Sommaire pour 4 May 2018 de Farmer's Weekly

I have often wondered, while listening to presentations given at conferences by agricultural economists, whether these learned men and women would make the best or worst farmers. Dr Romanus Monji of Peulwana Agricultural Financial Services, an agricultural economist, told me how his own foray into farming taught him that, in farming, doing things strictly by the book is almost never an option. After studying and teaching in the US, he returned to Tanzania with a plan to grow bananas. All the details were carefully planned and each input and output carefully calculated. Everything was going exactly according to plan until a few days before the fruit were to be harvested when, one night, thieves entered the farm and stole almost his entire crop. Without sympathetic financial support, a new farmer…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 9 TO 11 MAY Agri World Osaka, Osaka, Japan. For more information, visit agritechjapan.jp/en/kansai / 10 MAY South African Table Grape Conference, Stellenbosch. For more information, phone 021 809 1100 or visit spier.co.za . 28 MAY TO 1 JUNE ‘The Big Thirst’ Hortgro Science Technical Symposium, Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. For more information, phone Thea van Zyl on 021 870 2900, or email thea@hortgro.co.za . COURSES & TRAINING 7 TO 9 MAY Cattle: Artificial Insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com . 7 TO 11 MAY Introduction to Small Stock Management, ARC, Irene. For more information, phone Mpho Makhanya on 012 672 9153, or email makhanyam@agric.za…

SA FARMERS WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE FOOD FOR 80 MILLION PEOPLE BY 2035 In the business of food production and ensuring that countries are food secure, two resource factors, namely land and water, play a profoundly critical role. Although these resources differ considerably in their physical nature, they are inextricably linked, and constitute two of the most fundamental resources for food production. In many parts of Africa, particularly Southern Africa, the decline in arable land and the increase in water scarcity remain the leading constraints in the production of food. Unfortunately, South Africa is one of the countries in the region that is facing significant challenges regarding both land and water resources. In its recent land audit report, Agri SA revealed that in 1994, available farmland in South Africa totalled…

The fourth summer mohair sale not only built on the good performance of the previous three sales of the season, but produced a new record-high average price for a complete mohair clip. The EGT-tested clip of the CF Conradie Trust, Murraysburg, sold for an average price of R358,42/kg. “Mohair prices have continued to climb since November, underlining the strong demand for the fibre,” said Pierre van der Vyver, manager of mohair at the OVK/CMW Group. Harry Hobson from the Pearston/ Graaff-Reinet area achieved the highest price of the day of R448,10/kg for a bale of good-style, B-length 24-micron summer kids’ mohair with a clean yield of 88,8%. The quality of the offering was still surprisingly good, despite the drought, said Van der Vyver. A total of 146 719kg was on…

While sorghum can be regarded as the lesser of the grain commodities, it is a crop with huge market potential, which is mostly a result of China’s appetite for this commodity. This was the opinion of Dr Tim Dalton, director of the Sorghum and Millet Innovation Laboratory at Kansas State University in the US, who provided a global perspective of the sorghum economy at a recent international conference in Cape Town. He said that over the past decade, China had imported the lion’s share of sorghum for livestock feed and industrial usage such as alcohol production. According to Dalton, China was the largest global consumer of sorghum in 2016 at 13,4 million tons. “A decade ago, China only consumed two million tons. This is a tectonic shift in consumption patterns.”…

WHITE SAVANNA GOATS ARE PREFERRED FOR CEREMONIAL USE The meat of South African Boer goats is by far the healthiest red meat, but consumers are reluctant to buy it because of a false perception that the meat tastes gamey and smells unpleasant. This was according to Leon Kruger, a small stock researcher at the University of the Free State’s Department of Animal Wildlife and Grassland Sciences. “The meat of intact rams might sometimes taste slightly unpleasant. This could be ascribed to the fact that the rams urinate on their upper lips and front legs when they become sexually active,” he explained. Kruger also said that the meat of young, sexually inactive and castrated animals was of exceptional quality. It was very low in cholesterol and most likely surpassed ostrich meat…

