Indice dei contenuti per 24 May 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

Earlier this month, Time magazine featured on its cover an aerial view, photographed by Johnny Miller, of two neighbouring suburbs in Ekurhuleni. The road that runs between them serves as the only divider between the comfortable and affluent Primrose residents on the one side and their poor neighbours in the Makause informal settlement on the other. The image, similar to another photograph taken by Miller of Kya Sands and Bloubosrand in Johannesburg, which was used on the cover of the World Bank report, ‘Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in South Africa’, highlights the extent of the deep and pervasive disparity that exists between South Africa’s middle and upper classes on the one hand, and its poor citizens. These urban scenes are very effective at illustrating South Africa’s unenviable position at the…

The post-2019 election world is totally different from the one of last month. The ANC, if it continues in the way it has without successfully implementing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reforms, is one, or at most two, elections away from losing power. In its way are party hardliners such as Ace Magashule and the hidden hand of former president Jacob Zuma, who openly defies Ramaphosa; corrupt officials and networks in state-owned enterprises; the ANC itself; and corrupt members in Parliament and even in Cabinet. THE ANC’S MAJORITY AT THE POLLS WAS DUE TO THE ‘RAMAPHOSA FACTOR’ It is widely accepted that the majority the ANC received at the polls was due to the ‘Ramaphosa factor’. Now it is time for the president to act, and reform and cleanse the party of…

The National Council for Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) recently laid criminal charges against a member of the South African Predators’ Association (SAPA). This followed an investigation by the association into allegations that several ‘big cats’ were being neglected on a farm in North West. Douglas Wolhuter, manager of the Wildlife Protection Unit at the NSCPA, confirmed that charges had been laid against an individual at a police station in Lichtenburg in terms of the Animal Protection Act of 1962. “We were made aware [of the situation] in the form of a complaint forwarded to us by an anonymous source,” he said. More than 100 animals, including lion, caracal and leopard, were found on the farm. “[We found] lions with skin conditions [alleged by the staff…

The influx of meat being smuggled into Zambia is threatening the development of its own meat value chain, according to Francis Grogan, CEO of Zambeef, one of Zambia’s largest beef producers and suppliers. He called on the government, as well as the country’s meat producers and consumers, to work together to tackle Zambia’s illicit meat imports effectively. Recent media reports in Zambia stated that the Zambia Revenue Authority had intercepted and confiscated a shipment of smuggled meat valued at over 408 000 Zambian kwacha (about R457 000). According to the reports, the shipment was officially supposed to be in transit in Zambia before being delivered to neighbouring country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, but was diverted by the smugglers to a farm in Zambia for offloading, local distribution and sale.…

A chemical-free way to precisely target a parasitic worm that destroys wheat crops involves using the plant’s own genes to kill the nematodes, without harming other insects, birds or mammals. Konstantin Blyuss, a researcher at the University of Sussex in the UK, and biologists at the National Academy of Sciences in Ukraine, used RNA interference to precisely target the nematodes that harmed wheat. Blyuss said the finding was an important step forward in the search for environmentally safe crop protection that did not harm bees or other insects. An estimated US$130 billion (about R1,9 trillion) worth of crops were lost globally every year to diseases caused by nematodes, he said. The research used naturally occurring bacteria in soil to help protect plants against the harmful nematodes. Until now there had…

Citrus farmers have been warned to control mealybug effectively before sending out shipments of fruit in order to prevent South Africa’s access to international markets being revoked. Recently, shipments destined for South Korea were flagged for mealybug infestation. Dr Sean Moore, an entomologist at the Citrus Research Council (CRI), called on farmers to intensify inspections for the pest in citrus orchards. “Orchard selection and late corrective treatments should be considered as far as possible. Packhouse procedures should be focused on reducing the risk of consignment rejections,” he said. To reduce the risk of rejections at ports of entry, he recommended that routine scouting for mealybug be conducted in the orchards. “This must be done in the prescribed manner recommended by CRI for scouting for mealybug. A minimum of five trees/ha…

The release of a new wind map for South Africa will enable stakeholders in the renewable energy industry to accurately determine the availability of wind, and could even help farmers to decide whether it is worth considering wind energy as an option. The Wind Atlas of South Africa (WASA) initiative recently released the first high-resolution wind resource map covering the entire country. The acting director general of the Department of Energy, Zizamele Mbambo, said in a statement that the map was an important part of incorporating wind energy into the department’s renewable energy strategy. “It would be difficult to plan thoroughly for the increased uptake of wind energy if one [did] not have certainty on wind resource availability. Therefore, the need for reliable, accurate and representative data on wind is…

