Indice dei contenuti per 12 February 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

THIS YEAR IS NOT A YEAR TO CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES The one word that fills many South African farmers with even more trepidation than the thought of payday on the farm (read about the new minimum wages for farm workers on pg 14) echoed through the halls of Parliament again recently, when the Portfolio Committee of Public Works resolved to adopt the latest version of the Expropriation Bill of 2015. In short, the Bill will be the death of the willing buyer/ willing seller approach to land reform, and it was accepted by the Committee solely on the back of votes from ANC MPs. All other parties failed to show their support (see story on pg 16). The Bill must still work its way through Parliament and prove that it…

READERS’ POSTS Patrick Mogale says: Thank you Farmer’s Weekly team – the magazine is my mentor. Anita Folscher-Botha says: I would like to thank Greg Miles, from the bottom of my heart, for the useful info he gave in his article: ‘Stop those annoying Facebook videos!’ Reitumetse Setlhabe says: This is a vital magazine across all countries. Facebook: Farmer’s Weekly SA | Twitter: @FarmersWeeklySA Visit www.farmersweekly.co.za  and click on ‘Opinion’, then ‘Readers’ letters’ for more feedback on articles and current issues.…

Hopefully the latest plan to jack up the police service works better than previous attempts and we soon have disciplined, self-respecting officers that know their job and have enough resources to protect citizens from criminals. That would include protecting them from drunk road users. One of the most underrated crimes is being drunk on the road, whether it’s behind the wheel or on foot. The problem seems to be that alcohol misuse has become a socially acceptable norm. Worse, it seems totally okay to drive under the influence of alcohol. One sees this behaviour so often in and around rural towns that, unlike the minister of health may think, it stopped being a talking point ages ago. (On a tour of small towns in Limpopo during the Christmas season last…

A ban will be in place on the movement of horses from the beginning of this month until the end of June to prevent African horse sickness (AHS) from spreading to the AHS-free zone in the Western Cape. At the time of writing, there had already been reports of AHS outbreaks in the rest of the country. “The Western Cape AHS-controlled zone is free of the virus and is used as an area from which horses can be exported,” said Dr Gininda Msiza, chief director of Veterinary Services at the Western Cape department of agriculture. “Horse exports are a lucrative business, with some horses fetching prices of over R2 million. An outbreak of the virus in the disease-free zone would mean an end to horse exports for at least two…

The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) in Zimbabwe, which represents white farmers, has welcomed a government decision to grant 99-year leases to some of its members, but the union insists that compensation should be paid to farmers who lost their land in the first place. CFU director, Hendrik Oliver, said he had heard about the proposal a few weeks ago. “Farmers applied for leases a long time ago, so they were waiting to hear from government. This shows [farmers] have the passion to continue contributing to the development of their country. “If the leases are processed, that will greatly help those farmers who are still on the land.” Late last month, Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister, Douglas Mombeshora, announced that his ministry had started granting 99-year leases to selected white farmers…

Australia has developed a new red-blushed pear variety that is expected to enter Asian and Australian stores by 2017. But SA pear exports to Asia are not at risk, said Jacques du Preez, Hortgro general manager: trade and markets. The industry’s investment in technology gave SA growers a competitive advantage in export markets. The locally-developed SmartFresh fruit quality management protocol, for example, “immediately stops the ripening process, so pears will not go soft, but stay crisp and sweet”, said Du Preez. “The big advantage is time gained as pears do not ripen like other varieties harvested the traditional way.” The new Lanya pear has a crisp, firm texture with sweet flesh and a pink blush appearance. However, SmartFresh technology makes it possible for SA growers to achieve similar characteristics in…

A 162cm x 162cm photograph of a potato, taken by Irish photographer Kevin Abosch, was recently bought by an unamed businessman for €1 million (about R17,5 million), according to media reports. The photograph was taken in 2010. “I see commonalities between humans and potatoes that speak to our relationship as individuals within a collective species. Generally, the life of a harvested potato is violent and taken for granted. I use the potato as a proxy for the ontological study of the human experience,” Abosch told the the Irish Times. Abosch is known for his photographs of famous Hollywood personalities, such as Steven Spielberg and Johnny Depp, according to media reports.…

