Table of contents for 07 June 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

The Agribusiness Africa Conference will be hosted by Farmer’s Weekly for the third time this year in Johannesburg on 10 July (see pg 26). The overarching theme for this year’s conference is market access, and one of the key discussion topics is how to secure a better deal for African countries within the global agricultural trade environment. In order for African countries to increase their participation in the global trade of agricultural produce, many of these countries will first have to increase domestic production to ensure a surplus that can be traded. However, within a globally oversupplied agricultural commodity market, developing nations will have less incentive to increase local production, especially if the cost of production is not competitive with import prices. Global trends such as urbanisation, as well as…

The role of the Afrikaans language as the basis for employment in the agricultural industry is perpetuating unemployment amongst non-Afrikaans speakers, predominantly black graduates. I am an unemployed, non-Afrikaans-speaking postgraduate with a master’s degree in agriculture. The prevalence of unemployed non-Afrikaans-speaking graduates with degrees in agriculture from top South African universities is well presented on many social media platforms. Many have thrown in the towel when it comes to agriculture. These graduates often enrol for a postgraduate certificate in education to ensure their ability to be employed. Although I must concede that getting a job nowadays is not much different from winning the lottery, something doesn’t add up within the field of agriculture. Eight out of 10 job advertisements in the field of agriculture (mainly technical, such as agronomy, soil…

One of the questions I am often asked is whether the US-China trade friction presents any opportunities in the short term that South Africa’s agriculture sector can explore. The question is typically premised on two points: first, the view that China’s retaliatory tariffs on US agricultural products would lead to a trade diversion, and hence, South Africa should participate in this process; and second, China is a growing market for agricultural products, which in 2018 amounted to US$129 billion (about R1,8 trillion), according to data from Trade Map. SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD FOCUS ON PRODUCTS FOR WHICH IT IS NEGOTIATING MARKET ACCESS In addressing this question, the starting point would be to outline the key agricultural products that the US has exported to China in the recent past, and which would…

The increasing number of farm attacks and murders in the Western Cape could possibly be politically driven, with the objective being to destabilise the province. This is according to Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of Agri SA’s Centre of Excellence for Rural Safety. Esterhuyse said the increasing level of political intolerance in the province was cause for concern. “Political intolerance and hate speech against farmers are alarming. The excessive levels of violence and cruelty in these attacks are also deeply worrying and could be motivated by agendas other than mere criminality.” A total of 23 people have been killed so far this year in 147 farm attacks. Louis Meintjies, TAU SA president, said the majority of attackers sentenced were usually in their mid-20s, while most of the victims were elderly. The extreme…

Very few agroforestry success stories are possible in an uncertain land tenure context, according to a recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Agroforestry is a term used for land-use systems and technologies in which woody perennials such as trees, shrubs, palms and bamboo are used on the same plot of land as agricultural crops or livestock in a way that builds and channels ecological synergies. The approach was gaining interest due to its ability to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change along with broadening the social, economic and environmental sustainability of rural development. Speaking at the recent World Agroforestry Congress held in Montpellier in France, Maria Helena Semedo, the FAO’s deputy director general for climate and natural resources, said that while the question…

UNITED STATES US researchers have mapped almost 5 000 previously undocumented genes in the tomato in an effort to bring flavour back to the store-bought product. The pan-genome developed by the Agricultural Research Service and the Boyce Thompson Institute in the US includes all the genes from 725 different cultivated and closely related wild tomatoes. Nowadays breeders concentrate on economically important traits such as yield, shelf life, disease resistance and stress tolerance. AMERICAS The agriculture ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the US have spoken out about regulatory processes that hamper the production and export of biotechnology crops being developed and cultivated worldwide. “Despite two decades of experience in the safe use of these products, regulatory processes in many jurisdictions create time gaps in authorisation, leading to an increasing risk…

Muskadel SA has announced the winners of the 17th Muskadel SA Awards held recently outside Paarl. Badsberg Wine Estate near Rawsonville received top honours with a platinum award for its Badsberg Red Muscadel 2017, while the estate’s 2008 and 2009 Red Muscadel each won a gold award. Mont Blois Wine Estate near Robertson also received a platinum award for its Mont Blois Pump House White Muscadel 2016. Three other wines from the Robertson Wine Valley were awarded gold: Bon Courage Estate won two gold awards for its Red Muscadel 2018 and White Muscadel 2018, and Montagu Wine & Spirits won gold for its White Muscadel (no vintage). Du Toitskloof Wine Cellar received two gold medals for its Red Muscadel 2016 and Hanepoot Jerepigo 2014 respectively, while Slanghoek Wine Cellar walked…

