Sommaire pour 14-Aug 2015 de Farmer's Weekly

This week’s magazine is a microcosm of South Africa’s agricultural sector. First, there is the untapped potential of emerging farmers and the rot of corruption mirrored in the Eastern Cape’s underutilised Qamata irrigation scheme. This potentially empowering scheme was handed over to local communities when the former homeland of Transkei was incorporated back into South Africa. Without any training or organised structure put in place to oversee the running of the scheme, it soon foundered. Infrastructure was allowed to fall into disrepair as no one wanted to foot the maintenance bill, while equipment was often sold off or stolen. Seemingly, the only outcome of the attempts to revitalise this scheme has been a few more corrupt individuals lining their pockets. After all this, barely 800ha is under maize this past…

The editor’s leader “Reluctant protectors of the law” (FW, 10 July) refers. As much as I agree with the opinion that the Constitution protects South Africans’ rights, I disagree with the condemning of the government’s flouting of a court order allowing Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, to leave the country after attending the African Union Summit. South Africans cannot allow themselves to be used in such a case. Surely the international powers-that-be know where to pick up the Sudanese president – Sudan! They did this when they removed former Nicaraguan military leader Manuel Noriega. Believe me, we don’t need any terror attacks in our region.…

YEAR 1913 Yesteryear’s advertisements: a window into our past 102 YEARS AGO As South Africa’s only weekly magazine in the early part of the past century, Farmer’s Weekly attracted numerous advertisements, both local and international. In fact, they often accounted for well over half of the many pages of each issue. A few of the advertised items, which appeared regularly in the magazine in 1913, are described below: • The owner of the Buffalo Wagon and Carriage Works, R Symons of King William’s Town, said he marketed wagons, trollies, scotch carts, spiders “and any other wagon you may desire, all built under my own personal supervision, as well as imported vehicles including motorcars”. • Another advert, placed by Morum Brothers of East London, illustrated a portable petrol engine, about a…

South African red meat prices are expected to increase sharply during the 2015/2016 production season, according to Prof Johan Willemse, agricultural economist at the University of the Free State (UFS). Addressing delegates at the recent UFS market forecast workshop, Willemse said grade-A carcasses were expected to go up to between R35/kg and R36/kg by December, while lamb price could increase to R60/kg. Weaner prices, which would move sideways from September, were expected to rise to between R22/kg and R23/kg this month. Livestock producers remained concerned about the coming production season, given the poor veld condition after the drought and the possibility of an El Nin~o weather pattern in spring and summer. Most producers had cut their herds and flocks after two years of drought, which had resulted in decreased supply…

The SA citrus industry has decided to proactively suspend exports of organic lemons to the European Union (EU). This is after the EU notified the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that three consignments of organic lemons exported from South Africa contained citrus black spot-infected (CBS) fruit. The decision to ring-fence the commodity, thus removing any possible risk stemming from it, had not been an easy one, said Deon Joubert, special envoy of Market Access and EU Matters for the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) in a statement. “Moreover, it comes with a hefty price tag and financial loss for organic lemon growers,” he said. According to Joubert, the decision affected a group of 10 organic lemon farmers who export about 200 000 cartons a year. “These farmers will [now] have…

Policy certainty and direction are among the ingredients South Africa needs to boost its economy, according to Dennis Dykes, chief economist at Nedbank. He supported the National Development Plan, a blueprint to address the country’s socio-economic challenges. Dykes was addressing the Ekurhuleni North Chamber of Commerce and Industry on global influences on the SA economy and future prospects in Johannesburg recently. The formula for a strong sustained growth lay in good leadership and effective government, and sound market and regulatory institutions, among others, he said. The contentious issue of property rights also needed to be adhered to so that “investment takes place”. Dykes called for the energy sector to be deregulated, saying that the electricity produced by Eskom had fallen from its 2007 peak despite considerable investment in the parastatal.…

The downturn in France’s livestock sector is placing the livelihood of many farmers at risk, with some facing bankruptcy, according to a government report. Farmers cited a deteriorating global market, slowing Chinese demand, and cheaper supplies from other EU countries as factors to blame. According to French agriculture minister, Stephane le Foll, 22 000 to 22 500 (10%) of livestock farms were on the verge of bankruptcy. The beef sector, after years of low prices, could face further decline as economic turmoil in Greece threatened one of its main export markets. France’s main farmers’ union had called for a billion-euro plan to reduce debt and revive investment.…

