Sommaire pour 20 March 2020 de Farmer's Weekly

Regular readers of Farmer’s Weekly will be familiar with the economic challenges facing farmers as a result of the cost-price squeeze and diminishing profit margins. In fact, profitability, or rather the lack thereof, is probably one of the greatest threats to farming at the moment. As any farmer will readily tell you, it is tough out there. Still, as an outsider, it is sometimes difficult to grasp just how difficult it really is for farmers. Any external event that has even the slightest impact on a farmer’s yield or income per ton has the potential to push that farmer into a debt trap that he/she will struggle to escape from if a hard season is not immediately followed by at least two particularly good seasons. This is why a sizeable…

Laerskool Kempton Park (LPK), a full-service school in the Ekhurhuleni municipality, recently received first place at the Gauteng Department of Education Service Excellence Awards 2019 for Best Project. LPK received the award for its innovative school aquaponics system and sensory garden. The project was established in 2017 with the help of INMED and Air Products (FW, 6 December 2019). The project not only aims to teach children the basics of aquaponics, but also focuses on traditional agricultural production. The food produced in the school’s aquaponics system and sensory garden is used in the school’s feeding scheme. Adoreé Louw, project manager at LKP, says the school is elated to have received the prestigious Tanzanite award. “Our school serves a community characterised by challenging socio-economic circumstances. Two years ago, we realised that…

In my previous article (FW, 6 March), I explored how the US’s adjustment of the list of developing and least developed countries considered for special and differential treatment under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) countervailing duty law, and the subsidies and countervailing measures agreement law, will have ripple effects and unintended consequences for South Africa. This will be especially relevant in terms of the country’s eligibility as a beneficiary under the Generalised System of Preferences scheme and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Factors to consider include the ongoing debate on South Africa’s status as a developing or developed country; concerns about the country’s broader economic policy with regard to the protection of private property rights and the protection of intellectual property, among other issues; and concerns that may…

As the public begins to realise the ramifications of the recently confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa, local consumer behaviour could change significantly, and could lead to far-reaching consequences for the South African agricultural value chain. This was according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, who said that in other countries, such as the US, where the public was becoming increasingly fearful of the impact of the potentially widespread virus infections, many consumers were panic-buying personal hygiene and food products. Sihlobo said it was too early to tell whether South African consumers would behave similarly on a large scale. If it did happen, the local agricultural value chain would benefit in the short term from the sudden increased demand for food products. “In the medium-term,…

The drop in fuel prices that came into effect earlier this month as a result of lower Brent crude oil prices, on the back of the fast-spreading novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak across the world, will provide some relief for farmers. Petrol and diesel prices declined 19c/l and 55c/l respectively. According to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB, the cumulative decreases in petrol and diesel prices would help limit the impact of the expected fuel levy increase of 25c/l in April. “This is likely to contribute to positive cash flow, lower cost of production and improved profitability, as petrol and diesel make up a significant amount of farm input costs.” He added that the lower fuel prices came at a critical time for farmers as they started to stock up…

Grain SA and its members provide leadership in South African agriculture and are amongst the most relevant role players in the sector. As producers of food, Grain SA’s members have a decisive role to play in the country and its future. This was according to Jaco Minnaar, outgoing chairperson of the association. ‘WE’LL CONTINUE THIS GREAT WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS’ Speaking at the 2020 Grain SA Congress in Bothaville, Minnaar said the men and women in the grain industry worked and lived under “far from ideal conditions”. “This has been exacerbated by farm safety and security issues, [proposed] expropriation of land without compensation, and the [entire] land reform debate. We cannot change the past, but we believe strongly that we can help build the future. “That’s who we are, and…

Specific enzyme solutions that will be made available to the animal feed industry in the Middle East and Africa could help farmers optimise feed costs and enhance animal performance, particularly in the case of poultry and pigs. ‘THE ENZYMES ONLY WORK EFFECTIVELY 50% OF THE TIME’ This was announced by Cargill and BASF at the recent Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association Forum, which took place at Sun City in North West. The announcement followed a recent collaboration agreement between the companies, said Coen van der Laan, strategic marketing and technology director of Cargill’s animal nutrition business in the Middle East and Africa. Cargill was one of the leaders in the animal nutrition and health solutions market, while BASF specialised in enzymes and owned a genomic library with a high number of…

