Farmer's Weekly 7 & 14 January 2022

It has been almost 13 years since I wrote my first stories for Farmer’s Weekly as a freelance journalist, and now, as we start a new year, the time has come for me to start something new. This is my last letter to you as editor of this publication, and while I am looking forward to my next challenge in journalism, I am sad to leave this magazine that has taught me so much about the world and myself. Even though I grew up on a farm, when I first started writing for Farmer’s Weekly in my late 20s, I knew very little about farming. But I soon learnt that almost everything that happened in the world had an impact on farming, and, more importantly, everyone in the world depended on…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. Email Bertus van Heerden at bertus@mpo.co.za. “In simple terms, one of the main reasons that so many producers have left dairy production in recent years, and why those who remain have to increase the scale of their operations to survive, is low farm-gate prices for milk. These low prices are a result of margin loss amongst dairy processors emanating from cheap (often subsidised) imported milk products that is then pushed back on milk producers. For years, the Milk Producers’ Organisation has argued that the level of free on board (FOB) prices of imported dairy products from the EU, Ireland, Eastern European countries and the UK seems unrealistic and unfair. This is due largely to the substantial funds…

Garden show 1 to 3 February (online) The Global Garden Retail Virtual Conference and Show aims to bring together horticulture industry professionals worldwide to share, discover, learn, and discuss new industry horizons and opportunities. The conference and show are free to attend, and will include 90-minute presentations spanning the time zones of the world over three days, with the virtual trade show running throughout the entire month of February. Register at gardenretailconference.com. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 1 FEBRUARY International Conference on Soil, Plant and Water Science, Lille, France. Email the conference coordinator at info@conferencefora.org. COURSES AND TRAINING 13 TO 18 JANUARY Industrial: Mushroom Substrate Design, Cultivation, Marketing, Business Planning and Operational Management System Design (online). Visit mushroomacademy.com, or email registration@mushroomacademy.com. 24 JANUARY WSET Level 1 Wine Course, Stellenbosch. Email the Wine Centre at courses@thewinecentre.co.za. 31 JANUARY TO 4 FEBRUARY Beef Cattle Production, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Email…

A Paarl farmer found a Danish variety of cauliflower to be much better than any other for summer planting in the winter rainfall area. An imported early cauliflower variety suitable for growing in summer in the Western Cape has had a great reception from the frozen food industry, and one farmer last season received as much as R3 [about R250] a dozen (nearly three times the normal price) at the Cape Town Market. The variety is being highly recommended for summer cultivation by EEC Galle, who is in charge of vegetable research in the winter rainfall region. Galle has given a lot of thought to suitable cauliflower cultivars for winter and summer cultivation in his region. More suitable varieties are needed, and farmers complain that they cannot obtain satisfactory seed. Farmers who…

Cucumber experiment 100% successful Dear Farmer’s Weekly, I have tried my best to grow cucumbers in the past, but never had any success, because insects destroyed the plants every time. So see here my 100% successful first experiment with a small cucumber, which doesn’t have any insect bites. The little plant pot kept the cucumber off the soil, and the small bag made from 40% shade cloth prevented insects from getting to it. I will use the bigger shade net bag, pictured above the cucumber, when I want to grow a larger one. Natalie Rowles, via email Sixty SA schools to get food gardens Rhodes Quality, in partnership with social enterprise Reel Gardening, has launched a new initiative called Grow with Goodness, which is aimed at growing sustainable food gardens at 60 South African schools. Every time you…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA PIG FARMERS URGED TO REDUCE ANTIBIOTIC USE There will probably never be a time when pork producers will be able to completely eliminate the use of antibiotics, but they are urged to stop using growth promoters and reduce the use of antibiotics. This was according to Dr Peter Evans, head of consumer assurance at the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation. Read the full article at bit.ly/3yoLWFY, or scan here: Posted: 13 December 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA When we posted a link to an article titled, ‘Low prices force farmers to let watermelons go to waste’, some of our followers shared their opinions on the issue. Posted: 12 December 2021. READERS’ FEEDBACK Nico Botha: “I am a farmer and retailer. The problem is not the retailer, it’s the middleman. I started farming in…