South African farmers pay proportionately more in production costs than their peers in other countries. This is according to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2015-2024, launched in Pretoria last week. According to the report, depending on the type of operation, fertiliser, electricity, and seed made up the largest part of input costs. The cost of establishing maize plantings in South Africa is higher in terms of input costs than those in Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and the US. Nitrogen application on SA dryland farms averaged 102kg/ha, whereas irrigation regions in the Northern Cape applied as much as 311kg/ha, the report said. “The average application rate for Argentinian and Brazilian farms is 74kg/ha. Argentinian farmers also typically rotate maize with soya beans and therefore have to…

Instead of wasting billions of rands on membership to the New Development Bank BRICS, a multilateral development bank operated by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), South Africa should rather look into fostering its union with the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This is according to Dr Roelof Botha, economic advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Speaking to delegates at the Agri Wes-Cape Congress in Rawsonville, Botha said that South Africa had moved from being a net importer of agricultural products to having a surplus of R60 billion in two years due to growth in primary and secondary agricultural product exports. The bulk of this growth had been driven by exports to Africa and more specifically the 13 other SADC member countries. In comparison, exports to South Africa’s traditional…

English and Afrikaans have been reinstated as the joint official languages of instruction at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. Earlier, riots had led to the college temporarily adopting English as the sole language of instruction to appease a minority of students. However, the campus had since calmed, resulting in the institute reverting back to both English and Afrikaans as languages of instruction. Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, said the incident had been sparked by a minority group unhappy with the language of instruction. The training institute had been receiving an increasing number of non-bilingual students from across the country. Training is supposed to accommodate both Afrikaans- and English-speaking students. The decision to adopt English as the sole language of instruction, had been merely to get everyone settled down…

Canadian agricultural minister, Gerry Ritz, has called for the outright repeal of US country of origin labelling (COOL). US senators, Debbie Stabenow and John Hoeven have similarly recently suggested COOL become a voluntary labelling system. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) informed the US that COOL policies are discriminatory against Canadian and Mexican meat, after Canada and Mexico sought permission from the WTO to impose punitive measures on the US for policies that view Canadian and Mexican livestock and meat separate from those of US origin. According to the US Department of Agriculture website, COOL is “a labelling law that requires retailers … to notify their customers about information regarding the source of certain foods”. According to foodsafetynews.com, “the Stabenow-Hoeven plan would establish a voluntary “Product of the US” label for…

Crop farmers in Botswana have recorded very low cereal production levels this year, following a significant decline in rainfall during the 2014/2015 planting seasons. Speaking during a recent press conference, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Micus Chimbombi, indicated that this year cereal production stood at only 3% of Botswana’s national cereal demand of 300 000t. A significant decline in rainfall resulted in fewer hectares being planted. About 127 800ha were planted by around 28 000 farmers, compared with 417 000ha land planted by 127 511 farmers during the 2013/2014 season, Chimbombi said. A scorching heat wave during the first quarter of this year worsened the situation as it caused a lot of damage to crops on the majority of farms. “As a result of the prolonged…

Serious incidents of stock theft – involving large numbers of stolen animals – are on the rise in the Free State, according to a media release by Free State Agriculture (FSA). According to the release, Steynsrus farmer Nico Mienie lost 46 sheep to the value of R70 000 to stock thieves at the end of last month. Mienie said he had lost 23 ewes and 23 lambs. The 23 lambs had al been stabbed and left behind. Only eight carcasses of the 23 killed ewes were missing, with the rest slaughtered or their throats slit and left on the scene. “The police will have to make more detectives available if things continue as they are and they also have to approach this as organised crime,” said Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of…

For many years, South Africa has imposed an anti-dumping duty on specific poultry imports from the US. This duty was recently increased, and now ranges from 12% (boneless cuts) to 37% (bone-in portions). At the time the new import tariffs were promulgated, the South African poultry organisation had already indicated to the International Trade Administration Committee (ITAC) that the dumping of poultry products at low prices created problems for the local industry. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on agriculture, which regulates trade between countries, provides various ways in which a country can prevent damage to its markets by products being imported at lower prices (dumping). Anti-dumping tariffs can be regarded as penalties for contravening the rules of bilateral trade. A PENALTY NOT READILY GRANTED An industry that wants to…

