Table of contents for 11 October 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

All things considered, the farming sector in South Africa has not performed too poorly in terms of job losses since the turn of the century. According to Statistics South Africa, employment stood at just under one million in 2001, before declining to about 660 000 in 2012. This was followed by an upswing to just under 900 000 by 2016. Since then, the number of people employed in the farming sector has decreased again to about 842 000. As I explained in this column last week, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, following deregulation, farmers were forced to increase productivity in order to compete with global commodity prices. One way in which they managed to curb costs was to cut down on labour by investing in mechanisation. However, as…

The following article was submitted by Dr Peter Nuthall, honorary associate professor in the Agribusiness and Commerce Faculty at Lincoln University, New Zealand, and refers to the importance of intuition in farming. Managerial intuition is not something farmers are born with. They pick up knowledge starting from a young age and this continues throughout life. Initially, parents are important in the process, but then a farmer’s lifetime education and experience take over and become the ‘teacher’. Good farmers, according to the research [see sources], have an ability to take on board the lessons from their life’s activities, covering all things both farming and managerially. The research used information from several hundred farmers to examine what made up their intuition. THE STUDY LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESS The farmers…

What is populism? And what constitutes dangerous populism? Simply put, populism is a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. In other words, a political grouping develops the ideal of ‘the people’ who are ruthlessly disregarded or even oppressed by the elite. This is quite often a set of facts supported by only some evidence, which is selected to suit the argument rather than reality. An example of populism can be found in the policies and pronouncements of the EFF. POPULISM VS REALITY During the recent spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, EFF leader Julius Malema maintained that the anger towards foreign nationals was misdirected. On 3 September, amid the looting of shops owned by these…

Cancer is the second-highest cause of death in adults globally, and kills more people than HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria combined. That is why knowledge was critical to address the warning signs of early cancer symptoms, and by doing so, reduce the risk, according to the Cancer Alliance, a group of cancer control non-profit organisations and cancer advocates. The alliance recently launched the #HeadsUpForCancer campaign, which would target farmers and farmworkers, a community routinely neglected in terms of cancer awareness and care, the group said. “They also have limited access to information and awareness campaigns thanks to proximity and language constraints,” said Salomé Meyer, the project manager of Cancer Alliance. Meyer said the campaign, which directly addressed the country’s farming community, was a first for South Africa, and would aim to…

A no-deal Brexit could have serious consequences for animal health and welfare, trade, and the veterinary workforce in the UK, according to the British Veterinary Association (BVA). Daniella Dos Santos, president of the association, said: “We remain deeply concerned that we won’t have the necessary workforce for veterinary export certification, that the loss of markets for trade could lead to overstocking and significant welfare problems or a cull of healthy animals, and that border problems may hold up the supply of veterinary medicines, [among other issues]. A no-deal Brexit would leave the UK with no time to transition and adjust, with worrying outcomes for our colleagues, our clients, and the animals under our care.” According to Dos Santos, the association had raised concerns that new trade deals could compromise the…

South African red meat prices have dropped significantly during the past year, according to Koos van der Ryst, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation. He said lamb prices had decreased 15,3% to R68,86/kg for Class B lamb, while beef producer prices had declined 0,5% to R45,97/kg for Class A beef. “This is good news for consumers, given the price increases in other food products. For example, bread and grain prices rose 8,6%, and fresh produce about 4,3% during the same period.” Agricultural economist Dr Johan Willemse ascribed the lower prices to the foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreak, the drought in the Northern Cape, North West and Namibia, and red meat imports from Botswana. South Africa had been exporting between 4 000t and 5 000t of red meat a month before…

Concern remains that hot, dry conditions in the Western Cape might have damaged wheat harvest prospects, with over 60% of South Africa’s total wheat area located in that province. The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) lowered its production forecast for the winter crop by 5,72% in its revised area and second production estimate for the 2019 winter cropping season, which was released on 26 September. “The expected production of wheat is 1,806 million tons, or 109 480t fewer, than the previous forecast of 1,916 million tons, whilst the expected yield is 3,34t/ha,” the CEC said. Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, warned that there was a risk the CEC could revise its estimate down even further at its next update on 24 October. This was due to…

