Media commentators rabbit on about drought-proofing Australia by harvesting water in the north and redirecting it south to eventually flow into the Darling River.
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The vaunted Bradfield scheme revolves around building about 10 dams and sending water in the direction of Lake Eyre, but none would impact greatly on the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Clarence scheme to harvest water from the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range by the construction of dams and tunnels would push water in to the Namoi River and then, eventually, the Darling.
The rub is that the Darling is at the drainage edge of the Murray-Darling Basin and large flows would only benefit far western New South Wales and South Australia.
Hardly providing wide-scale drought-roofing.
One can only presume water would be used for flood irrigation in areas that are already subject to major flooding in wet seasons.
Due to evaporation and seepage, water in storages is vulnerable and ideally has to be used for high-value crops like rice and cotton.
It's impossible to drought-proof Australia, about as stupid as saying Australia could become the food bowl of Asia.
Instead of pie in the sky ideas by commentators and out of touch politicians, attention should be turned to the viable irrigation areas that have been robbed of water.
Is anyone listening?
The loss of water from the irrigation consumptive pool means farmers and communities are far more vulnerable to drought.
SO WHAT, WHO CARES?
We are being told that consumers are paying record beef retail prices, even though saleyard prices have dropped, and the high price of lamb is adding to this effect.
So what, and who cares?
Figures show that retail margins are continuing a rise that started back in June 17.
At that time, the retail premium over the National Trade Steer was at a low of 202 per cent.
In March, the rise in the retail price - combined with falling cattle prices - saw the premium move to a four-year high of 302 per cent.
Once again, who cares?
What is clearly evident is that consumers are prepared to pay higher prices.
Also quoted is that retail chicken prices in March were 562.5/kg.
This is three per cent higher than December and four per cent up on March 18.
The previous record of 560 was set in March 2015.
Rising grain prices, therefore feed costs, are likely pushing chicken prices higher.
Which shows chicken is unlikely to be a substitute for beef or even lamb.