What are the greatest challenges facing South African agriculture at the moment? At Agri SA, we look at issues from a practical point of view. Practically, the drought in the North West, eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal is one of our biggest current challenges. Climate and the effects of El Niño will be an important factor in the future of our sector. We are grappling with many policy challenges – land reform, labour costs, diesel rebates, local and international markets, to name only a few. Crime on farms and the safety of farmers, farm workers and their assets are at the forefront of our concerns. The future of the agricultural sector and the needs of farmers are at the heart of all our strategies. And the political challenges? There is…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: US prices were mostly higher and traded as follows: topside was higher at US$296,86/cwt, rump lower at US$406,06/cwt, strip loin higher at US$579,23/cwt, chuck slightly higher at US$299,14/cwt, brisket slightly higher at US$256,19/cwt, and the carcass price was US$343,04/ cwt. New Zealand steers and cows traded higher at NZ$561/head and NZ$422/head respectively. Australia continues to be the largest supplier of beef to China with a 38% market share. Domestic: Local prices were mixed, with meat prices as follows: Class A prices decreased 2,85% to R32,37/kg, Class C prices increased 2,52% to R28,46/kg, and contract prices fell 2,14% to R32,89/kg. Weaner prices fell slightly to R20,19/kg and hide prices fell to R14,68/kg. Slaughtering numbers increased from the previous week, as reported by the Red Meat Abattoir…

It is claimed that the Dorper can lamb three times in two years. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to strictly select the correct weaned ewe lambs for breeding purposes. After all, ewes are the nucleus of any flock, whether stud or commercial. Pikkie Rossouw, who farms on Katdoringvlei near Brand-se-Baai in the southern part of Namaqualand on the West Coast, says that only ewe lambs showing an excellent feminine form should be considered. He describes such an animal as one having a slender, slightly longer neck, forequarters that are less meaty than the hindquarters, and an inside thigh that does not carry too much meat. If it does, her birth canal may be too narrow and there may be insufficient space for a good udder. Pikkie’s Springduin White…

SA Senior Champion and Grand Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ram, with (from left): Jan, Johann and Jandre van Wijk (owners, Lootsberg, Ficksburg). SA Junior Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ram, with (from left): Johann van Wijk (co-owner), John Mellville (CMW), and Jandre van Wijk (co-owner). Owned by Johann and Jandre van Wijk of Lootsberg, Ficksburg. SA Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ram – Best Wool, with Johann and Jandre van Wijk (owners, Lootsberg, Ficksburg). SA Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ewe, and SA Junior Champion and Grand Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ewe, with (from left) back: Hansie and Pietman Claasen (owners, Paradys, Petrus Steyn), and Lammie Lammerding (sponsor: Merial). Front: Abel and July Chalala (handlers). SA Junior Champion SA Merino Land Sheep Ewe,…

In the fresh produce sector, the word ‘quality’ is probably used more than any other when describing fruit and vegetables. And we all know that competition is so fierce in the trade, whether locally or overseas, that only the best quality survives. As I have written on numerous occasions, the market punishes inferior quality by either not buying the produce or offering a much lower price. On a market floor, you’ll find the full range of quality, from the very best to the worst. This is one of the benefits of a fresh produce commission market – it handles everything. This means the farmer can sell his total crop, thereby minimising losses and building good averages. RETAILERS VS THE MARKET When a farmer supplies direct to a retailer, the latter…

To braai chicken for four diners, you will need: • 8 chicken thighs• Coarse salt• Freshly ground black pepper For the baste: • 5g coarse salt• 5g freshly ground black pepper• 5g ground cumin (jeera)• 10g ground paprika• 150ml tomato sauce• 130ml red grape vinegar• 70g brown sugar In my distant and misspent youth on the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, I enjoyed many a chicken braai over driftwood fires on a balmy night. Fat flares from the poultry lit up the star-speckled darkness, to be swiftly dowsed by beer. And yet all too often, the scorched chicken was raw on the inside. Back in the present – here’s the route to braaied chicken happiness. The secret lies in the baste and the fire. Build your braai the way you usually do. But when the first flames have died down and the…

Coconut oil is touted as having unique benefits, particularly for the brain. Yes, its fat is highly saturated. But recent research is beginning to show that saturated fat is not as bad or as dangerous as has been believed for at least two decades. Moreover, the saturated fats in foods such as coconuts consist of rare fatty acids that can play a valuable role in our health. The coconut oil I’m referring to here is not the old-fashioned, highly refined kind found in little bottles on a chemist’s rack, and used mainly for dry hair and skin. It’s the edible, raw, unrefined, extra virgin kind found in tubs. It is white and waxy in cool or cold weather, and melts, becoming transparent, in warmer weather. IN THE NEWS Coconut oil…

The Beefmaster Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa’s national sale, annual general meeting and various associated functions take place in July every year. Beefmaster breeders and cattlemen from all over the country attend these prestigious events. The proceedings kicked off on 7 July with the final meeting of the outgoing Beefmaster council, where the association’s current and future challenges and opportunities were reviewed and discussed. It concluded that the Beefmaster breed was on the right path and becoming increasingly popular with cattlemen and feedlots alike. More and more breeders’ operations have advanced to the point where they are able to present their own production sales. This is a clear indication of the significant demand for Beefmaster cattle in South Africa and neighbouring states. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Three guest speakers spoke…

