Murrumbidgee Council has released a report following investigations into an alleged fuel spill at Gundaline Station, east of Hay.

A historic moment at Alma’s selection day: (from left) classer Andrew Rutherford joined three generations of the McKeon family - Bob McKeon, son Mark McKeon, and grandsons Jack and Patrick Ward. Image: supplied.

The 2024 ginning season came to an end last week at the Australian Food and Fibre (AFF) gin south of Hay.

The ginning season ran for five months and processed 45,000 round modules into 199,000 finished bales, making 2024 one of the Hay gin’s biggest runs.

Woodpark Poll Merinos enjoyed a full clearance at their annual ram sale on September 23.

The top price of $15,550 for Woodpark Poll 23-404, was paid by Grassy Creek Merinos, Reids Flat.

All 150 rams on offer sold to an average of $3,110.

Wrap up of the 2024 Ram sales at Boonoke, Wanganella and Avenel.

Read more here.

Hay's annual spring sheep sale saw Yarto again reached top prices for their Merinos.

Read the full sale results here.

Ram sales in the Hay region are in full swing. At Caroonboon the top priced ram reached $5,500 and East Loddon achieved almost a full clearance, with 113 head sold.

A US-listed company led by Bert Glover will take ownership of AFA's Iconic property portfolio, if the $780m deal is given the green light by the Australian government’s Foreign Investment Review Board.

The acquisition includes Merino sheep stations Boonoke and Wanganella, Burrabogie, Kolora, Wahwoon and Mulberrygong properties and the Baratta, Peppin­ella, Warriston and Zara properties.

Allegations of wrongdoings continue to plague Gundaline Station, an irrigation farm covering more than 14,000 hectares east of Hay.

At the recent national Cotton Conference held on the Gold Coast in early August, rumours circulated of a group of disgruntled fellow growers, unhappy with Gundaline’s continuing myBMP certification.

myBMP (Best Management Practice) is Cotton Australia’s national accreditation system, aimed at ensuring that Australian cotton is produced according to best practice.

Hay Poll Merino sheep stud Woodpark Poll Merinos will hold its annual ram sale at Conargo Sportsground on September 23 this year, edging closer to its home base after almost two decades at the Jerilderie Racecourse.

The stud places about 600 rams a year with flocks from Longreach, Wilcannia and Mossgiel, through to local producers, and across southern New South Wales and Victoria.

The Woodpark Poll auction offers 150 rams a year with grade ram selections on-property at “Eurolie” Hay October, securing most rams for clients.

It is hard to believe that the upcoming Caroonboon Merino Sale will mark our one year anniversary at Caroonboon,” said Caroonboon Merinos’ Georgie Meddings.

She and husband Derrym (pictured above) have enjoyed the first year.

“We are very glad that we made the move and are enjoy being able to live, work and contribute to this very special place."

The 41st Kismet Stud Annual Spring ram sale is on Wednesday October 2 at 1pm with inspection from 11am.

The sale will be on-property at Kismet, 5159 Riverina Highway, Howlong. This year 120 White Suffolks, 80 Southdown/ White Suffolk cross and 20 Poll Dorsets will be offered.

“We performance test through Stockscan and the figures will be available on the day or can be found on our website (www.kismetstud.com.au/ramsale),” Kismet’s Graham Wilson said.

For over 60 years Alma Merinos has adhered to a consistent breeding philosophy, producing Merinos perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions of the Hay Plains.

The result is a large-framed Merino with rapid growth rates and a reliable, medium-micron fleece, well suited to varying climatic conditions.

“Over the last six decades, we’ve carefully developed our genetic lines to produce animals that can thrive throughout their lives on the Hay Plains,” Stud owner Graham Morphett explained.

Australia’s largest off-grid poultry farm has commenced operations near Goolgowi.

Operated by Agright, a commercial poultry grower in Australia and New Zealand, the 40 shed operation ‘Meriki’ claims to be saving more than 1690 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

"Sustainability is at the forefront of our business model,” Agright owner Daniel Bryant said.

Saltbush's drought-tolerant qualities make it the ideal fodder for sheep and cattle to graze on during feed gaps when there's little else available.

Recognising an opportunity to improve shrub systems, CSIRO worked to select and develop a special variety for farmers to use as a supplementary feed. It’s called Anameka Saltbush.

Hay locals are future-proofing their careers by upskilling in priority industries with TAFE NSW, including in the booming wool classing industry.

It comes as TAFE NSW wool classing enrolments surge statewide, with the wool industry confronting an ongoing skills shortage.

Former McDonald’s manager Ms Browne, 22, moved to Hay from country Victoria to pursue her dream of working in the wool industry. After completing the Certificate IV in Wool Classing at TAFE NSW Hay in 2022, she immediately gained employment with Willshear Hay.

“I’ve just fallen in love with the industry and to be able to study my course fee-free took a lot of the pressure off,” Ms Browne said.

Allegations of a deliberate cover up of an environmental disaster has arrived at the doorstep of The Riverine Grazier.

The report was delivered by mail early in June, and alleges a cover up of a fish kill event at Gundaline Station in late 2022, but farm managers deny any wrong-doing.

NSW agencies and local council say they were unaware of the incident.

Hay Inc has delivered the Hay Inc Rural Education Program for 10 years, and now have 145 young adults that make up the Hay Inc Alumni.

After completing their final training week, graduation was held after competing in the Junior Sheep Judging at the 2024 Hay Sheep Show.

Local merino breeders were among the winners at the 2024 Hay Merino Sheep Show, held on Saturday. Walgrove, Woodpark Poll, Poll Boonoke and Burrabogie all took home honours, but it was South Australia’s Mulloorie Stid who wss named supreme champion.

The global threat of fire ants is under control in NSW, thanks to the efforts of Dean Whitehead and Industry and Investment NSW.

Mr Whitehead spoke at a recent meeting of Hay CWA in response to the threat of fire ants, and to explain the Fire Ant Eradication Program.

Mr Whitehead said the objective in regards to fire ants is eradication, and a stringent process is followed to achieve this goal.

Fire ants were first detected in Australia in Brisbane in 2001. They are native to South America, but have established globally and are one of the world’s worst invasive species.