Sommaire pour 07-Aug 2015 de Farmer's Weekly

I had just started writing about South Africa missing out on trade opportunities while its southern hemisphere competitors wasted no time filling the gaps that opened up in international markets (see story on p19), when my mother called to say it was raining. My parents farm in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal. Like so many other farmers in this drought-stricken province, they have waited months for signs of rain. On that day, just 18mm of rain fell in a few hours, hardly enough to soak even the top layer of the parched soil. By evening the rain meter held the only proof of that morning’s drizzle. The Bivane Dam, which supplies water to irrigation farmers in and around Pongola, is now at about 40% of capacity and it is months before the rainy…

Farmer’s Weekly’s regular columnists often receive questions from readers. In this new column, our writers attempt to answer as many of these as possible. Aquaculture  Q Dear Nicholas I want to know which harvesting methods I can use for tilapia kept in earthen dams that cannot be drained. I have looked on the Internet and have only been able to find seine netting. I was thinking more along the lines of the fish kraals in Kosi Bay? As I know nothing about fish or aquaculture, I will appreciate your input and thoughts. Marcelle van den Hoven A Dear Marcelle The simplest method is using a gill net stretched across the water body. Mesh of different sizes will catch fish of different sizes. Stretched mesh of 80mm to 100mm in diameter…

Fears that Citrus farmers in the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape could lose millions of rands because of the continuing rains that threatened their harvest have been allayed. The region received roughly 80mm of rain during a three-week period in July, and because the area mostly had clay soils with good water retention, it took about a week of fine weather for the ground to dry out sufficiently to allow teams of fruit pickers to resume their work in the orchards. According to Petrus du Preez, chairperson of the Gamtoos Agricultural Association, some 40% of their citrus crop, including the most popular varieties, were still hanging on the trees. These popular varieties included soft citrus (mandarins, for example), lemons and the Valencia groups. If the picking teams had not…

Prices for avocados had been relatively stable in the EU over the past five to 10 years, at between €4 (R56) and €8 (R112) per 4kg-carton. This season, however, producers have been making considerably more, with cartons selling for up to €13 (R180). Considering the weak rand against the euro, this translated into producers receiving up to R177/4kg. The favourable prices were due to an undersupply in the international market, according to Kosie Eloff, chairperson of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA). South Africa had experienced an off-season, with exports estimated at 12,7 million 4kg-cartons, compared with slightly over 15 million cartons last year, he said. Production in Chile, one of South Africa’s main competitors, was down due to drought and cold damage. Both Chile and Peru were re-routing…

Brazil is in the process of revising legislation to improve its labour situation. This came after a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) found that the country was struggling with labour problems, especially labour legislation. These laws were often ambiguous, leading to disputes between labourers and employers, according to the FAO. Disputes were resolved by labour courts, but the courts had earned a reputation of having a labour bias as they were entitled to reformulate policies where the law was ambiguous, in their opinion. The Brazilian Congress had submitted a bill seeking to eliminate contradictions between legislation and worker rights. It also had a proposal to delink severance funds from dismissals to prevent labourers inducing dismissals.…

Resistance to the herbicide glyphosate has had a marked impact on soya bean production in the US, and the number of hectares planted to Roundup Ready (RR) soya bean cultivars had begun to drop. A total of 41% of cropland in the US was planted to soya beans, Prof Stevan Knezevic, weed scientist at the University of Nebraska said, speaking at the soya bean symposium in Bothaville. Some 97% of soya land had been planted to RR cultivars up to 2013. “The number of hectares planted to RR cultivars declined markedly over the last three to five years because of an explosion of glyphosate resistance in the US,” he said. Growing resistance could be ascribed to years of continuous use of a very limited list of herbicides, based mainly on…

Dr György Polgár is the new head of Bayer Animal Health for Southern Africa. Polgár, who has been with Bayer for 26 years, previously held the position of Country Division Head for Animal Health in Turkey. Polgár is an experienced scientist in the industry. He holds a doctorate in veterinary sciences and a master’s in agricultural trade administration from the St Stephan’s University of Budapest, Hungary. He founded the Bayer Animal Health business in Hungary.…

