Table of contents for 9 March 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

Now that all the most crucial changes on South Africa’s political landscape have come to pass, we can turn our attention for a moment to those challenges that will not only impact the social and financial welfare of South Africans, but the existence of all life on earth. The most pertinent question to ask about climate change should no longer be, “Is it happening?” Instead, we should be asking, “What do we do about it?” This is according to Prof Bob Scholes of the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, who is rated in the top 1% of environmental scientists in the world. He presented a talk titled ‘Evidence for Climate Change’ at a recent business breakfast hosted by the South African Institute…

I am a black agent at the Tshwane Market, and when we find a farmer who is able to supply us with stock, we are told that they can’t supply us, citing long-standing relationships with the current white agents at the market. As a result, black agents have been forced to close down their businesses because we don’t have any stock to sell. Frans Mosiane, marketing manager, Tshwane Green • Anyone who has had similar experiences at the Tshwane Market is invited to contact Farmer’s Weekly, so that the matter can be investigated.…

Exports of certain game meat varieties from South Africa to the European Union have been halted. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Piet Neethling, chairperson of Camdeboo Meat Processors in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, said the meat of wild game such as zebra was still being exported, however, exports of farmed game meat, including ostrich and crocodile, had been banned. “The reason for the ban is twofold. The first is that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) medicinal products residue monitoring programme for farmed game does not meet EU requirements. The second is the [unsatisfactory] management of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa,” Neethling said. Despite the country having achieved foot-and-mouth disease-free status, EU authorities did not find the management of this status acceptable and were waiting for DAFF to…

NEW ZEALAND The New Zealand dairy industry is in the awkward position of having to promote the alternative A2 milk, after spending years rubbishing claims that it is healthier than traditional milk. Dairy giant Fonterra Co-operative Group has signed a deal with the A2 Milk Co that includes the A2 product in Fonterra’s global milk pool and supply chain. A2 milk comes from cows selected to produce only a particular type of protein known as A2 beta casein, unlike most milk, which contains both A1 and A2 proteins. – Alan Harman AUSTRALIA Australia’s A$1,3 billion (R9,5 billion) pork industry has introduced a mandatory tracking system, bringing pig farmers in line with the cattle, sheep and goat industries in that country. Australia’s 1 400 pig farmers produce 4,85 million pigs from…

The good rain which has fallen over large parts of South Africa’s summer grain production region since the end of January has resulted in a marked improvement in crops, according to a Grain SA survey. The first part of the 2017/2018 production season had been characterised by very difficult planting conditions due to the drought, which resulted in late plantings of sunflower in particular. According to the survey, rain had occurred at a critical time in the northern and western Free State, and crops were looking good. Sunflower plantings were late, as was the case in North West. This could expose the crop to frost damage later in the year. The rain had also brought relief to drought-stricken crops in the eastern Free State. According to Anton Botha, a grain…

The fruit industry in the Western Cape has expressed grave concern about the outbreak of oriental fruit fly (OFF), which has been detected in fruit orchards near Grabouw. According to Hugh Campbell, general manager of Hortgro Science, the organisation had been proactively preparing for the occurrence of OFF (Bactrocera dorsalis) in the Western Cape for the past decade. “It’s an invasive fruit fly that can cause considerable damage if not controlled,” Campbell said. The pest’s preferred host was mangoes, but it had a wide host range that included guavas, citrus, papayas, apples, pears, apricots, peaches, cherries, grapes, passion fruit, peppers and tomatoes. A statement by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the pest could result in food insecurity, yield reduction, market restrictions and high production and post-harvest…

INTEREST RATES SHOULD REMAIN STABLE, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF A DOWNWARD ADJUSTMENT The 2017 budget has been generally hailed as a good budget that tries to balance a huge deficit with moderate tax increases and a promise of large savings in government expenditure. The increase in the diesel rebate, promised drought relief and grants for the revamp of government’s laboratory services are especially good news for farmers. The increase of one percentage point on the VAT tax rate will have little effect on producers as most are registered for VAT. It’s also a good sign that the minister mentioned the benefit to poorer households of the zero VAT rate on basic foodstuffs. Hopefully, this will finally end the call to scrap the zero rate on basic foodstuffs. South Africa has…

