Indice dei contenuti per 18 October 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

The latest tractor sales figures released by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association showed that year-to-date tractor sales were significantly down from last year, with the number of tractors sold up to the end of September having declined 22% to 3 919 from 5 034 sold in 2018. This figure was also well below the five-year average for the corresponding period of 4 671 units sold. These low figures can mostly be blamed on the difficult financial situation many farmers find themselves in due to low commodity prices and the impact of drought. But the situation should start changing again if producer prices start improving, and if the main cropping areas experience a season or two of average to above-average rainfall. Despite the recent dip in sales, South Africa remains…

I was inspired in tackling my own farming career by Dudley Crookes, the retired general manager of Crookes Brothers, who took me around Ubombo Ranches at Big Bend in Swaziland. This was in the early 1970s, when I was still a teenager. Dudley was putting 10 000ha of sugar cane under irrigation, which I believe was the largest sugar cane plantation in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. He is now retired and living on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In the Sunday Times (8 September 2019), Peter Bruce suggested building a high speed line between two cities. He has opened the proverbial ‘can of worms’ for all South Africans to follow. For many years I would travel between Standerton and Secunda. There is a wide concrete canal supplying…

It is often said that almost every industrialised nation began its economic ascent with a strategic focus on developing its agriculture sector. This helped these nations create jobs, raise incomes, reduce poverty, and kick-start their economies on a path to greater income growth. Recent examples include Brazil, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, each of which claims to have doubled the value of its agriculture sector within a short time by focusing on building and implementing strong macroeconomic and liberal policies that support both domestic and foreign investment, high agricultural productivity and trade. The development of, and increased productivity in, the agriculture sector have contributed significantly to the reduction in poverty in these countries. From the onset, growth in China and Indonesia has tended to be based on labour-intensive production. This has…

The intention to release an annual ‘transformation barometer’ was announced at the recent Agribusiness Transformation Conference hosted by the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA). Dr Vuyo Mahlati, president of AFASA, said that this year marked the official launch of the concept, with the first statistics scheduled to be released in 2020. “The concept is basically focusing on all levels of the chain. It focuses on the areas of ownership, which start from the land, through enterprise and along the value chain.” She said the scope would include elements such as access to commodity associations, as well as addressing issues of competition. Mahlati said that while investigations into these aspects had been underway since the first conference, the association had decided not to release the findings yet as it…

The DA recently launched a rural safety plan to ensure that every South African farmer, farmworker and rural community is protected. According to Andrew Whitfield, the DA’s spokesperson on policing, South Africa’s farming communities were under siege due to heinous acts of violence and crime. “These attacks on farmers, farmworkers and rural communities are an attack on our rural economy. [They] need to stop,” he said. The latest crime statistics revealed a total of 47 recorded farm murders for the 2018/2019 year, ending March 2019. According to Whitfield, the proposed plan would take a community-focused, ‘boots-onthe-ground’ approach to rural safety. One of the proposed solutions was the establishment of rural policing sectors or police stations that would serve a particular rural area and focus on the unique challenges experienced by…

The patenting of conventionally bred plants and animals should not be allowed. This was according to a statement issued by Copa-Cogeca, a union representing EU farmers and agricultural co-operatives. Copa-Cogeca said that it, together with “more than 50 other civil society organisations”, had lodged formal opposition to the idea with the European Patent Office (EPO) during recent public consultations on the subject. The EPO said that approving such patenting “could have severe consequences” for the EU farming community, which would never accept a system whose main purpose was “to generate income for patent owners”. Copa-Cogeca’s secretary-general, Pekka Pesonen, said his union was “opposed to any kind of patenting of plants, animals, genes and genetic traits that can be found in nature or obtained through mutagenesis”. He added that Copa-Cogeca would…

A season that started promisingly for dryland barley producers has turned challenging as a result of low rainfall and high temperatures. This was according to Frikkie Lubbe, agricultural manager of South Africa Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). “The start to this year’s barley season was one of the best in years, with enormous crop potential on the fields. Unfortunately, low rainfall during kernel formation, and high temperatures, spoilt the party,” he said. Lubbe added that the highest rainfall figure in the central parts of the Southern Cape region for August was 7mm. Besides the low rainfall, the season had also exposed the crop to a number of heatwaves, which had caused damage. According to Lubbe, the erratic weather patterns in the eastern production area (from Riviersonderend to Mossel Bay) and the…

