Table of contents for 30 March - 6 April 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried to gain a better understanding of the alleged ‘land hunger’ in South Africa by speaking to a number of black farmers who are trying, some with greater success than others, to make it in this country’s very competitive agriculture sector. Initially, in these conversations, the farmers vehemently state their support for the expropriation of land without compensation, or any solution, in fact, that will speed up the pace of land transformation. But when you start digging deeper and ask them what those barriers are that are preventing them from making a success of their farming businesses, access to land and land ownership are rarely at the top of their list of frustrations. Of far more concern to many of these farmers is the…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 9 TO 12 APRIL International Sorghum Conference, Cape Town. For more information, visit 21centurysorghum.com. 19 APRIL FERTASA Annual Congress, Johannesburg. For more information, visit fertasa.co.za/fertasa-events/congress. 24 TO 25 APRIL Environmental Waste and Air Pollution Control Summit, Emperors Palace Convention Centre. Phone Chris Ekpeti on 010 214 0666, email chris@maphosam.co.za, or visit maphosamanagement.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 9 TO 11 APRIL Cattle: Artificial Insemination, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 12 APRIL Cattle: Pregnancy Awareness, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 13 APRIL Calf Rearing, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 15 TO 16 APRIL Commercial Gourmet Mushroom Cultivation, Durban. Phone Adriaan Smit on 082 749 8553, or visit mushroomacademy.co.za. 16 TO 20…

Trade wars can be costly and devastating for the economies of those countries involved, as they often limit the exchange of products and services, subsequently reducing countries’ ability to export and generate income. From a South African agricultural perspective, international trade expands business opportunities, increases access to alternative inputs, and improves productivity in the sector. This was exemplified in January 2018, when the sector generated R10,2 billion from foreign markets, thus contributing 12,7% to the country’s total exports. This follows an impressive sector performance in 2017, when agriculture pulled the South African economy out of a technical recession, despite battling a severe drought in the western parts of the country. South Africa’s agricultural prosperity is largely driven by the level of trade openness from trading partners such as the US,…

Despite global demand for avocados outstripping supply, the expansion of orchards in South Africa has been slow, according to a recent Absa Agri Trends report. The lack of sufficient breeding stock was one of the factors underpinning the high price levels of avocados. “This trend will most likely support a growing market, which encourages growers to invest in the expansion of production,” the report said. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, ZZ2 marketing manager Clive Garret said the waiting period for trees was five to 10 years. The lack of breeding stock was due to expanding production and a shortage of nurseries able to supply breeding stock, he said. “ZZ2 established its own nursery a number of years ago and continues to expand the nursery to meet its planting requirements,” Garret said.…

Indications were that land used for wildlife ranching in South Africa would increase to 30 million hectares by 2025, according to Dr Ben Greyling, research team manager at the Agricultural Research Council. Greyling was speaking at the 2018 Aldam Game School held near Ventersburg in the Free State. The estimated head count of game in private ownership would increase to 30 million during the same period, he said. At present, 20 million hectares were used for game farming, while South Africa’s national parks comprised six million hectares. About six million animals were kept in these national parks, with about 12 million animals owned by wildlife farmers. Both the wildlife ranching and conservation industries were major role players in South Africa’s economy, he added. The hunting industry generated more than R1…

South Africa is struggling with the shift towards a climate-smart economy, despite being a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change. This was the consensus among a number of stakeholders in the industry. Speaking at the recent ‘Boosting Climate Smart Enterprise Solutions’ conference hosted by the Society for Energy, Environment and Development (SEED), Tlou Ramaru, chief director for climate change adaptation at the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), said that South Africa needed to develop a national adaptation strategy. This would be aimed at switching from an economy that mitigated industrial practices detrimental to the environment, to one that adapted technology to create a greener economy. “A green economy must address unemployment, poverty and inequality. But climate change is having an impact on our ability to achieve sustainable growth…

Despite high levels of the toxic organochlorine DDT recently found in the fatty tissue of 15 crocodiles in KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, the Department of Health (DoH) said the World Health Organization (WHO) continued to allow the use of DDT to combat malaria mosquitoes in South Africa. Farmer’s Weekly previously reported (23 March) that Dr Marc Humphries, leader of the research team that conducted the tests, said that the concentrations of organochlorine compounds detected in the crocodiles’ fatty tissue were likely a combination of historical and more recent use. He also said that the half-life of DDT in sediment was estimated to be up to 15 years. Responding to questions by Farmer’s Weekly, DoH spokesperson Foster Mohale acknowledged that insecticides were “inherently hazardous”, but added that when…