I find Kim Dyson’s articles in the Horse Talk column highly informative, practical and interesting. Her advice and recommendations are highly accurate and I also find her remedies inexpensive, natural and easily accessible. I run a competitive stable-yard with 30 horses, which is a daunting task on the best of days. With the knowledge that I have absorbed from reading these articles, daily ailments have become easy to identify and treat. This is a real blessing, as most veterinary products are not accessible to the normal horse owner. Kim’s herbal recommendations allow us to have a comprehensive medicine cupboard any time we need it. On occasion, I have called her for further advice and I found her response very professional and thorough. Enid Norton, via email…

Studies in the US and Europe show that recreational hunters are getting older and therefore declining in numbers. In the US, their average age is nearing 50 while European hunters are already past that milestone. In South Africa, most biltong hunters fall in the 40 to 64 age bracket but their average age could be well into the 50s – and climbing. Nevertheless, hunters are spending more and more on rifles, bows, scopes, range finders, attire and other paraphernalia, including scents and soaps. Soon, computerised rifle systems, based on military software, will make sighting and killing an antelope almost effortless, thereby replacing walking and stalking, and putting an end to any current conception of ethical hunting. Meanwhile, the live game industry is booming, with land being converted to wildlife ranching…

Parliament’s public works committee has been holding public hearings on the Expropriation Bill, focusing mainly on time-frames for “just and equitable” compensation to be paid to property owners for expropriated land. This is a departure from the willing-buyer, willing-seller model. The Institute for Race Relations (IRR) and Solidarity trade union were vociferous in their opposition to the Expropriation Bill. The institute’s head of special research, Dr Anthea Jeffery, warned that it could be unconstitutional and Solidarity’s Piet le Roux argued that it unduly limited the compensation to be paid out to people whose land was to be expropriated. However, Agri SA, which represents the bulk of commercial farmers, was less critical and said it would prevent land grabs without compensation by the state, as in Zimbabwe. The IRR was, however,…

Unused land should be placed under development, Eastern Cape Rural Development and Land Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said at an indaba in East London recently. He said that land was a valuable asset and challenges relating to ownership needed to be addressed to ensure that tenure security issues were not overlooked. “We have good examples of communal landowners who use the land productively. Whether this is the land from a land claim, they make good use of the land, make it productive and use it for the benefit of the community. Also, we have people who don’t use the land productively at all, making us wonder if the issue of communal land ownership from the land claimed by communities is working,” he said. Qoboshiyane appealed to land claimants to consider…

Syria’s 2015 wheat crop is expected to be better than the 2014 drought-stricken harvest as a result of good rain, but it still is not enough to restore household food security. This was according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The report said that 9,8 million people were estimated to be food-insecure. Of these, 6,8 million were severely food-insecure. This meant that the level of need required external food assistance. Additionally, the price of bread had increased by up to 87% over the past year. Dominique Burgeon, director of FAO’s emergency and rehabilitation division, said the situation was a major concern. “The country’s agriculture sector remains decimated by the conflict. Urgent donor support is needed to ensure farmers can meet…

The challenge of food security in South Africa lay less in poor agricultural growth than the impact of poor governance, Agri SA president Johannes Möller told delegates at the recent Agri Wes-Cape congress. This, he said, was against a backdrop of an economy threatened by de-industrialisation and low economic growth. “With more and more people struggling to buy food, we may see an increase in crime and other problems,” he said. Möller acknowledged the importance of transformation in agriculture, but warned that it should not be at the expense of food security or economic growth as had happened in Zimbabwe. Land grabs there had resulted in commercial agricultural production declining 60% between 2000 and 2008. While the land grabs had been aimed at giving previously disadvantaged individuals land, the intervention…

Veteran South African environmental conservationist and current CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Andrew Zaloumis, was recently declared the winner of the prestigious WWF SA Living Planet Award for 2015. He received the award at the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF SA) Living Planet Conference 2015 held in Johannesburg. A statement from iSimangaliso said that globally, the WWF Living Planet Award was a symbol of recognition for people who had made a meaningful contribution to the environment and to the lives of people. Recent recipients of this award included the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and the ministers of water affairs of France, Togo and Benin. “This year, we determined that the award should go to Andrew Zaloumis for his boldness, visionary approach and courage to…

South African exports of wine to China increased 105% in value from US$8,16 million (R104 million) for the first half of 2014 to US$16,7 million (R213 million) for the first half of 2015, according to statistics by Decanter China. Volume sales increased 91% from 1,97 million litres to 3,77 million litres over the same periods. The average price per bottle rose 7,27% from US$4,13 (about R53) to US$4,43 (about R56). Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa (Wosa), ascribed the improvement in the market to a combination of the efforts of producers and of the industry itself. She said the Chinese market had been fairly uneducated three years ago, with people buying mainly expensive French wines as gifts for each other, in most cases funded by the government. To…