The widespread African swine fever outbreak in China has reduced pork production in that country markedly over the past eight months, with overall output projected to decline 10% to 48 million tons this year. This is expected to result in global pork production declining 5% to 114,5 million tons in 2019, according to Jim Higgiston, the minister counsellor for agricultural affairs at the US embassy in South Africa. Addressing the 2019 Ensminger Pig Symposium held recently in Benoni, Higgiston said that China produced and consumed half of the world’s pork supply. CHINA PRODUCES AND CONSUMES HALF OF THE WORLD’S PORK “This decline is expected to increase trade from various countries due to China’s large demand for pork. For 2019, China’s imports are expected to grow from 1,6 million tons to…

The current high temperatures across South Africa’s summer grain production regions are not unheard of, but are somewhat exceptional, according to Santam Agriculture’s weather expert, Johan van den Berg. “However, there are signs that a drop in diurnal temperatures to below freezing, accompanied by frost, could be expected from the first week of June,” he said. According to Van den Berg, physiologically immature maize lands would be in danger of developing diseases such as diplodia ear rot, given the relatively hot and moist conditions. The unripe maize would not ripen any further and would remain stagnant should the high temperatures continue. “At this stage, frost would actually benefit the immature maize on the lands. It would add to the drying-off process of the kernels, enabling producers to start harvesting.” Sunflower…

Beef cattle producers in South Africa need to be aware of the environmental changes taking place as a result of climate change. This was according to Anette Theunissen, senior researcher at the Vaalharts Research Station near Jan Kempdorp. Theunissen told Farmer’s Weekly that climate change, and the impact it had on beef cattle production, was becoming an increasingly important selection criterion for optimal productivity. Climate change referred to a change in global or regional climate patterns and was attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced through the use of fossil fuels. It made economic sense to ascertain animals’ resistance or vulnerability to these changes and how it could affect productivity in a red meat production business, she explained. Theunissen said that this called for an analysis…

A recent Supreme Court of Appeal judgment provides some useful guidelines on the subject of understatement penalties. The taxpayer had paid provisional tax, then applied for a refund, saying that it had not yet commenced trading. The taxpayer submitted ‘nil returns’ in respect of income tax in order to claim the refund. It had not yet registered as a VAT vendor so had not submitted VAT returns. The taxpayer was assessed, and 100% understatement penalties were imposed upon it under Section 222(1) of the Tax Administration Act. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) held that gross negligence had been displayed by the company in the submission of its returns. The taxpayer objected and was partially successful. SARS reduced the VAT understatement penalties to 50% of the amount of VAT due,…

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE? I grew up on a farm in Vryheid, and studied agriculture after school, doing my master’s in agricultural economics at the University of Pretoria. My first job was at the National Department of Agriculture, from where I moved on to lecture at Glen Agricultural College and work as an agri specialist at various financial institutions. More recently, I managed a co-operatives development programme on behalf of a US co-operative funded by USAID, with the aim of empowering black agricultural co-operatives in the Eastern Cape and Northern Kwa-Zulu-Natal. WHAT INSIGHTS DID YOU GAIN FROM YOUR WORK WITH THESE CO-OPERATIVES? It was astonishing to see what many farmers were accomplishing in spite of a lack of funding or training, and it made me realise the…

With rising input costs and increasingly limited resources, many fruit producers are constantly looking for ways to increase yield in their orchards. Simon Dunshea, the farm manager of Twycross farm in Schagen, Mpumalanga, had this in mind when the first dwarf variety of avocados were planted on the farm. “My ultimate goal is to have a high-production orchard, with smaller trees planted at a higher density and giving higher tonnage per hectare,” he says. WORKERS CAN HARVEST 20 TONS OF GEM AVOCADOS IN FOUR HOURS Dunshea cultivates 125ha of avocados on the family farm, of which 50ha are planted to Hass, 15ha to the dwarf Gem variety, and 60ha to green-skin varieties such as Fuerte and Pinkerton. But Twycross will eventually replace all of the green-skin varieties with Gem due…