The Cape Wools Merino Indicator declined to below R180/kg (clean), a level last seen in October 2017. The Australian market was also slightly weaker. According to Cape Wools, most wool types were affected, although demand for quality long and fine wool remained strong, due to shrinking supplies. Wool of 17 micron (µ) to 19µ shed 1,5%, while 19µ to 20µ lost 1%, and wool stronger than 20µ was down by between 0,5% and 1,7%. “This was a fairly small auction with a limited offering of some 6 000 bales. Excellent demand for super-fine wool vied for the top price of R209/kg, paid for a CH lot of 14,3µ from the clip of WA Nolte of Victoria West, for which the clean-yield price was R338,79/kg,” Pierre de Lange, wool marketing manager…

IF YOU WITNESS ERRATIC, BIZARRE OR UNSCRUPULOUS BEHAVIOUR IN A PERSON’S HOME AND PERSONAL LIFE, BE ASSURED: IT WILL EMERGE IN OTHER RELATIONSHIPS The latest 2017/2018 Global Competitiveness Report produced by the World Economic Forum makes for depressing reading. South Africa’s state healthcare and education are now ranked amongst the worst in the world! It was naïve to expect anything else, I suppose. This is what happens in any country (or company) when the ethics of top leadership degenerate and the focus is on looking after Number 1. The attitude of everyone in the organisation and, in our case, the country, becomes, “If the boss gets away with it, why shouldn’t I do the same?” We’ve seen how this disastrous decline in the ‘tone at the top’ has affected state-owned…

Broadly speaking, a zoonosis is any disease or infection naturally transmissible from animals to humans, and vice versa. The word is derived from the Greek zoo (animal) and nosos (disease or ailment). A human being is often an incidental host and becomes infected through close contact with an infected animal that may or may not be symptomatic. The 19th-century German physician, Rudolf Virchow, was the first to use the word to describe a disease transmissible between vertebrate animals (dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, antelope, birds, fish and others) and humans. This meaning, used in his well-known Handbook of Communicable Diseases, enables veterinarians and doctors to group those diseases that people acquire from domesticated and wild animals for the purposes of investigation and instituting control measures. CLASSES OF ZOONOSES…

The 172ha Tweepoort farm can be described as a small model cattle farm, an independent running concern operating as a trust. On 25 April 2007, the Tweepoort Trust took ownership of portions 3 and 4 of the farm Tweepoort 198, totalling 172ha, in the Senekal district in the Free State. The trustees are three members of the Motaung and Radebe families respectively. William Angus (Pty) Ltd, with Llewellyn Angus as a director, sold the land to the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development. Assisted by Llewellyn, the Motaung and Radebe families then applied for ownership of the land. Land use on Tweepoort 3 and 4 is limited to cattle farming. Each of the two farms has a 50ha block on which the company established perennial Smuts finger grass pasture.…

It’s a favourite ploy of some farmers to complain about the commission they pay a market agent. When the commission figure is easily identifiable on the account sale, there are always those who pounce on it for whatever reason. I wonder, do they ever stop to consider what value they are getting for that money? GOOD VALUE : THE SUM OF MANY PARTS Many factors contribute to a successful working relationship between farmer and agent. Because we’re dealing with human beings, this relationship will never be perfect, of course. But the key question that the farmer needs to ask is, “What value am I getting from my market agent?” This value is not as simple as the best prices; it covers so much more. And a farmer needs to consider…

Veterinarians have long used supportive boots on horses’ legs to promote healing after injury or surgery. Ice boots are fitted to treat inflammation, while shorter support boots are employed to reduce the pain caused by navicular disease and laminitis. In the US, many owners use Soft-Ride boots to improve the comfort of horses transported for hours on the road. They also use them on horses kept in stables with hard, rubber floors rather than deep bedding. The shoes help to cushion the ligaments and increase circulation in the hooves. These shoes certainly have a place in South Africa, both for competition horses and in the racing industry, where animals are typically transported great distances. At the American Quarter Horse Association World Show in the US, I saw a competition horse…

