The Boundary Rider’s Report February 2026

Dear Family, friends and colleagues

Welcome to the December/January/February (where has the time gone) Boundary Rider’s Report.  We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year in 2026.  January has gone, February is well and truly underway.  While we have had rain, we have had very dry period with high temperatures, and hot dry winds.

We welcome Sean Madden to the Bald Blair team for the forthcoming year as part of his course with Marcus Oldham College.  Matilda Brown, started late last year and is staying on as she starts her study at the University of New England. 

After 5 years of service at Bald Blair, Tom Cleaver is moving onto bigger and better things for him and his family.  Congratulations Tom and Alice,  thank you for all your hard work, and contribution to Bald Blair.  We wish you every success in your next role and the next stage of your career. 

Which leads us to the next step, we now have a position open for a stationhand. For details please call Sam and Kirsty at home on 02 6779 1038, Kirsty mobile 0427 722 908 or email kirstywhite@baldblair.com.au

Season

While we have received some good storm showers over summer, and just recently last Monday, hot weather and hot dry winds have had their impact.  Our January Rains are significantly down on prior years, across all properties.    Water moisture levels 2026 have started ok but have dried out significantly over the past few days due to lack of rain and high evaporation.   We, like most, are hoping for a change to come through in the next few days.  In the meantime, we are sourcing fodder reserves.

Markets

We are watching with interest all the events on the international and national stage and getting as much relevant information on the impacts on the cattle and sheep prices to assist with planning sales and budgets.  The level of International uncertainty remains large and as always is beyond our control, a new Tariff here, change to access to markets.  Still the markets are holding up.  Add a bit of hot weather and we would expect huge numbers to be offered in the next few days, if this dry continues.  As a result we would expect the market to potentially come back a bit in the week ahead;  Challenges continue.  Keep making decisions.

For more detailed reports you can check out Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator | Meat & Livestock Australia or subscribe to https://agritrends.com/

Save the date for the Bald Blair Angus Bull Sale: 1pm Tuesday, 4th August 2026

https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/event/bald-blair-angus-2026-bull-sale

Cattle

All heifers have been pregnancy tested.  Cows pregnancy testing this week.

Bulls have been split into two groups and continue their rotational grazing regime.

Autumn stud calves are arriving and as we have said before, tagging calves on a bright January/Feb morning is a pleasure.

Sheep

The lambs have been weaned and treated.  Shearing this week, and lambs to go onto feed.  We are looking forward to seeing the lambs finish and head to market as soon as they are out of their withholding.

Weeds

A huge shoutout to our team for their massive effort, on bike, buggy, ute and foot to keep the nodding thistles under control. it is a relentless battle that is ongoing throughout the year.

Sean and Tilly have hit the blackberries hard and have painted Gatwood Blue!

Events

The Guyra Show is coming up on the 20th & 21st February and we are very grateful for the opportunity to support the Wool Handling competition and Cattle Section.  https://www.facebook.com/guyrashow/ Thank you to Arthur and Sean for doing a shift for the Guyra Show at the Lamb & Potato Festival on Saturday, 17th January.

The Guyra Polox  Carnival will be held on 14th and 15th of March at the Richard White Memorial Polox fields at Bald Blair.  The club has done a great job upgrading the fields and they look good.

Ladies in Livestock Low Stress Stock Handling courses  are now live! The courses will run over 2 days and cost $250pp (the cost has been subsidised by LLS). For more information and registration, follow the links below. Please note that there are limited spots available, once a course sells out, there will be no further capacity.

•            Tenterfield – 2nd & 3rd March -https://events.humanitix.com/livestock-handling-workshop-tenterfield-mar-2026

•            Guyra – 5th & 6th March -https://events.humanitix.com/livestock-handling-workshop-guyra-mar-2026

 •            Walcha – 9th & 10th March -https://events.humanitix.com/livestock-handling-workshop-walcha-march-2026

 If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sara Paton,  Livestock Officer (LSO), Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Biosecurity   Northern Tableland, Local Land Services 

If you have any events that you would like us to share with our community, please let us know.

Listening

Australian Farmers - telling our story with our dear friend Alice Mabin

https://australianfarmerstellingourstory.libsyn.com/s5-ep-2-agrishots

Watching

Fisherman's Friends is a 2019 British comedy-drama film directed by Chris Foggin from a screenplay by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard and Piers Ashworth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman%27s_Friends_(film)

Kirsty, Sam, Abbott and Arthur