Due to strong demand from Europe and increasing demand from the Far East, the fourth mohair sale of the summer season, held in Port Elizabeth recently, realised the highest total turnover ever at R46 million. The highest price of R621/kg was paid for a bale of 24-micron good-style kids’ mohair offered by Paul Webber of Grahamstown, while 93% of the 188 671kg on offer was sold. The sale also produced the highest clip average ever, with Jerry Pienaar of Bokvlei Farming, Beaufort West, averaging R416,84/kg for his full clip. He also achieved a world record price for adult mohair at R420/kg for a 27,7-micron young goats’ bale. The offering consisted of good-quality mohair that was finer and cleaner than the previous sale, and there were excellent individual clips, according to…

At 28%, the corporate tax rate in South Africa is higher than the average for the continent. However, South African companies are not alone in having to deal with this problem; Namibia’s corporate tax rate is 32%, while Botswana’s is 22%. But to analyse these corporate tax rates in isolation does not give the full picture to any potential investor. Shareholders who take dividends out of a company suffer another tax: dividend withholding tax (DWT). In South Africa, the rate of DWT is 20%, while in Botswana it is 7,5%. DWT is not levied in Namibia if the dividend is paid to an individual or a company resident in Namibia. For nonresident individuals, the rate is 20%, while for non-resident companies it’s 10%. AVOIDING DOUBLE TAXATION When dividends are paid…

It is a well-worn cliché that we live in changing times. This is only bad news for those who persist in burying their heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. For most farmers and other role players in the fresh produce industry, change is a good thing. This does not imply that they should adapt to or embrace every new development that comes along; that would be impossible. It does, however, mean that these developments are available, and wise farmers will carefully select those that match their requirements. A RELENTLESS PACE We only have to follow the many sources of information about the fresh produce sector from around the world to realise that change continues at a frantic pace. Some might say too frantic. I’ve often mentioned the development…

I hope that when you try this recipe, you include the chorizo, because it takes this dish to greater heights. It adds a lovely paprika flavour and brings out the smoke from the bacon. In addition, the fat in the sausage melts during cooking and coats the pasta tubes. Now for the drink to accompany the dish. I had a rather extensive lineup. The dry white and rosé were a bit thin, and the Shiraz blend overshadowed the meal a bit. But the beers, oh, the beers, they were just right. An ice-cold lager was a great match. I had Grip ’n Lager from Gordon’s Bay-based Red Sky Brew. It is a light lager with a hoppy finish, thanks to the addition of the Saaz hop typically used in Pilsners.…

For many people, autumn means sinus misery. Allergy sufferers are plagued by sneezing fits, coughing, a blocked, sniffly or runny nose, and pounding headaches. All of this leaves one tired and unable to perform at one’s best. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, almost all sinus problems are caused by viruses. One the most powerful antiviral herbs is a root extract from the South African geranium (Pelargonium sidoides), an indigenous medicinal plant. It is a safe, effective medicinal herb that has been used traditionally for centuries. HOW IT WORKS Research shows that P. sidoides directly blocks viruses from infecting cells while also boosting the immune system, enabling faster recovery. It even activates the tiny hairs inside the sinuses to force mucus out so that they drain more easily.…

“Three out of four crops across the globe that produce fruit or seed for human consumption depend, at least in part, on pollinators such as bees and birds. Improving pollinator density and diversity boosts crop yields, as pollinators affect 35% of global agricultural land, supporting the production of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide. Moreover, pollination-dependent crops are five times more valuable than those that do not need pollination. The price tag of global crops relying directly on pollinators is estimated at between US$235 billion (about R3,4 trillion) and US$577 billion (R8,3 trillion) a year. Their quantity, too, is on the rise. The volume of agricultural production dependent on pollinators has increased 300% over the past 50 years. These figures reflect the importance that pollinators have in sustaining livelihoods…

A successful public-private collaboration recently saw the first ever co-loaded shipment of Southern African export citrus leave Durban harbour for markets in both Japan and China. Just over 5 200 pallets of grapefruit were loaded onto a single climate-controlled breakbulk reefer ship rather than individual climate-controlled containers destined for the Japanese, Chinese or other Asian markets. These vessels have refrigerated holds to transport dry, loose cargo that is handled individually, such as pallets of fruit. This ground-breaking shipment was achieved through collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), Citrus Research International, and the Perishable Products Export Control Board, which negotiated jointly with Chinese authorities to enable the shipment. Speaking at the launch ceremony at Durban’s Maydon Wharf Fruit Terminal,…