“This soldier did most magnificent and brave things. With a number of bullets in his body, he returned time after time into a veritable hell of machine-gun fire to pull out wounded men. He is a man of whom South Africa can well be proud. He is a credit to his country.” So Major-General Daniel Pienaar of the 1st South African Infantry Division described Lance Corporal Lucas Majozi’s actions on the night and morning of 23 and 24 October 1942, in the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt, which turned the tide against Germany during the Desert War. FROM ZASTRON TO EGYPT Majozi, a Zulu, was born in the Free State town of Zastron in 1916. Despite racial segregation in South Africa, a number of black countrymen volunteered to…

In step with the quarter-century of its democracy, South Africa is also marking 25 years since its return to international sport, point out Luke Alfred and Ian Hawkey in Vuvuzela Dawn (Macmillan, R295). In rousing and occasionally tear-jerking fashion, they recall the highs and lows of the period: winning the Confederation of African Football Cup, the Rugby World Cup, beating Australia in the famous 5th One-Day International in 2006, and Olympics triumphs in the pool and on the track. But there have also been dark times, from the match-fixing scandals to the attacks on Caster Semenya. The authors’ racy prose makes you relive it all.…

“United Nations (UN) statistics show that in 1900, a total of 95,9 million people were living in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. By 2000, the figure had climbed to 622 million, and by the end of this century, it may be over four billion, according to UN estimates. The entire world laments the fact that during the 20th century, numbers of wild lion, for example, decreased at an escalating rate. Anti-hunter animal rightists studiously quote figures insinuating that hunting was the cause. They avoid the fact that during this same period, Africa’s human population increased by more than 600%. Lion populations declined not because of increased hunting but because of the competition for space due to expanding human populations that have permanently occupied more and more of the lion’s…

This is the era of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The plan has come together and now Ramaphosa must clean house. Not one house, but two. The first of these is the Cabinet. Departments of state will be merged to scrap ministries, most deputy minister positions are likely to be axed, and the Presidency will be strengthened to make it a centre of government. Ramaphosa will also want direct information on how governing priorities are being carried out. JACOB ZUMA GREW HIS CABINET TO 36 MINISTERS OVERSEEING 45 DEPARTMENTS Former president Jacob Zuma grew his Cabinet to 36 ministers overseeing 45 departments and introduced deputy ministers in every portfolio, with some even having two deputies. He did this to keep the various factions of the ANC and its tripartite alliance partners in…

Gold Leaf Tobacco and Phillip Morris South Africa have been granted leave to intervene in the merger proceedings between British American Tobacco Holdings South Africa and Twisp. However, according to a statement issued by the Competition Tribunal, no date had yet been set for the hearing. The tribunal has meanwhile allowed the companies access to case documents, witness files and leading evidence, and given them the right to cross-examine witnesses. The Competition Commission, which refers large mergers to the tribunal for a decision, initially recommended that the proposed merger be prohibited due to competition concerns. However, after the commission subsequently indicated that it no longer recommended a prohibition, Gold Leaf Tobacco and Philip Morris South Africa filed an intervention application. The Tribunal said in the statement that the companies would…

A residue monitoring programme initiated by the South African red meat industry last year has assisted the industry in reopening export markets in the Middle East after exports were suspended due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier this year. This is according to Prof Leon Prozesky, a cattle farmer and owner of Hi-Path-Lab, which provides pathology services for livestock. He was speaking at the Biomin and Chemuniqué Ruminant Gut Efficiency conference held in Muldersdrift recently. “Food safety and traceability is an important aspect [of ensuring] consumer health, especially after the foot-and-mouth disease [outbreak] that closed export [markets] earlier this year,” Prozesky said. He said the programme had been launched last year to develop a benchmark and database for each specific feedlot. This was to provide the feedlot management with scientifically…