The Western Cape recently suffered a shortage of liquid petroleum gas, resulting in many broiler producers rummaging around for supply. Erik Roon, general manager of the broiler farm Lazena near Gordon’s Bay, took two weeks to find a supply. When he finally did, he had to pay about 10% more than usual. He also had to open an account with a new company, which was further away than the one where he usually sourced gas. Roon’s farm did not suffer any losses, however, as it was in the middle of a production cycle. “If it had happened two weeks later after we sourced new chicks, we would have had severe trouble,” Roon said. The shortage of gas was a seasonal problem across the country that affected the province’s producers more…

While Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government seems to have extended an olive branch to white farmers in that country, the farmers remain sceptical about the government’s motives. This comes after it was reported that the Zimbabwean government may hand land back to some white farmers whose farms were forcibly expropriated during the country’s controversial land reform programme. Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Douglas Mombeshora had reportedly tasked provincial leaders to come up with names of white farmers whom the government wanted to remain on their farms, and those whose farms were of “strategic economic importance”. Ben Freeth, a white Zimbabwean farmer and human rights activist, said they would take the government’s offer with a pinch of salt because the administration, which had “no respect for the rule of law”,…

Potential investors needed more certainty on the government’s position on private property rights before investing in South Africa, according to José Ángel Gurría, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He was speaking at the launch of the OECD Economic Survey of South Africa in Midrand recently. Gurría said that if he could give the SA government some advice, he would suggest clarifying property rights. This was because security around property rights was the biggest determinant in how much stakeholders would be prepared to invest in an industry. The report also focused on the country’s water situation. It noted that, despite its relatively high quality of water resources, SA still faced water shortages, and population and economic growth, as well as climate change, would further increase the…

At the recent meeting with the Nerpo Livestock Syndicate members, individuals who will be championing this programme were selected and given a clear mandate on what is expected of them. The Nerpo Livestock Syndicate Champions are entrusted with leading the local, district and provincial syndicates and ensuring that the processes for this programme runs smoothly. At the local level, champions are entrusted with mobilising more livestock farmers to join this important project and provide all the necessary information to the farmers. They will be responsible for coordinating the project at the local level. The super champions are entrusted with leading and coordinating the livestock syndicate project at the district level. • Phone Nerpo on 012 348 8566 or visit www.nerpo.co.za.…

In The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In, published in the 1890s, British scientist John Lubbock writes: “What we see depends mainly on what we look for. In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologist the fossils, the botanist the flowers, the artist the colouring, the hunter the cover for game. “Though we may all look at the same thing, we do not all see the same things.” Our individual perceptions are affected by our biases, our motivations and our emotions. In making the many decisions required to manage your business, you are interpreting the facts on which you base your decisions through your own selective perception filter. So stop and think: are my perceptions causing possible distortions? ASCERTAIN THE…

According to the 2013 to 2014 International Electricity and Natural Gas Report and Price Survey by energy management firm NUS Consulting Group, electricity prices in South Africa were the fourth-cheapest of 19 countries. At the time the report was compiled, the average cost for electricity in South Africa was 8,97USc/kWh. Prices were lower only in Finland, Canada and Sweden, with Sweden having the lowest price, at 7,87USc/kWh. Except for Australia, all the other countries paid more than 10USc/kWh. Nations that paid the most were the UK (15,40USc/kWh), Germany (19,21USc/kWh) and Italy (21,01USc/kWh). The report found that most countries were experiencing a decline in energy demand, largely due to weak economic activity and a growing trend towards energy efficiency. Prof Alan Brent of Stellenbosch University confirms that the same trend was…

Developed in Australia, BreedPlan is a regularly updated herd registration and genetic evaluation system that predicts breeding outcomes using estimated breeding values (EBVs). Most breeds have their own breed-specific BreedPlan values – one can compare EBVs only within a specific breed. An EBV is a genetic merit value for any trait that may be valuable in breeding selection. A 100% correct trait prediction may not be possible, but a very close estimate can be made based on data from the parentage of a specific animal. EBVs are expressed as the variance between a specific animal’s genetics and its data, with a base established for a specific breed. Simmentaler SA has deemed certain EBVs more important than others. They are: • Calving ease direct (CED): the ability of an animal’s calves to…

If you have a proper understanding of the soil on your farm, you will be able to farm more efficiently – and get more enjoyment from farming. As discussed in the last issue, soil is not simply a substrate to hold roots. It is a living organism, the health of which will vary according to the ‘diet’ you provide for it and the way you treat it. You also need to adapt your management practices to the type and condition of the soil you’re dealing with. Soils contain various combinations of sand, silt, clay, minerals and organic matter. There are also various types of clay. Montmorillonite-type clay, for example, has a considerable surface area with great expansion and contraction capabilities, whereas kaolin clay is compact and lifeless. Some years ago,…