Government needs to give the agriculture sector the opportunity to gradually implement the proposed national minimum wage (NMW), according to economist and founder of economists.co.za, Mike Schussler. Imposing a blanket NMW across all regions and sectors of the economy could result in significant job losses and reduced economic contributions by businesses, including farms, he said. Schussler was responding to the recent announcement by the Department of Labour (DoL) that the implementation date for the NMW, originally scheduled for 1 May, had been postponed to allow Parliament more time to consider representations from stakeholders. Speaking at a recent meeting with employers in Tzaneen, DoL deputy director of employment standards, Mathilda Bergman, said any regulations pertaining to exemptions from paying the NMW of R3500 per month would only be published after Parliament…

Maize producer Elize van Niekerk (38) of the farm Springvale near Windhoek was named the 2018 Master Agronomist by the Namibian Agricultural Union. Van Niekerk, who had 80ha planted to dryland maize and 23ha of maize under irrigation, said this was an unexpected honour and ascribed her success to careful planning and keeping detailed records. Van Niekerk had been farming on her own following the death of her husband Petrus four years ago.…

In the second half of 2017, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research launched a citizen science survey on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in South Africa as part of its Strategic Environment Assessment programme. People were encouraged to send in photographic and location data of any tilapia they caught. The aim of the survey is to determine to what extent the Nile tilapia has penetrated the South African river systems. Unfortunately, the response to the survey has been poor, largely because it ran over winter when tilapia angling is limited. The survey was extended to include this summer, but late entries are also welcome. A permit issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs is currently required for the use of Nile tilapia in aquaculture, as it’s a Category 2 invasive…

What’s the difference between the Southern African Sustainable Textile and Apparel Cluster (SASTAC) and the Sustainable Cotton Cluster? On 1 April 2014, the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] officially launched a five-year plan to establish a national textile cluster, SASTAC, supported by a R200-million grant fund. Its aim was to improve capacity and competitiveness and to create jobs in the cotton, textile and apparel industry value chains. The cotton industry formed the Sustainable Cotton Cluster (SCC) in May 2014 to serve the cotton-specific interventions. It’s made great progress, and there’s now a big drive to get the other fibres on board. The SCC brings together the entire cotton supply chain under one umbrella: farmers, ginneries, yarn manufacturers, dyers, finishing plants, weavers, retailers and consumers. The stakeholders are working together…

Contacts: Hardus Botha: 082 413 8426 | Van Aardt and Adel Greyling: 082 782 7674 Hannes Kotzé: 082 926 1179 | Faan Greyling: 076 111 9575 | Joe and Elmarie Wilkinson: 072 146 0467…

Each year, the renowned iF Design Awards recognise outstanding, innovative, ergonomic and, of course, aesthetic products from all sectors. The evaluation criteria include design quality, finish, choice of material, degree of innovation, environmental compatibility, functionality and ergonomics. This year, the iF Design Farm Machinery awards went to Amazone’s Catros XL 3003 compact disc harrow, the ZG-TS 10001 trailed fertiliser spreader, the UF 2002 mounted sprayer and the Cataya 3000 Super seed drill combination. 1 Catros XL 3003 Features mentioned by the judges include the lightweight compact disc harrow design, easy handling and fuel-saving capability. This latest version of the Catros has been extensively simplified, resulting in a more competitive price. 2 ZG-TS fertiliser spreader The new ZG-TS trailed fertiliser spreader won over the judges with its automatic monitoring and control,…

On 12 October 1901, Commandant (Cmdt) Johannes Lötter (26) sat blindfolded and bound to a chair. A British firing squad fired several bullets into his chest, toppling him over next to his waiting grave. A few days later, Field Cornet Pieter Wolfaardt (32) suffered the same fate on the outskirts of Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, where today a monument commemorates their execution. A FATEFUL DECISION Lötter had joined Cmdt Pieter Kritzinger’s commando near Colesberg in early 1901. His participation as a rebel in the war made him eligible for execution if captured by the British. He was soon promoted to commandant, and eventually broke away from Kritzinger with about 100 men. His commando of rebels, including Wolfaardt, who had left his Middelburg farm to join the war, quickly became…

