwear
Contact: Max Newsome, Senior Land Services Officer Livestock on 0427 007 190 or max.newsome@lls.nsw.gov.au
Levies Return
The new Cattle, goats, sheep and lambs transaction annual return (previously known as Annual Return of Cattle and Live-stock Sold) is now available online.
#Oartodreams
Please click on the link below and read about the amazing Isabella Henderson and her #oartodreams. Please support her journey https://asf.org.au/campaigns/isabella-henderson/bellsy-s-usa-trip
Listening
New Podcast for farming families Hard Ground - the first episode on succession planning for farming families is very interesting and may provide some helpful insights for you and your family.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hard-ground/id1891146857
Reading
An amazing book about the friendship of 2 women set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199798217-the-lion-women-of-tehran
Watching
Britains Got Talent - the Hawkstone Farmers!
https://youtu.be/UP56GAQ9M9Q?si=qOoKp_6y_3N3gH52
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9j4282qdo
Legacy in Steel
Do you love horse sculptures - if so check this out:
https://youtu.be/1EShv0Cczq0?si=E53mUVOyL59j8stS
Revealed
Alice Mabin has been working very hard on a new documentary called “Revealed” Uncovering the truth behind what we consume. Check out the preview here: Revealed
Rural Adversity Mental Health Program - Circles of Control
Please take the time to watch this - such an important message and well worth a share with you, your family and network.
https://vimeo.com/1185396948?share=copy
Above all, keep well and be positive.
Kind regards
Kirsty, Sam, Abbott and Arthur