SOUTH AFRICA HAS BEEN IMPORTING CHEAP POULTRY WHILE DEVELOPING EXPORT MARKETS FOR HIGHER QUALITY BROILER MEAT The gross production value of the South African poultry industry amounts to R46,9 billion. This is 39% of the total value of the livestock sector in South Africa, which is R120,2 billion. The broiler industry is worth R36,7 billion and the egg industry R10,2 billion. The following key factors will determine profitability in 2018. FEED MARGINS ARE POSITIVE Broiler feed consists mainly of maize meal (65%) and soya bean oilcake (20%). The price relationship between broiler meat and yellow maize determines the profitability of the poultry industry. The break-even point is at a broiler:maize price ratio of 8,5:1. After June 2015, the profitability of the poultry industry was under pressure as the broiler:maize price…

SEEDS PLANTED CLOSE TOGETHER RESULT IN SUPPRESSED PLANTS; THESE RUNTS ARE EQUIVALENT TO WEEDS Hot weather is unfavourable for carrot germination. Depending on the soil’s condition and structure, it also promotes the growth of soil fungus diseases, especially when heavy rain falls, as is common in the summer rainfall areas. When I started farming in 1965, it was common practice to sow extra thick at this challenging time of the year. To ensure they had sufficient plants for a good yield, many farmers planted three times the amount of seed they normally used under favourable conditions! The problem was that on occasion the weather would become favourable for good germination, resulting in excess plants. Workers then had to thin out the stand to the required population size. With the high…

Most modern cars are unnecessarily complicated, and the price of parts is ludicrously high. So when newly developed technology fails, it often makes sense to find an older design that will do the job. Here are some practical substitutes that can be used to get a car back on the road. The vehicle is likely to be out of warranty at this stage, anyway. DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL When you lug an engine – that is, open the throttle wide while in a high gear at a low vehicle speed – the engine’s crankshaft vibrates torsionally. This is a harmful clockwise-anticlockwise twisting motion that creates noise and a sympathetic roughness in the drive-train. During the past 15 years or so, the traditional single-plate clutch has been replaced in many cars and even…

Dear Cheryl, After considering your requirements for a new cottage on a private game ranch in Mpumalanga, I’ve provided a plan that would suit the four families making use of the facility. As you mentioned, your chosen site is on a slope overlooking a river where the wildlife comes to drink. At this stage, I don’t know the angle of the slope, but this does not affect the basic design concept. The sketch shows one cottage for two families sharing; two such cottages would thus accommodate four families. I’ve arranged the layout so that everyone has a view of the river. In addition, as shown in the cross-section, I’ve stepped the house to accommodate a possible 2m fall of the site, from back to front. This would allow people on…

UNDERSTANDING ELEPHANTS by Elephant Specialist Advisory Group (Struik Nature, R120) The overeagerness of tourists, combined with measures taken to preserve elephants and restock depopulated areas, have sometimes backfired, as these nearly 70 pages of well-curated information on elephant life cycle, behaviour and preferred environment explain. Lighter than most cellphones and smaller than most tablets, the book takes up very little space or weight among a travelling wildlife collection and is an easy way of taking in a great many facts during a rest period or sundowners. Great value for money. NEW TIMES by Rehana Rossouw (Jacana, R250) The sun has risen on South Africa’s political freedom, Madiba is starting his second year as president and all should be well with activist reporter Ali Adams. But too…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 6 MARCH Agritech Seminar hosted by Farmer’s Weekly, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. For more information, visit farmersweekly.co.za/tour-and-events. 7 TO 8 MARCH Undercover Farming Expo, CSIR, Pretoria. For more information, email suzanne@pop.co.za. 15 MARCH Intensive Growers’ Association Autumn-Winter Symposium, Cedara College. For more information, phone Johan van Veenendaal on 082 653 0365, or email iga@sai.co.za. 21 TO 23 MARCH 16th New AG International Conference & Exhibition, Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, visit newaginternational.com. 22 TO 23 MARCH Grain Handling Organisation of Southern Africa (GOSA) Symposium, Mossel Bay. For more information, visit grainorgsa.co.za/symposiums. COURSES & TRAINING 5 TO 7 MARCH Sheep & Goats: Artificial Insemination, Bloemfontein. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 6 TO 8 MARCH Grass Identification, ALUT Farm, Modimolle (Nylstroom).…