Dear Jonno, I’ve been inspired by your practical architectural design ideas in Farmer’s Weekly, and now need your help on a relatively straightforward structure. I intend building a farm manager’s home on our farm in the south-eastern Free State. I want to build the house in stages, as and when the finances become available. Hopefully, the cost of the house will be tax-deductible as this is staff accommodation. What I am looking for, in a nutshell, is an affordable, easy-to-build, three-bedroom family home that is small but comfortable. Looking forward to see what you come up with. Kind regards, Kobus Dear Kobus, Thanks for your interesting request for what almost everyone would want: building for cash and avoiding possible home loan interest and tax on excess savings. Here is a…

When injury ended Franchesca Watson’s ballet career, she took up garden design as a creative alternative. Her account of the making of South Africa’s newest garden sensation, THE GARDEN OF BABYLONSTOREN (Struik Leisure, R400), shows why gardening has been such a satisfying choice. • Clients: The key to success is listening and interpreting carefully; people often can’t articulate what they really want. • Dreams: Gardens are mostly a pleasure and not an essential. They allow us to indulge our dreams and our romantic side. • Charm: The garden at Babylonstoren combines heritage and a fresh touch, offering functional food production for the restaurant and a world-class array of plants. • Creativity: As in any other design form, some elements are overused in gardens. If you want roses and lavender, give them a twist. Make…

“Almost every article in the mainstream media that deals with expropriation without compensation argues against it. Some go as far as indicating that expropriation of land is already covered within the Constitution, and there is thus no need for the new proposal to be entertained. What they fail to highlight is the elephant in the room: the words “without compensation”. Judging by the mood in the country, this Parliamentary resolution has been highly welcomed by the majority of South Africans, particularly those of black descent. You cannot blame them, because if you ask about the progress of land reform in all District Land Reform Committees (DLRCs) in the country, the answer is the same: no progress because of no budget. The latter makes the “without compensation” phrase attractive in that…

The agricultural sector needed to avoid being “bogged down” by the negativity surrounding expropriation without compensation, and needed to rather engage authorities on the matter. This was according to Japie Grobler, a farmer near Bothaville. Speaking at the 2018 Aldam Game School near Ventersburg in the Free State, Grobler said this issue could potentially increase the racial divide in South Africa. “We have to keep emotions out of the equation. Expropriation without compensation is not going to disappear. Engagement with policymakers is of the utmost importance to prevent damage [to the] economy and the destruction of agricultural businesses,” he said. A visible shift in land ownership from white to black landowners was vital, and needed to take place within a prescribed time frame, such as 10 years, for example. Moreover,…

The United Stockgrowers of America’s (R-CALF USA) board of directors has voted unanimously to call on US President Donald Trump to introduce new tariffs on cattle, beef, mutton and lamb imported from countries that maintain substantial trade surpluses with the US. The producers’ organisation said it was necessary to preserve national food security interests threatened by an increase in underpriced and often undifferentiated imports. “The growing tide of underpriced imports is displacing domestic cattle and sheep production, and new tariffs are needed to offset the artificial price advantage that foreign countries gain through currency manipulation, cutting food safety corners, hidden subsidies and lax environmental standards,” organisation president Bryan Hanson said in a statement. Just as in the steel industry, new tariffs on imported cattle, beef, sheep and lamb would help…

Accountability is key for transformation in the supply chain, according to Phumzile Chifunyise, enterprise development leader for Africa at SAB-AB InBev, speaking at Proudly SA’s 7th Buy Local Summit in Sandton recently. Transformation was “one of the guiding patterns to drive procurement from local suppliers”, she said. “As an organisation, we believe a transformed supply chain is key to unlocking South Africa’s full economic potential.” She added that the company’s category managers, who were responsible for sourcing all materials and services, had stringent transformation and localisation key performance indicators that ensured that as an organisation, they supported local suppliers. As a homegrown South African organisation, Chifunyise said more than 95% of the company’s spend went to commodities such as raw materials, including barley, hops and maize, from local suppliers. “We…