The Namibian government has shut its borders to beef transported through the country from Botswana destined for north Africa, following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the northern part of the country. The minister of agriculture, Patrick Ralotsia, recently told journalists that Botswana could not export beef to its markets in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or other countries further north. “Our economy and farmers are losing as our beef export market is now reduced,” Ralotsia said. Farmers in the northern part of Botswana exported beef to Angola and the DRC and transported it through Namibia. Following the outbreak of FMD in the northern part of the country, Namibia became uncomfortable and blocked our beef exports destined to our beef markets in north Africa,” he said.…

Interpretation of statutes often comes into play in tax matters. But what ultimately matters is what was intended by the statute. This is illustrated in Alan George Marshall and Others, SA Red Cross Air Mercy Services Trust v The Commissioner, SARS (case number 39219/2014). Rural medical air assistance services have been offered by the Red Cross since 1994. The services are offered through the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Services Trust. In October 2012, the trustees applied to SARS for a binding private ruling regarding VAT. In its ruling, SARS stated that VAT was payable upon funds received by the trust for services rendered to local municipalities and other regional bodies. The trust received these funds based on the availability of aircraft and crew, and it billed directly for flying…

Hennie Lamprecht from Henmar Chickens near Henley-on-Klip in the Midvaal, was a broker for Absa for 32 years. While still employed, he bought a 4,5ha plot in the Vaal Triangle and kept a handful of chickens as a hobby. When they became too numerous, he would sell them for R10 each. Hennie started out with a small R200 incubator and made each hen sit two rounds on 10 to 15 eggs to increase stock. “In 2000, my son’s father-in-law said I should accompany him to an auction,” recalls Hennie. “He brought me crates and I caught all the chickens that I didn’t want – hybrids of all sorts. We then went to a Saturday auction in De Deur, and I sold chickens that would usually go for R5 each for…

In 2007, Farmer’s Weekly published ‘Qamata: How deep is the rot?’, a 14-page exposé by Stephan Hofstatter on the state of the Qamata irrigation system. Forming the basis of the feature were documents leaked to Farmer’s Weekly that spoke of the “mysterious disappearance of funds and assets, officials indifferent to, or conniving in, financial mismanagement, protracted and tangled court battles and crippling community conflicts”. In Hofstatter’s opinion, the issues besetting what should have been one of South Africa’s top irrigation schemes were symptomatic of what was keeping the entire eastern region of the Eastern Cape impoverished. In July 2009, Farmer’s Weekly published ‘Qamata: still on the road to nowhere’, a follow-up to the saga. It was written from the perspective of local farmers, as official comments from government were unobtainable.…

Developed and bred in South Africa, the Dorper is a cross between the Dorset ram and the Blackhead Persian ewe. It is a relatively small-frame mutton breed that sheds its wool annually. Despite originating in South Africa, Dorpers are hardy, adaptable animals that are today found in more than 50 countries. Ovulation is not influenced by decreasing daylight length, which means that a ewe can lamb up to three times in two years. Lambs are normally small, easily born and grow rapidly. According to breed director Attie Westraad, the Dorper is the second-most populous smallstock breed in South Africa.…

KZN RED ANGUS CHAMPIONS HAW Uprise PHD 11 0029, Senior and Grand Champion Red Angus Bull, with (from left): Ben Ngwenya (handler) and Paul Coetzee (co-owner). Owned by Paul Coetzee and Rob Armstrong of Invermooi Angus Stud, Nottingham Road. Wynland VL 08 062, Senior and Grand Champion Red Angus Cow, with (from left): Ben Ngwenya (handler) and Paul Coetzee (co-owner). Owned by Paul Coetzee and Rob Armstrong of Invermooi Angus Stud, Nottingham Road. Netherwood Big Mac RK 13 0089, Red Angus Bull Calf Champion, with (from left): Dr Robbie Kleinloog (owner, Netherwood Angus Stud, Westville) Brian Johnson (manager) and Christof Zuma (handler). Netherwood Lynn RK 13 002, Junior and Reserve Grand Champion Red Angus Cow, with (from left): Dr Robbie Kleinloog (owner, Netherwood Angus Stud, Westville), Brian Johnson (manager), and…