This is a continuation of an article that appeared some weeks ago. One of the lessons I’ve learnt is to carry a few tools in my car: spanners, a pair of pliers, screwdrivers and some tape and wire. These may come in handy, but they also serve a far more important function. They have a psychological effect on an older car; it is more likely to break down if it knows you’re not carrying tools! FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS Fuel pumps have always been a source of trouble on older cars. Most types suck fuel from the tank, which means the highest pressure you can get is the difference between atmospheric pressure inside the tank and the pump’s suction. In contrast, a modern fuel-injection system uses a high-pressure pusher pump, mounted…

After obtaining the ingredients, which will take up most of your preparation time, cut the steak into four 100g strips each 20mm wide. Cut the baguettes or ciabatta rolls in half and lightly butter each side. For Salsa #1, discard the stems and roots of the parsley and coriander and rinse to remove all traces of Mother Earth. Peel and quarter the onions, peel the garlic and measure the quantity of each dry ingredient. Place the parsley and coriander leaves in a food processor and let it run for a couple of seconds. Add the whole fresh or pickled jalapeno, seeds and all. Pour in all the dry ingredients and run the processor for five to 10 seconds. At this point, pour in the vinegar, followed by the olive oil,…

City dwellers seldom have the time to make their own herbal preparations. Just the idea of starting such a project may seem quite daunting. For example, where do you buy the right herbal plants or dried herbs to make your own medicines, not to mention finding the right recipes and safety guidelines? This is where Margie Frayne’s Health in the Home with Herbs comes in handy. It contains valuable advice on the use of herbs in general: • The basics The first section of the book is dedicated to basic information on the necessity of following a balanced, nutritious diet to help you avoid sickness in the first place. Frayne explains simply and clearly how you can safely make your own herbal infusions or teas, decoctions, poultices, compresses, tinctures, creams, ointments,…

BEEKEEPER’S PROBLEM SOLVER  by James Tew (Hamlyn, R275) Tew does not pretend to wave a magic wand to turn novices into instant beekeepers – that takes a few years, he warns. But this compendium of the 100 most common problems, from buying bees and coping with beekeeping gloves to bees behaving badly and even dying, makes a well-considered starter pack for beginners. It’s a British publication, though, and SA readers will need specific local advice on issues such as weather and disease. HOLY COWS  by Gareth van Onselen (Tafelberg, R195) Controversial columnist Van Onselen relishes his role stirring the special potjie of political correctness, old-fashioned (and even outdated) customs and ethical changes in SA society, particularly elements of respect, mediocrity and excellence. This one should leave you fired up in…

It is common knowledge that a second doubling in food production will be needed to feed the world’s population by 2030. Yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to increase crop yields appreciably towards the elusive ‘genetic potential ceiling’. So what can we do to increase food production significantly in a relatively short time in this hot, crowded and hungry world? In short, we should support sound scientific endeavour, and trust this science as practised by scientists of proven ability. WHAT TO TRUST? Scientific research outputs worthy of the name ‘good science’ are invariably published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Scientists are competitive animals and will not allow false scientific outputs to go unchallenged. Sooner rather than later, the truth will come out. Good science is currently pitted in a ‘war’ against…

17 APRIL 1918 Livestock on show in Eastern Cape 97 YEARS AGO In 1918, the Peddie Farmers’ Association in the Eastern Cape held a show after a lapse of 11 years. The event was opened by Mr P Niland, MPC for the area, and proved successful, with support coming from far and wide. Here are some of the winners of first prizes and championships in the livestock sections of the show. “Horses: IP Luisenberg & Knott Brothers (stud stallions); B Goldberg & J Surmon (colts); S Hood-Williams (mares); OG Kingman (fillies); HE Matthews, Jerry Richardson and JT Brent (riding horses); AJ Munro, TG Bennett and JR Greathead (Draught horses). “Shorthorn cattle: JH Leach and CG Holl (stud bulls); WM Hartley (heifers). “Frieslands: WL Reynolds & LJ du Preez (stud bulls);…