Free State Agriculture (FSA) welcomed the recent announcement by SAPS that farm attacks would from now on be considered a priority crime. Everything possible needed to be done to curb and prevent the marked increase in rural violence and criminality, according to Tommie Esterhuize, FSA Safety and Security committee chairperson. “A total of 164 farm attacks were reported in the Free State from 2013 to 2015, in which 74 farmers and farm workers died,” he said. A total of 36 farm attacks were reported in the province in 2013, 52 in 2014 and 76 in 2015, according to him. Of the 28 people killed in farm attacks in 2013, 23 were farm workers. In 2014, 24 people were killed, including 15 farm workers. A total of 22 people were killed…

The Land Bank has announced that emerging cattle farmers no longer require collateral to secure loans. Speaking at an emerging farmers’ day at the Sernick Group in Edenville in the Free State, Mohammed Sizwe, head of emerging retail markets, said these farmers faced two obstacles when trying to obtain production funds. “Firstly, they do not have collateral and that often excludes them from obtaining loans from institutions like the Land Bank. They also do not have business plans,” he said. Sizwe also announced that the Land Bank would collaborate with the Sernick Group in assisting emerging farmers, including administering the funds emerging farmers had already secured and which were being managed by the Sernick Group. “We discovered that even when emerging farmers had a very good plan they mostly still…

Multiplying plants through culturing minute portions of their tissue in an artificial growing medium in the laboratory is standard practice. Tissue culture minimises the risk of virus pathogen transmission and ensures variety trueness-to-type. During transfer of cultured plantlets to greenhouses or the land, however, severe wilting can occur. New techniques can help reduce wilting loss. When moisture is lost without being replenished or when inter-cellular open spaces are flooded, (hyperhydricity), wilting occurs. At Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researchers examined the effect of wax layers on plant leaves, wilting processes and efficient functioning of stomata, which allow transpiration. Stomata are openings in the outer epidermal layer, the action of which is controlled by two guard cells that respond to signals from internal salicylic acid to close the stomata. Fatty acid…

A FARM’S INDIVIDUAL ORCHARDS ARE VALUED SEPARATELY When compiling a valuation report on permanent crops, valuers take the following factors into account: area, crop type, plant population, orchard establishment, irrigation, location, yield history, orchard establishment, and orchard condition. The value allocated to an individual orchard should include the value of the land, water entitlement, trellising, the in-land irrigation system, and the value of the plants. A crop’s value is not included in a normal fixed property valuation report, and is negotiated separately between buyer and seller. AREA The first value factor to consider is the area in which the farm is located, as yield performance differs from area to area. Climate is the most important aspect in determining whether a particular crop is adapted to an area and will produce…

The sunflower (Helianthus) is a tall annual that can grow to a height of 400cm, depending on the variety. It bears wide, terminal capitula (flower heads), circled by bright yellow ray florets. IT IS ESSENTIAL AT THE START TO MAKE A RELIABLE ASSESSMENT OF THE YIELD POTENTIAL The sunflower’s drought-tolerance and low input cost make it a popular crop in South Africa. Its short growth season means that it can be planted over a period of at least three months, making it ideal for producers with adaptable crop rotation and/or fallow systems. On the downside, sunflower is highly susceptible to bird damage and cannot be cultivated at all in some areas of South Africa. It is particularly sensitive to high soil temperatures during emergence. In the sandy soil of the…

THE SPACIOUS CAB HAS A NEW CLEAR DASHBOARD COLOUR DISPLAY The Massey Ferguson 5713 SL was named Tractor of the Year 2016 in the new ‘Utility Sector’ at Agritechnica. The tractor’s AGCO Power 4,4-litre, four-cylinder engine is rated at 97,5kW. There is a choice of either the outstanding Dyna-4 or Dyna-6 efficient and easy-to-use transmission. Both come with the useful brake-to-neutral function and AutoDrive option, which provides automatic changing of the four or six steps in fieldwork, and the ranges when used in transport. There is a choice of three hydraulic systems to suit specific applications. An efficient twin-pump hydraulic system is standard, delivering 58l/min for the spool valves and linkage, with a separate pump for all internal services. For those requiring extra flow to boost loader performance, there is…

