Timing of the rain couldn’t have been better in setting up the beef industry for the northern summer - a great start to the season.

While wild storms created much chaos in parts of Queensland last week, fortunately, on the Darling Downs, most of the wheat crops had been harvested before the rains.

In the pastoral industry, we can expect to see producers hold onto their cattle to take advantage of the pastures and put extra weight on their cattle.

The timing also couldn’t be better as we look at some of the Queensland big beef processing plants closing for Christmas breaks, and clearing their beef inventories before then.

The rain will also give a boost to quality young store cattle at sales before Christmas and early in the New Year.

During the Roma store cattle sale on Tuesday, with a reduced yarding of 4500 head of cattle, the store market rebounded strongly, with all weight categories of steers higher in price.

Weaner steers jumped almost 20c/kg compared to last week’s prices.

Feeder steers rose by 15/kg on average.

With widespread falls in excess of 50mm in Central Queensland over the past few days, Brian Dawson Auctions, Gracemere, reported a reduced yarding of 1482 head on Friday, with prices fully firm on last week’s, with the exception of heavy heifers which improved by up to 15c/kg.

In Blackall, Qld, Jeremy Barron, GDL, reported that prices improved for all classes.