Farmer's Weekly 3 December 2021

The key takeaway from the audit outcomes and annual reports that were recently presented by the entities within the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is probably, and predictably, that the newly appointed director general, Mooketsa Ramasodi, has his work cut out for him. Apart from all the other problems that were brought to light by the Auditor-General (AG), the most glaring shortcoming within the agriculture department and its various entities remains the lack of accountability. The AG flagged a lack of consequence-management implementation in the department, saying that consequences were not imposed on officials who were responsible for irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, which amounted to R138 million across all entities. As long as this is…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article at bit.ly/3FgedAT. “With world leaders having returned from the recent gathering at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, there is much talk of methane emissions and belching cows. The Global Methane Pledge, led by the US and EU and now with many country signatories, aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This is seen as a ‘quick win’ to reduce global warming and will have major implications for livestock production. Livestock have become the villain of climate change. Some researchers claim that 14,5% of all human-derived emissions come from livestock, either directly or indirectly.…

Hydroponics 29 November to 3 December, Delmas This short Hydroponics course, offered by the Buhle Farmers’ Academy, introduces delegates to the basic principles of vegetable production under hydroponics, including the different systems, structures and growth media that can be used in a hydroponics system. The course also examines the suitable crops and cultivars for this type of system, and looks at pest and disease management, irrigation, fertigation and sanitation. Visit buhle.org.za. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 29 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2nd Drone Users Conference:Conservation and Agriculture,Elsenburg, Stellenbosch. Email theevent organiser, africaMASSIVE,at drones@africamassive.co.za. 1 TO 2 DECEMBER Resilience and Risk Africa Conference,Sandton Convention Centre and online.Phone Kaitlyn Naidoo on 067 992 3335. COURSES AND TRAINING 29 NOVEMBER TO 3 DECEMBER Pig Farming Management andProduction Course, George. PhoneRothman Livestock Training Serviceson 078 546 7985. 1 TO 3 DECEMBER Piggery Course, Groenkloof,Pretoria. Phone AgriSkills Transferon 012 460…

This article looked at the various actions sheep farmers could take to give maximum care to lambs in order to reduce their mortality during or just after birth. Several farmers have evolved rewarding ways of cutting lamb losses, according to Donald Lyle, officer-in-charge at the Kokstad Research Station, and Frans Marx, a sheep and wool expert from the KwaZulu-Natal region. In a lambing flock of 500 ewes, a lamb mortality figure of 15% (the average in the country’s flock) would mean the loss of 75 lambs. If, by shelter and supervision at lambing, the deaths are reduced to 8%, there will be 35 more lambs. If these extra 35 lambs are marketed at 32kg, and there is a gross margin of R9,50 [about R498], the additional income will, from the ewes, be…

After a continent-wide search, with entries from 27 countries across Africa, award-winning Dr Gideon Idowu from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Nigeria, has become the third recipient of the annual Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant of US$150 000 (around R2,3 million). The grant was awarded to Idowu in early November at an event hosted by Oppenheimer Generations at Circa Gallery in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The JWO Grant funds researchers to enable them to provide evidence to inform decision-making regarding the management of natural resources. It encourages practical action to implement innovative solutions at local, regional, and national level for the benefit of African communities. THE WINNING STUDY Idowu’s research explores how, through poorly enforced environmental laws, Africa makes a significant contribution to global marine plastic pollution, as well as the contamination…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA UP TO 20% SMALLER MANGO HARVEST EXPECTED FOR SA THIS SEASON South African mango producers are concerned about the 2021/22 harvest, which is currently expected to be between 15% and 20% smaller than average. This was according to Pieter Buys, chairperson of the South African Mango Growers’ Association. Read the full article at bit.ly/3oEhaVc, or scan here: Posted: 15 November 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA We posted a link to an article titled ‘Transnet vandalism and cable theft at unprecedented levels’, and some of our followers expressed their opinions on the matter. Posted: 13 November 2021. READERS’ COMMENTS Garth Johnson: “What an embarrassment these people are. Transnet and [the South African Police Service] should be ashamed of themselves [as they are] unable to even slow this theft down!” Ofentse Jabulani: “Unemployment in our country…