While South Africa’s pome fruit season is in full swing, harsh weather conditions across the Western Cape are hindering fruit size and pack-out percentages. According to André Cloete, apple and pear farmer in the Overberg, weather conditions had been extreme, ranging from sunburn to hail and flooding. He estimated that hail had damaged 35% of his red apple crop, and 55% of his Golden Delicious harvest. “We also saw sunburn damage from temperatures as high as 44°C for two consecutive days, followed by 75mm of rain in two hours during a drought period, which led to flooding. Hailstones the size of my thumbnail came next.” Jacques du Preez, Hortgro general manager of trade and markets, said that the Langkloof region also suffered severe hail damage, while Ceres experienced sporadic hail…

The statutory levy for macadamia nuts is set to double from 23c/kg to 50c/kg later this year. For a 100t grower, this would mean R50 000 per season in levies, up from R23 000. Members of the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) voted overwhelmingly in favour of the increase, which would come into effect in November. A resolution was also adopted to increase the levy annually by 6c for the next four years, to eventually reach 68c/kg. Barry Christie, operations manager of SAMAC, said South Africa lagged behind other countries in terms of levies collected from farmers. This meant funds for research and development, marketing and overheads were limited. “Even at 68c, we’ll be way behind Australia. We’re competing against huge industries, not just macadamias from other countries, but…

The aim of the newly established Thuma Mina Farmers’ Union is to ensure accountability of all stakeholders in the agriculture sector, according to union chairperson, Puleng Nkuna. Nkuna was speaking at the recent Water Efficiency Maize for Africa (WEMA) farmers’ day, hosted by AfricaBio, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Agricultural Research Council in Bronkhorstpruit. The forum, which has 300 members, was established earlier this year, and would endeavour to find solutions to challenges faced by emerging and smallholder farmers, such as access to financing, information and markets, he said. “The rate at which emerging farmers are growing is very low; we want to see more black commercial farmers.” The issue of procurement monopolies in markets, the bureaucracy encountered by farmers when applying for financing, as…

During the honeymoon phase of the game industry, too many investors failed to base their decisions on business principles, according to Louis van der Watt of Die Wildswinkel. Speaking at a Glenconner Agricultural Association information day near Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, Van der Watt said it was now more important than ever for ranchers to have a clear idea of the relationship between game scarcity and price. “Rare game species or specimens only have real value while they are really scarce.” He explained that in global terms, African game animals were rare because South Africa and Namibia were the only countries where one could actually own and farm them. “That factor alone brings businessmen into these countries who would otherwise not be here. So, it’s hard to imagine this…

GREEN WATER LARGELY HIDES FINGERLINGS FROM BIRDS AND OTHER PREDATORS Water is not only the foundation of life, it is itself a rich environment for life forms. Even perfectly clear, natural water is full of microscopic life, which forms the basis of the food chain, from minute animals and plants too small to see, up to the fish that we eat. A glass of clean stream water, into which a lettuce leaf is placed and left in the sun, will soon be teeming with microscopic life. This is the essence of green water fish culture. The typical recirculating aquaculture system is, by contrast, a sterile environment in which the fish are 100% dependent on artificial feed. Moreover, the high cost of artificial feed and energy are often barriers to the…

Systematically selecting and matching bulls and females for breeding, based on scientific principles and incorporating performance recording, will improve the bottom line of any herd. So says Llewellyn Angus, a leading Simmentaler and Simbra stud breeder and natural scientist from Arlington in the Free State. Last year, Llewellyn won the Agricultural Research Council’s National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year award, the latest in a long list of accolades. His late father, Willie, started farming on the farm Whispering Willows in the late 1940s, and established the Wisp-Will Simmentaler stud in 1966. Llewellyn joined him in 1980, and he in turn has been joined by his son, Gareth. The operation comprises five farms covering 3 200ha, two beef cattle studs, a commercial beef herd, Merino sheep, game farming and…

The clinical signs of the acute form of the disease are sudden death, weakness, anaemia and shortness of breath (dyspnoea). Sub-acute and chronic fasciolosis is characterised by progressive loss of condition, anaemia, abnormally low levels of albumin in the blood (a sign of liver failure), emaciation and pale mucous membranes. The acute disease is associated with mostly immature flukes. It is usually seen in autumn and early winter, two to six weeks after the animal has ingested large numbers of flukes. Immature flukes move through the liver, creating migratory tracts. These lesions may vary from mild (low infestation) to severe (heavy or repeat infestations). They appear as dark to yellowish-white streaks. Severe bleeding leading to anaemia may result. The sub-acute disease is usually seen during late autumn and winter, six…