GLOBAL GRAIN PRODUCTION DYNAMICS COULD PUT PRESSURE ON LOCAL PRICES One of the most eagerly awaited communications in the global agricultural market is the International Grains Council’s (IGC) monthly report. In the last week of February, the IGC reaffirmed its view that the world has large grain and oilseed supplies, particularly maize, soya beans and wheat, albeit marginally lower than the 2016/2017 production season. Global maize production is estimated at just over one billion tons, down 4% from the 2016/2017 production season as a result of a lower anticipated harvest in the US, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, China, India, Russia and South Africa. In almost all these countries, the expected decline in production is mainly underpinned by unfavourable weather conditions experienced earlier in the season, which then led to a reduction…

RCL Foods has been able to more than double its interim profits due in part to a major revision of the company’s poultry business model. Although revenue dropped 2,8% to about R12,8 billion, headline earnings were up nearly 57% at about R645 million. The company’s interim dividend increased 50% from 10c/share in December 2016 to 15c in December 2017. According to CEO Miles Dally, RCL’s chicken processing division business had recovered very well in terms of the revised business model, with significant percentage growth to a profit of just under R300 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). “However, it’s important to note we still have no protection from imports,” he said. The company’s grocery division realised a 12,4% profit increase, while the baking business had faced serious challenges,…

Land reform is a reality and it is vital for South Africa’s commercial farmers to take part in the process. However, expropriation of land without compensation will be strongly opposed by the agricultural sector, according to Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA. Speaking at a Grain SA information day in Kroonstad, he said organised agriculture would oppose the notion of expropriation without compensation legally if need be. “We’re already raising funds for possible legal costs. We’ve also decided to contribute by making funds available from our own legal fund,” he said. According to De Villiers, there were many role players in government who realised the folly of expropriating land without compensation, and that land prices would hit rock bottom if it were introduced. Expropriation was therefore unlikely to commence…

Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the minister of police’s proposed collection of illegal and unwanted firearms from South African citizens between 1 June and 30 November. Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that during this period, people illegally in possession of unlicensed firearms or legal firearm owners who no longer wished to own some of their weapons, could hand them in to their nearest police station without fear of prosecution, unless these firearms were subsequently found to have been used in earlier crimes. However, the SA Gunowners’ Association (SAGA) said it was concerned that unscrupulous members of the SA Police Service (SAPS) could steal and sell these firearms, given widespread reports that “the number of firearms lost or stolen from many police stations indicates that the SAPS themselves…

A pilot project to review small-scale biodigester designs and evaluate appropriate technology for biogas production is being conducted in a farming community near Nigel, Gauteng. The project was introduced at a recent workshop hosted by the Process, Energy and Environment Technology Station (PEETS) and Izindaba Zokudla (conversations about food) Farmers Lab at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). A team of students from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has also been working closely with local experts at PEETS to evaluate the economic feasibility of the model. According to Samson Masebinu, a doctoral student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science at UJ, the use of biogas was still in its infancy among smallholder farmers in South Africa due to high costs of construction and a lack of information…