Australia’s wool production forecast is at a 21-year low, according to Cape Wools. In its latest estimate, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) said wool production in that country would total 385 million kilograms in the 2018/2019 season, which was 5% down on the September estimate of 404 million kilograms. Continuing dry conditions across much of Australia’s east coast, home to a big portion of the country’s livestock industry, have forced producers to cull sheep due to a lack of grazing and soaring feed prices. Due to the lack of production, however, the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) was expected to support prices for the remainder of the 2018/2019 season, even with the reduction in buyer demand resulting in a sharp decline of 12% since August…

The South African deciduous fruit industry recently presented Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing chairperson Pieter Graaff with the OSH Reinecke Industry Leader Award for his outstanding service to the industry. He received the award at a gala dinner held in Somerset West last month. Graaff owns Witzenberg Properties, near Ceres, and is the largest individual apple producer in South Africa. The farming enterprise consists of 1 200ha of fruit orchards, of which 850ha are planted to apples. Graaff has served as a board member and trustee of the then South African Apple and Pear Producers’ Association (SAAPPA) (now Hortgro Pome) and the Deciduous Fruit Producers’ Trust. He was also chairperson of SAAPPA, and currently serves as chairperson of Ceres Fruit Growers and Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing. Graaff also serves on the board of…

Southern Africa has always experienced droughts, but in the past they didn’t seem to linger for as long as they do these days. Spring rain seems to have largely disappeared, while summer rains appear to be arriving later and later. Many areas now receive rain only in late December, and by February the rain has stopped falling. In the Eastern Cape, where I am based, renowned commercial farming regions such as Adelaide and Bedford that were once prosperous grassland areas are today crippled by drought, and the same can be said of the former homeland regions of the Transkei and Ciskei. Rangelands are losing good grass at an alarming rate as the plants struggle to deal with less water. In addition, the grasses themselves are losing feed value because they…

The estimated 2,5 million to 10 million species of insects on the planet have a profound impact, directly and indirectly, on all other creatures and on the environment. This stands to reason; there are an estimated 10 quintillion (or 10 billion billion) individuals, and they represent 80% of all living organisms on earth. They are also the most diverse group of organisms. DO YOUR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE DIVERSITY OF POLLINATORS “Slightly more than one million insect species have actually been named, and only a small proportion of them have been properly studied,” says Hannelene Badenhorst, a PhD candidate in entomology at the University of the Free State. “They are responsible for pollinating about 85% of the world’s flowering plants. “Non-insect arthropods, such as spiders, also have a significant environmental…

Remove harvested cabbages from direct sunlight and transport them to the packing shed as soon as possible, as cabbages are particularly susceptible to wilting and other damage from high temperatures. When there is a delay of more than an hour or two between harvesting and packing, use a water drench or spray arrangement to help prevent dehydration and overheating. Remove injured leaves during sorting and grading. The optimal storage temperature for cabbage is 0°C, with a relative humidity of 90% to 95%. Further trimming may be necessary. This will mainly involve removing the discoloured butt after removal from storage.…

BOREDOM SLAYER by Richard Mulholland (Tracey McDonald Publishers, R230) If you’ve been talked into speaking at an AGM or end-of-the-year gathering, this book may save you much anxiety and embarrassment. You might think it odd to take advice from someone who started his career as a roadie operating lights for bands such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, but Mulholland learnt much in that environment about relating to an audience at an emotional level. (Not that he’s asking you to dress like a goth or cover yourself in tattoos, despite his own penchant for them.) This highly approachable guide to public speaking includes advice on how to incorporate humour, and why you shouldn’t take tips from a live sex show (it’s not the reason you think). Once you translate these…

13 JANUARY 1971 ‘Mole’ will link the great waters 48 YEARS AGO An advanced new hardrock tunneller was used to dig the canals in the Orange River Project (ORP). In 1884, the first tunnel to convey water in South Africa was constructed from the Gamtoos River to Hankey. The Orange River Tunnel, which forms a major part of the ORP, is now under construction. The tunnel is 30% complete, and the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam, which will make the diversion of this water possible, has already begun to store water. When the Orange-Fish tunnel has been completed, in 1973, water from the Orange River will augment the supply of irrigation water to the fertile Great Fish River Valley. Soon after, the Fish-Sundays River link canal system will carry this part of…