Food producers and agri-processors in the Western Cape stand to benefit from a proposed R1 billion development that will see the province double its share in the Halaal food market and create 5 000 jobs. According to Alan Winde, MEC of economic opportunities in the province, the planned R1 billion Halaal agriprocessing food park would form part of the Project Khulisa growth strategy. The project has identified agri-processing as a key growth sector with the potential to add up to 100 000 jobs and generate R26 billion for the economy under a high-growth scenario. The Western Cape government, in partnership with the Western Cape Fine Foods Initiative and the private sector, were working to develop the Halaal food park, Winde said in a statement. “The global Halaal market is worth…

The long wait for a title deed to a forestry plantation might soon be over for the Rossbach Communal Property Association (CPA) in the Vhembe district in Limpopo. The community has been waiting for a decade for their land claim to be finalised. Machwene Semenya, agriculture, forestry and fisheries portfolio committee chairperson in Parliament, recently visited the CPA as part of her oversight duties. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, she said the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform had processed the community’s land claim but had not given them the title deed. “The challenge was that the community was not sure who owned the forestry plantations in the area. We’ve assured them that those plantations belong to them,” she said. They would work with all stakeholders to ensure that “we…

A group of young agricultural graduates are beneficiaries of a multimillion rand farm purchased by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in Limpopo. The department recently bought the 826ha Waldburg farm in Molemole Local Municipality in the Capricorn District, for R15,5 million. Its aim was to support the graduates as part of the government’s Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS), according to a statement. Three of the beneficiaries had agriculture science degrees, four had national diplomas and one had a certificate. It was not clear whether they lived on the farm as repeated attempts by Farmer’s Weekly to contact them were unsuccessful. The department, which did not respond to emailed questions, had said in a statement that the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority would provide the beneficiaries with mentorship…

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) has appealed for $20 million (R250 million) to prevent the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1 from spreading in West Africa. The disease threatened chicken production in the region and put the lives of more than 330 million people at risk as it was highly lethal when transmitted to humans. The disease broke out in Nigeria towards the end of 2014 and spread to Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. More than 1,6 million birds had been culled or died from the virus so far, according to the FAO. Juan Lubroth, chief of FAO’s Animal Health Service Division, said urgent action was needed to strengthen veterinary investigations while reporting systems in the region and the disease needed to be tackled…

There appear to be a growing number of young farmers and agriculturists joining the farming industry, resulting in the average age of farmers being considerably lower than what has been estimated up till now. This is according to Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB. Maree said that reliable statistics on the average age of farmers did not exist, but there was a general perception that it was about 60. He said that he had noticed an increasing number of young farmers at agricultural events, leading him to believe that this average was closer to between 45 and 50. The same was evident in agricultural organisations. He said that farming had become an attractive career again as net farm income had grown above inflation in the past…

Department of Labour Director-General, Thobile Lamati, has decried the slow pace of transformation in the private sector and called for captains of industry to embrace diversity. Speaking at the launch of the 15th Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) annual report in Pretoria recently, Lamati said the 2014/2015 report did not paint a good picture about “transformation in our workplaces and in the country in general, whether from a sectoral or from a provincial point of view”. Lamati’s comments followed a recent appeal by McCarthy Group’s former chief executive, Dr Brand Pretorius, to business leaders to embrace transformation. Pretorius had spoken at the FarmBiz Agribusiness Africa Conference in Johannesburg. Embracing diversity was not only a moral issue but about doing things right to benefit employers’ businesses and the communities they operated…

Potstill brandy from The House of Van Ryn’s near Stellenbosch was awarded the Worldwide Brandy trophy at The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. The Van Ryn’s 12-year-old Distiller’s Reserve won the title of best Worldwide Brandy for the fourth time in 11 years, according to a statement. The award could be attributed to Van Ryn’s Master Distiller Marlene Bester, who has custodianship over the Van Ryn’s cellars and decided which young brandies would benefit from further aging. “Van Ryn’s continues to build on our founder Jan van Ryn’s philosophy of excellence in maturation. “We produce relatively small quantities of brandy and everything is done by hand with careful attention to detail to keep our standards high,” Bester said in the statement. The House of Van Ryn’s has…