There was no question that the standard of the farming enterprises, as well as the general farming knowledge, of the entrants in the annual Grain SA Farmer of the Year Competition had seen significant improvement from one year to the next. This was according to Jenny Mathews, a member of Grain SA’s Farmer Development working group. “I’ve now been on many tours as a judge for the competition. Whereas it was once quite easy to identify the standout role models, this is no longer true. So much so, that the task of judging has become increasingly challenging, and has required that careful selection criteria be defined before judging begins,” she said. The competition had four categories, namely Subsistence, Smallholder, Potential Commercial Farmer and New Era Farmer of the Year. The…

A July 2019 ruling by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal ordered three municipalities in the province to begin providing basic services to labour tenants and other rural farm dwellers within their respective boundaries, but achieving this would be challenging. This was according to Sandy La Marque, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), who said the Constitutional Court had previously found that state entities, including municipalities, were not required to begin providing basic services, such as water and sanitation, to citizens immediately. La Marque cited the October 2009 Constitutional Court ruling in the case of Lindiwe Mazibuko and Others vs the City of Johannesburg and Others, in which Judge Kate O’Regan found that the state was only required to “take reasonable legislative and other measures progressively [and not on…

South Africa produced a record 1,54 million tons of soya bean in 2018. But the 2019 crop, according to the eighth production forecast by the Crop Estimates Committee, is set to yield only 1,17 million tons. South Africa has established sufficient crushing capacity to process more than 1,5 million tons of soya bean. However, the question remains: can the excellent growth in the local soya bean industry be sustained? FAVOURABLE PRICES In South Africa, the average price ratio of 2:1 (soya bean to maize) has supported the recent expansion. Other factors, including access to top soya bean cultivars and the introduction of best production practices to conserve soil moisture, have also supported the successful production of soya bean. On the other hand, the potential expansion of the crop has been…

Like humans, horses have incisors in the front of their mouths, and molars (cheek teeth), which are used for chewing, at the back. Equine dentistry, specifically the removal of premolar teeth, was first recorded nearly 3 000 years ago in Mongolia, and cheek tooth extraction was described in the Middle East and Egypt during the 12th century. As horses became more important for transport, specific forceps were invented to prise out loose, infected teeth in old horses. In 1805, Prof Havemann of the Hannover Veterinary School in Germany suggested the ‘repulsion method’ of cheek tooth extraction. He cut a hole in the skin, used a chisel to remove the bone surrounding the root of the diseased tooth, then used a hammer on the tooth to loosen it. This method was…

POVERTY PROOF by Douglas Kruger (Penguin, R120) Kruger is a business and financial strategist who shoots from the hip. Sugarcoated motivational quotes and hiding unpleasant truths behind jargon have no place in his financial ‘boot camp’. Subtitled ‘50 ways to train your brain for wealth’, his handbook is brisk and straight-talking, but also surprisingly creative. The collection is a wake-up call, and that’s exactly how you could use it. Read and ponder one tip each morning to start your day on a financially sound note. At R2,50 a tip, Poverty Proof is a shrewd investment. THE AI DOES NOT HATE YOU by Tom Chivers (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, R325) Artificial intelligence, the bogey that will steal jobs and potentially take over our lives, has moved in the past few years from…

After a below-average winter rainfall season, the Western Cape agriculture sector needed to prepare itself for another difficult season. This was according to Jannie Strydom, CEO of Agri Western Cape, who added that there was particular concern about the Klein Karoo drought, now in its fourth year. Joey Potgieter, chairperson of Agri Klein Karoo, said that over the past four years, lucerne lands had been standing bare. “You can’t irrigate the lands because the dams have no water.” Potgieter said the loss of income due to a lack of lucerne production over the past four years was equivalent to R1 billion. He added that the ostrich industry in the area had been severely affected. “It saw a 30% reduction in ostrich slaughtered since the inception of the drought. Over three…

About 35% of fruit imported into Russia is from South Africa, and there is a huge opportunity to increase this volume, according to Mikhail Fateev, head of food and agriculture at the Russia-South Africa Business Council. He was speaking on the sidelines at the annual World Food Moscow, hosted in the Russian capital from 24 to 27 September. According to a statement by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), more than 30 South African companies supported by the DTI through the export marketing and investment assistance (EMIA) scheme showcased their products at the popular food and drinks international exhibition. The objectives of the EMIA programme were to develop export markets for locally manufactured products and services, as well as to recruit new foreign direct investment into South Africa. “Just…