DO NOT PAY A DEPOSIT ON A PUP UNTIL YOU’VE SEEN IT IN THE FLESH Purchasing pets over the Internet can be a risky business. Not long ago, friends of mine paid R5 000 for a ‘highly pedigreed’ teacup Yorkshire terrier from a breeder they had come across on the Internet. Their purchase turned out to be not the miniature version they had expected, but the larger variety of the breed. I asked them why they did not ask to see the pup when they visited the breeder. They said they had, but the breeder had said that the parents were at the doggy parlour for the day. They also failed to get a written confirmation from the breeder, who later claimed that she had not once guaranteed that the…

The big surprise for first-time gazpacho cooks is that everything is raw. The truly big deal is using the freshest, least-blighted vegetables you can get your hands on. For me, that means some careful searching and cleaning. I share the tiny vegetable beds on my urban ranch with many freeloading vegetarians, some with six legs, others with one slimy foot. Next, the general appearance. Here one word predominates – red, the colour of ripeness and mellow fruitfulness. Preparation is quick and standard. Scrape clean or even peel the carrot. Top, tail and deseed the sweet pepper. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Lightly crush or squash the garlic cloves with the flat of a heavy knife. This ruptures the skin, allowing easy peeling by hand. Coarsely chop the carrot and…

Salicylate is a natural plant chemical found in aspirin, the popular painkiller and anti-inflammatory, which was originally derived from willow bark. Because aspirin is also a natural blood thinner, doctors frequently prescribe a low dose to minimise the formation of blood clots for people with heart problems and to prevent a certain type of stroke. However, salicylate (also known as salicylic acid) is directly associated with the formation of nasal polyps in some people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. This can lead to infections, a permanently blocked nose, and headaches. (Polyps are benign growths in the nasal cavities that block the drainage of the sinuses. They can be surgically removed, but frequently redevelop). MEDICINES AND FOODS TO AVOID Doctors have found that drastically reducing the intake of all sources of…

‘THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO EMPHASISE INVESTMENT-DRIVEN ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER ALL OTHER POLICY OBJECTIVES’ “What will be said in the forthcoming State of the Nation address? Unfortunately, many left-leaning analysts in South Africa will write economically illiterate nonsense about the need for high minimum wages, more black economic empowerment (BEE), faster land reform and wealth taxes. President Jacob Zuma, too, has been captured by communist notions, and will probably echo these themes in his speech. The reality, however, is that they offer no hope of a better life to anyone. If anything, they deter investment and innovation and worsen the social and economic circumstances of all South Africans. BEE SHOULD GO The government’s first priority should be to repeal all BEE and employment equity laws and regulations. These laws and policies…

The Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (Phasa) said it understood why the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) had decided to suspend leopard hunts for the 2016 calendar year, although it did not think the country’s leopard population was under threat. In addition, Phasa was encouraging its members to assist with the national leopard census by providing conservation authorities with any historical and current population data in their possession. The DEA’s decision had been based on advice it had received from the SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the department told Farmer’s Weekly. SANBI had told the DEA that “a number of interventions should be implemented to ensure the sustainable utilisation of leopard populations”. DEA spokesperson Albi Modise said: “This includes the development of norms and standards for the management and…

The department of labour has announced that minimum wages for farm and forestry workers will increase from March. The revised hourly rate is R14,25 (previously it was R13,37), the weekly rate R641,32 (previously it was R601,61) and the new monthly minimum wage is R2 778,83 (previously it was R2 606,78). The daily wage for a farm worker who works a nine-hour day will be R128,26 (up from R120,32). The new minimum wage was a fair inflation-related increase, said Ernst Janovsky, head of Absa AgriBusiness. “I think that farmers can afford this increase,” he said. Prof Nick Vink, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University, said the increase is an automatic escalation in keeping with requirements of the department of labour’s agriculture sector determination. In a statement, Minister…