It is well understood how Rhizobia bacteria living in a symbiotic relationship with legumes manage nitrogen (N)-fixing. The discovery of other bacteria inside trees that do the same opens the way for new approaches to N-fixing that could boost crop plant performance. The Rhizobium bacterium enters legume plant roots and stimulates cell division to form nodules where N is fixed by the bacterium. The latter is present in soils but selected strains are also used as inoculants on the seed to boost N-fixing. This partnership benefits the host plant and bacterium. Other microbes are studied for potential uses as supplements to increase plant growth and crop yield. These are endophytes – microbes (bacteria and fungi) that live in between living plant cells. Scientists have always wondered how indigenous trees manage…

What are South Africa’s biggest environmental challenges? The rhino has become a symbol of the need to conserve our biodiversity, and is a stark reminder of the threats faced by animals as well as plants. But the greatest problem is irresponsible land transformation, in some cases coupled with invasive alien species. Invaders play a slow trick, spreading so gradually that their advance is not visible until they are suddenly out of control and it is too late to stop them. Plants such as triffid weed and famine weed on the country’s eastern seaboard are particularly alarming as they challenge ecosystem functioning in the savannah areas. We’ve already seen the damage that Australian acacias, hakea and pines did – and are still doing – in the Western Cape and how prosopis…

Villiera winery outside Stellenbosch began incorporating solar energy into its production system in 2010. The switch, in combination with energy-saving interventions, halved the farm’s electricity bill. Solar energy represents 40% of these savings, with improved energy efficiencies accounting for the rest, says Villiera viticulturist Simon Grier. “South Africans have always been used to cheap energy, so we buy the cheapest systems with no regard for their energy efficiency. “The switch to solar energy has changed the way we at Villiera think about our energy consumption. We’ve made a lot of changes to improve efficiencies and reduce costs, including the rescheduling of certain processes to times when electricity is cheaper, the use of energy-efficient lighting systems, and more,” Grier explains. He adds that he would recommend solar energy to anybody. In…

When Carl van der Merwe took over the finances at the family business three years ago, he developed a program to keep track of and estimate production costs. Using a simple Excel program which he has since refined, he can now monitor the production of each block on each farm. This allows him to benchmark blocks and cultivars against one another, comparing a diverse range of parameters, from fuel consumption/ha to labour costs/ha. So efficient is the program that last year, when the region was subjected to hail damage, Carl estimated the full impact of the damage two hours after his father sent him a report of the volume of fruit damaged on the farms. The system also allows them to quickly identify ways to save costs and make up…

Shortly after the Second World War, a ‘Banana War’ erupted between the small producer countries in the Caribbean and the supermarkets, which were starting to flex their buying muscle. Because of their historical ties to certain European countries, Caribbean producers enjoyed preferential tariffs when exporting bananas into what would become the EU. Their dominance of the fresh produce sector growing, the supermarkets cried foul, and demanded that the tariffs be repealed to level the playing field for everyone. The resulting Banana War raged, with each fiercely defending its position, until the tariffs were lifted a few years ago. THE LATEST Fast forward to today and an article in FreshPlaza.com headlined: ‘Zimbabwe is sitting on a banana gold mine’. Apparently, a survey has revealed that vast banana fields have not been…

A major reason for the popularity of vaulting in South Africa is affordability: a team comprises seven riders, one handler and only one horse. This makes it far more economical and easy to manage as only one horse has to be transported to a show. In an international vaulting competition, the visiting team’s horse is supplied by the hosts, avoiding the considerable cost of transporting a horse across borders. In fact, during the first international vaulting event – the Inter-Africa Cup held in 2006, in Swaziland – both the visiting team and the local team used the same horse and equipment. This event initiated a series of local and international competitions that culminated in South Africa sending a vaulting team to compete in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in…

Dear Jonno I plan to build my first home, a bachelorette pad, in three phases and would appreciate your help with its design. • Phase 1 A ground floor consisting of a bedroom with a kitchenette, and a separate toilet and bathtub. • Phase 2 A living room, dining room, kitchen, bed-nook and guest shower/toilet. • Phase 3 An en suite bedroom with a small balcony. I want to model my home on the simple style of the houses on the Greek Cyclades island group. I’ve included a design for the ground floor, but don’t know how to proceed with the first floor design. I’ve also struggled to fit in a little bed-nook for a guest bed. I want the living room, dining room and kitchen to be open-plan, separated only by big…