A team of biochemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany has developed a technique to get potato plants, well known for not being ‘sun worshippers’, to grow when it is hot. Generally, if the temperature is too high, potato plants form significantly lower numbers of tubers, or sometimes none at all. The researchers found that if the temperature rose, a small ribonucleic acid (RNA) blocked the formation of tubers. They then ‘switched off’ this small RNA and produced potato plants that were more resistant to high temperatures. This could be an important contribution to securing crop yields in view of climate change. Normally, the highest potato yields were achieved at moderate temperatures of about 21°C during the day and 18°C at night. At these temperatures and with the correct day length,…

Young farmers should close their ears to the incessant noise of land reform and instead investigate the opportunities that land reform and transformation offer. This was the opening message of Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, during a panel discussion at the annual meeting of Agri Western Cape’s Young Farmer Committee, held near Durbanville. Theo Boshoff, head of legal intelligence at Agbiz, told delegates that the most significant uncertainties currently experienced in South Africa’s agriculture sector were international trade wars, Brexit, climate change and transformation. “[Of] these four, transformation is the only uncertainty that farmers can control themselves through their proactive actions.” He said that certainty would not be achieved through legislation; the farming community had to take the initiative. According to Phillip Oosthuizen, Sernick’s head…

While economic growth could still be slow in the immediate future, the winds of change are blowing more strongly, according to the chief economist at Old Mutual, Johann Els. Speaking at a Berg Farmers’ Association meeting in the Barkly West district recently, Els reflected on historic growth patterns, highlighting periods such as the 1950s and 1960s, when strong growth took place, and singled out the 1970s as a slow growth phase. Els said there had also been a period of growth in the 1980s that was supported by high gold prices, followed by another dip in economic expansion. After 1994, the South African economy started growing again. “Between 2004 and 2007, there was trust in the new South Africa and policy. Growth was very strong,” he said. After the global…

Mohair South Africa (MSA) is now marketing the attributes and dedication of Angora goat farmers rather than focusing only on marketing the fibre, according to Lindsay Humphreys, general manager of MSA. Speaking at a mohair information day in Willowmore in the Eastern Cape, she said much had taken place since the release of a video in May last year by US animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in which it was alleged that mohair producers mistreated their flocks. “During the year, 250 [clothing] brands banned [the use of] mohair. However, since then we have received lots of positive feedback after talking to 75 of the brands, many of which have now [reversed their position]. We’ve learned there is great opportunity in any crisis. “Sustainability is here…

Agri SA has assured its members and the general public that the organisation is continuing its fight to have the potential exploration for and mining of South Africa’s terrestrial shale gas reserves, also known as fracking, stopped before it starts. This was after Agri SA’s provincial affiliate, Agri Eastern Cape, recently submitted arguments to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in opposition to an appeal lodged by Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe and his department. A statement by Agri SA explained that Mantashe and the department were appealing an October 2017 ruling by the then Grahamstown (now Makhanda) High Court in favour of Agri Eastern Cape and a group of interested landowners, who had argued that the minister of mineral resources did not have the authority to promulgate…

Sheep scab outbreaks were once a frequent occurrence in communal farming areas. Thanks to better responses by State veterinary officials, they are rarer today. Nonetheless, they do still occur and can be difficult to curb. Sheep scab is caused by tiny mites that congregate at the base of the wool, where they bite the skin and feed on the secretions. The bite area becomes infected, forming a wet wound and ultimately a scab. Scabs spread across the skin, becoming highly irritating. The first signs of an outbreak are usually when sheep start scratching themselves with their hind legs, rubbing against fencing posts or trees, or biting and pulling at their wool. It is important to take note of such unusual behaviour. CONTROL IN A COMMUNAL AREA The problem in many…

The aim of a greenhouse is to maintain an internal climate that is more favourable to plant growth than the outside environment. Shade net and plastic sheeting are the most commonly used types of covering in South Africa. SHADE HOUSES A shade house is a popular option as it is inexpensive and easier to construct than the plastic sheet type. It offers protection against wind, hail and rain, and allows for unlimited ventilation. The shade netting blocks up to 90% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause sunburn on tomatoes and peppers. The netting does not absorb water and is not a fire hazard. If attached properly to the frame structure, it has a lifespan of about eight years. Bear in mind, though, that you cannot control…