Farmer behaviour has been studied since the 1920s and by now psychologists know that the answers to questions such as, ‘What motivates a farmer?’ are more complex than most people think. Different personality types have different needs and aspirations. In the same way that not everyone has the mental make-up to be a dentist or accountant, not everyone can become a successful farmer – no matter how much training that person receives. Whether you make it as a farmer will depend not only on the type of farming enterprise you choose, but your character and personality type. Dairy farming, for example, is completely different to fruit farming or dryland cropping and all demand different skills and, perhaps more importantly, mindsets. How you rate as a farmer depends on how much…

RIGHT: Seen here with Viljoen Malan of Agriservices, this 125l Gaysa sprayer from Spain has a pump powered by a Honda engine, delivering from 18l/min to 51l/min at 20 to 50 bar. It comes with a reel, 10m of hose and a spray gun. The boom ends have protective covers for working under plant canopies. FAR RIGHT: The Sigma 4 has a lifting capacity of 650kg and can lift to a height of 2 700mm at the attachment coupling point. Attachments include an earth bucket, pallet fork, round and square bale fork, a grab for wrapped bales and one for round bales. The Sigma here is mounted on a 55kW Landini 7865 tractor.…

Modern cars are generally reliable, robust, long-lasting and safe to drive. Notwithstanding this, they still require care, and simple mistakes by a motorist can sometimes have expensive consequences. At the top of this list are errors that occur on the service station forecourt: • Putting diesel fuel into a car with a petrol engine is a big mistake. But all you have to do is drain as much of the fuel out of the system as possible. Afterwards, fill the tank with petrol; the small amount of diesel that remains cannot do any harm. • Putting petrol into a diesel engine is far more serious. If you realise your mistake immediately and do not start the engine, you only have to drain the tank. Should you start the engine, the…

Most horse owners inoculate against equine influenza – and hope that their horses never get ill. But at some point, every owner has walked into the stables and heard a barking sound or seen yellow mucous dripping from a horse’s nostrils. Most coughs and colds are viral, so the horse has to fight the infection on its own. But an owner can help by providing the optimal healing environment – and nothing helps a horse recover as well as rest and good stable management. I find complementary remedies work hand in hand with those prescribed by your vet. But if you choose to use home remedies for a cough, it is important to identify its cause. Contact your vet for a diagnosis, as there are several different types of cough.…

Dear Jonno We would like to build a stone cabin in the mountains on our farm in the Karoo. It must be an open-plan design with a kitchen and small bathroom with only a shower. It must accommodate two people with the option of putting a mattress on the floor for two children. It must also have a loft and a small wood-burning stove. The idea is a get-away cottage for artists to spend time painting and walking in the mountains. We have stone for building as well as poplar trees for wood floors and ceilings. I have attached two pictures of the views. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you. Kind regards Rowan Greetings Rowan What a lovely part of the Karoo to be…

PCs and notebooks are air-cooled, meaning that they have an active cooling system consisting of at least one fan which blows warm air out of the device. Dust particles in the air can build up on the fan’s blades as well as on the heatsinks inside the chassis, reducing the cooling system’s effectiveness. CANNED AIR Compressed air from a can does a good job of blowing out the excess dust. Unscrew and remove PC’s cover, and aim the canned air into the cooling system. The high pressure air stream can also be used to blow dust out of the USB or any other ports. You can also use a high-pressure air can to clean your keyboard effectively. Make sure your computer or laptop is switched off before you begin the…

There is a high possibility of an El Nin~o weather pattern over the summer rainfall region of South Africa during the 2015/2016 agricultural production season, according to Stephan Steyn, weather scientist at the University of the Free State. Speaking at a recent workshop on the market forecast for the 2015/2016 season, Steyn said that most climate prediction models indicated a strong El Nin~o effect during the spring and summer periods of 2015 in the region. Indications were that the earlier part of the season – October, November and December – would receive less rain than the second part – January and February. He advised grain producers to take calculated and careful decisions. North West grain producer Jozeph du Plessis said the expected drop could have a marked impact on production…

The klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) is the ‘ballet dancer’ of African antelopes. Its name is Afrikaans for ‘rock jumper’ and refers to the species’ ability to leap with ease over rocky territory, landing ‘on a dime’. The klipspringer stands on the very tips of its almost hooves, which look like vertical cylinders. Its strong back legs help the animal jump effortlessly up rocks and scramble up precipices. This small, stocky antelope weighs between 11kg and 13kg and stands 500mm to 600mm high at the shoulders. The ewes are slightly larger than the rams. Only the rams have horns. The klipspringer has smallish, rounded ears, with dark inner markings, positioned far back on the head. Its coarse-haired coat is variable in colour with shades of grey, yellow, brown or red, while the…

