Farmer's Weekly 12 November 2021

Global and local factors are converging to deliver what will be a very costly summer season for farmers in South Africa. Commodity prices have, for the most part, been increasing since the world started emerging from the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. This has seen global freight costs, as well as the prices of commodities such as grains and oil, climb to dizzying heights. Since the beginning of the year, Brent Crude oil prices, for example, increased from about US$50/barrel to roughly US$85/barrel in mid-October, a surge of 70% so far for the year, with analysts projecting that the price could increase further to US$90/barrel. In South Africa, diesel prices have increased from about R12,40/ℓ in January to about R17/ℓ in November, according to projections released by…

“ ‘Ultra-processed foods’ might not be a familiar term to many people, but they are an emerging, and increasingly dominant, type of food in the world. These foods are typically created through a series of industrial techniques and processes, and are designed to be potentially more addictive than other foods. They are also hyper-palatable, creating a rewarding eating experience that may facilitate overconsumption. In addition, they are heavily marketed, and include soft drinks, instant noodles and baby formula. Ultra-processed foods are often high in calories, added sugar, trans-fats and sodium. They also undergo extensive industrial processing and often contain many artificial additives. This makes them harmful to people’s health, and their consumption is associated with higher risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The…

Chickens 24 to 26 November, Groenkloof, Pretoria The Broiler and Layer Management Course is designed to empower delegates with the required knowledge to succeed in their new business ventures. The course includes modules on egg and broiler production, health management, cleaning and disinfecting poultry holdings, utilising biosecurity practises, and feed management. Phone AgriSkills Transfer on 012 460 9585 or 0860 10 36 35. Visit agriskills.net, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 11 TO 12 NOVEMBER 4IR Agritech Conference, Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch (can be attended online). Email Connie Mamabolo at connie@mathematraining.co.za, or phone her on 011 862 4001. 25 TO 26 NOVEMBER Drone and Unmanned Aviation Conference 2021, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Email Harriet Gumbo at info@byssynet.co.za, or phone her on 067 611 0365. 29 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2nd Drone Users Conference: Conservation and Agriculture, Elsenburg, Stellenbosch. Email the event organiser, africa MASSIVE, at…

In this article, farmers were advised to act quickly in the fight against a gerbil plague, and a researcher gave instructions on how to use zinc phosphide to eliminate these and other rodents. Farmers who have not yet taken the necessary steps to combat the gerbil plague on their farms are earnestly advised to do so immediately, says J. Schoonees, a research officer at the Stellenbosch-Elsenburg College of Agriculture. Schoonees has just completed experiments on the use of zinc phosphide, a highly effective method against the plague, and has drafted recommendations of great value not only to farmers in the gerbil-infested areas, but also others across South Africa who are plagued by other rodents. All extension officers in the gerbil-infested areas have been circularised with pamphlets explaining how to prepare the zinc…

Seven women from Obanjeni, northern KwaZulu-Natal, were honoured on the UN’s International Day of Rural Women by agroprocessing business Tongaat Hulett for teaching other women how to become self-sufficient through farming. The day, which takes place on 15 October every year, celebrates women and girls living in rural areas. It recognises the huge role they play in producing food, and building agricultural and rural development worldwide. These women continue to drive rural development in their communities and are also in charge of implementing grassroots social programmes designed to extend the benefits of this development to all people in their areas. It was against this backdrop that Tongaat Hulett commemorated the role of the seven rural women under Inkosi AV Zulu of Obanjeni who took it upon themselves to address the social ills that…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA CHARCOAL PRODUCTION ‘A VALUABLE SOURCE’ OF INCOME ON NAMIBIAN FARMS Charcoal production in Namibia forms an important part of on-farm diversification and offers farmers a valuable source of additional income. This was according to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of the Livestock Producers’ Organisation of Namibia, who also manufactures charcoal on his farm in the Otjiwarongo district. Read the full article at bit.ly/3Eecf3u, or scan here: Posted: 25 October 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA When we posted a link to the article, ‘Farmers have to make things work for themselves – Vercueil’, some of our followers gave us their opinions on the matter. Posted: 15 October 2021. READERS’ COMMENTS David Fincham: “It is time for every South African to take responsibility for their role in society [and to be held] accountable for their decisions and actions.…