Jason Hartin of Hartin Schute Bell Narromine has reached the final nominations for a recognition award sponsored by the Rural Marketing Agents (RMA) at the Gala Awards night in Hobart this coming weekend.

From a sizeable field of nominations, the field has been reduced to three outstanding contributors to our industry.

The award is based on the finalist’s ability to mentor and support affiliated staff and members of the team, willingness to go the extra yard to achieve a favourable result for their clients.

The agent is also assessed on their desire to counsel and assist clients and staff in time of need such as the current drought situation.

In my long association with Jason he has always had a huge motor and unbelievable capacity to work.

He has always been a very good stockman but in recent times he has honed his considerable skills as a property sales consultant and clearing sales specialist. His attitude is that no sale be it a property, piece of real estate or clearing sale is too big or too small.

Jason attacks all these opportunities with equal amounts of enthusiasm. The column feels that he would be a very fitting runner of this prestigious award.

At the Mondays sheep and lamb sale, Wal Kerin and his partner Hannah once again led the way for Christie and Hood with their top pen of lambs receiving a final bid of $270.00 per head. The partnership also saw their run of 306 merino lambs reach $225.60.

The best sale achieved for merino lambs that the writer noted on Monday was achieved by CPS Thomas Gilgandra on behalf of J and L Zell, ‘Widgeree’, Gilgandra, who saw their two decks receive $233.20, the same company also sold another run of merino lambs for $230.00.

The Prime Cattle Sale at Dubbo on Thursday saw a draw of 5100 head. All heavy cattle saw some joy with the best cows making close to 250 cents/kilogram.

Liveweight heavy feeders and all cattle carrying weight and condition saw many highlights during the course of the sale.

Light cattle under 320/330kg suffered monumental falls with the worst effected being quoted as much as 457c/kg cheaper. Buyers assure me that there is virtually no where to go with these lightweights.

To light to feed, very few backgrounding outlets available and even in the south where there has been some rain, feed growth in negligible due to the very cold frosty weather.

The big breaking news is that JBS Australia (JBS) have sold their five feedlots with a leaseback arrangement to the Australian company Rural Funds Management (RFM).

This transaction is subject to all normal checks balances and must be approved by the foreign investment review board.

JBS have their feedlots in southern Queensland and NSW with an overall capacity of 150 000 head.

There cattle are processed at their own slaughter facilities and are exported to 50 plus countries around the world.