Food inflation in South Africa declined to just 4,5% in January, the lowest level in the past two years, according to Agbiz economist Wandile Sihlobo, who said robust output from the agricultural sector had resulted in a downward trend in inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages. However, inflation within the food basket had remained mixed. “The livestock products (meat, milk, eggs and cheese) are slightly elevated, whereas the rest is on a slowing [down] path,” he said in a recent report. According to Dr Christo Joubert, manager of agro food chains at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, there had been sharp declines in food inflation since it peaked at around 12% in October 2016. However, no further drastic declines were expected and the rate was expected to level out, largely…

THE SECOND GENERATION CAN INCREASE THE CAPITAL AND GROW THE TRUST A few months ago, new tax laws were introduced to curb estate planning opportunities. Up to March 2017, it had been the norm to sell assets to a trust on loan. The planner would sell an asset, thus reducing the estate, while the trust would gain an asset. Because most trusts don’t come with ready cash, it would be indebted to the planner for the amount involved, making the loan an essential component of trusts. Put another way, if you simply donated an asset to a trust, SARS could hit you with donation tax, so the asset was traded for a loan. This worked well and also protected the assets against creditors. In addition, of course, a smaller estate…

I’ve often written about the appalling state of some of our markets, especially the smaller ones. News I received recently about their financial state has confirmed my worst fears about a few of them. Their days are numbered if they don’t do something – and fast! They’re in danger of imploding through the gross incompetence of their owners, the municipalities. It appears that in some cases the salaries alone exceed the income. It sounds crazy, but this is what is happening. How can a market, or any business, survive like this? And those same overpaid staff are mostly political appointees and almost wholly incompetent. I know of one market manager who works just three or four days a week. He seems to be an expert at manipulating the system, but…

To bake this honey of a cake, you will need: 100g self-raising flour 50g rye flour ½ teaspoon of baking powder pinch of salt 2 eggs 150g butter 120g clear honey 50g syrup 50g brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground allspice 100mm fresh root ginger It started with biscotti. Now it’s a cake. It’s a drumbeat urging you on, impossible to ignore. Gentlemen, preheat your ovens to 170°C. It’s sweet cake time at Farmer’s Weekly. There are two fundamental issues here: the ingredients and the method. Baking is as close to alchemy as you are likely to get. But alchemy is about turning lead into gold, whereas you, noble baker, will turn a handful of agricultural products into a golden cake. And what a cake it is. 1 The first big…

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO FEED PEOPLE AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUR FELLOW MAN My father used to say, “If you don’t enjoy getting up very early in the morning to go into the lands and farm, then change your job.” After all, we spend most of our lives working, so we must enjoy it. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? Do you get excited when you do your land preparation for a new season, or when you go to a stock sale to buy replacement animals for your herd? How do you feel when you wake up early in the morning, drive around your land, and see the fine, green lines of newly emerging seedlings? Does it bring joy to your heart? How proud do you feel…

As noted last week, security cameras have been at the top of my to-do list following so many farm attacks, but the cost of a comprehensive system that covers the house and outbuildings has been a deterrent. However, I recently took the plunge and bought an IP camera for R650. I decided to go with a cheaper model as a trial. (IP stands for Internet protocol; these digital video cameras can send and receive video or images over a computer network. No cables are required, just a reasonably strong wireless Internet connection.) The camera needs to be plugged into a 220V power source. One can download the accompanying free app from yyp2p.cn for a smartphone, or scan the QR code. The YYP2P app, which is designed specifically for the camera,…

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) has launched an education programme aimed at enabling people between the ages of 11 and 25 years to take a stand on local social and environmental issues and risks through the media of writing, photography or videography. Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a youth-led environmental journalism initiative that creates a space for the youth to re-imagine and craft a sustainable socially and environmentally just future. At the same time they will be developing skills to make a positive contribution to redress environmental injustices through media reporting. The programme was launched at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, where a group of youths from five schools were able to listen to presentations by experts in the fields of writing, photography…