Sections of the border between South Africa and Lesotho have remained unfenced for decades due to the mountainous terrain and inaccessible roads, creating the ideal conditions for crime. This was according to Dr Jane Buys, a security risk analyst for Free State Agriculture (FSA). Buys added that in some sections, the Caledon River formed a natural border. However, it had dried up due to the drought, which now allowed for easy crossing. “Fences erected by farmers on the South African side are cut, removed and damaged by perpetrators on the Lesotho side, resulting in huge financial losses to farmers. Intimidation, arson and assault, among other [crimes], perpetrated against local farmers are not uncommon.” The annual crime statistics, released by Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, towards the end of last…

Dam levels in the Mopani district in Limpopo are falling rapidly due to the early summer heat, and the Tzaneen Dam is currently at about 8% of capacity and dropping daily. As a result, the Mopani District Municipality has banned the extraction of water for irrigation in an attempt to stop the dam from drying up entirely. This was according to Pieter Vorster, chairperson of Agri Letaba. Vorster said the dam was the main source of water for citrus farmers and domestic consumers in Tzaneen, and cutting off the supply could have a major impact on irrigation farmers. According to Vorster, the municipality had ignored pleas from the farming community to implement restrictions on domestic usage. He said the situation had been exacerbated by delays in raising the Tzaneen Dam’s…

BRAZIL Brazil will be allowing a quota of tariff-free wheat imports amounting to about 750 000t from countries outside the South American Mercosur trade bloc in November, according to Flavio Bettarello, the agriculture ministry’s assistant secretary for trade and foreign relations. Speaking at a recent industry conference, he said that enforcing the new tariff-free quota could help Brazil source supplies from new markets, including the US and Russia. VIETNAM Import requirements set by China and other international markets remain a challenge for agricultural commodity exporters in Vietnam. Delegates at a recent conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in that country were urged to make the necessary changes to adapt to a changing trading environment. According to industry experts, giving…

The Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA) has called on farmers to choose WCBAregistered beekeepers as their preferred service providers. According to Dr Tlou Masehela, chairperson of the association, all beekeepers, regardless of the number of hives they own, had to be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (department of agriculture). Registration is free of charge. By law, producers could only use the services of registered beekeepers. “Through registration, we can standardise the industry. Through the data gathered, we’ll also be able to keep proper records, and prevent and control bee diseases. If compliance isn’t followed, we won’t be able to police certain [aspects of the industry],” he said. Masehela added that 136 beekeepers in the Western Cape were currently registered with the department of…

There was cautious optimism about the future of the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) following a recent meeting between Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza and role players involved in running the college. Farmer’s Weekly began investigating after receiving anonymous communication expressing concerns that the college in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, might not be able to take in students next year. This was allegedly due to administrative challenges, including a moratorium on appointing staff and a lack of autonomy. Petrus de Wet, chairperson of the GADI Advisory Council, which was appointed by former agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana and met for the first time last year, confirmed that he had met Didiza about the future of Grootfontein on 23 September. De Wet said they had raised four points…

The Biosecurity Advisory Committee of Citrus Research International (CRI) has developed an action plan to prevent the spread of Asian citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) in South African orchards. This followed the destruction wrought by the disease on the citrus industry in the US. Wayne Kirkman, an entomologist and biosecurity operations coordinator at CRI, said that HLB was the most devastating disease in citrus. “In Africa, it’s currently present only in Ethiopia, but the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) responsible for its spread has been detected in Tanzania and Kenya. An action plan to prevent or delay the arrival of HLB and ACP in South Africa, and contain the disease and vector, has been formulated.” As part of the plan, an HLB steering committee representing all government and industry stakeholders had…

Every business needs money to manage and grow its operations. A number of sources of finance are available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. DO IT YOURSELF Your first option is to put up your own capital. If you have savings, investments or cash at your disposal, this is usually the most viable course of action. Not only are you likely to use the money carefully, because it’s yours and you know how hard you’ve worked for it, but it will save you the costs associated with borrowing capital. FAMILY OR FRIENDS If you are not in a financial position to fund yourself, borrowing from friends or family is another alternative. While loans like these might come at a lower interest rate and with more lenient repayment terms, you…