DLG Feldtage, a major biennial event for crop farmers, will take place this year on 12 to 14 June. The venue, as always, will be the International Crop Production Centre of the DLG (German Agricultural Society) in Bernburg, Germany. This year’s focus will be on innovative farming strategies that bring together vigorous and healthy plant varieties, efficient equipment, cost-effective processes, and new technologies. The coming years will see increasing use of digital technology to improve the precision of tillage and planting operations, optimise ordering input materials, and accurately schedule fertilisation and plant protection processes, according to Andreas Steul, project manager of the DLG. “There will also be an emphasis on improving the efficiency of harvesting operations and the associated logistics,” he adds. Exhibitors will display seed and crop varieties, fertilisers,…

To make chicken thighs in cast-iron for four, you will need: 8 chicken thighs 1 punnet of mixed baby leaves, including spinach, rocket and frilly lettuce 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 10 drops red Tabasco 3 cloves of garlic 1 tablespoon dark (cooking) soya sauce Before you begin cooking with your new cast-iron skillet, you will need to ‘season’ it. This means rubbing oil (canola is a good option) all over it and baking it in a hot oven. Strange but true. We do this for two reasons: to create a non-stick surface and to prevent rust from forming on it. Follow the skillet seasoning method of your favourite Internet adviser. Alternatively, you could use a stainless steel, heavy-based frying pan. It won’t be the same as an iron skillet, of…

WE ARE CALLED TO PRACTISE OUR FAITH, NOT JUST CONTEMPLATE IT In Mark 15:42-47, we come across a businessman, perhaps just like you and me, called Joseph of Arimathea. Although a follower of Jesus, he was an ordinary man and not one of the 12 disciples. Yet he put his life on the line for Jesus. The disciples had all fled, so he went to Pontius Pilate, Rome’s prefect of Judea, and asked for the body of Jesus in order to bury Him. Pilate gave his permission, and Joseph took Christ’s body down from the cross, washed and anointed it with expensive herbs, and wrapped it in new linen. When he was done, he placed the body in a tomb carved out of rock and rolled a stone in front…

BOURKE STREET BAKERY: ALL THINGS SWEET by Paul Allam & David McGuinness (Murdoch, R565) This comes with one of the best ‘Bakery 101’ sections I’ve ever seen. It includes a praise poem to sugar that will gladden the hearts of some farmers, as well as guidance on the bane of Masterchef and Bake Off contestants, the art of tempering chocolate. The recipes combine all-time favourites, including an excellent Bakewell tart and an array of biscuits, cookies and muffins, with interesting innovations such as quince jam roll. There is plenty for both beginners and baking gurus to munch on, plus sweet treats for the entire family. THE COUNTRY SET by Fiona Walker (Head of Zeus, R275) Rescuing a stud farm, befriending a fox, being tempted by the…

The article, ‘Soya bean royalty interdict against agriculture department’ (FW, 9 March), refers. The article outlined the alleged funneling of funds, collected through the soya bean royalty levies, to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The article also reported that the oil and protein seed industry had obtained an interdict against DAFF to prevent this. In response, Mpho Ramosili, senior manager for marketing and communication at the ARC, wrote: The article of 9 March quoted Jannie de Villiers, Grain SA CEO, as saying: “According to the Auditor General, the ARC is technically bankrupt.” It is important to share with readers that in court papers, Grain SA also made other false claims about the ARC and its capacity to conduct research on soya…

While it’s important to address the injustices of the past, it is also important that any issue related to land be addressed in such a way that capital investment in the agriculture sector is boosted, productivity is improved, employment is created, food security is ensured and trade is promoted. Whatever measures are taken in this regard must therefore be guided by the prescripts of our Constitution with the purpose of advancing economic growth and inclusiveness. Capital investment, which is usually financed through financial institutions using land as collateral, along with agricultural productivity growth, employment creation, food security and trade, all have a direct connection with land, and are all linked to one another. The continual improvement of commercial agriculture, together with its strong resilience to challenges, has placed the country’s…

