![Rainfall chart](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/11/1226780/422788-.jpg)
Paddock Bombs '13
Take a look at some of Australia's finest Paddock Bombs.
Two Victorian fire refuges open
TWO community fire refuges have been opened in Melbourne's outer east and southeast.
Impressive jumping continues
JUST two weeks ago Jamie Kermond was burning up the surface in Sydney and last weekend he was in fine form in The Netherlands.
Dairy confidence boost
DAIRY farmer optimism has helped maintain overall Victorian rural confidence, according to a report.
Disease name a blow for Waubra
![Ed Gannon](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/12/1226781/592575-ed-gannon.jpg)
HIJACK or highlight? That's the debate surrounding the use of a western Victorian town's name in the hot issue of wind farms and wind energy.
Paddock Bomb of the Year
![Kelvin Marquand](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226783/944627-kelvin-marquand.jpg)
17 year-old Kelvin Marquand won this year's Paddock Bomb of the Year with his six wheel paddock bomb beauty.
Sales, Dec 16
![Yea December cattle sale](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226783/925206-yea-december-cattle-sale.jpg)
Highlights from this week's sales around Victoria including Ballarat, Leongatha, Naracoorte and Yea.
Dairy confidence boost
![dairy cows](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226784/139639-dairy-cows.jpg)
DAIRY farmer optimism has helped maintain overall Victorian rural confidence, according to a report.
Dairy body condition app released
![dairy cow](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226783/814693-dairy-cow.jpg)
A BODY condition score app has been released by Dairy Australia today.
Doolan joins water commission
![water](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/13/1226782/570216-water.jpg)
FORMER Victorian water chief Dr Jane Doolan has been appointed a new commissioner to the National Water Commission.
Yea, Dec 13: Steers to $780
![cattle sale charolais weaners](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/13/1226782/639703-cattle-sale-charolais-weaners.jpg)
YOUNG well-bred steers sold to keen demand to reach $780 for Charolais weaners at Yea today.
Naracoorte, Dec 12: Dearer trend
![Sale](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/12/1226781/690610-sale.jpg)
THE annual southern weaner selling season got off to a solid start in Naracoorte, South Australia today.
Trending
Poll of the week
![Weekly Times 2014 Dogs Calendar](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/09/1226778/679245-.png)
Technical course tests in Geneva
COMPETITORS excelled jumped the huge technical courses at the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva with time as the enemy.
Impressive jumping continues
![horse](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226783/823198-horse.jpg)
JUST two weeks ago Jamie Kermond was burning up the surface in Sydney and last weekend he was in fine form in The Netherlands.
McDermott in classic form
![Tom McDermott](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/12/1226781/662762-tom-mcdermott.jpg)
TOM McDermott took out the World Cup qualifying class of the Sydney Summer Classic.
Disease name a blow for Waubra
![Ed Gannon](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/12/1226781/592575-ed-gannon.jpg)
HIJACK or highlight? That's the debate surrounding the use of a western Victorian town's name in the hot issue of wind farms and wind energy.
FireReady app overhaul
![bushfire](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/16/1226783/942898-bushfire.jpg)
The Victorian Government and the fire services commissioner are confident the updated FireReady app will work properly this bushfire season.
The good oil on Castrol
WEEKLY Times Now readers are keen as ever on showing us their dogs.
Peter Cundall: Cucumber
![cucumber](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/05/1226776/253510-.jpg)
THERE are so many weird and wonderful ways to be as cool as a cucumber this summer - but handle them carefully
Puddings as gran made them
![Karen Kelly puddings](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/10/1226779/791351-.jpg)
A SIMPLE two-line email holds pride of place in Karen Kelly's Pud For All Seasons kitchen in Castlemaine.
Salad dressing with style
![Vincent salads](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/09/1226779/161675-.jpg)
WHILE salads can be an all-year-round feature of your table, most of us are drawn to them when the weather warms up.
Jeremy Vincent: Cold soup
![Cold pea and basil soup](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/04/1226775/205650-.jpg)
WHETHER it's winter or summer, the idea of a soup provides so many options for a great-tasting dish.
Paddock bomb magic
THEY might be ugly but they are much loved.
Mocking the monicker
![Graduation cap](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/10/1226780/060631-.jpg)
BACK Paddock speculated in July that the newly named Federation University might have a problem with its acronym - FU.
Farm sculptors are really on a roll now
![Tarrington hay bales](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/10/1226779/635959-.jpg)
BACK Paddock has always believed the round hay bale is an under-appreciated sculpture material.
Smiles hide pain of past in Cambodia
![Angkor Wat](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/02/1226773/387338-angkor-wat.jpg)
FROM macabre to majestic, brutal to beautiful, the good, the bad, the ugly - such are the many contradictions of Cambodia.
The perfect dairy for big ideas
![Winnindoo 2](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/09/1226779/266351-.jpg)
THERE is plenty of potential to expand on this productive irrigated dairy farm in Gippsland.
![News Corp Australia](http://web.archive.org./web/20131216040247im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/08/13/1226695/594380-news-corp-australia.jpg)
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Rewards without shackles
A KOREAN free trade agreement comes at a time when - despite drought, debt and productivity - there's much to look forward to.