The 2019/2020 season has produced varied results for the table grape industry, with the Berg River and Olifants River production regions delivering good crops, and the Hex River and northern production regions suffering some losses due to rain damage. This was according to Clayton Swart, spokesperson of the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), who said that SATI had had to lower its initial crop estimate twice due to rain damage. The current crop estimate for the season was between 59,6 million and 64,7 million 4,5kg-cartons. “However, the Olifants River region, which was severely affected by the drought, showed good recovery. So much so, that we adjusted the region’s crop estimate from between 2,1 million and 2,5 million cartons to between 2,5 million and 2,7 million cartons. It seems as…

It is expected that South Africa will have to import 1,8 million tons of wheat this year due to a decline in production as a result of anticipated poor yields in some regions of the country. This followed after some production regions experienced poor weather conditions towards the end of 2019. Commenting on the Crop Estimates Committee’s (CEC) final production forecast for winter grains, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said the forecasts for the 2019/2020 wheat, barley and canola production figures were down 20%, 10% and 8% respectively from the previous season. He said that the decline in wheat production would necessitate an increase in imports during the 2019/2020 marketing year to supplement domestic consumption. “We forecast that South Africa’s 2019/2020 wheat imports [would be] 33% [higher] year-on-year. Fortunately,…

Nico was angry. “We can’t carry on like this,” he said. “I’m supposed to be the managing director of this family business, and I don’t know from one moment to the next who’ll be at work and who’ll be away. Jason walked in this morning and told me he’s going fishing again!” The four directors – his elderly mother, his two brothers and I, their newly recruited independent director – received this news in silence. “We have to implement a leave policy for family members,” added Nico. “Hang on,” I said. “Do employees who are members of the family have different leave provisions from other employees? And, anyway, why are we, the board, getting involved in ‘leave policy’? It’s a matter for you and your management, not a subject for…

In the highly competitive world of fresh produce, it’s important to appreciate that marketing and selling are two separate functions and therefore involve different processes. The better that farmers understand the role played by each function, the more rapidly and profitably they will see their produce leave the market floor. • Marketing Marketing is concerned with the many activities involved in preparing produce to make it as attractive and presentable to consumers as possible. These can include ensuring that the produce itself meets the required quality standards, designing and manufacturing branding and packaging, interacting with retailers, and arranging promotions, amongst others. In short, marketing is doing whatever is required to make produce ultimately saleable. It does not matter if you’re a large-or a small-scale farmer; you have to market your produce.…

SAVOURY Baked fish with peppadew sauce This recipe turns boring frozen hake fillets into a spicy, delicious dish that will entice even those who don’t usually choose fish. Makes four portions 600g of hake fillet 30ml (2 Tbsp) oil 1 onion, chopped 5ml (1 tsp) garlic, chopped 250g mushrooms, chopped 187ml Peppadew Relish 20ml (4 tsp) lemon juice 2 handfuls fresh coriander, chopped 1ml salt 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, and grease a baking pan with butter. 2. Arrange the fish fillets in the baking tray and set aside. 3. Heat the oil on the stove and sauté the onion and garlic until the onion is almost soft. Add the mushrooms and sauté for a further three minutes. Remove from the heat. 4. Add the Peppadew Relish, lemon juice,…

Pineapples are rich in soluble and insoluble fibre, which increases the removal of toxic waste from the colon, helping to keep the intestine healthy. The core of the pineapple should also be eaten, as this contains most of the fibre and the enzyme bromelain (see FW, 13 March). Bromelain has powerful anti-inflammation properties: it blocks the production of prostaglandin E2, which causes redness and swelling. Studies have shown that bromelain helps reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis and sports injuries, and it is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and accelerate recovery from strains, tendonitis and bruises. Bromelain also helps balance the acidity of the stomach and improve the alkalinity of the small intestine. Pineapple is effective as a blood thinner, as it contains enzymes that break up fibrin, a blood-clotting protein.…