A group of cattle farmers recently ‘invaded’ a state-owned farm in the fruit-producing region of Grabouw in the Western Cape. The group did so apparently on the say-so of Theewaterskloof mayor. The Grabouw Civic Organisation had been trying to assist the landless cattle owners in finding suitable land to graze their cattle, according to the organisation’s secretary, Margaret le Roux. “We had several meetings with the council, asking why they were dragging their feet in assisting these people,” she said. “They’ve been asking the municipality for help since 2010.” Grazing their cattle on municipal property, the cattle were confiscated regularly by the city council. According to Le Roux, the council were charging cattle owners up to R40 000 to secure the release of one cow. Theewaterskloof mayor Chris Punt had…

Notwithstanding a steady annual increase in demand of about 3% for potatoes over the past decade, the average return on investment (ROI) for the potato crop has declined. Wage increases in the farming sector had contributed significantly to the fall in ROI, according to Ferdi Meyer, director of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), speaking at the launch of the BFAP Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2015-2024 in Pretoria recently. Pieter van Zyl, manager of industry information for Potatoes SA, concurred, adding that the 2013 increase in electricity rates and the increase in diesel costs had also contributed to the fall in ROI. Potato growers had boosted yield from a national average of 34t/ha on 52 000ha in 2005, to 43t/ha in 2015 on a marginally larger area. The report…

Growth in the animal feed sector will drive growth in yellow maize production over the next 10 years. This was according to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) Baseline Agricultural Outlook for 2015 to 2024, recently launched in Pretoria. “Rising demand for animal-based products is projected to drive feed demand growth … from its current level of 4,8 million tons, to just over seven million tons between 2014/2015 and 2023/2024,” the report stated. Assuming that 370 000t of dark poultry meat imports could be substituted with 370 000t of white poultry meat exports, a further 410 000t of maize could potentially be consumed by the SA poultry industry. The report stated that one ton of yellow maize enabled the creation of 1,54t of broiler feed, allowing the domestic…

Rising pressure from the ANC’s left-wing would result in increased populist rhetoric on agriculture from the governing party, Waldimar Pelser, editor of Rapport, told delegates at the recent Agri Wes-Cape congress. Pelser said that although the ANC had won the election with 62,8%, actual support was closer to 33,8% if non-voters were taken into account. “The ANC is also losing the favour of labour unions. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, for instance, has more than 370 000 members. Last year it was expelled from ANC ally Cosatu. This could result in the ANC losing the Eastern Cape. “People are becoming increasingly unhappy with the sloppy way in which the country is run. They are fed up with scandals ranging from Nkandla, to trains that are unfit for…

A leading economist has questioned the credibility of a report by Statistics SA that the agricultural sector had employed 200 000 more people over the past year than in the previous year, bringing the total number of people employed in the sector to 869 000. Economist Mike Schüssler said: “It seems as if government is manipulating the numbers to make things look better than they are. “For example, they are now qualifying one hour of work a week as employment. The only thing you can really deduce from this information is that SA unemployment levels are still very high.” He found it doubtful that the sector was adding so many jobs to the economy, especially in view of the political uncertainty regarding land reform, the impact of higher wages on…

The Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), a government-owned research organisation, is conducting a study that will investigate strategies to encourage dryland farmers to take out crop insurance. In an interview with Farmer’s Weekly, BITRI researcher Prof Nyaladzi Batisani said that in Botswana crop insurance was a risky undertaking which was exacerbated by a variety of factors ranging from climate change to credit and insurance practices. Botswana had few schemes to alleviate these challenges, and the uptake of insurance and funds to assist farmers to cope with adverse conditions had been a challenge, Batisani said. He added that BITRI’s Climate Change Project was embarking on a project called “Insurance and reinsurance: a potential adaptation measure for large-scale crop farmers under a changing climate”. This aimed to find ways…

South Africa will host the southern hemisphere Sol d’Oro competition in Cape Town between 7 and 11 September. The competition, organised by Veronafiere, a trade show organiser based in Italy, is hosted in a different southern hemisphere country each year. Entries are open in two categories: organic olive oil and extra virgin. The latter in turn is divided into delicate fruity, medium fruity and intense fruity categories. Countries taking part include South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand. This is the second time the competition is being held, the first having drawn 70 samples. South Africa produces an estimated 1,5 million litres of olive oil annually, mostly extra virgin olive oil, with the majority being grown in the Western Cape, which has the best climate in…