Dear Jonno, I want to build a small complex on my 3ha farm near Polokwane. I have to fit all this in on a small hillside. I need the area to have a general dealer store; shisa nyama/braai area; an entertainment hall/restaurant with big TV screen and snooker, table tennis, soccer table and mini bar; a car wash and filling station. I would also like a backroom cottage with two or three bedrooms attached to the shop for me and my workers. The envisaged building is to be laid out stretching from east to west, facing north. On the southern side we have gum trees below the hill, near my homestead. Can you roughly give me an idea sketch-wise what it will look like? Kind regards, John Mavuso Dear John,…

In Western society, naming is about referencing, but meaning is an important element of African naming practices, says Phumzile Simelane Kalumba, assistant director of supply chain management at Stats SA, and author of JABULANI MEANS REJOICE (Modjadji, R300), which has just gone into a second edition. Kalumba champions reclaiming the beauty of traditional African names, believing they are cultural artefacts that can today give us a glimpse of lost traditional societies and how these people lived their lives. 1. Impact: I was inspired to research and write about names because when I was growing up, my mother’s name really bothered me. I asked her why she had been called Jabhisile, meaning 'disappointing'. She said she was named by her father, who would have preferred a boy. In the family, we…

Those who run smaller farms often have trouble keeping track of what they have grown, which animals they sold and how their businesses are doing on a day-to-day basis. With this in mind, Ian and Janine Russell of Boulder County, Colorado in the US, have developed the online platform Farmbrite (farmbrite.com). It assists farmers by offering the following features: • Bookkeeping and accounting; • Animal and livestock record-keeping; • Crop planning and tracking; • Farm planning, management and scheduling; • Record-keeping for tools/equipment; • Customer and contact management. Using the Farm Store feature, farmers can also develop a customised website to promote their business and sell products online. CONFIDENTIAL Farming data is a valuable commodity in today’s economic climate and often a very sensitive topic. However, any information entered onto…

“Transformation is one of Wildlife Ranching South Africa’s (WRSA) key focus areas, and we encourage our members to support it. We have full-time consultants who advise members on transformation, and we also partner with provincial governments and environmental departments to advise beneficiaries of land restitution programmes on how to enter the wildlife and biodiversity economy. Market valuations and know-how are two barriers to entry for new game breeders. I always advise new entrants to invest in a factory, not a zoo. In other words, one must buy an economically viable production unit of a species, for example a nyala bull and 20 ewes, so that they can breed sustainably and increase in numbers. If you invest in different species without a coordinated investment programme that is optimised according to established…

Livestock producers in the Western Cape are taking additional strain due to a marked increase in the cost of feed, as a result of the drought, according to industry experts. A recent Absa Agri Trends report said that while maize prices were low throughout South Africa after the bumper crop of 2017, transport costs to the Western Cape were adding an additional R400/t to R500/t to the cost of feed. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Louis Wessels, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) in the Western Cape, said a portion of the transport cost was calculated based on whether goods were transported back inland to the markets from which the maize was shipped. As there was currently no wheat transported inland due to harvesting not having commenced, transport costs…

LOWER COSTS HAS MADE THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY MORE VIABLE Not only is sunlight needed for optimal plant growth, it could also become the preferred way to power the watering of crops. This was according to a new report released by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The report titled, ‘The benefits and risks of solar-powered irrigation – a global overview’, said that solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) were now affordable for both large and small-scale farmers. It focused on solar-powered pumps, which it said could support drip, sprinkler, pivot or flood irrigation methods if appropriately sized pumps were used. One of the major drivers for SPIS was the marked drop in the price of solar panels, with “dramatic” decreases beginning in 2009. The report stated that the International Renewable…

More than 200 million eggs were being recalled in the US after an outbreak of the potentially deadly Salmonella bacteria was linked to a farm in North Carolina. The recalled eggs had been supplied to supermarkets and restaurants across nine states, the Food and Drug Administration announced in a statement. It was believed that thus far, 22 reported cases of salmonella infection could be tied to the contaminated eggs. The company, Rose Acre Farms in Indiana, said in a statement that it had chosen to issue the recall “through an abundance of caution”. Consumers had been urged to check their egg cartons against the recalled batches, which were listed online. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly among children, the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system.…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has increased its technical support to assist South Africa in containing the widespread listeriosis outbreak, according to Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson, Popo Maja. The WHO’s assistance would strengthen national health systems to prevent future listeriosis outbreaks in the country, he said. Maja explained that the increased support was in line with international health regulations and followed recommendations made by a joint external evaluation of the listeriosis outbreak that began early last year. He added that it was vital to effectively contain the listeriosis outbreak and prevent future outbreaks of the disease, as it was not only a threat to South African citizens, but also had a negative impact on trade with other countries. In February, the DoH reported that the source of the listeriosis…