Because of the huge reach of social media, defamatory messages can be highly damaging. This is well recognised in law, and a recipient who feels prejudiced by a post can seek redress in court. Employers can be placed in complicated situations by posts from their staff. These can result in damage to reputation, vicarious liability, or the divulgence of confidential information. Business owners should therefore implement strict social media policies in the workplace. The legal information website golegal.co.za stresses that the right to freedom of expression “does not operate in a vacuum”. ”While it is a fundamental right, making certain utterances will not allow employees to claim immunity from censure by their employers and the courts. “One of the reasons for this is that an employee owes a duty of…

If you were given R30 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend it? I would invest it in strategic initiatives to grow wine tourism in South Africa, a segment that already contributes R6 billion to the economy. It has double-digit growth potential and the capacity to create new jobs, small businesses, and ambassadors. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? Sakkie van der Vyver, a former director of PricewaterhouseCoopers, explained to me the functions of a director on a practical level. “A board member has four important roles: a critic, an innovator, an ambassador for the company, and a support for the CEO. These roles are…

“Successful farming businesses in South Africa today are often well-diversified, with interests both on-farm and off-farm, and frequently operating in two or more regions. Not long ago, diversification was a buzzword thrown around at almost every agricultural conference or meeting. But what exactly is diversification? In short, it is a technique that reduces risk by allocating investments among various financial instruments (in this case, agricultural products), industries or other categories. It aims to maximise returns by investing in a number of areas, each of which would react differently to the same event. Agricultural economists preach diversification to farmers to help them spread risk, and most farmers diversify within a category; for example, they might produce maize, soya bean and sunflower, or peaches, apricots and plums. But it seems as if…

South Africa’s economy is in a recession again after shrinking 1,4% in the final quarter of last year, with agriculture registering the largest contraction of 7,6% on a quarterly basis. This is South Africa’s second recession since 2018, and the third since 1994. As such, South Africa’s economy grew only 0,2% in 2019, its worst performance since the global financial crisis in 2009, when it shrank 1,5%. The current state of South Africa’s economy is indeed worrisome. However, with uncertainty seemingly proliferating by the day, dominated by frequent electricity-supply shortages that are expected to last for the next 12 months, and extreme climatic conditions that have reduced agricultural activities, an economic slowdown should come as no surprise. And unfortunately, as long as this continues, further underperformance by the South African…

The recently announced ‘Declaration of a National State of Disaster’, as published in the Government Gazette, raises many questions, according to local organised agriculture stakeholders. Representatives of Agri SA and TAU SA said they were seeking urgent meetings with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to find out whether this declaration would result in any assistance for the agriculture sector. According to the declaration, in view of the impact of “persisting drought conditions in many parts of the country”, the National Disaster Management Centre had decided to reclassify the situation as a national disaster. In terms of the Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002, government resources could be made available as necessary for assisting and protecting the public; providing relief to the public; protecting property; preventing or…

Products that pose a serious hazard to human health, the environment and bees earn the world’s largest pesticide manufacturers more than a third of their income, a new report has shown. Many of these substances had long been banned in European countries, and were sold in low- and middle-income countries, according to a joint investigation conducted by Public Eye, a nongovernmental organisation based in Switzerland, and Unearthed, the investigative unit of Greenpeace UK. The report was based on extensive data provided by agribusiness analyst company Phillips McDougall, and focused on the pesticide sales of BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Corteva Agriscience, FMC and Syngenta, which controlled 65% of the global pesticide market, estimated at US$57,6 billion (about R884 billion) in 2018. The results showed that in 2018, these five agrochemical giants…