As humans, we are all subject to whims, interests and a raft of other emotional influences in our lives. How we channel these is key to how we live our lives and, in particular, how we prosper in our work. How does this relate to farming? Well, when it comes to selecting the crops we plan to grow (or the livestock breed we want to run) there is one emotion we cannot really do without, and that’s passion! At the end of the day, this is what really drives production and marketing success. THE IDEAL COMBINATION Of course, passion alone won’t do it; every farmer has to do the necessary homework before settling on a crop or a breed to be farmed. But add passion to this, and you’ve got…

The Boerepatente Kompetisie has changed its name to ‘Boereplanne’, but otherwise remains the same. Its purpose is still to share good ideas with fellow farmers and the rules stipulate that an idea may not be patented and is allowed to be copied. The new name may help to clarify this point. • The winner of Class B was Jan Grobler of Bothaville with his trailer-mounted, multi-purpose sprayer, complete with its own engine and pump (right). • Samantha Goosen’s simple but ingenious self-feeder (below) won first prize in Class E. • First prize in Class A went to Kobus van Zyl of Bethlehem for his contour maintenance implement (bottom). This substantially built device looks as though it could have real commercial possibilities.…

1 This pie is a monument to excess: not only feta and spinach, but minced pork and mushrooms. Begin by removing the stems and larger veins from the spinach leaves. Chop the remainder and blanch them in boiling water for 40 to 60 seconds to wilt them. Remove at once and drain via a colander. Crush, peel and finely chop the garlic, wash all the sand off the leeks, then cut the white stems into thin slices. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Thinly slice the big brown mushrooms. Pour a tablespoon or two of olive oil into a large, heavy-based frying pan and add the onion slices, sliced leeks and chopped garlic. Bring this up to medium heat on the hob, and stirring from time to time, sweat the…

Succession planning is one of the greatest difficulties of the family business, and is often so fraught with problems that it has given rise to the proverb, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”. So says Johannesburg-based psychologist, life strategist, and speaker Ilze Alberts. Her book PASSING THE TORCH (Bloomberg, R450) aims to prevent this from happening. Here are some of the key aspects it focuses on: 1. Human capital: Succession planning should be based on human, not financial, capital. Make sure you understand the skills and aptitudes of your prospective heirs; to succeed, they have to work from the heart. 2. Selling: Be realistic. If the next generation is not interested in running the business, bring in a competent CEO. Alternatively, sell the company and let your legacy be the…

Many sheep and cattle farmers today use collars fitted to animals to monitor movement, prevent stock theft, and act as an early warning system to alert them when the animals are spooked by predators. A downside of these devices is that their batteries need to be recharged at regular intervals. NEW TECHNOLOGY Shenzhen Rayoid Technology of Guangdong, China, now manufactures a solar-powered livestock ear tag that rarely needs recharging, thanks to a small solar panel fitted into it. The TBT300 measures 66mm x 44mm x 11mm, weighs only 30g, and is water-and dust-resistant. It can be applied using a universal ear tag applicator. The tag is equipped with a SIM card. Data is loaded onto this, and the farmer can access it by logging on to an app. The animal…

15 TO 18 JULY Plant Production DELEGATES ARE TAUGHT HOW TO CONTROL PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS, AS WELL AS HOW TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY. THE COURSE ALSO FOCUSES ON THE BASICS OF SOIL FERTILITY AND NUTRITION, AND THE HARVESTING PROCEDURES OF VARIOUS CROPS. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za. 6 TO 9 JUNE Cannabis Expo, Sibaya, Durban.Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. 27 TO 28 JUNE Cannabis Conference, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park. Email Connie@vukanicomms.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 7 JUNE Cattle Calf Rearing, George.Visit RLTSafrica.com, or email office@RLTSafrica.com. 11 TO 12 JUNE Advanced Water Treatment Control: Coagulation and…

Dust blown onto fruit crops from gravel roads has a significantly detrimental effect on the trees’ growth and ability to produce healthy, blemish-free fruit. However, a new product from the forestry industry can now suppress dust from these roads. Forestry company Sappi has taken a by-product from its paper production process, called lignosulphonate, and used it on the company’s forestry roads to prevent dust and reduce maintenance costs. The product, Lignex, is now also available to farmers wanting to reduce the negative effects of dust on their fruit orchards. Speaking at a forestry industry day in White River recently, Eric Schubert, sales manager at Sappi Biotech Lignin, said the reduction in dust from dirt roads on fruit farms would result in increased photosynthesis and pollination, improved efficacy of pest and…