A large portion of the delivered cost of fertiliser was the result of challenges faced by the local industry, according to Adriaan de Lange, chairperson of the Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa (Fertasa), and group managing director of Omnia Fertilizer. Speaking at the recent Fertasa annual congress in Johannesburg, De Lange said inflation, increased taxes, inefficient infrastructure and challenges with regard to basic services such as rail transport, high electricity costs, as well as an unproductive labour force, were playing an ever-increasing role in local fertiliser prices. “Local costs are therefore not keeping pace with the international bulk fertiliser index.” In 2017, net fertiliser imports increased 26% to 1,4 million tons, De Lange said. International trade was also suffering. For example, the large volume of chicken imports was having a…

‘FIX A PRICE FOR AT LEAST PART OF YOUR MAIZE HARVEST’ Maize farmers are advised not to hold on to stock as better prices were unlikely to materialise, unless the US experienced a major drought. This was according to agricultural economist, Prof Johan Willemse, who was speaking at his recent agricultural markets outlook workshop in Bloemfontein in the Free State. Willemse said that South Africa still had a very large maize surplus, and that the current price would need to drop another R100/t to R150/t to make exports more viable. “At the end of this marketing year [30 April], we are expecting ending stocks of 3,7 million tons. So prices remain under pressure.” The looming trade war between China and the US also featured prominently. Willemse said it would affect…

Free State Agriculture (FSA) has called on members to inform the organisation about transformation initiatives in which they were involved so that a database could be established. Information about various transformation initiatives in which farmers were already actively participating would be captured in the Land Reform and Agricultural Sector Transformation Actions Database. According to a statement by FSA, the database was intended to provide concrete, fact-based evidence of where and how farmers in the Free Sate were implementing transformation projects. This included whether a farmer, farming operation or agribusiness had BEE certification. “There are opportunities for BEE-accredited producers to provide food to the military, for example,” the statement said. FSA operations manager, Dr Jack Armour, said FSA was hoping to get a better picture of the impact of the farming…

South African wine consumers shared similar perceptions about wine across different ethnic groups, with wine consumption associated with social status and sophistication. These were the results of a study conducted by Dr Carla Weightman of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University. According to the study, about 56% of the wine-drinking population were female. They drank more wine on a broader set of occasions than male wine drinkers, the study found. The deciding factor in consumer choices was related to budget, which was the most significant factor in wine consumption. The second key factor was the venue in which it was consumed, and the third was whether a meal was involved, according to the study. Red wine was considered superior to white wine, with people willing to spend more on…

Following the announcement by Mildred Oliphant, the Minister of the Department of Labour (DoL), that the National Minimum Wage Bill (NMWB), the Labour Relations Amendment Bill, and the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill will not come into effect on 1 May, no new date has been set for the implementation of this legislation. This has left employers in the dark with regard to planning for wage increases to comply with the proposed legislation. A lot of confusion still exists at DoL level, which was clear during the recent Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Inaugural Labour Conference. Several high-ranking officials from the CCMA and DoL confirmed that the National Minimum Wage Act would come into effect on 1 May. This was also supported by the minister of labour…

Gugulethu (Gugu) Zondi was born and raised in the rural areas of Emathulini and Ozwathini in upper Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal. She spent her childhood herding her father’s cattle. This delayed the beginning of her school career, and she only started Grade 1 when she was nine years old. Nevertheless, she successfully completed matric in 1986. INTEREST IN FARMING Since completing school, Gugu has been involved in a couple of professions. A teacher by training, she also worked as a bank teller. In 1998, while pregnant with her twin girls, she quit formal employment and started working with communities in rural areas throughout KZN. It was during this time that she also began farming, and produced amadumbe and potatoes on 3ha of communal land. She sold her produce to the local…