A R50 million research and training feed mill was launched at the recent Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association (AFMA) Forum. The facility is located at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Miertjie le Roux Experimental Farm near Bronkhorstspruit. Dr Hinner Köster, chairperson of AFMA, said the AFMA/UP training facility would be Africa’s first research and training feed mill. The main objective of the project was to close the gap that currently existed in the skills set of most animal nutrition students completing tertiary qualifications. “Postgraduate students don’t have a practical feed milling environment to conduct proper, practical and innovative research and development. “Due to the lack of physical infrastructure and means to give shape to the practical side of the theory in the past, tertiary academic institutions couldn’t include this in their…

Agricultural stakeholders recently attended the Voluntary Agreement, Implementation and Reporting Workshop on how to measure food waste, in accordance with the globally recognised World Resource Institute’s Food Loss and Waste Reporting Protocol. During the three-day workshop in Cape Town, co-hosted by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa’s food loss and waste voluntary agreement plan was also presented. According to Matlou Setati, food safety initiative executive at CGCSA, the food waste agreement was a collaboratively agreed, self-determined ‘pact’ to take action on food waste generated at all stages of the food system. “In South Africa, an estimated 12,6 million tons of food waste are generated per annum. It is a third of all the food produced in the…

Nicol Jansen, chairperson of Agri SA’s Economics and Trade Centre of Excellence, has expressed optimism about the progress being made this year to expedite the agriculture industry’s role in energy generation. “This year was the first time the Presidency gave momentum to this case on an [important platform] such as the State of the Nation Address. Never before had it been so pertinently stated,” Jansen said. In the address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced government’s commitment to the country’s renewable energy procurement programme. “However, […] it’s one thing to state your vision in a State of the Nation Address; it’s a completely different process to put the legislation in place to implement it,” Jansen said. According to him, agriculture could play a significant role in relieving Eskom’s electricity supply burden in…

MG Lotter, who farms at De Vlei near Caledon in the Western Cape, has experimented in several ways over the years to improve wheat production sustainability. These have even included planting summer cover crops and the use of non-synthetic fertiliser. One of his latest experiments, however, has resulted in a complete re-evaluation of his 1 800ha production system. Up to a few years ago, he used a winter crop rotation that included a long-term lucerne pasture cycle on all his lands. He then switched from this to a continuous winter crop rotation on the best two-thirds of his lands and permanent mixed medics-lucerne pastures on the remainder. “The main idea was to reduce input costs and risk by not planting crops on the poorer soils,” he explains. While a crop…

Dear Jonno, I could really use your guidance on a project I’m about to undertake in Botswana. I’m in the process of establishing a lodge with about eight rondavels. There is currently a structure on the plot, which I intend to demolish. I want my project to include a clubhouse, lapa and pool/recreational area. The land has a slope because of a small hill at the rear of the site. There is a heritage site near the plot, and I hope to attract tourists with this establishment. Kind regards, Tsaone Dear Tsaone, Thank you for the detailed request via email and telephone. As this development is to be located close to a heritage site and will be catering to tourists, I’ve kept the styling of the units close to that…

FIELD GUIDE TO BUTTERFLIES OF SOUTH AFRICA by Steve Woodhall (Struik Nature, R390) All 671 butterfly species found in South Africa, from the gaudy to the dull, are portrayed in this guide. This number includes newly described species and subspecies, while names have been updated where required by recent DNA revelations. Astonishingly, 70% of the images in the book are new. A great book to try out when next you’re on holiday or in the veld. FROM MARABASTAD TO MOGADISHU: THE JOURNEY OF AN ANC SOLDIER by Hassen Ebrahim (Jacana, R250) Human Rights Day this week marks the 1960 Sharpeville massacre but, as for many others involved in the struggle, it was the Soweto uprising that conscientised Ebrahim. While in exile in Botswana, he divided his time between practising law…

Developing farmers in the Eastern Cape are expected to benefit from live sheep exports worth between R30 million and R90 million over the next three years. The first round of an offtake agreement between Al Mawashi South Africa, one of the world’s largest international livestock transport and trading companies and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), would allow for the preferential procurement of between 25 000 and 75 000 head of sheep from developing farmers in the province. Livestock was procured from about 30 developing farmers in the Eastern Cape for its last shipment of 2019, and for the next shipment in mid-March, the company bought 12 000 sheep from developing and black commercial farmers in the region. The announcement followed the dismissal of a recent, urgent High Court application…