Following the adoption of the Land Expropriation Bill by Parliament’s Public Works Portfolio Committee, the chairperson, Benedict Martins, predicted ‘fireworks’ during the debate on the Bill in the National Assembly. The Bill is intended to replace the willing buyer/ willing seller principle and speed up the process of land reform. Only the ANC voted in favour of the Bill when it was adopted by the Committee. The DA and the UDM opposed the adoption of the Bill; the IFP abstained, and members of the EFF were absent. The UDM’s Mncedisli Filtane said expropiation should also be applicable to land obtained before 1913, while the DA raised two major issues. According to the DA’s Anchen Dreyer, the wording of the Bill should not restrict the courts when disputes are referred to…

The combined output of the grain, rice, legume and vegetable sectors in Mozambique for the 2016/2017 production year is expected to grow by 6,5% from 5,9%. This was according to a statement from that country’s ministry of agriculture. Crop estimates indicate that an increase of 13,4% is expected in the grain harvest to 2,8 million tons. This includes 2,1 million tons of maize and 450 000 tons of rice. Vegetable production is expected to rise 9,1% to 1,8 million tons. This will be achieved by increasing the area under cultivation, mechanisation, and improved seed varieties, as well as the use of fertilisers and pesticides in combination with new technologies.…

Quail farming is growing in popularity in Zimbabwe as producers seek to diversify their operations as well as meet the demand from the growing number of health-conscious consumers. Patrick Saruchera, a farmer who holds workshops on quail production countrywide, said he was seeing great interest in quail production. “Those in urban or peri-urban areas who attend our workshops can raise quails in their backyards because one does not need a big piece of land, as with chicken production, for example.” There is a ready market for quail meat and eggs, and in addition, Kenya, Namibia and Zambia all have established quail farms, producing millions of birds annually. “You appreciate the growing interest when you go round the country as I do, teaching people how to rear quail,” said Saruchera, after…

There were mixed reactions to the report on farm workers’ living and working conditions in South Africa, which the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently presented to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform. Presenting the report, University of Cape Town researcher Margareet Visser condemned the unintentional consequences of the state’s approach to agriculture since 1994, especially the policy to deregulate the agriculture sector and decrease subsidies. According to Visser, by removing marketing boards that fixed prices, farmers had to negotiate individually with clients, thus becoming price-takers instead of price-makers. “Although some big producers benefited from it, we saw that overall it has led to a cut-throat commercial environment that steered many farmers into exiting the farming industry, causing job losses among farm workers,” she said. She explained…

Maize producers have described the Crop Estimates Committee’s (CEC) maize crop estimates at the end of January 2016 as “ridiculous” and “optimistic”. Hansie Viljoen, Leeudoornstad maize producer and chairperson of Suidwes Agriculture, said the estimate of about 7,4 million tons was ludicrous. “Most of the white maize in the western production areas was planted in January 2016, which is incredibly late in the season. A considerable percentage of the late maize plantings have not even come up yet, which makes any estimation extremely difficult,” he said. That most of the maize planted in the Free State and North West had been planted to make silage and for stover to carry livestock over in winter was an added concern, according to him. “I’m worried that the January estimate is going to…

Commercial forestry and timber processing operations in Mpumalanga have reportedly been struggling with a surge in theft of their products and equipment. Reports indicated that criminals were increasingly using firearms to rob foresters, timber processors and their employees. There had been a marked increase in timber theft from about May 2015, according to Joey Lascelles, spokesperson for the Lowveld Timber Theft Forum (LTTF). “There are many driving forces behind these thefts, but the main one is the increase in demand for timber by the informal housing sector in areas like Bushbuckridge, Steelpoort, Lydenburg and Burgersfort,” he said. “The majority of the timber being stolen is being used in the construction of roofs for these informal houses.” According to the LTTF, armed criminals were robbing forestry workers of their chainsaws while…

SANParks honorary rangers of the West Rand and Region are set to conduct bird counts in various camps of the Kruger National Park (KNP) during the first weekend of February. About 600 bird enthusiasts and honorary rangers are expected at this 18th annual meet. The count would provide some insight on the impact the drought has had on bird populations. This year birders were to make use of Birdlasser, a phone app that logs bird sightings including the date, time and location. Information can also be shared via Birdlasser. In previous years, printed forms were used to document counts. “It will be interesting to see what the bird count is this year compared with other years. There’s a definite downward trend in bird numbers,” said Pam Ellenberger, a Sanparks Honorary…