MEXICO Banana growers in the state of Colima have suffered severe losses to their crops as a result of Hurricane Lorena. The storm destroyed 3 600ha of bananas, affecting more than 160 producers in Manzanillo and Cihuatlan. According to preliminary reports, farmers in El Ejido, El Colomo and Manzanillo, who produce bananas on 500ha, suffered total losses. Marabasco, with 1 200ha planted to bananas, and Cihuatlan, Jalisco, with 2 000ha under bananas, also experienced total losses. Mexico is the 12th largest producer of bananas in the world. KENYA Kenyan officials have revealed their intention to lift the ban on genetically modified (GM) crops, which has been in place since 2012. While the country has made significant progress on GMOs in terms of enacting regulations on crops such as Bt maize,…

South Africa’s cannabis industry has received a boost with the licensing of another farm that will cultivate, import and export medicinal cannabis. Strawberry farm Polkadraai in the Western Cape will produce medicinal cannabis under their trading company, Felbridge. The licence, granted by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), covers an existing 46 272m² greenhouse facility previously used for hydroponic sweet peppers. An additional 121 920m² greenhouse area has been identified for future expansion. Felbridge was expected to produce about 20t of dried cannabis products a year at full production, and would harvest its first crop early next year. The first harvest would be used to test the strains, processes and logistics involved in getting the product to extractors. Felbridge CEO Leslie Zetler said the company was currently evaluating…

A new world of possibilities has opened up for farmworkers and rural inhabitants of Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga after one of the country’s biggest farmers recently partnered with Vodacom to increase cell phone coverage in the area. The partnership between BP Greyling and Vodacom will ensure cell phone coverage to rural areas that have never had reception before. Some 400 smartphones had also been donated to workers and farm dwellers of BPG Langfontein farm. Greyling said that adequate cell phone reception was crucial for rural safety and enhancing quality of life. “Some of the area’s inhabitants had to walk kilometres to get enough signal to phone an ambulance. More effective communication will also ensure that everyone can be a part of the crime prevention systems we have in place, and react…

The key challenges that need to be resolved in terms of agricultural water use in South Africa included the state’s poor capacity to implement, monitor and enforce the law. This was according to Theo Boshoff, legal intelligence manager at Agbiz, who was speaking at the recent Agbiz/VKB Information Day. Boshoff said that mistaken perceptions about water management needed to be addressed. “One such erroneous perception is that 95% of all water in South Africa is in white hands. [This is] simply wrong. We also need to address polarised and confusing institutional arrangements, and improve ease of doing business between all role players.” According to Boshoff, the Department of Water and Sanitation was looking for a negotiated solution for water management in South Africa. Reference was made to a ‘transformation charter’…

The Agri Western Cape drought fund recently received a much-needed donation from two organisations to assist drought-stricken cattle farmers in the province. The National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA) and Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) in the Western Cape donated R100 000 and R200 000 respectively to producers in need of drought assistance. Cobus Uys, chairperson of the NWGA Western Cape, said it was a privilege to assist farmers in need. Louis Wessels, chairperson of the RPO Western Cape, said the RPO wanted to assist the industry during the drought and hoped the donation would help keep farmers on their farms. The funds were distributed via their regional representatives. Despite the donations, more funds were still needed, with many farmers struggling in drought-stricken areas. The drought in this region had lasted…

Three generations of the Steyn family have farmed vegetables near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga. They have experimented with a range of crops, lived through the ups and downs of the vegetable market, and know what it takes to run a profitable business in the sector. When it comes to butternuts, one of their most important crops, Francois Steyn has specific advice for other growers: “Know what your market wants before you start planting, then make sure you deliver good quality. Rather exclude more butternuts from your consignment than deliver bad quality and risk your reputation. You only have one reputation. Ruin it, and you’ll struggle to regain your market.” Steyn, who runs JF Steyn Boerdery with his father, Jakkals, and brother, Ruan, warns against the danger of taking shortcuts. “You won’t…

I’ve written before about the huge challenge of fresh produce wastage, and I could comfortably add to my previous comments about the problems that this presents, and why it’s crucially important to manage and minimise this wastage. But let’s take a more positive angle this time. Worldwide, people are becoming increasingly aware of the challenges facing the planet, from greenhouse gas emissions and plastic pollution to the vast wastage of good food that takes place at every step of the supply chain. MAKING IT HAPPEN Thanks to the growing numbers of dedicated farmers, food processors and retailers, this awareness is being converted into action, and the problems are being addressed in practical ways. Waste can become overwhelming if not properly managed at a fresh produce market. At retail level, it…