Pecan nut farming is a longterm investment, dependent on the producer making the correct choices early on in the business. This is according to Shane Eva, farm manager for Halls and Sons in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. Halls grows, packs and markets subtropical fruit, including avocado, mango, litchi and pecan nuts. Shane says that choosing the right location, cultivar and land preparation technique are crucial to ensure orchards function optimally from the start, and that the return on investment is maximised. THE COST OF AN ORCHARD Pecan production is widespread across South Africa, but orchards are increasingly being established in the drier Northern Cape. While pecan trees like dry conditions, they also require wet roots, and prefer short, cold winters and long, hot summers. Pecan trees need 285 days a year for…

There’s always a market for baby vegetables, and carrots are no exception. In the past, top-shaped baby carrots were the most popular in the frozen range. Frozen food producers would harvest the carrots, trim the leaves, remove the skin with a steam peeler and then freeze the vegetables. The variety commonly used was Chantenay Red Core, which is slightly shorter than the regular Chantenay. This variety is also used for the production of normal-sized carrots, so producing mature baby carrots of about 5cm in length requires special procedure. • Fertilisation The first step to producing these carrots is to ensure correct fertilisation. Too much nitrogen will stimulate leaf growth, causing the more advanced plants to overshadow the weaker ones. The advanced plants will then form normal-sized roots, while completely suppressing the…

Driving most modern cars is great fun. You’re cocooned in a soft seat, surrounded by informative instruments, and your turbocharged engine makes you feel like you’re king of the road. Owning a modern car is another story. The upkeep is so expensive that you feel like you’re a slave to a very expensive habit. Moreover, you have to mollycoddle your turbo engine, and spares are so expensive that you suspect there’s no longer a direct relation between manufacturing cost and retail price. An electronic remote that combines an unlocking facility with starting the engine can easily cost you up to R4 000 to replace, despite the fact that the electronic circuitry is far less sophisticated than what you’ll find in a basic cell phone! Another industry habit that’s gaining ground…

To make shepherd’s pie for six fellow pastoralists, you will need: 1kg of potatoes 125ml of milk 200ml of beef stock 9 tablespoons of butter Black pepper and salt on demand 1 onion 5 cloves of garlic 2 carrots 4 sticks of celery 200mm fresh rosemary sprigs 1 cup of chopped parsley 400g of minced lamb 400g of minced beef 1 sachet of tomato concentrate 1 tablespoon of flour 1 cup grated Cheddar 1 or 2 tablespoons of coarse Dijon mustard 3 dashes of Worcester sauce 1 Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters. Boil these in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft, but not mushed. 2 Drain and return the cooked potatoes to the pot. Mash to a paste. 3 Melt six tablespoons of the butter…

THE ANNOTATED OLD FOURLEGS by Mike Bruton (Struik Nature, R350) Former director of the prestigious Rhodes University JLB Smith Institute of Icthyology, Bruton recaps Smith’s own most famous work of more than 60 years ago, highlighting how marine science has moved on in that time, both in new introductory chapters and in panels flanking the facsimile text. Bruton also showcases the impact of the landmark original, which put South African science on the world map and was eventually translated into nine languages. An inspired way of aligning past and present knowledge. ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE  by Gail Honeyman (HarperCollins, R205) As a young office manager, Eleanor Oliphant is old and serious beyond her years. She has little idea how to mingle at work social events and her comfort zone…

The original land claims were made by communities that were removed from their land by the apartheid government. Their lands were then owned by white people, who were given title deeds, making them the legal owners. This allowed them to use these farming properties as collateral in acquiring loans. After 1994, these communities were allowed to lay claim to those lands, provided that they could prove they were the original owners. Some claimants were eventually granted ‘ownership’, and the farmers who were in possession of these farms were compensated. The claimants could then take possession of the farms. The main problem that arose from this was that the claimants were not given title deeds, and even though they were allowed to take over the farms and farm on the land,…

BENEFICIARY SELECTION MUST BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT Many opinions about land reform have been proffered by the body politic and analysts alike, particularly since the ANC adopted a motion to explore land expropriation without compensation. Grim warnings of unintended consequences have been sounded about the negative outcomes of badly managed land acquisition programmes, but have not been matched by ideas of how to address them. Having reflected about the possible unintended consequences of expropriation without compensation, it is worth re-looking at some of the existing proposals to facilitate land redistribution that have never been fully tested. These include the resolutions of the National Reference Group (NAREG) consultation process, the High Level Panel report, Operation Phakisa, as well as a variety of private sector and academic proposals, among others. Appreciating the…