LOW ECONOMIC GROWTH EQUALS LOW DEMAND GROWTH In its January 2016 update to the World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlights three main factors that influence the global outlook: • The slowdown of China’s economy. • Lower energy and commodity prices. • Tighter US monetary policy, leading to higher US interest rates in coming months. Trade with China is slowing down at a faster rate than expected in October 2015. Markets are worried about the future performance of the Chinese economy. The demand for commodities has decreased because of the Chinese slowdown and slack global commodity demand, trade and manufacturing. EMERGING MARKETS Imports and exports into and from emerging markets have declined sharply as lower commodity prices have pushed some of these countries into economic distress. The IMF…

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its unique global value. No other place has comparable ecological processes or its superlative natural beauty and biodiversity. iSimangaliso is isiZulu for miracle or wonder. The 332 000ha park contains three major estuary lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700-year-old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 recorded bird species, and 25 000-year-old coastal dunes, which are amongst the highest in the world. The Lake St Lucia estuarine system supports high levels of biodiversity and viable populations of threatened species that are of international and national importance, including feeding and breeding areas for endangered and endemic species. It is the most important nursery ground for…

Over the past two years, Wilfred Stephan has used biological control agents as part of an integrated pest management strategy to keep mealybug numbers in check on his farms. “I knew we were heading for serious trouble when I saw we had mealybugs on some of our grapes in the packing store. It would only be a matter of time before the grapes would be full of honeydew and then I wouldn’t have been able to export them,” he said. Using pesticides to control the problem was a no-go as the grapes were already ripe. So Wilfred resorted to biological control, which entailed the use of two species of wasp and one species of beetle. “We marked all the vines where we saw mealybugs and then released the insects close…

LEAFY LETTUCES ARE MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN THE CRISPHEAD TYPE PREFERRED IN SOUTH AFRICA Lettuce has its origin in the eastern Mediterranean and has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is part of the daisy family Asteraceae, and the range of varieties is increasing at an astonishing rate as the world becomes more ‘salad-conscious’. The Latin name is Lactuca sativa. ‘Lactuca’ means ‘milk forming’. When the stem or midrib is cut, a sticky white milk oozes from the wound. Sativa simply means ‘common’. As with most vegetables, lettuce has changed substantially as growers have made selections to suit their preferences over the centuries. Wild species are rather bitter, a trait found to this day in certain varieties and under stress conditions. (Some consumers like a touch of bitterness, as found…

A blind rivet, sometimes called a pop rivet, is tubular with a mandrel through the centre. Blind rivets are mainly used when the joint is accessible from one side only. The rivet is inserted into the drilled hole and a riveting tool slipped over the shaft. Under hand pressure, specially hardened jaws grip the mandrel shaft, pulling the mandrel head into the rivet body, expanding the rivet body and causing it to flare against the reverse side. At a predetermined force, the mandrel snaps at its break point. This forms a very tight joint. Some types of blind rivet, however, have non-locking mandrels and are unsuitable for critical structural joints as the mandrel may fall out due to vibration or other reasons, leaving a hollow rivet with a lower load-carrying…

HELP THE HORSE COOL DOWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXERCISE The hock is one of the most complex and hardworking joints in the horse’s body. Almost everything you ask your horse to do – high-performance dressage, reining, endurance, jumping, hacking or simply riding up and down a hill – requires strong well-functioning hocks. The hock acts as a shock absorber. If your horse has a large angle in the hock, it will be able to withstand stress and concussion better. In competitive horses, the angle should be between 154° and 159°. A fairly flat croup, with a forward-sloping femur (the bone between the pelvic and stifle bones), a cannon set directly beneath the point of buttocks, and a sloping pastern, are also ideal. HOCK STRUCTURE The hock comprises four separate joints within…

