The livestock markets have hit the traditional slowdown period giving farmers time to reflect on the season and what may be in store for the immediate future.
The markets traditionally quieten down over late September/early October and the last of the old season lambs are being killed with an eye on their teeth coming up which can halve their value overnight. So few traders are in the market to buy store lambs as time runs out on the 2016/17 season.
Farmers are trying to get crops or new grass in, dancing around all the wet weather, but it has not been cold with ground temperatures on the rise, the grass is growing and spring is definitely in the air.
Looking back at the season, independent Whanganui livestock commentator David Cotton noticed the lamb market did not drop back to the predicted $4.50kg pre-Christmas.
"It did drop just under $5 for a short time with some meat companies, but this was short lived as the rain kept coming over the summer and farmers with grass is always a good way to keep the markets up," Mr Cotton said.