Wodonga's regular third Thursday in the month store cattle planned for (today) March 21 at NVLX Barnawartha was cancelled at the last minute, without great notification.
The sale, to be conducted by Elders and the recently amalgamated Landmark-Paull & Scollard, drew only a small number of entries despite preliminary notices advising a likely penning of 2,000 head.
Landmark Paull & Scollard agent Luke Deimel said it was hoped under the new revised structure for Wodonga store sales that a mid-month sale by Elders and Landmark P&S may have been possible.
"But that didn't eventuate and the entries that were received will be held over until our next planned sale on April 4," Mr Deimel said.
Since the acquisition of Paull & Scollard by Landmark, Wodonga selling agents have revised their store market sales schedule.
Under its new structure Elders and Landmark P&S have planned to conduct a monthly store cattle sale on the first Tuesday of each month. While the private agents group, comprising BUR Livestock, PRL-Rodwells, Schubert Boers and Corcoran Parker will conduct store sales twice monthly on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
Corcoran Parker principal Kevin Corcoran said that in consultation with its client base the private agents group envisaged providing a more frequent service so producers had the opportunity to trade on a more regular basis.
"A month is a long time under the current conditions to go without conducting a regular sale," Mr Corcoran said.
"Our clients need the opportunity to buy and sell on a more regular basis and it's our business to provide that opportunity," he said.
"Our next sale next Thursday (March 28) will offer 2000 head and our following sale on April 11 will offer a similar numbers comprising some nice runs of well bred local cattle".
April will, however, present the private agency group with some problems with their second sale falling so close to ANZAC Day.
"And God help us if it rains, but we'll confront those decisions when the time arises," Mr Corcoran said.