The global agro-food industry is estimated to be worth US$7,8 trillion (about R112 trillion) and employs 40% of the world’s population. Speaking at the fifth Seeds & Chips global food innovation summit, hosted in Milan, Italy earlier this month, the summit’s founder, Marco Guelterri, said investment in the food technology industry had reached US$16,9 billion (R240 billion) per year, a 43% increase. It was still early days, however, as China had increased its investment nearly 100% to about US$3,52 billion (R50,2 billion) per year. “So [it has] just entered the arena.” The summit featured 30 sessions and over 300 speakers from across the world. They included representatives from global stakeholders such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).…

AUSTRALIA Australia has seen the largest drop in its national cattle herd in decades as a result of the recent drought and floods, with slaughter rates expected to decline further in the second half of the year. Meat & Livestock Australia’s Cattle Industry Projections update predicted that the national herd would fall 7,7% to 25,2 million head for the year to June. Hundreds of thousands of head of livestock perished in the deadly floods in Queensland earlier this year. UNITED STATES The four largest beef packers in the US, which handle the slaughtering, processing, packaging and distribution of meat, are being sued in a class action case. Lawyers for the complainants claimed that the companies conspired to inflate the prices that consumers paid for beef. According to the lawsuit filed…

The outlook for this year’s macadamia harvest looks positive and it is expected that the yield will increase from last year’s figure. This was according to Lizel Pretorius, CEO of the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC), who added that 2018 had seen a record macadamia crop of 56 550t of nut-in-shell macadamias with a 1,5% kernel moisture content. “This is approximately 4 000t higher than the estimate issued in September [2018],” she said. According to Pretorius, the demand for macadamias remained strong and the kernel market, in particular, showed “great appetite for these high-value nuts”. “About 67% of the South African crop was processed into kernel and the remaining 33% exported as nut-in-shell.” She added that although the outlook for the 2019 season was promising, many factors had an…

The drought in the Northern Cape is taking a heavy emotional toll on farmers and their families. Drought-stricken farmers in the Williston area, for example, are fast losing hope, and the reality that they might soon be left with no choice but to permanently close their farm gates behind them is rapidly sinking in. This is according to Dr Koos Louw, medical practitioner and sheep producer near Williston. Louw said farmers and their families were increasingly falling into a state of despair and despondency. “One reason is that it seems as if it won’t ever rain in our part of the Karoo again. We remained positive up to Easter this year. Good rain was reported some 40km from my farm at a time when I measured only 8mm. It is…

Following an increase in soya bean production levels from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019, it is clear that South Africa could further increase production, aided by research into better and higher-yielding cultivars. However, this also created a need to find new markets for the surplus production, according to Paul Makube, a senior agricultural economist at FNB Agriculture. He said that, due to expanded production capacity, soya bean production had surpassed the one-million ton mark for the first time during the 2015/2016 production season. “Although output fell sharply in the 2016/2017 production season due to the devastating drought, production rebounded strongly the following year and was back above one million tons at 1,32 million tons for the 2017/2018 production season,” he said. TURKEY IMPORTED A 27660-TON SHIPMENT OF SOYA BEAN “The Crop Estimates…

A new cattle grading app currently being piloted in Zambia could be an easy and effective way to help smallholders align their herd management practices with market demands. This was according to Dr Christine Yamba-Yamba, the regional head of livestock at Solidaridad, an international civil society organisation. Yamba-Yamba said that based on Solidaridad’s assessment of smallholder practices, livestock farmers faced problems getting the full value out of their animals. To find solutions to this challenge, Solidaridad had created an app to educate farmers on how their cattle management practices and cattle health could influence trade engagements with their markets. In creating the app, technology experts at Solidaridad had assessed the scoring grids that formed the basis of market standards developed in partnership with the Zambian government. Yamba-Yamba said the app…

When buying or breeding sheep for wool production, you need to consider a number of factors. One of the most important is the size and type of animal. Larger-framed, dual-purpose animals such as Dohne Merino and Dormer are a compromise: they tend to produce wool of only fair quality, but their meat is worth more due to the larger carcass size. However, they generally require more feed than smaller-framed animals do. They might even require pastures to supplement feed intake. Will your farming environment allow for this? On the other hand, purebred wool animals such as Merino sheep may be more selective in the vegetation they are prepared to eat, as well as less tolerant of drought conditions than pure meat breeds such as Dorpers or Meatmasters. Always remember that…