The PE Cold Storage plant has made a further R10 million investment in its facility at the Coega Special Economic Zone in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, following the R100 million expansion programme that was completed last year. The latest expansion will double the facility’s storage capacity from a total of 7 500 pallets to about 15 000 pallets. George Efstratiou, director of PE Cold Storage, said that due to the expansion of the storage facility, greater volumes of citrus could be handled to accommodate the increasing production of this fruit in the province. According to a recent report by the Citrus Growers’ Association, producers in the Eastern Cape exported 29 million cartons of 15kg each in 2017, while exports for 2018 were estimated at 35 million cartons. It…

There are plans in the pipeline to establish a development fund for the wool industry by August, according to Guillaume du Toit, chairperson of the South African Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA). While funding of about R5,8 million per year would be required for the initiative to be effective, Du Toit said this was a drop in the ocean considering that the total value of the clip that was exported in the 2016/2017 marketing season amounted to more than R4,29 billion. The fund would be used to train shearers, maintain acceptable predation management practices on farms, and improve communication with role players in the wool value chain, he said. Predation posed a serious threat to local wool growers. It was estimated that as much as 20% of the national flock’s breeding…

The final Position Paper on the South African Biofuels Regulatory Framework has still not been published in its entirety, according to Marlan Mouton, managing director of Mabele Fuels, which had to date invested over R160 million in preparations for biofuel production. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Mouton said aspects, such as the way in which mandatory blending of biofuels into fossil fuel would be managed, had been gazetted in 2015, but government had not yet finalised how subsidies or grants for the industry would be applied. Farmer’s Weekly previously reported that mandatory blending of petrol and diesel with biofuel would come into effect on 1 October 2015, which would have required a minimum 2% penetration of biofuels into the national liquid fuels supply. In 2015, government had also been on the…

GERMANY German researchers at Saarland University and the German Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken were endeavouring to provide growers with increased yields by reducing product losses. Researcher Wolfgang Maass and his team have collected extensive data on how potatoes were damaged during harvesting using an impact-sensitive artificial potato. This would help farmers adjust the speed of the harvesters, thereby reducing product losses. AUSTRALIA Scientists from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation have confirmed the hybridisation of the cotton bollworm and the corn earworm. According to Craig Anderson, the lead author of the paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the hybrid had wide-ranging implications for the agricultural community across the Americas. UNITED STATES The medicines used on livestock were leaching into the environment…

Sappi has signed an agreement with the Department of Energy to build a renewable energy plant at its Ngodwana Mill in Mpumalanga that would feed 25MW of biomass energy into the national grid from July 2020. The agreement added Ngodwana to the department’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Sappi and consortium partners KC Africa and African Rainbow Energy and Power were investing R1,8 billion in the plant. Currently, there were only a small number of biomass projects operating in the South African renewables energy market. The electricity would be generated by burning wood chips, branches and other biomass material. One of the benefits of using biomass fuel for electricity generation was that it had a high load factor (about 200 000MW hours per annum), said Sappi Southern Africa…

Cotton production is expected to increase to about 190 000 lint bales of 200kg each, up from around 80 000 last year, according to Cotton SA CEO, Hennie Bruwer. The biggest increase would be in the area planted to cotton under irrigation, which was up 170% from 7 301ha last year, to 19 681ha for the current season, according to the third Cotton SA crop report for the 2017/2018 production year. Bruwer said, however, that the association was even more excited about the dryland cotton forecast, which was showing a steady year-on-year increase in line with longer-term industry strategies. The dryland cotton estimate was up from about 10 500ha last year to 17 600ha this year, he said. There had been buy-in from both farmers and the banks in terms…