Dear Jonno We were inspired by a layout we saw in the Farmer’s Weekly of 25 December last year, in which a cottage was converted into a contemporary home. We were thinking of something similar, with a main bedroom and living area on the ground floor and two bedrooms and bathrooms in the upstairs attic area. We want to stage-build as money becomes available. The site we have bought is an old residential area between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The ground is fairly level, with a fall of about 1m from the rear of the house to the road frontage. The previous house has been demolished, and we have neighbours on the sides and rear. The site is 24m wide by 55m in length, so the outlook of the house is…

Jack Ma, the first mainland Chinese entrepreneur to appear on the cover of Forbes magazine (as the richest man in China), founded online marketplace Alibaba.com in 1999. Today, Alibaba is one on the largest business-to-business online marketplaces in the world. Aliexpress (aliexpress.com) is a subsidiary of Alibaba. Here, online customers can order wholesale products or individual items and have them express-delivered to any destination in the world. Aliexpress offers a major advantage: free shipping of many items – a significant saving, as with smaller items one often pays more for the shipping than the product. Aliexpress uses escrow – funds paid by the purchaser are held until the company receives the appropriate instructions that the buyer has received and is happy with the product. In this way, buyers are protected…

In light of the recent reports about racism in media, I would like to bring you this good-news story. When a group of chicken farmers from Standerton decided to donate chicken manure to drought-stricken livestock farmers of North West, a chicken and cattle farmer from Amersfoort, Norman Rametse, immediately volunteered to send a 30t load to farmers in need in the Hartbeesfontein area. The chicken farmers, all contract growers for Earlybird, sent more than a dozen loads of manure to various areas. The loads were offloaded at central points from where they were distributed to farmers in need. It just shows that farmers stand together in times of need. My son, Pieter Jr, recently passed matric. Some time ago, Norman noticed that he had a particular interest in tractors and…

8 JANUARY 1975 Supermaster’s secret is a grey, long-eared donkey 41 YEARS AGO British steeplechase racehorse, Supermaster, had an unusual companion to calm his highly-strung nature. This report was published in the above issue. “At 550 guineas [about R194 000 today*] racehorse Supermaster was a comparatively cheap buy, even six years ago. Trainer Arthur Stevenson knew he was gambling, for the horse’s reputation was not at all good. “Since then, Supermaster has become the most prolific winning jumper in recent years. He has won over £20 000 [R3,4 million*] in prize money. What is the secret of Supermaster’s transformation? The answer is … a donkey. Says Stevenson: “When Supermaster came to us he was rather highly strung so I put a donkey in his box to calm him down.” “Says…

More than a thousand dairy cattle have so far been slaughtered on farms in Hoekwil in the Southern Cape in an attempt to eradicate bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus) and stop it from spreading to other farms. ‘THIS ISN’T A DISEASE YOU WANT TO PLAY AROUND WITH ON YOUR FARM’ The disease has become a “catastrophe” in the country, with outbreaks increasing steadily over the years as government control of brucellosis has lost momentum due to less funding of control programmes, according to Dr Danie Odendaal of the Veterinarian Network. Whereas bovine brucellosis used to be a major problem only in the north-eastern and central regions of South Africa, the movement of animals has seen the disease spread to all parts of the country. “We’ve never really had problems with bovine…

A bleak prospect looms for agriculture in the Western Cape, if electricity tariffs were to increase by 16,6% during the 2016/2017 season. This was according to Carl Opperman, CEO of Agri Western Cape, speaking to a panel of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). “Agriculture is concerned with the request to Nersa, and feels that Eskom is holding the economy to ransom,” Opperman said. Nersa was listening to public input on Eskom’s application for a R22,8 billion adjustment for its 2013/2014 financial year. “The current severe drought, economic climate, and rising input costs are already a heavy burden for many farmers. A further tariff increase by Eskom could put food security in South Africa in severe jeopardy,” Opperman said. According to him, wheat production took a severe blow…

The lack of compulsory accreditation for Zimbabwe’s fruit and vegetable exporters could result in the country failing to meet global food safety standards. The Herald reported that Zimbabwe had made significant progress in re-entering global markets, particularly the European Union (EU). Fresh produce exports to the EU increased after restrictions were imposed on Kenya for the use of banned chemicals on crops. Now, however, industry players such as horticultural companies have warned that failure to introduce strict controls could negatively affect market confidence. This confidence was critical if Zimbabwe wanted to maintain its international reputation and assure exporters that the country complied with international food safety standards, industry members said. Zimbabwe was previously one of the largest exporters of agricultural products in Africa.…