RAMAPHOSA IS NOT CLIMBING IN AND PURGING ALL THE ZUMA LOYALISTS The recent meeting of the ANC’s National Executive Council (NEC) took place amid rumours of a new deputy president being appointed for South Africa and the long-awaited, yet unavoidable, Cabinet reshuffle. According to Section 91 of the Constitution, the president of the Republic elects the deputy president and ministers, assigns their functions, and may also dismiss them. In reality, the ANC’s NEC has a great deal of influence and the president’s supporters have long memories and even longer knives – ask Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. The current South African Cabinet/ government is large and expensive. From as far back as 2016, it has been described as bloated. In 2015/2016, Cabinet ministers received an annual salary of R2,3 million…

Former finance minister Malusi Gigaba’s announcement in his 2018 Budget address that R40 million had been made available to upgrade infrastructure and equipment for analytical service laboratories in South Africa, has been welcomed by the agricultural industry. Gigaba said the objective was to strengthen global market access for South African agricultural products by providing assurance to global trading partners that the country’s products meet technical standards for human safety and food quality. “This will indeed increase our global competitiveness,” said agricultural economist Dr Johan Willemse. “Without it, SA producers of any commodity will find it increasingly difficult to access Western and even Eastern markets in future,” he said. According to the Budget, the funds would be used to obtain laboratory accreditation to ensure analytical test results are internationally recognised. In…

A single-shot vaccine to sterilise female cattle is being developed in Australia using groundbreaking biotechnologies. Led by the University of Queensland (UQ), the research is part of a three-year project which, if successful, could produce a contraceptive vaccine for cattle that is effective for at least 12 months. According to Meat and Livestock Australia programme manager, Jim Rothwell, a vaccine would eliminate the need for spaying, the surgical sterilisation of female cattle. This involves the of removal of ovaries, or oviducts, and is used in extensively managed beef operations to prevent gestation in cull cows and surplus heifers, thus allowing them to achieve a saleable body weight and ultimately boost herd productivity. Prof Michael Holland of the UQ School of Veterinary Science, who is leading the project, has tested several…

The oil and protein seed industry has obtained an interdict against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to prevent it from channelling the bulk of funds collected from soya bean royalties to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), according to Grain SA CEO, Jannie de Villiers. In 2017, Grain SA and other members of the soya bean industry applied to the National Agricultural Marketing Council to have statutory end-point royalties levied on every ton of soya beans delivered to silos in order to fund the development of the industry. Funds raised in this way would then be divided between the respective seed companies, based on their market share, for the purpose of seed development and research into new technology. De Villiers said it did not make sense to channel the…

Both the African Farmers’ Association of SA (AFASA) and the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (NERPO) have expressed support for the ANC’s objective of introducing legislation to facilitate land expropriation without compensation. According to the chairperson of AFASA, Neo Masithela, the organisation’s national executive council had undertaken to support the proposed land expropriation without compensation resolution after first holding “wide consultation and lengthy discussions” on the subject. “It cannot be that 24 years down the line, only around 11% of the targeted 30% of farm/agricultural land [has been] transferred to black farmers. AFASA understands the frustration that government and black farmers have as far as [the slow pace of] land reform is concerned,” he told Farmer’s Weekly. AFASA appreciated that the ANC’s land expropriation without compensation resolution was agreed…

Soil microbes can significantly increase crop yields while reducing the amount of fertiliser needed, according to a global study conducted by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and the University of Basel. Quoting the study, a recent article published in Frontiers in Plant Science magazine said that crop yields could be increased by up to 40% if soil microorganisms, also called biofertilisers, were added to soil during sowing. Rasheed Adeleke, head of microbiology and environmental biosecurity research at the Agriculture Research Council’s Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, explained that biofertilisation relied on microbial composition to assist with the uptake of nutrients in the soil for the benefit of plants and the sustainability of the ecosystem. According to the study, the use of soil microorganisms could improve the efficient use…