The first Romagnolas were imported to South Africa in 1995 by Italian businessman Armando Balocco, who established a stud on the farm Rosengarten near Hekpoort in North West. Balocco originally imported a bull, a cow with calf at foot, and two heifers. Before the end of the year, he augmented these with six more heifers. The fledgling Rosengarten stud was then developed in virulent redwater, heartwater and gallsickness veld via an artificial insemination and embryo transfer programme. Neville Bradfield managed this pioneering Romagnola stud from 2003 to 2009. It became the source from which other South African breeders, including Bradfield himself, would procure their foundation genetics. “It was amazing at Rosengarten,” he recalls. “It’s incredible to be involved in breeding large animals that are in such balance.” Bradfield registered his…

To make 12 biscuits, you will need: 350g cake flour 3ml bicarbonate of soda 120g butter, at room temperature ½ tsp sea salt 130g brown sugar 1 egg 5ml vanilla essence 80g white chocolate, roughly chopped 80g dark chocolate chips 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. 2 In a large bowl, sift together the flour and bicarbonate of soda. Set aside 3 Beat together the butter salt and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until the mixture is well combined. 4 Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate. 5 Spoon balls of around 30ml each onto the prepared trays and flatten to a thickness of about 1cm. Bake one tray at…

HOW TO GET A SARS REFUND FOR SMALL BUSINESSES by Daniel Baines (Penguin, R120) Aimed at entrepreneurs who would rather work on their product than on paperwork, this is the sister publication of Baines’s earlier How to get a SARS refund, which was aimed at personal taxpayers. Now he leads us through all the extra implications of running a business of any size, from regular provisional tax submissions to dealing with employee tax and VAT. Baines plugs an important knowledge gap with this welcome concise primer; it is just 64 pages to work through. The index seems to have been sacrificed in the effort to keep the book short, but at a pinch, the detailed contents guide should help you retrieve information that you need. FIELD GUIDE TO…

24 TO 27 JUNE Broiler and Layer Management THIS FOUR-DAY COURSE PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO PRODUCING EGGS AND BROILERS. DELEGATES WILL RECEIVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, FROM HOW TO APPLY HEALTH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR POULTRY TO UTILISING BIOSECURITY PRACTICES. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 29 TO 30 MAY Agripreneurs’ Conference, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.Visit agripreneurs-conference.com. 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za. 6 TO 9 JUNE Cannabis Expo, Sibaya, Durban.Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 27 MAY Efficient Boer Goat Production, Ganyesa. Visit bommereaipela.co.za, or email info@bommereaipela.co.za. 27 TO 31 MAY Project Management, Buhle Farmers’ Academy, Mpumalanga. Visit buhle.org.za. 27…

With South Africa’s general election now behind us, the key question that comes to mind is, what should President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new administration do to boost the country’s agricultural economy in the short term? The primary objective of this process will need to be to create jobs and growth. The starting point will be to articulate a clear policy framework on land reform and water rights that will encourage investment in the agriculture sector while ensuring restorative justice, and see underutilised tracts of land brought into full production to boost growth and employment. This must then be complemented by trade agreements that open up new markets to sell these products. We have the challenge of a high unemployment rate in South Africa: 27% in terms of the narrow definition and…

A large player in the global oil and lubrication market has highlighted how neglecting lubrication in agricultural machinery can result in a shorter lifespan and increased operating costs. According to a statement by Shell Lubricants, the effect of lubrication on the reliability and durability of equipment was often underestimated, with less than 30% of agricultural companies understanding how “wear protection delivered by a lubricant” could lead to cost savings. The general manager of lubricant sales at Shell Downstream South Africa, Anton Niemann, said the company had been working closely with customers for decades to reduce maintenance costs and enhance equipment productivity by upgrading lubrication on machinery. When it came to total operating cost, the company had found that optimising lubrication could contribute to cost savings far in excess of the…

Following the outcome of the 2019 general election, the ANC will strongly focus on land and land reform, but is expected to take a more middle-of-the-road approach. This was according to Prof André Duvenage, research director and political analyst at North-West University. He told Farmer’s Weekly that he doubted whether the Constitution would actually be amended, as he believed that President Cyril Ramaphosa would rather try to deal with land reform within the framework of the Constitution. “However, if he comes under enough pressure from his party, [Ramaphosa] may be able to change the Constitution, but then there will be a pragmatic application. Any move now to limit land ownership will automatically lead to disinvestment, something South Africa cannot afford at this point.” He added that a “flight of capital…