A new report on the adoption of precision agriculture worldwide shows that the industry is expected to grow by 11,7% between now and 2020. In Africa, South Africa is a leader in the implementation of the practice, but affordable labour and the drought are having a notable impact on the application of precision farming techniques. The report was released by international market insights company, Marketsandmarkets.com. It reveals that an increase in the value of the precision agriculture industry is driven by factors such as the rise of the Asian-Pacific market and the availability of software applications and GPS systems. Crop farmers are also looking for ways to optimise their businesses by investing in technology that allows special placement of fertiliser, water management solutions and crop genetics. Mac Nel, director of…

The Department of Health (DoH) is reportedly failing to effectively police its own legislation on marketing standards for tobacco products in South Africa. According to the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa (TISA), this was not only putting consumers at risk, but creating an uneven playing field for law-abiding tobacco processors and marketers in South Africa. TISA explained that, as per the DoH’s Tobacco Products Control Act No. 83 of 1993, as of 1 June 2006 all cigarettes marketed in South Africa were allowed to contain 12mg or less of tar and 1,2mg or less of nicotine per cigarette. The exact yields of these substances in every cigarette brand had to be clearly printed on the packaging. “Currently, tar and nicotine regulations are not being enforced by the Department of Health.…

The devastating drought experienced by South Africa last year could be expected to put consumers under great pressure for the foreseeable future, according to a report from the University of the Free State. The report, dealing with the drought’s impact on the local economy, was compiled by Prof Johan Willemse and Frikkie Mare. Although good, widespread rains were reported in the second half of January 2016, this would not go a long way to mitigate the effects of the drought on the economy as a whole, according to the authors. High unemployment, the weakening rand, increased interest rates and the declining GDP, among others, were anticipated to put the spending ability of the South African consumer under even more pressure in the short and medium term, the report said. According…

The SAPS stock theft unit is appealing to the community in the Jeffreys Bay area in the Eastern Cape to come forward with any information that could lead to the tracing and recovery of 36 dairy calves that were stolen from the Kareedouw area in January. It is alleged that the six-month-old calves were stolen from their grazing camp on the farm Klipdrift near Kareedouw. They are brown and black in colour and are collectively worth more than R54 000. During the past six months there had been 29 stock theft cases in the Kareedouw area, according to CrimeStats SA. Anyone with information on the calves is urged to phone Sergeant Jimmy Maya of the Jeffreys Bay stock theft unit about 042 200 7000 or 072 720 1895, or Crime…

IN MY VIEW, SOME TAX OFFICIALS ARE SIMPLY UNREASONABLE A recent story in the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser caught my attention. It was one of generosity and selflessness in the face of hardship. Early last century, around the time of the outbreak of the First World War, a farmer by the name of Arthur Parkes ran a successful mixed operation on his farm, Wheatlands, 50km from Graaff-Reinet. The farm is still in existence, although it is now owned by a new family. Parkes had a large herd of Angora goats and, as many will know, these animals are generally not as hardy as other livestock. During a cold snap, Parkes’s neighbour, who also farmed Angoras, suffered the loss of his entire herd of goats. On hearing the news, Parkes threw open the…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: New Zealand steers traded 0,42% higher at NZ$473/head and cows traded the same at NZ$298/head. US prices were mainly lower: topside was 4,35% lower at US$238,85/cwt, rump was 3,74% lower at US$290,28/cwt, strip loin was 1,23% higher at US$518,81/cwt, chuck was 0,39% higher at US$268,08/cwt, and brisket was 12,30% lower at US$237,12/cwt. The US is optimistic about beef exports in 2016, despite a strong US dollar and high US beef prices which contributed to a drop in exports in 2015. China may open its market for US beef by the middle of this year after a 12-year ban. Domestic: Local prices fell, with Class A prices dropping 0,34% to R34,68/kg and Class C prices 0,57% to R28/kg. The weaner price increased to R19,50/kg. The hide…