Pathogen attacks and host plant defences are integral to the cycle of life. New understanding of the respective mechanisms enables better resistance breeding. Pseudomonas syringae is a well-known bacterium that invades host plants using a needle-like tube pushed into the cells to inject unique effector proteins, designated AvrPToB and HoPAD 1, which suppress the two immune response effector proteins of the plant. Two researchers at Cornell University, USA, Drs Alan Collmer and Grace Nichols, have been studying these proteins since 2000 and have discovered that they prevent the plant from recognising another bacterial protein that aids the bacterium to reproduce in the plant cell without being recognised. The study proceeded to eventually identify 30 effector proteins. The next steps were, firstly, to use knockout techniques to remove all the effector…

Hennie follows an Immuno Vet Services vaccination programme. He vaccinates day-old chicks with NDIB. At 10 days, he vaccinates for ND LaSota, at 14 and 18 days he vaccinates against Gamboro, at 21 days he administers a C131 booster and at 28 days he vaccinates for pox. Hennie feeds Epol feed and begins with chick starter, then uses chick grower and finally breeder layer. He gives buyers a programme for feed and vaccination requirements. Any mortalities are burned and buried, and Hennie has had no major outbreak of disease in his 22 years of keeping chickens. He controls rodents with poison and says that he rotates different poison brands as rats seem to become wary if one particular poison is used for a length of time. Shavings are replaced every…

By any measure, the Chris Hani Development Agency-funded 55ha maize project at Bilatye is a failure. “We’re expecting around 3t/ha,” says Kabalinjani Cimile, chairperson of Bilatye Secondary Co-operative. But unlike Qamata, which is gravity-fed, Bilatye was designed for 19 x 65ha centre pivots, requiring a considerable amount of electricity. “The 55ha we have doesn’t even cover input costs if you take into account the price of [electricty],” says Cimile. Dicla CEO Lizo Mandlendoda agrees. “The current 55ha is not sustainable but is [there] to keep farmers doing something until the proposed enterprises are implemented,” she says.…

Food security is widespread in some parts of Africa despite the fact that national food surpluses occur elsewhere. This anomaly has stimulated analysis of the nature and causes of food insecurity. Some countries experience production shortfalls due to drought or policy failures. National, regional and international organisations have begun to assess the impact of these failures to gain a better understanding of the context in which they take place. This will enable these organisations to take appropriate action, including building the capacity of vulnerable households and communities so that they can respond to changes in their environment. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has identified the African Centre for Food Security at the University of KwaZulu-Natal as a centre of excellence for vulnerability assessment and analysis. The overall objective of…

As a soil’s fertility and condition improve, so the value of the soil increases dramatically. Generally, the price per hectare of farmland does not vary much across a region, but the land’s true value does vary according to its productivity. Thus, when you invest in improving your soil, you are putting money in the bank, so to speak. What’s more, this investment may end up not costing you anything; it may just mean adopting a different management strategy. At a recent farming function, a prominent Highveld producer told me that he was running an experiment on his land: he had planted the same variety of maize using conventional tillage and no-till, with the two sections alongside each other. He harvested over 2t/ha more from the no-till section. In this case,…

Many people are reluctant to keep a dog as a pet because of the difficulty and sadness of looking after an ageing, arthritic dog. Fortunately, much can be done these days to delay the onset of aches and pains as well as relieve them. PICK YOUR DOG WITH CARE Carefully consider what kind of dog to buy as a pet. This will help you to avoid many eventual problems. Years of intensive line-breeding aimed at accentuating desirable traits in some breeds can entrench bad traits and serious genetic defects. These may not be initially visible in a cute young pup. Osteoarthritis and joint problems are common in certain dogs. The two main categories of joint problems in canines are developmental and degenerative. Hip or elbow dysplasia is an example of…

While reading about the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus in my Bible early this morning, I was again reminded that it took not a priest, not an evangelist, not a theologian, but a wealthy, practical man to pluck up the courage to go to Pontius Pilate, governor of Israel at the time, and ask for the Lord’s body. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish religious council and a secret admirer of Jesus, made sure that Christ’s body was taken down from the cross and prepared for burial. He had the body embalmed in new linen and placed in his own tomb, which he had recently had carved out of solid rock. MAKING AN EFFORT The thing I believe God wants us to understand is that actions speak louder…

THE CREATOR’S CODE  by Amy Wilkinson (Simon & Schuster, R345) Inspiration drives innovation – but how do you make your idea into a business success and not one of the many start-ups that fail early on? Wilkinson offers breezy examples from challenging fields such as travel, finance, clothing and social media, focusing on successful entrepreneurs. Adapting quickly and working beyond failure are two key concepts, along with business-management stalwarts such as networking, collaborating and looking for the gap. However, amid all this positive thinking, Wilkinson could have spared a little more space for how to check that there’s a market in the gap and not just a gap in the market. PENS BEHAVING BADLY  by Paige Nick (Kwela, R175) When readers had to write by snail mail in response to…