AFRICA The World Potato Congress has reported that global potato production figures have stagnated during the past two years to just over 368 million tons, and were not expected to recover soon. According to the report, Ukraine was now the second-largest producer in the world after India. There has also been an increase in potato plantations in Africa to almost two million hectares, which meant the continent could displace North America as the third-largest potato producer in 2020. AUSTRALIA More than 200 delegates from across Australia’s citrus industry recently gathered in Melbourne for the biannual Market Outlook Forum. Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock told industry members that the sector was in an expansion phase, with increased volumes expected to come online over the next few years. This followed last year’s…

Striking a balance between economic realities and political issues was the biggest difficulty facing South Africa’s grain producers at present, according to Derek Mathews, newly elected Grain SA chairperson. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, he said dwindling profit margins and vastly increasing input costs presented a real challenge. “Successful grain production obviously depends on profitability. Otherwise, what is the point? We, as Grain SA, therefore remain dedicated to our core business of maintaining and supporting economically sound grain production in order to provide sufficient, affordable food to the people of South Africa.” As far as politics were concerned, Mathews said grain farmers needed decision-makers who not only listened to them, but who actually heard what they were saying. Government needed to trust the bona fides of South Africa’s grain producers. He…

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s third-quarter performance, presented to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation in Parliament at the end of February, revealed that the department had spent only 59% of its budget, compared with the 80% expenditure forecast. Under-expenditure of previously allocated funds and non-compliance with the Division of Revenue Act resulted in almost R450 million not being transferred to certain municipalities. The department was unable to create a targeted 50 jobs, and Kalkfontein Dam was the only rehabilitation project out of five completed, due to unrest and delays in material deliveries. To remain within the regulations of the Public Finance Management Act, projects had to be abandoned when new processes started, which resulted in only 101 of 1 105 maintenance projects being completed. At…

Consumer expenditure on fruit and vegetables has increased steadily since 2013, and is expected to continue doing so until 2023, as consumers’ growing focus on health and wellness continues to drive the purchasing of fresh produce. According to a report by Euromonitor International, commissioned by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Southern Africa, in addition to the wellness trend, the largest drivers of fresh produce consumption growth in South Africa, especially in the case of vegetables, were the increase in total population as well as GDP per capita. Key findings from the report, ‘Fresh Produce Industry: South Africa’, were presented by Euromonitor International researcher, Bolutife Onaneye, at an event hosted by the PMA in Pretoria recently. CONVENIENCE AND WELLNESS The report stated that bananas, apples and citrus were the most popular…

MG Lotter’s sheep flock comprises 1400 Dohne Merino ewes as well as 800 Merino sheep that he bought last September from a farmer in the Karoo. “I don’t really have a preference for a specific breed. We merely had Dohne Merinos from the start and they’ve never given us any trouble,” he says. He also has a core herd consisting of about 250 ewes, from which he produces rams to breed with the ewes in the flock. Laparoscopic or artificial insemination, which is used on the ewes in the core herd, has helped greatly to enhance the uniformity of his flocks. The sheep are sheared in March and September, and a 12-month lambing system is used, with ewes producing lambs in either April or November. Lotter has started using strip…

In most of South Africa, humidity is low throughout the year. As such, horse riders may not be aware that humidity plays an important role in heat stress in horses. With global warming, South Africa’s humidity index may change. Horses competing in disciplines such as endurance racing, showjumping, eventing and racing are most susceptible to heat stress, and there are international guidelines in place to prevent this during competitions. These guidelines are based on measuring relative humidity and ambient temperature as the WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). The same measurement is used for estimating the likelihood of heat stress occurring during sporting events for human athletes. SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS Signs of heat stress in horses include flared nostrils, panting, staggering and uncoordinated gaits, and a very high body temperature (the…