The success of series characters Detective Inspector Jabulani Sibanda and Sergeant Ncube in SIBANDA AND THE RAINBIRD (Jacana, R195) and now SIBANDA AND THE DEATH’S HEAD MOTH (Jacana, R220) has surprised Bulawayo-based first-time author CM Elliott. The humour and bushlore in her novels have clearly struck a chord with readers. Certainly, Elliot’s books reflect her love affair with Africa… • Adventure: I was born in England, emigrated with my family to Australia when I was 17, then came to Africa for my own adventure 10 years later. • Places: Some places are magnetic – I knew instantly that I loved the bushveld when I first stepped off a little plane years ago in Hwange. • Writing: I thought it was a whim that made me join a creative-writing class when on holiday in…

• The Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally (Vintage): His latest novel focuses on nursing in Gallipoli and the Western Front. As ever, with Keneally’s work, it is well-researched and finely drawn. • Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud (Bloomsbury): Full of charm and intelligence, this novel set in the First World War features architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who retreats to a small Suffolk village and strikes up a friendship with a young villager. • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (Picador): Mystery, intrigue and magic realism at their best. The plot revolves around a magnificent miniature house, a 17th Century Dutch miniaturist who crafts each item with unerring accuracy, the Dutch business world, and an arranged marriage.…

The article “Owning the value chain – Boran stud’s success story” (FW, 24 July) refers. Hats off to Simeon and Jarren Hurwitz for creating a successful business operation. We hope it inspires more farmers to look at ways of taking their hard-worked-for produce directly to the market. We share their belief and have done so with the wine we produce. Over the next few years we will increasingly focus on exactly this, in conjunction with more sustainable farming practices. Hayley St Leger Breytenbach, Brenaissance, via Farmer’s Weekly’s Facebook page Visit www.farmersweekly.co.za  and click on ‘Opinion’, then ‘Readers’ letters’ for more feedback on articles and current issues. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letters and photos to: Farmer’s Weekly, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123, SA, fax 011 889 0862,…

Ordinary farmers are not very happy with one idea that has been bandied about over the past few years. This idea suggests that 20% of South Africa’s farmers produce 80% of the country’s food. While this may be true for some products, it is not necessarily the case for a full basket of produce. These farmers are worried that the 80/20 theory could sideline them, should politicians decide they’re not important enough and rather turn towards a few mega farmers and big company farms that could supposedly ensure national food security. This is nonsense. Even if the 80/20 theory did apply to staple grains, the extra 20% produced by the majority would still be the difference between shortages and an occasional oversupply. It would definitely have an effect on seasonal…

The quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) is synonymous with the arid western parts of Southern Africa, as depicted in this photograph taken on the farm Ka Kolk in the Mier district of the Northern Cape. It is so called because Bushmen used its branches to make quivers for arrows. The earliest record of A. dichotoma was made in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape at the time, on his northward journey to the Copper Mountains in what is now the Northern Cape. The tree flowers from June to July. Its branches are smooth and covered with a thin layer of whitish powder that reflects the sun’s rays. The crown is often densely rounded and its blue-green leaves are borne on terminal rosettes. It is extremely tough and…

The Scottish whisky industry contributes 7,7% to the gross value added (GVA) of the UK, with Scotland contributing 6,3% to the UK’s exported goods and taking 3,7% of its imports. Whisky exports generated £3,95 billion (R77 billion) for the UK economy and earned £125 (R2 400) every second. It employed more than 10 000 workers, and over 40 000 jobs across the UK were supported by the industry. Every second, 38 bottles of whisky were exported from Scotland, with more than 20 million casks maturing in warehouses. To be classified as Scotch whisky, the spirit must lie in a cask for a minimum of three years. About 115 distilleries were licensed to produce whisky across Scotland. Whisky accounted for around a quarter of the UK’s food and drinks exports and…

South Africa’s soya bean harvest for 2014/2015 is estimated at more than one million tons, despite the drought in the summer-grain production regions. This is the first time that the one-million-ton mark has been exceeded by the crop, and it bodes well for the soya bean industry, according to Andries Theron, vice-president at Grain SA. Speaking at the recent soya bean symposium in Bothaville, Theron said the number of hectares planted to soya had risen from 134 000ha in the 2000/2001 production season to 687 300ha in the 2014/2015 season. “The increased number of hectares planted to soya beans meant that we, for the first time in 40 years, produced more of the crop locally than we needed to import,” he said. The SA Protein Research Foundation’s goal to double…