Everyone is born with a reservoir of creativity. This is the basis of the huge toy industry, which is supported by parents who keep spending money on toys, Lego, colouring books and jigsaw puzzles, amongst other things, for their children. It’s a pity that creativity and imagination are not necessarily encouraged throughout our lives; as soon as we enter the school system, rote learning dominates, and slowly many of us extinguish that creative spark! THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY All major innovations in the world are the outcome of great creative energy. Creativity gave us Microsoft, Apple and Samsung, just to name a few. While these companies needed a lot of follow through in the form of business acumen, tenacity and hard work, without the initial creativity of the founders, these…

Bovine tuberculosis is a direct anthropozoonosis caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. It occurs mainly in cattle, but can also infect game animals, such as buffalo, eland and bushbuck, carnivores, such as lion, hyena, leopard and cheetah, and other animals such as baboons and warthogs. As tuberculosis is mutually transmissible between people and animals, it is also known as an amphizoonosis. More than 90% of the cases of tuberculosis in people are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while M. bovis is responsible for less than 2% of human tuberculosis cases. The occurrence of M. bovis has been greatly reduced by decades of disease control in cattle, and by the routine pasteurisation of cow’s milk. However, people with M. tuberculosis can also transmit the illness to other animals. Millions of new human…

An article in the Dublin Inquirer, sent to me by my colleague Dr Justy Range, poses the question: “Is the end near for Dublin’s wholesale fruit and veg market?” Dublin Market is facing a doubtful future and this may have a negative effect on the wholesalers trading there. South Africa has commission markets and market agents, unlike the market in Dublin. However, the market dynamics are similar. Smaller local buyers there also have problems meeting wholesaler expectations. “A lot of the big wholesalers don’t want to deal with you because you are small fry, and for the farmers it’s sometimes not worth their while putting seven lettuces aside for you,” says Andrew Ruiter, a small-scale farmer and restaurateur in Ireland. I’ve repeatedly said that the market remains the best option…

The meconium is the black, sticky intestinal contents found in newborn foals. It consists of dead cells, amniotic fluid, bile and intestinal secretions accumulated while the foetus is still in the mare’s uterus. Once the foal starts suckling, usually within three to four hours after birth, the meconium is expelled and replaced by bright yellow faeces. If it hasn’t been expelled within six to 12 hours after the birth, the foal will show symptoms of colic, and become lethargic and stop suckling. It will also begin lifting its tail and straining. The symptoms of colic will include the foal stretching out its legs, kicking at its stomach or rolling. The foal may also repeatedly stand up and lie down, and be reluctant to suckle. Several neonatal diseases can lead to…

South Africa is a great place to be right now; the craft movement is in full swing and craft beer is leading the way. This time round, these microbreweries are hitting the mark and doing so across the entire spectrum of beer and ale styles. This delicious shepherd’s pie has wonderful, full flavours, and in my opinion is asking for a good beer to go with it. The base of the pie is full of robust flavours and the topping is creamy and smooth; it even looks like the food version of an ale poured into a glass with a full, creamy head. With the ever-increasing selection of small production beer on our shelves, finding one should be a breeze. Try the creamy Mainstream African Vibe Ale or the fuller-bodied…

Diabetes and obesity The biggest danger of obesity is that the cells of an overweight body can become resistant to insulin, which is often the forerunner of diabetes. In Health in the Home with Herbs, Margie Frayne recommends that you reduce your weight, even if you have gained as little as 10kg to 15kg over the past several years. While some herbs can help you, the most important factor is your diet. Eat foods in their least processed form, so that you can get as much healthy fibre into your digestive system as possible. Eat whole grain foods that are rich in nutrients, and lots of legumes such as dried beans, peas and lentils, which can be added to any meaty dish. You should also eat whole fruit, including the…

Death by wild mushrooms, the shenanigans of the budding foraging industry and restaurant rivalry on the Cape coast and winelands drive Irna van Zyl’s rollicking second outing for her series detective Storm van der Merwe, DEATH CUP (Penguin, R230). The award-winning Cape Town journalist has made sure her text is shot through with humour and social satire, making this entertainment with bite. Oscillating between light and dark, it keeps up a brisk pace and makes a page-turner of note. 5 COPIES OF DEATH CUP to give away! TO ENTER, SMS the word MUSHROOM , your name, physical address and ID number to 48404. Each SMS costs R1,50. Free SMSes do not apply. The competition opens on 30 April 2018 and runs until 31 May 2018. Visit farmersweekly.co.za  for…