The establishment of an agrarian development agency in South Africa was the focus of a Nation in Conversation discussion at the recent Nampo Harvest Day near Bothaville. Malcolm Ferguson, an associate at the In Transformation Initiative (ITI), said the idea had been discussed publicly five years ago, but had gained favour over the past year due to a growing awareness of the need for better coordination of public and private land reform initiatives. Over the past three years, ITI had been facilitating talks and consultations with various stakeholders in the agricultural industry, including farmers (from subsistence to commercial), industry representatives, banks, agricultural businesses, local and international funders, and government, he said. The aim of these consultations was to identify the gap that the agency needed to fill, as well as…

Researchers in Israel are conducting research into producing phosphorus fertiliser from dairy wastewater. Within the next century, there could be a major shortage of mined phosphorus unless ways are found to recycle this element. This was according to project leader at Tel Hai College and Migal Institute in Israel, Michael Litaor, whose team was working on dairy wastewater and the by-products of water purification that contain aluminium. Litaor said that the material left after purification, called aluminium water treatment residue, was normally taken to a landfill site for burial. “We changed this material by mixing it with dairy wastewater rich in phosphorus and organic matter. We then found it can be just as good as common fertilisers,” he said. The benefits could go beyond recycling the aluminium, however, as applying…

Twelve top Shiraz wines were honoured at a recent awards ceremony held outside Paarl. This is the seventh Shiraz Challenge, and 207 wines competed, including 36 blends. The Shiraz champions for 2019 were: Driehoek Shiraz 2017; Driehoek Shiraz 2016; Babylonstoren Shiraz 2017; KWV Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2016; Neethlingshof Shiraz 2015; Rhebokskloof Black Marble Hill Syrah 2016; La Cave Shiraz 2017 (Wellington Wines); Strandveld First Sighting Shiraz 2017; Bellingham Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2016; Kruger Family Reserve Shiraz 2016 (Stellenview); Quoin Rock Shiraz 2015; and Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2015. The winning Shiraz blends were: Babylonstoren Babel, Eikendal Charisma 2017, and Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Bismarck 2017. This year, KWV was also recognised with a special award for having had a winner in the competition for seven consecutive years. According…

Dr Theo de Jager has been re-elected for a second term as president of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) at the organisation’s recent general assembly meeting in Luxembourg. This is the first time a president will serve two terms. The WFO represents about 1,4 billion farmers from 54 countries around the world. De Jager has been lauded for unifying WFO members, as well as his widespread campaigning for a farmer-driven climate agenda. He has been outspoken about the role of beef production in climate change, challenging the belief that cattle’s methane emissions are driving climate change. Speaking at the meeting, De Jager said land tenure was playing an increasingly important role in farming sectors globally and he would continue campaigning for the strengthening of property rights. He highlighted the plight…

The penultimate sale of the 2019 summer season saw the average market indicator gaining 0,7% to close at R290,47/kg. The offering comprised some excellent individual clips, with buyers competing vigorously for the better quality kids’ mohair. This resulted in prices for this category gaining 5,9% to close at an average price of R537,66/kg, according to Mohair South Africa. “The average market price did not change much from the previous sale, and this trend is expected to continue at the last sale of the summer season on 18 June,” said Pierre van der Vyver, manager of CMW’s mohair division. “[However], it was a privilege to auction some of the best mohair clips in the world and to see how individual farmers, most of them stud farmers, just manage to improve their…

According to a recent Nielsen report, sharp price increases are limiting the amount of money available for retail spending. “South African consumers are experiencing a severe wallet squeeze,” Nielsen client service director Kelly Arnold told Research News SA. But household income and consumer debt have actually improved since 2010. Real disposable income of households has increased at a slow, but steady 1% per year since 2010. Consumer debt as a percentage of disposable income decreased from 81,9% in 2010 to 71,9% in 2018. The average consumer thus actually earned more in 2018 than in previous years, but this was not accompanied by a significant growth in food demand. The reasons for this were sharp increases in administered prices such as fuel and electricity, the increase of one percentage point, or…