Due to a ban imposed by Russia on imports from, amongst others, the European Union (EU) and the US, trucks exporting apples to Russia from the EU have been forced to turn back and fill European storage facilities. This could lead to South African apple exporters to Russia via the EU facing full storage facilities in some European countries at the start of the next season. This was according to Wessel Lemmer, Absa Agribusiness’ senior agricultural economist, speaking at a recent Absa Agribusiness roundtable. In August last year Russia announced a restriction on imports of a wide range of food products from the EU, US, Canada, Australia and Norway in response to sanctions previously imposed by these and other countries on Russia, over the security situation in Ukraine. Stefan Conradie,…

South African exporters of macadamia nuts may have to find other markets for the 2015 crop or make peace with lower prices. This comes after traders and middlemen in China were found guilty of avoiding import duties and flouting China’s country of origin regulations. They did this by either disguising the true value of nuts they were importing into China or using ports of entry in countries such as Vietnam and Hong Kong where duties were lower or did not apply, according to a press release by Green Farms Nut Company. “This crisis is not about China. It’s about how we as producers and processors should be tackling our marketing,” said Jill Whyte, CEO of Green Farms Nut Company, who exported 20% of their produce to China. According to statistics…

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has rejected a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which blamed government for the poor state of farm workers in the country. The report was superficial as it evaluated South Africa’s farming conditions along ‘First World’ lines, according to the union. It failed to take SA’s political heritage into account, and blaming government for the poor state of farm worker conditions was like treating the symptoms of a disease and not the cause, Tony Ehrenreich, secretary of Cosatu in the Western Cape, said. While it was true that many producers struggled financially after deregulation due to a lack of government support, there were many farms, such as those in De Doorns, that flourished under these circumstances, according to him. He said that…

Through this year’s theme of ‘Collective action to enhance competitiveness for smallholder livestock farmers’, Nerpo has tried to encourage farmers to practise the culture of self-reliance and self-help. Following a resolution taken at last year’s Nerpo AGM and conference to encourage this culture, two initiatives were launched for this purpose: the Nerpo Livestock Syndicates and the Farmers’ Corporative Bank. WHO ARE OUR SPEAKERS? • Keith Ramsay Ramsay finished his secondary education at Pretoria Boys’ High and graduated at the University of Pretoria with a BSc Hons (animal breeding and physiology), and an MSc (reproductive physiology). He worked for 20 years at the Department of Development Aid, gaining invaluable experience in the field of developing animal agriculture, particularly the socio-cultural importance of livestock and communicating with stock owners. Ramsay specialised in small…

“The African Framers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) will hold its 4th annual general meeting (AGM) from 24 to 27 October 2015 at the St George’s Hotel, Rietvlei Dam, Pretoria. Afasa invites all members, partners and other stakeholders to support this important annual event to engage with the organisation in trying to achieve its goal of creating successful commercial livestock farmers out of its predominantly previously disadvantaged members. The AGM is used by the organisation to report back to all its stakeholders, and as such is an important platform to express and demonstrate the strategies which we believe can contribute immensely to the country’s agricultural transformation, land reform and rural development. This will help highlight opportunities for stakeholders and give them an opportunity to be involved in the work that…

Measures of accountability regarding waste disposal are laid down in the Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008) and the National Waste Information Regulations of 2012. This legislation controls the collection of information on waste and waste management in South Africa, to fulfil the objectives of the National Waste Information System (Sawis). Several key areas of waste management must be complied with: REGISTERING ON SAWIS Generators producing in excess of 20kg of hazardous waste a day must register on Sawis. Once registered, generators must submit information to Sawis within 90 days and the information must be based on actual volumes, not estimates. Before registering with the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) central registry, you must check that your site and your activities are not already registered. Do this by clicking on…

Despite basic labour requirements, an employer can use the law to his benefit in drafting employment contracts. This entails using labour legislation to add clauses that can eliminate possible future disputes. The legal essentials in the employment contract include: • Employment details These must contain the employer’s name and address and the employee’s name and occupation, the place/s of work, date of employment, working hours and days of work, and leave. • Payment details The salary/wage, rate for overtime, any other cash payments, deductions must be set out. • Contracts and notice period The period of the contract and the notice period must be stated. An employer must have a copy of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, as well as a description of any Council or Sectoral Determination applicable to the business…