Makes four to six servings FOR THE MEAT: 800g beef fillet Salt and pepper to taste Some oil 250g packet bacon, chopped 1 avocado, sliced FOR THE SAUCE: 250ml (1 cup) balsamic vinegar 250ml (1 cup) sugar 1 punnet fresh raspberries MEAT: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2. Cut the beef fillet in half. Flavour to taste with the salt and pepper. 3. Heat the oil, fry the bacon until done, and position in the opened-up beef fillet. 4. Place the avocado on top. 5. Bind up the beef fillet with string. Place in an oven dish, cover and bake for 20 minutes. 6. Remove the lid and roast under the element until golden brown. Cut the string. SAUCE: 1. Heat the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan…

While 12% of South Africa’s land can be used for crop production, only 22% of this is high-potential arable land. The greatest constraint on our agriculture is unreliable rainfall. Yet consider the United Arab Emirates; compared with South Africa, it’s a hot, dry desert. “Long ago, some experts said our land was unsuitable for agriculture. We proved they were mistaken as we now have more than 40 000 farms, up from 4 000 in 1971,” says Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister of the UAE. Mohammed has put up a prize of U$1 million (about R15 million) to entice food technology companies to help achieve food security in the UAE. Four teams will share the prize, and winners will be announced in April 2020. There are five categories:…

28 TO 29 NOVEMBER 4IR Agri Tech Conference HERE IS THE IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS, PROCESSORS, MANUFACTURERS, RESEARCHERS, DECISION-MAKERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR TO DISCUSS SMART AGRICULTURE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTOMATION IN ACHIEVING WORLDWIDE FOOD SECURITY. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 16 TO 18 OCTOBER The Future of Farmworkers in South Africa National Conference, University of the Western Cape. Email foodsecurity@uwc.ac.za. 29 OCTOBER AFMA Symposium, Diamond Auditorium, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria.Visit afmasymposium.co.za. 6 NOVEMBER Subtrop Marketing Symposium, Ingweyama Conference and Sport Resort, White River. Email Lizette de Wet at lizette@subtrop.co.za, or phone her on 015 306 3676. 10 TO 13 NOVEMBER International Symposium on Moringa, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria. Email Laila Smith at laila.smith@wits.ac.za, or phone her on 011 717 6705. 26 TO 27 NOVEMBER…

Macadamia nuts were introduced in Kenya in 1963 as an alternative cash crop to coffee, but failed to gain equivalent prominence until around 2011, after a surge in global demand. Production and exports were relatively modest under the country’s low-input, smallholder-driven production systems, with little support and no regulation to formalise and structure the market. As a result, Kenya’s macadamia nuts experienced quality problems, which led to closure of key export markets in the EU. The industry has undergone a renaissance since 2012, with exports increasing from R441 million in 2014 to R1,1 billion in 2018. Kenya’s market share in the global market has more than doubled, from 7% to 15% over the same period. This has seen Kenya becoming the third-largest exporter of macadamia nuts in the world, after…

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza said it was necessary to face the realities when it came to matters such as agricultural financing. Didiza was speaking at the recent Agribusiness Transformation Conference hosted by the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA) in Bloemfontein. Didiza told delegates that the department did not have access to a financing mechanism that could serve as an enabler for developing farmers, and asked those present to give her the “power to lobby” on their behalf. She reflected on the Agricultural Credit Board (ACB) that had existed and worked in conjunction with the Land Bank prior to 1994. She said that, in retrospect, it appeared that there had been logic to its role. “They gave soft loans to farmers. They gave…

The final production figures for the previous litchi and mango harvest seasons showed a 57% decline in litchi production. ‘A HEATWAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SMALLER [LITCHI] CROP’ This was according to Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), who provided an update of the past season’s crop for both litchis and mangoes. The final figure for the litchi crop for the 2018/2019 production year was 4 434t, which was a considerable drop in production from the 2017/2018 harvest of 10 402t. The majority of litchis (about 2 764t) were exported, making up about 62% of the crop’s total market value. While 368t went to the processing market, 1 302t were sold on the local market, 93t were sold to so-called bakkie traders to supply the informal…

While global demand for avocados is rising as quickly as supply, industry leaders are focusing their attention on opening new markets, and pushing retail promotions to ensure the sustainability of this demand. Trevor Dukes, CEO of the Fruit Farm Group South Africa, attended the World Avocado Congress in Columbia last month, and reported that as the sector was evolving, there was a strong focus on marketing for existing, mature and new markets in the East. “While 2019 was an ‘off’ year in the alternate bearing cycle, 2020 will see local volumes rising between 20% and 30%. At this stage, there’s sufficient demand to absorb this crop, but considering the global increase in plantings, market access to a variety of countries will become a crucial issue.” The US, UK and EU…