The Labour Relations Act (LRA) defines a strike as a partial or complete refusal to work, or the retardation or obstruction of work by employees for the purpose of remedying a grievance or resolving a dispute in respect of a matter of mutual interest. In terms of the Constitution of South Africa, every employee has the right to strike. However, the LRA stipulates certain provisions for the strike to be regarded as protected. If these are not complied with, the strike is deemed an unprotected strike. When dealing with a grievance or issue in the workplace, employees should in all instances make use of the internal grievance procedure. If they regard the outcome as unsatisfactory, they can refer the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. A commissioner…

In my opinion, the brightest star at this year’s Nampo show was the self-propelled, single-row planter from Backsaver. Its realistic price makes it possible for groups of small farmers to acquire a good planter and move forward in their quest to alleviate food insecurity on the continent. 1 The Amandla planter Michris Janse van Rensburg’s Amandla power planter, seen here being tried out by a farmer from Lesotho, is now fitted with a 4,5kW engine capable of propelling it at 3km/h. This means it can plant 1ha in about four hours on 900mm inter-row spacing. In a recent test, it planted 1ha using only 4,5l of fuel. THE WHEELS OF THE PöTTINGER TERRADISC HELP PRODUCE AN EXCELLENT SEEDBED 2 Nutritious feed from bush Ritlee Executech’s 225 chipper, branded the Bushfeed,…

What is a light wine? Is it low in alcohol or low in calories? Either or both is the answer. The reason I mention light wine is that while buying the ingredients for this meaty pastry, it dawned on me that there was a rich, creamy tone to the dish, especially with the pork mince and the amount of butter used between the fine sheets of phyllo. I decided on a white wine with good acidity and clean mouthfeel to cut through the richness on the plate, and why not go a step further and have a light wine? It takes skill to bottle a wine that is light in aspects that ultimately give wine its mouthfeel and character, and not end up with a thin, weedy liquid in the…

A study, published recently in the journal Neurology, has found that people can improve their mental function and decrease their brain’s functional age in only six months by getting a moderate amount of regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet. The diet in the study cut down on salt, fatty foods and sugar while emphasising vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The exercise programme consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up followed by 35 minutes of continuous walking or stationary cycling three times a week. The study enrolled 160 adults who had high blood pressure or other cardiovascular disease risk factors, never exercised, and had verified cognitive concerns with concentration and memory. Participants averaged 65 years of age and two-thirds were female. All races were equally represented. Participants were divided into four…

RESTORE YOUR GREATNESS by NJ Melville (Reach, R285 from loot.co.za) Melville, an advocate, has had an illustrious career that includes serving as Banking Ombud and Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, and working for the National Peace Accord in KwaZulu-Natal before democracy. But he knows what it takes to get his life back on the rails, having lost his father, his home and even his pet dog when he was six. After this, he saw his mother’s circumstances exploited by ruthless business people. All this fired his understanding of the need for resilience and self-motivation. In Restore Your Greatness, he outlines helpful techniques in approachable terms, encouraging the reader to “reset your factory settings”. Lively and energising. ‘IF YOU DON’T LIKE TO READ, YOU HAVEN’T FOUND THE RIGHT BOOK’ – J.K.…

The Wagyu Society of South Africa (Wagyu SA) has held two strategic planning sessions over the past three years and has reached consensus on the goals it wishes to achieve over the next five years. Its mission is to make the South African beef industry as profitable as possible, and ensure that consumers demand and enjoy the premium eating experience provided by Wagyu beef. Wagyu beef also offers a health advantage; it has been shown to contain twice as much oleic acid (healthy fat) as palmitic acid (saturated fatty acid). This healthy fat is what makes Wagyu unique and a bestseller. RED AND BLACK WAGYU Wagyu SA has been very proactive is marketing the breed to potential breeders and consumers by participating in agri expos. Consumers queue up to taste…

The tarred road from the highway to our local town has so many deep potholes that we’re likely to suffer a blowout if we hit one. Heaven knows what it would do to the vehicle’s suspension! And the 23km gravel road from our town to the farm is no better. Water still fills some of the potholes from the rain in May. Two cattle grids along the way are also in dire need of repair. I’ve reported all of this to the local roads department, but, while they are sympathetic, their response is that there’s no budget to carry out repairs. What will it take to impress upon them that our roads are really dangerous? A major accident? A fatality, heaven forbid? Neighbour Jan’s income is under threat too. Feedlot…