Electricity prices continue to escalate and supply remains unreliable. Considering this, it makes intuitive sense to take at least some of your farm’s production processes off the grid. However, using alternative energy as your only source is not financially viable, according to Prof Alan Brent, associate director of the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) at Stellenbosch University. His reasoning is that South Africa’s electricity price is still relatively low – despite increasing by 170% over the past five years – in comparison with other sources of electricity. CRSES has carried out various feasibility studies for clients over the past few years. In most, high set-up costs meant that a complete switch to alternative energies was not economically viable – unless such a move was subsidised or producers…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: New Zealand steers traded higher at NZ$557/head and cows traded higher at NZ$408/head.US beef traded mostly lower: topside traded higher at US$292,69/cwt, rump was higher at US$406,22/cwt, strip loin fell to US$579,07/cwt, chuck traded slightly lower at US$298,34/cwt, brisket traded lower at US$256,08/cwt, and the carcass price was US$342,45/cwt. The US national beef herd stood at 30,5 million head on 1 July, which is 2,5% higher than the corresponding period last year. Domestic: Local prices were mixed. The various meat prices were as follows: Class A decreased 2,63% to 32,89/kg, Class C increased 3,58% to R28,10/kg, and contract prices fell 2,97% to R32,99kg. Weaner prices were slightly higher at R20,36/kg and hide prices were lower at R15,70/kg. Worldwide, supply continues to outstrip demand, placing continued…

Buying a bull is the most important investment a cattleman will make in his herd. He must evaluate a bull on the same basis as investing money – as return on his investment. 1. The more live calves a bull produces, the lower the bull-cost-per-calf. To produce many calves, a cattleman must consider fertility or semen quality, serving ability or libido, structural correctness – feet, hocks, sheath, scrotum size and shape – and also look after the bull well to keep it in good working condition. If the bull is functionally sound and settled in the environment, it will sire many calves and be a good return on the investment. 2. The bull must sire live calves. Large, heavy and coarse bulls normally sire big calves, the main cause of…

Since winning his first award at the Boerepatente competition at Nampo in 2010, Michris Janse van Rensburg of Bultfontein in the Free State has enjoyed considerable success with his Backsaver hand planter and fertiliser applicator. He currently exports implements for projects aimed at small-scale farmers in countries such as Ghana and Zambia. The Ghana project, for example, recently took delivery of an order of Backsaver implements comprising 2 000 hand planters and 200 Combi push planters and fertiliser applicators. In the past, farmers had trouble correctly applying the five bags of fertiliser each of them was supplied with. Often, the fertiliser would run out before half the area was planted. The Backsaver fertiliser unit ensures precise application rates – and plants the seeds accurately. ONE IMPLEMENT, TWO OPERATIONS Pushing the…

If we look in The Word of God, in Mark 15:4-5, we see that Jesus was a man of few words. Jesus did not have to defend Himself when Pontius Pilate, Rome’s governor of Israel, asked Him to give an account of Himself. He did not have to speak, because His life did the talking. There is a saying: “Make sure that your words are sweet, because one day you might have to eat them.” We need to be careful of what we say. Our words carry a lot more impact and weight than we realise. A man who talks much and does little, is a man who is not highly regarded at all. As another old saying has it: “A barking dog seldom bites.” Rather, we need to be…

(Struik Nature, R350) An unusual and fresh addition to the reference shelf. Roodt, an animal physiologist with a degree in botany and zoology, spent years compiling this well-illustrated guide that essentially focuses on the food chain, from soil and grass to which grazer it suits and why. Both livestock and wild game are covered, with corresponding advice on best grassland management. A useful handbook for farmers that also offers fascinating insights to bushveld fans.…

Many may think that milking and feeding cows with a click of a button is science-fiction. But more and more dairy farmers overseas have begun incorporating this totally automated technology in their operations. An example is Weldon Plett, who, with his family, runs Sunny Glades Farm near Blumenort, Manitoba, in Canada. He made the decision to mechanise while rebuilding his barn after a devastating fire two years ago and the Pletts now milk and feed their herd of 260 cows at the click of a button. This technology is particularly appreciated in this area, where the temperature regularly reaches -36°C The new facility has four . Lely A4 Astronaut robotic milking systems and a Lely Vector automatic feeding system. MIXER AND FEED PUSHER The Vector is a mixer and feed…