They say it pays to advertise. Or at least to appear in this newsletter.

Thus, when Philip Cooper of 'Mirridong', Cudal, NSW, read last season's edition, he saw the solution to a problem.

The drought in NSW had a drastic impact on available feed for Philip's elite cattle herd and, reading that Barry Lutze of SA had sown his barley crop with R.U.M., he saw the opportunity to lay his hands on some quality fodder.

A quick call to local R.U.M. distributor Geoff Doberersoon set up a chain of supply from SA's Yorke Peninsula to NSW.

In SA, Bazz baled the straw from his premium malting barley crop and, in short order, 5 large shipments headed over the border to 'Mirridong'.

"Being a fellow R.U.M. user, I knew the straw would be top quality. The cattle are doing really well on it", Philip said.

"But even when the drought ends, the feed shortage will be with us for some time so this could be an ongoing arrangement."

For his part, Bazz reckoned that all his R.U.M. mates in SA will be more than happy to bale their high quality barley straw!

The photos show three of Philip's fine young bulls tucking into the fodder. The whole armful disappeared in minutes.

Bazz Lutze contemplates a shipment of barley straw