The local economy has decoupled from global growth, with exorbitant national debt levels the biggest problem facing South Africa. This was according to Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, who spoke at the recent Agbiz/VKB Information Day in Frankfort. Purchase said that power utility Eskom’s debt was particularly worrying, as was the lack of GDP growth. Despite the fact that South Africa’s economy had shown a 3,1% quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted growth rate, agriculture had not contributed to the improvement, he said. Purchase added that it was wrong to hope that base effects, coupled with improved horticulture production, would trigger a recovery in the sector. “We need to increase investment in agriculture as a matter of urgency. Some of the other challenges […] include water availability and quality, sustainable transformation and…

Grain SA recently honoured 89-year-old Anna Ratshikana, who farms between Mahikeng and Lichtenburg, with a special award for her ongoing commitment to agriculture. The event was part of the Grain SA Day of Celebration held recently at Nampo Park in Bothaville. Ratshikana was arguably the oldest participant in Grain SA’s Farming Development Programme. Du Toit van der Westhuizen, Grain SA Farmer Development North West coordinator, said that she was also one of the most active farmers. “It’s not every day that one comes across a farmer like this. Anna still works actively on her farm. She retired from her job as a nurse at 65, and started working even harder when she ventured into farming in 2003. This lady is an example of what can be achieved through dedication and…

The fourth annual Summit Wildlife game auction at Graaff-Reinet generated R9 729 920, which was R2 349 000 less than last year. The top price (excluding VAT) of R300 000 was paid for a buffalo cow and her calf, and was sold by Grootbaas Game to Johan Rabie of Chimoyo Wildlife. Other top prices included R135 000 paid for a sable bull; R175 000 for a nyala bull; R220 000 for a roan antelope bull; R100 000 for an oryx bull; and R230 000 for a white rhino cow. Only 19 of the 181 lots were not sold. “While the drought in many parts of the country certainly dampened sales as game ranchers had to budget for feed costs, the result of the auction was satisfactory. All the industry needs…

The current Rugby World Cup has reminded me again of why I’m enthralled by the raw beauty of the game. The centre slicing through a gap; the seamless cohesion of a perfectly balanced scrum; the lightning reflexes of a flanker falling on a ball that goes loose; the blistering pace of a winger rounding his opponent; and the raw emotion with tears shed and lips quivering during the singing of a national anthem. Rugby is the ultimate team sport. No other game comes close. Consider the diversity of physical skills required: brute strength from some, subtle touches from others, placekicking ability, touch-kicking skills … And, finally, the utter dependence on teamwork to achieve success. Because, no matter how brilliant you may be, you only score points when supported by your…

Makes four to six servings FOR THE CARAMEL SAUCE: 250ml (1 cup) sugar FOR THE CUSTARD: 875ml (3½ cups) milk 6 extra-large eggs 250ml (1 cup) sugar Pinch of salt 10ml (2 tsp) vanilla CARAMEL SAUCE: 1. Melt the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Do not stir. 2. Lower the heat and cook for about five minutes until the syrup is golden brown. Stir occasionally. Start from scratch if the sugar burns. 3. Pour the caramel sauce into a round, 22cm pie dish. CUSTARD: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2. Heat the milk to just warm in the saucepan. Whisk the eggs and sugar, and add the salt. 3. Add some warm milk to the egg mixture. Whisk until well combined. 4. Return…

Memory restorers Last week, I discussed how taking prescription medications can inhibit acetylcholine activity, which affects mental processing. Fortunately, certain nutrients can restore the balance. One of these is choline, which is needed to make acetylcholine. In one study, people with a choline deficiency were given choline or a placebo. The choline group showed dramatic improvement in memory tests after just six months. Free-range eggs and grass-fed red meat are rich in choline, but supplements can also increase the body’s choline levels. Another choline-boosting nutrient is phosphatidylserine (PS), a key building block for brain cells. In a recent study, Alzheimer’s patients who took PS twice a day showed improvement in mental function after eight weeks. PS is found in organ meats, tuna, herring and free-range chicken. Choline works synergistically with…

If you were given R3 million rand to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend the money? I’d invest it all in urban, container, hydroponic production. I think this is one of the most exciting developments in agriculture since the domestication of wheat. When done and marketed right, it can also become one of the most lucrative ventures. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? The late Corwyn Botha, who was chief executive of Kaap Agri and chairperson of the Agbiz, had a philosophy that people follow leaders and ideologies for one of two reasons: hope or fear. This philosophy has guided my every decision on what and…