‘EVERYTHING ABOUT NGUNIS IS REMARKABLE’ The farm Waylands in the Darling area of the Western Cape has been in the Duckitt family since 1865. As is typical of the area, it was traditionally a wheat and dairy farm. The area receives winter rainfall of 480mm/annum, has a moderate climate and fertile mixed soils, and is well-suited to the production of wine grapes, sheep and pigs. Although Michael Duckitt produces all three on his 1 232ha farm, it is his Nguni cattle that he is most passionate about. He maintains that the breed has completely changed his views on cattle farming. “Everything about Ngunis is remarkable and favourable, not least their survival rate in adverse conditions,” he says. Michael, the sixth-generation Duckitt to farm on Waylands, started farming with his father,…

As I’ve noted before, in the 1940s this country had more than 100 markets. Today, we are down to 24. THE ACID TEST FOR THE SMALLER MARKETS WILL BE THE PRICES THEY ACHIEVE FOR FARMERS In the 1800s, with wagons the mode of transport, delivering fresh produce was restricted to the nearest town, and South Africa would have had even more markets. By the mid-1900s roads had improved, which meant better accessibility. Trains had become the main transport option while trucks were beginning to play a role. These days, even allowing for those perilous potholes, we have excellent roads, and refrigerated trucks can deliver fresh produce to distant urban areas. And here is where the action is: the big markets, the variety of products, the trade deals, and, most importantly,…

RUNNING-IN IS STILL RECOMMENDED – DRIVE A NEW CAR SLOWER THAN NORMAL FOR THE FIRST 500KM INTERCOOLER QUERY Q Most tuning shops claim that an intercooler reduces the stress level in an engine. Is this true? Some intercoolers are factory-fitted. Is it safe to have one retrofitted? A A turbocharger or supercharger increases the amount of air that enters the engine by compressing it. However, this also increases its temperature, which in turn makes it less dense. This means it contains less oxygen, and so has to be mixed with less fuel, resulting in the engine developing less power. Fitting an intercooler between the compressor fan outlet and the intake manifold recovers some of this power. Some manufacturers use air-to-air intercoolers, while other use air-to-water intercoolers. The former…

I am a 19-year-old farm girl studying agriculture. I am outgoing once I come out of my shell. I love clay pigeon shooting, farm life and going to church. My passion is farming and I work for my dad on his farm on weekends. I am also very independent. I’m looking for a good-looking guy with similar interests. Someone with whom I can share my love of agriculture and my love for life. He must be between the ages of 20 and 25. Reply with a photo please. FARM GIRL, 3211 I love the ocean, beaches, sunshine, apples, the smell of wood smoke, sunrises, music, and the sky. I am a single, white female, living on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It would be great to meet a sincere, healthy,…

IT COSTS NOTHING, EXCEPT A BIT OF PRIDE, TO SEEK COUNSEL, ESPECIALLY FROM OLDER, MORE EXPERIENCED FARMERS With the current political situation in South Africa, the devaluation of the rand and the terrible drought, many farmers are seeking to make the right decisions. We need to be sure that the options we choose will lead us down the right road. Psalm 119:105 states it very clearly: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If ever we needed to be men and women who follow the Word of God, it is in these days. A good idea is not always a God idea and a need does not justify a call. What does this mean? It means that we cannot simply wet a finger,…

THE IMPOSSIBLE FIVE by Justin Fox (Tafelberg, R230) As a travel writer, Fox had seen the Big Five and more many times over. So he set himself a new challenge: to see his own ‘Impossible Five’, South Africa’s most elusive mammals. These were the Cape mountain leopard, the aardvark, the pangolin, the riverine rabbit, and the white lion (naturally occurring). Even with his numerous contacts and assistance from the wildlife community and researchers, Fox finds the challenge even tougher than he anticipated. Along the way, he documents the often eccentric passion, precision and joy of those who observe and care for our wild treasures, interleaving this with memories of his own favourite childhood reading. Fox’s fluid style, sharp observations and picturesque settings make The Impossible Five a joy…