The first genetically modified (GM) crop plant was introduced in 1995. Since then, it has been followed by an ever-increasing range of GM crops, and much success has been achieved with new traits in food crops. Uncertainty about the new technology was not unexpected, as people normally question innovation until it is proved useful and safe. However, critics went a step further by alleging that GM crops produced new allergies and were hazardous to humans and animals. YEARS OF TESTING One of the tasks of the US Society of Toxicology is to ensure that new products or developments do not harm the health of animals or people. This prompted the society to conduct an in-depth assessment of the safety of GM crops. In short, after years of testing, US authorities…

LIVESTOCK MEDICINES CAN BE DANGEROUS TO HUMANS AND PETS, SO STORE THEM IN A SAFE PLACE As we’ve seen before, dealing with livestock diseases and parasite outbreaks can be challenging in the communal farming sector. For one, grazing areas often overlap due to a lack of effective boundary fencing. For another, farmers who buy in new livestock do not always know the health status of the animals. It is therefore essential for the communal farmer to be proactive. This includes being aware that the change of seasons brings new challenges. An example is bluetongue, a disease that affects mainly sheep. It is caused by a virus typically carried by mosquitoes, which thrive in wet summer conditions. Ideally, your livestock medicine chest should always contain the following: • Antibiotics Keep a sufficient…

BEFORE BUILDING CAGES OR BUYING STOCK, GET ADVICE FROM AN EXPERIENCED RABBIT FARMER If there is anybody in South Africa who knows about rabbit farming, it is Karoline Steenekamp. One could say she was born into the industry, as her mother, who was a rabbit judge, breeder and author of the book Rabbit Breeding in South Africa, gave birth to her in between judging rabbits at the Rand Easter Show. “After her contractions started, my mother quickly finished her judging before leaving for hospital. She returned to the show the very next day, with me in her arms,” Karoline says. Karoline herself went on to become an internationally acclaimed rabbit judge and one of only four judges in South Africa. She also boasts considerable production experience, having farmed in various…

The switch from box-type seeders to air seeders took place more than 25 years ago. Now Canada’s Clean Seed company has introduced a seeder that solves the problems associated with air-seeders. A large air seeder can have tubes up to 30m long. This means the time the seed (or fertiliser) takes to reach the coulters can compromise delivery accuracy. On Clean Seed’s CX-6 SMART Seeder, two systems – SeedSync and Cushion Drive Digital Metering – control the process to ensure accurate and reliable metering of all seed and fertiliser. Both systems work in unison to apply seed or fertiliser at the correct rate to each opener at all times, even when turning corners. The unique variable-rate delivery system applies up to six different products at a precise rate to each…

Proper liver function is vital for overall wellness. One way to maintain optimal liver function is through a healthy diet, as the liver plays a key role in metabolising carbohydrates (sugars) and lipids (fats). It also regulates blood sugar and stores glycogen for long-term energy management. A BALANCED DIET It’s important to eat a variety of fresh raw and cooked vegetables and a smaller amount of fresh fruit daily. Combine this with animal protein that has been braised, cooked in stock or steamed, and unprocessed carbohydrate. (The amount of carbs can be increased according to your energy needs.) Fats also play a crucial role, as certain vitamins such as beta-carotene are not properly absorbed in the absence of fat in the diet. Olives in a salad are ideal, as is…

A stud owner’s day-to-day selection and management decisions can do more than affect productivity; they can make the difference between ultimate failure and success. So says Llewellyn Maclean, owner of the Daybreaker Beefmaster stud near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. Because of this, how producers operate from season to season is crucial to long-term profitability. “You need to make sound plans and implement them rigorously,” he says. Daybreaker Beefmaster is a purebred Beefmaster stud. “It’s impossible to enhance traits if one doesn’t make use of pure breed genetics throughout the herd. We strive for good balance, but our emphasis is on maternal characteristics.” THE COW HERD Llewellyn stresses that when assessing the efficiency of a herd, a farmer should first measure the performance and productivity of his cow herd. To…