It is essential that applications by mining companies to explore large swathes of South Africa for fossil energy reserves be stopped in their tracks as early as possible before environmental damage is done. This was according to Agri SA’s head of natural resources, Janse Rabie, explaining why the association had recently lodged a notice of motion with the North Gauteng High Court in a bid to prevent Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration SA (ROGESA) from receiving permission from government to conduct such explorations. He told Farmer’s Weekly that ROGESA had applied to explore large parts of North West, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape for fossil energy reserves, including shale gas. If such reserves were found, there was the strong likelihood that ROGESA would begin mining operations. A…

The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry is in the process of developing a nationwide bush information system in an attempt to combat the severe reduction in rangeland carrying capacity in that country. The aim of the project is to determine the true extent and evidence of bush encroachment, as well as the woody component of vegetation in Namibia. Bush encroachment has been identified by the United Nations’ Convention to Combat Desertification as one of the leading indicators of land degradation. According to a statement by the Namibia Agricultural Union, the bush information system was expected to be developed and managed as a tool to manage the woody cover of rangelands and act on bush encroachment. It is being developed as a national management instrument to provide updated information…

To date, canola farmers in the Southern Cape region have experienced a better season than last year, when the region suffered extreme drought conditions. “The Southern Cape received good rain early in March and again in April, which resulted in [soil] moisture being sufficient for the optimal establishment of canola,” said Izane Crous, an agronomist at the canola processing company, Southern Oil Limited (Soill). To date, canola plantings in the region were performing much better than last year and the growing season was “about one month ahead of last year”, she said. However, Crous said that follow-up rain was critical, as the last significant rainfall had been received in mid-April. In the Overberg region, seedling emergence had taken place soon after planting. “The growing season in this region is about…

As I write this, farmers and others are using various social media forums to discuss the future and trying to design strategies to survive and prosper. I would advise them to focus on current problems rather than struggling to solve future problems with today’s knowledge. Some problems faced by farmers are universal, regardless of where they farm. Producer prices increase at a slower rate than the prices of farm requisites. Modern consumers demand safe, healthy, affordable food from farmers who care for the environment. Society regards agriculture, and especially the livestock industry, as a major producer of greenhouse gases, so pressure on agriculture to lower greenhouse gas emissions will continue. Then there are the problems inherent to farming in South Africa. Uncertainty about land ownership causes much anxiety. Farm attacks…

Motoring journalists tend either to rave about or condemn a particular model’s roadholding and handling, but seldom explain what they mean. Roadholding refers to the way the tyres grip the road, but handling is a difficult concept to define or describe. To an experienced driver, the difference between good and poor handling marks the difference between a car designed by automotive engineers who enjoy driving and one designed by marketers who regard it as an appliance, like a fridge. Handling refers to a car’s response to various road conditions such as a sudden change in road surface, a wheel locking during braking, or one end of the car breaking away during cornering. Whether a particular model is a good handler or not is to some extent a subjective judgement, as…

To make this meal for four diners, you will need: 500g penne pasta 1 cup each of watercress, baby spinach and rocket 250g streaky bacon 250g minced beef 75g chorizo sausage 100g freshly ground or grated Parmesan cheese 1 large onion (about 250g) 2 cloves of garlic Extra-virgin olive oil on demand Freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste I prefer penne pasta for this dish, due to its short length, hollow shape to absorb liquid flavours, and density to fill stomachs. The number of green leaves can be increased if so desired. The chorizo is an optional extra, and the Parmesan cheese can be replaced by pecorino or even a hard, strong Cheddar of your choice. 1 Peel and thinly slice the onion, and peel and finely chop…

PayPal is a good tool to use if you buy or sell goods online. Launched in 1998 as ‘Confinity’, it is the most popular payment-processing site in the world, and provides a service to more than 225 million people in 200 countries. You can sign up for free at paypal.com and choose either a personal or business account. The former is best for online shopping and sending money to friends and family members. A business account is the better option if you use PayPal to transfer money for professional services. After providing PayPal with basic information such as date of birth, address and phone number, you can link to a bank account or credit card. For security purposes, PayPal will sometimes need you to confirm that you are the owner…