Unfortunately it has been another year of highs and lows for our farmers.

The year started off wet and it looks like it will finish just as wet.

There have been biblical mouse plagues, locust plagues and once again a very wet harvest.

Most farmers around the Riverina were lucky to get all of their canola off, but unfortunately most of the wheat crops were downgraded to feed.

The positive is that cattle and sheep prices have remained strong through 2011 bringing in good profits for producers.

There have also been many changes in the farming industry with the first female President of the NSW Farmers’ Federation Fiona Simson being elected, to the newly proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) which has raised a lot of uncertainty amongst our local farmers.

Here at the Southern Weekly we are also going through some changes saying goodbye to one of our co workers Dalene Manning.

Dalene is a veteran of the Southern Weekly having worked for the magazine as our classifieds guru for the past seven years.

She will be very sadly missed by all the team members as we have enjoyed her informative stories over our morning coffees over many years.

Karen, Allira, Lauren, Heidi and Nellie wish Dalene the best on her new adventure.

The Southern Weekly team would also like to thank everyone for their support this year, especially our loyal readers and business houses that contribute to our paper.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

The Southern Weekly office will close on December 16 and re open on January 9 with the first edition commencing the week starting Monday, January 16, 2012.