Graham’s Friday Dribble

Week ending 21st Feb 2020

Welcome to my Friday dribble where we talk things agri sport and life.

Some good rain again this week and more predicted for the weekend in the bush. There are now some good flows going down several inland rivers.

My sources in the produce chain tell me that fruit and vege prices are set to rise. Although some produce isn’t being export to China because of the coronavirus, the bushfires and subsequent rains have meant that prices will still go up. Apples have been greatly affected.

Still on food and the prices of most protein, meats, are on the rise due to a lot of factors, from drought through to different problems in China.

Take pork for example. With the onset of African swine flu, 40% of China’s pork production has ceased in the past year. One report I reads put this in context. If Australia’s entire pig production was sent to China, it would last them 59 hours…. We are small producer..!!

This week saw, after about 5000 cuts, the final death of Holden cars in Australia. After over 70 years and over $2BN in subsidies the lack of sales finally hit home and they shut up shop. I never owned many Holdens, but I did have a WB ute for a while back in the day….British racing green, 253 V8, and 4 speed….awesome..!!

Don’t often talk politics but you got to love the pickle the Americans are in. The man everyone loves to hate looks like getting a second term in the White House, if for no other reason than that the Democrats can’t put up a strong enough candidate…???