The chemical diversity of pesticides currently used within agriculture presents a considerable challenge to food safety, as pesticide residue can pose a serious risk to human health. It is therefore essential that chemists employ a range of analytical techniques to extract residues from food samples, and then accurately and efficiently determine their identity and concentration at trace levels. More than 1 000 pesticides are currently used in various combinations and at different stages of cultivation. These chemicals are also used during post-harvest storage to protect crops against a range of pests and fungi and to preserve crop quality. Pesticide residue originates when a crop or animal bred for food purposes is treated with a chemical, or is unintentionally exposed to chemicals by drift, in irrigation water, in feed or via…

The nifty My Elevation app does exactly what its name says: it provides you with your current elevation. For this, it requires an Internet connection, as it bases your elevation on your current coordinates. (Just to clear up any confusion: elevation is the vertical distance between an object and sea level; altitude is the vertical distance between an object and the surface of the Earth at that point.) I carried out a test, walking around buildings and objects. The first thing that impressed me, even before I looked at the elevation, was its pinpoint positioning accuracy. It was noticeably better than the map on a smartphone, which can often be out by quite a few metres. The My Elevation app has a number of useful features: • Follow Me Mode.…

10 TO 13 NOVEMBER International Moringa Symposium THIS SYMPOSIUM IS EXPECTED TO BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS ON MORINGA FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, MAKING IT THE IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND CREATE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 8 TO 10 OCTOBER The Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa Conference, Bloemfontein. Email aeasa2019@ufs.ac.za. 9 TO 10 OCTOBER Undercover Farming Expo and Conference, Allée Bleue Estate, Cape Town. Email Suzanne Oosthuizen at expo@axxess.co.za, or phone her on 082 832 1604. 16 TO 18 OCTOBER The Future of Farmworkers in South Africa National Conference, University of the Western Cape. Email foodsecurity@uwc.ac.za. 6 NOVEMBER Subtrop Marketing Symposium, Ingweyama Conference and Sport Resort, White River. Email Lizette de Wet at lizette@subtrop.co.za, or phone her on 015 306 3676. 10 TO…

At the end of September, I visited the Eastern Cape on the invitation of The Co-op, an agribusiness based in Humansdorp. I also used the visit to scan the agricultural activities in the province, with the intention of assessing whether there has been an increase in activity and transformation. My first stop was at The Co-op’s head office, where I received a broad overview of the province’s agricultural activity and the inclusive growth projects with which they are involved. Recently, the Eastern Cape’s average dam levels have seemed healthy, at over 50%. The reality, though, is that the levels of a number of dams located close to agricultural activities have been low for months, and this has taken a toll on the agriculture sector. Aside from the dry conditions, the…

The Competition Tribunal has given the go-ahead for the Milco consortium to acquire Clover Industries for R4,8 billion. In a recent statement, the tribunal said it had heard testimony from those in favour of and against the proposed acquisition before granting approval, subject to a number of conditions being met by both parties. One such condition was that as part of Clover’s pre-existing five-year Project Sencillo initiative, which was aimed at optimising its assets utilisation, the company would not be allowed to retrench an estimated 277 employees for a period of three years from the project’s implementation date. The tribunal stated that the 550 jobs to be created as part of Clover’s planned Project Masakhane initiative, aimed at increasing the company’s distribution reach, needed to be allocated to any employees…

South African grain producers have been warned by the local Directorate of Climate Change and Disaster Management to be on the lookout for invading flocks of red-billed queleas. According to Colin Burke, resource conservation officer at the directorate, landowners were required by law to report quelea breeding and roosting areas to the directorate. “We are at the [beginning] of the annual quelea season and [invasions] have already been reported in the Free State and North West. These birds pose a serious threat to grain production, and target grains such as sorghum, millet, manna and wheat.” The birds appeared in large flocks ranging from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of individuals. According to Burke, it was imperative that the birds’ breeding and roosting spots be identified correctly. After they…

The third mohair sale of the winter season closed with the average market indicator on R229,38/kg, which was a 7,7% decrease compared with the previous sale. The highest price of R510/kg was paid for a bale of BSFFK winter kids’ mohair of CMW PureCape Bins, which was bought by Samil. Compared with the previous sale, the price of kid mohair decreased 2,6%, with the market indicator at R390,19/kg and a 95% sale clearance; and young goat mohair decreased 12,8% with a market indicator of R238,40/kg and a sale clearance of 98%. Adult mohair decreased 8,8% with a market indicator of R173,94/kg and 97% sold. “It seems as if there will still be some pressure on adult and strong young goat [mohair] while the fine young goat and winter kids will…

Scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) think the use of genomics in wheat breeding has the potential to overcome problems in the areas of yield, climate resilience and disease resistance. According to a statement released by CIMMYT, an international team of scientists has used the wheat genome map, published last year, along with data from field tests, to create a collection of genetic information and markers for more than 40 000 wheat lines. Their findings were published in an article in Nature Genetics on 23 September. The scientists reported the genomic predictabilities of 35 key traits and demonstrated the potential of genomic selection for wheat end-use quality. “We also performed a large genome-wide association study that identified several significant marker-trait associations for 50 traits evaluated in…

In August, dairy processors informed farmers of a decrease in producer prices from the beginning of September. While farmers were still coming to terms with this, coupled with higher production costs, they found that Eastern Cape dairy company Woodlands had imported six million litres of UHT milk from Poland. Farmers understandably reacted with shock to this news. Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) calculations show that it is more expensive to import milk than to source it locally. Farmers felt that if the company had informed them it needed extra milk for winter, they would have been able to produce it. Unfortunately for Woodlands, the UHT cartons show the country of origin. While farmers were quite right in protesting against the importation of UHT milk, the importers of concentrated dairy products such…

Recent news reports kept us up to date with the devastation and tragedy caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean and the east coast of the US. What the mass media failed to mention, though, was the destruction of crops in the region. Even apple crops as far north as Nova Scotia in Canada were damaged. AN ONGOING THREAT At various times, massive storms and floods in different parts of the world have left their trail of destruction, and each time crops have been among the victims. Southern Africa, too, has had its share of these disasters, many of which have caused extensive damage to crops and livestock. Fruit and vegetable farmers everywhere live under the constant threat that nature will suddenly change course and deliver a destructive blow to…

SWEET Oats, pear and blueberry scones These tasty scones with added oats, berries and grated pear will be a welcome surprise at the breakfast or tea table. Makes 12 scones FOR THE SCONES: 500ml (2 cups) cake flour 15ml (1 Tbsp) baking powder 5ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon 1ml salt 90ml (6 Tbsp) caster sugar 60ml (4 Tbsp) quick-cooking oats 30ml (2 Tbsp) blueberries 1 pear, peeled, deseeded and grated roughly 125ml (½ cup) milk 1 extra-large egg 75ml (5 Tbsp) oil FOR THE TOPPING: 60ml (4 Tbsp) milk 90ml (6 Tbsp) quick-cooking oats 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Sift the cake flour with baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the caster sugar. 3. Stir the oats, blueberries and grated pear into the flour mixture. 4. Whisk the…

Medication and memory Many of today’s most frequently taken medicines inhibit the activity of a critical neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, thereby reducing concentration, memory and the ability to focus. This can ultimately lead to confusion, memory loss and declining mental skills in patients who take prescription drugs. A study in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine even found that people who used certain medications were more likely to develop dementia. The longer that prescription drugs are taken, the higher the risk. But even 60 days on certain medications can cause cognitive problems. Alarmingly, some doctors and even pharmacists are unaware of all the side-effects, and labels may not disclose them, so it’s possible to take prescription or over-the-counter drugs with memory-blocking effects and not realise it. These medicines may be…

IF YOU WERE GIVEN R3 MILLION TO INVEST IN AGRICULTURE, EITHER IN NEW OR EXISTING FARMING ACTIVITIES OR IN THE AGRICULTURE VALUE CHAIN, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND THE MONEY? I would expand my farming operations in Zambia, Angola or Mozambique, focusing on planting fruit trees or timber. WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN, AND BY WHOM? It was from rugby legend the late Danie Craven, when he called me off the rugby field in Stellenbosch. I’ll never forget his words: “Rather take the risk of making a mistake with your whole heart at full speed, than trying the right thing at half speed!” IF YOU WERE GIVEN CARTE BLANCHE TO EFFECT ONE MAJOR CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA TOMORROW, HOW WOULD YOU USE THIS POWER? I would…