The long-standing dispute between government and the country’s trout value chain is escalating. This follows the recent Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) proposal to list rainbow and brown trout as Category 2 invasive species according to the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004. According to a DEA statement, the proposal followed extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department of Water and Sanitation, provincial authorities, national and international ichthyologists, and Operation Phakisa. “The focus is to stop invasion of the species outside the demarcated areas in which these Category 2 species may be utilised,” the statement said. “Accusations that this categorisation of trout as Category 2 species will destroy the industry are untrue.” Farmer’s Weekly previously reported that South Africa had…

South African game farmers owned about 50 000 disease-free buffalo, while 2 500 properties around the country were registered to keep disease-free buffalo, said buffalo breeder, Dr Johan Rabie, at the recent 2018 Aldam Game School held near Ventersburg in the Free State. Biosecurity management was the primary priority in maintaining a sustainable buffalo breeding industry, he said. The prevention of diseases such as foot-and-mouth, corridor, brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis and catarrhal fever, were vital. Stress management was another crucial aspect of buffalo management, as the animals needed to be protected against climatic extremes. They also needed to receive sufficient and balanced nutrition, and should not be kept in small camps. Rabie added that the Cape buffalo could contribute to South Africa becoming the most preferred hunting destination in the world.…

Two of South Africa’s major trading partners for agricultural commodities, namely the EU and US, have responded with caution after the National Assembly recently voted to pass a revised motion brought by the EFF to launch a process to change the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation (EWC). The European Commission said in a statement that the EU and South Africa shared a commitment to democracy, human rights, good governance, tolerance and respect for the rule of law. “South Africa has strong democratic institutions and a robust system of constitutional checks and balances, including for property rights. In this regard, the EU notes that there is a Parliamentary process underway on land reform and that the president of South Africa remains committed to engage all stakeholders during this…

AUSTRALIA Hundreds of thousands of sterile fruit flies released in Australia’s Adelaide region are part of a bold plan to control this endemic pest. If successful, a further two million sterile male Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni) native to Australia will be released to combat recent incursions of the pest in South Australia. The aerial offensive is part of a A$45 million (R418 million) research and development partnership intended to transform fruit fly management in Australia. UNITED STATES A review of data collected over 40 years has for the first time quantified the benefits of Bt maize adoption across multiple crops, including 90% suppression of pests, as well as very limited need for pesticides. According to the University of Maryland study, European maize borer populations showed a significant decrease in…

Despite an increase in demand for organically produced food as a result of food safety concerns, there are currently no statistics available for consumption of ‘organic food’ in South Africa, according to Colleen Anderson, secretariat of the steering committee of the South African Organic Sector Organisation (SAOSO). Michael Cordes, a consultant to the fresh produce industry, said the local organic produce sector was too fragmented, and this was why no organic certification regulations had been implemented in South Africa. “I think there have been attempts to unify the sector under one body, but I’ve not heard of anything definite taking place,” he said. Cordes also said that while the organic produce sector was growing worldwide, he was unaware of any statistics indicating growth in the local sector. However, he added…

Not only was there a faction in the ANC that believed “whites stole their land”, and therefore supported expropriation without compensation, but there was also a radical faction that did not want land reform to succeed. This was according to Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation, speaking at a Glenconner Agricultural Association farmers’ information day near Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape. He said the “trigger had been squeezed”, but that the “bullet had not yet left the barrel”. “The land reform ball has been set in motion and we can expect the debate to heat up further as next year’s national election approaches,” De Jager said. “The ANC has never been in such a weak position as currently, and none of its leaders is on firm…

Despite evidence to the contrary, certain organisations still allege that modern genetically modified (GM) maize has not lived up to expectations. To determine whether or not it had, a group of international maize scientists recently assessed approximately 6 000 peer-reviewed articles on data from practical field testing. They found that the allegation was based on incorrect facts. Here are the results from scientists’ meta-analysis of maize field crop results from 1996 to 2016: MAIZE YIELDS UP GM maize yields increased by between 5,6% and 24,5%, with a 28,8% lower concentration of mycotoxins than in conventional lines. Hazardous fumonisin toxins were down 30,6%, and thricotecens toxins 36,5%. PARASITE PREDATORS UNAFFECTED Non-target beneficial parasites that feed on maize pests were not affected by GM maize, except for a parasite on European maize…

ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE OF THE RULES ON ALCOHOL Alcohol affects a person’s sight, speech, coordination and reaction speed. This means that an employee who reports for duty under the influence presents a real problem for the employer. The problem is particularly acute if the employee has to operate machinery or drive a vehicle; doing so under the influence of alcohol can endanger people and also place the employer at risk. It is the employer’s legal responsibility to create a safe working environment for all staff, and he or she is obliged to always act in accordance with the applicable disciplinary code. Determining whether an employee is under the influence in the workplace can depend on several factors. The first is that it is not only alcoholic drinks…

• Breed cattle that are the most profitable for you and for your buyers. • Consider all breeding values in conjunction with their respective accuracies. • Commercial breeders should buy only performance-tested registered bulls with, if possible, high EBV accuracies. • Have a well-defined breeding goal, but don’t try to select for too many traits at once. • Keep it simple. • Fertility is always the number one trait. • When buying a bull, first look at the selection indices, if available, for ranking purposes. Otherwise base your selection on EBVs only, then physically look at only the bulls on your short list. • The calving season should coincide with optimal veld and pasture condition: the best quality and sufficient quantity.…

When AC van Wyk was nominated for Grain SA’s Producer of the Year award, he recalls being hesistant. “I don’t really like the attention,” he says. Despite this initial hesitation, he says the experience was valuable for various reasons. “I think Grain SA is doing amazing work, especially with their emerging farmer development. And this competition produces a lot of positive energy.” The questions posed to him enabled him to take a closer look at his business and identify areas for improvement. He also describes his experience as a productive way of unlocking creativity. “This process, having to deal with a lot of people asking you all sorts of questions, gets you thinking. A lot of creative energy is pumped into the system.” Although he didn’t expect to win, he…

DUAL IS A REGISTERED HERBICIDE FOR GRASSES, BUT IT’S ALSO EFFECTIVE AGAINST NUTSEDGE Successful carrot producers mechanise their operations to reduce labour to the minimum. This cuts cost and makes management far easier. Ideally, a farmer needs to get weed control to the point where no labour is used for hand weeding. This is possible by using the correct weedkillers and getting the timing right. Linuron is the most popular herbicide for carrots. But it has shortcomings. If you have grass weeds such as African goosegrass (Eleusine africana) and sweet grass (Panicum laevifolium) on your land, you may run into trouble if you use linuron only during summer. Linuron works better on broadleaf weeds than grass weeds. In some cases, fast-growing grass weeds may reach a stage where the linuron…

Only two plug-in electric cars are currently available in South Africa: the Nissan Leaf, which sells for about R500 000, and the BMW i3eDrive, for about R612 000. Overseas, however, electric cars are selling in respectable quantities in big cities. Most people think an electric car is completely green, but that’s not quite true. This can be understood by looking at how greenhouse gas emissions from different vehicles are usually compared. Three comparisons are used. TAILPIPE EMISSIONS A typical 1,5-litre petrol engine car will emit CO2 at a rate of about 140g/km. Similar-sized turbo-diesels will emit about 120g/km, and hybrids will emit about 85g/km. The pure electric plug-in will score a round zero. ENERGY SOURCE The energy source in a piston engine is the fuel in the tank, while in…

Run/Walk for Life is the ideal starting point for those of us who have let our bodies go, but it’s not just for unfit people. For example, if you’ve played a sport before, but due to an injury or pregnancy have lost some fitness, you can also benefit. A trained coach will help you slowly build up your muscles to their former strength with the right training protocols. All sessions start with warm-up exercises. While you are busy with running or walking (depending on your state of fitness), your trainer may also let you do some strengthening exercises, such as push-ups, in between laps. You may also do them at the end of the session. Such exercises are important, as running or walking by itself does not build strength, only…

LIVING SHORES (Struik Nature, R450) was far ahead of its time when first published nearly 40 years ago, and its “fully reworked” second edition is sure to be widely welcomed. From its showstopper cover to the strong ecological orientation, it showcases the benefits of those decades of research and debate, as well as developments in design. Roughly divided between ecosystems and human impact, Living Shores makes for a broad-ranging, informative and thought-provoking study. It is a superb testament to the life’s work of highly respected scientists George and Margo Branch, whose passion for communicating clearly on their favourite subject leaps from every page. THREE SETS OF The Garden of Babylonstoren to give away! TO ENTER: SMS the word GARDEN, your name, physical address and ID number to…