Table of contents for 28 August 2020 in Farmer's Weekly

One of the great things about being an agricultural journalist during this time of crisis is that we often still get to report good news, thanks to the victories being achieved in the sector despite the general sense of doom surrounding our country’s economic and political future. For example, building on the successes of the past few years, citrus farmers are again expected to achieve record export volumes this season (see story on page 15). There has been no shortage of setbacks for the citrus industry this year as COVID-19-related labour disruptions, trade restrictions and problems at the ports threatened to derail the harvest. Despite these challenges, citrus growers expect to ship a record volume of 139,8 million 15kg-cartons to destinations across the world in 2020. In further good news,…

New research from Michigan State University in the US demonstrates significant improvements in cow productivity with specific fatty acid supplementation through early lactation. The concept of feeding fat in dairy rations is nothing new; the energy-dense nutrient is hugely beneficial to meeting increased nutritional requirements as cows simultaneously produce milk while maintaining body condition ahead of breeding. Something that is new, however, is the developing science that continues to improve our knowledge of the roles of different fatty acids on animal performance. Dr Richard Kirkland, global technical manager for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients, says: “Data indicates key roles for palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1) fatty acids at different stages of lactation. “C16:0 is very beneficial in improving milk fat production and yield, but it is now clear that this may…

While all and sundry, from trade unions to President Cyril Ramaphosa, have made angry noises about corruption in South Africa, others seem to embrace the illicit opportunities provided by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Eyewitness News, ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has been drawn into corruption scandals involving personal protective equipment (PPE) through his associates. Magashule was recorded as having said that no leader in the ANC had not done business with government. This while it was discovered that his sons Tshepiso and Thato had received tenders worth R2,7 million for rendering COVID-19-related PPEs. City Press also recently collated a list of various companies, business people and socialites, mainly in the Free State, who benefitted from PPE tenders. THE PARTY WILL, SOONER OR LATER, TEAR INTO TWO OR MORE FACTIONS…

The current “chaos” at Cape Town’s Deeds Office, which has resulted in the backlog of deeds to be registered reaching 14 000 by mid-June, needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This was according to Annette Steyn, DA MP and member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform. She said the turnaround time for the lodging of documents at the office had also slowed down. “Before the COVID-19 [pandemic] you could expect lodgement to take five to seven days. At present the turnaround time has increased to between 27 to 29 working days.” The Cape Town Attorneys’ Association (CTAA) had already turned to the courts in an effort to resolved the impasse. However, the Deeds Office had reportedly failed to comply with the court…

No definitive answers have yet been found for the mass die-off of elephants in Botswana since May this year. Nevertheless, indications were that the deaths could possibly be attributed to a naturally occurring toxin. This emerged in a recent investigative paper published in the African Journal for Wildlife Research by a team of researchers from South Africa and Pakistan, who aimed to gain an understanding of the cause of death of more than 350 elephants in that country. Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa, told Farmer’s Weekly it was highly likely that the deaths were caused by mycotoxins from infected water sources. These mycotoxins severely affected the neurological system, resulting in rapid death. This could explain why some of the elephants collapsed mid-stride and caved…

A steep drop in demand due to the trading restrictions on restaurants and bars in France because of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with increased tariffs on US exports, have resulted in the French government having to step up financial support for wine producers. “The state will increase to €250 million [about R5,18 billion] its support plan to wine growing, and we will request this aid be distributed as quickly as possible because cash needs are pressing,” said French Prime Minister Jean Castex. He made the announcement during a visit to the Menetou-Salon and Sancerre vineyards in the Loire region, Reuters reported. “The international situation, the health crisis, a drop in exports [has resulted in] our wine sector [facing] major difficulties. State support must continue and intensify,” Castex said on Twitter.…

Tractor and combine harvester sales increased in July compared with the same period last year. However, new vehicle sales remained subdued. The latest report released by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA) indicated that 444 tractors were sold in July, up 21% on the 368 units sold during the same month last year. The total combine harvester sales for July was 11, an increase of three units compared with last year. According to Greg Cadman, chairperson of SAAMA, factors such as uncertainty about the performance of the rand resulted in existing stock being bought before inevitable price increases later this year. “Secondly, good summer crops are currently being harvested and prospects for winter crops and the forthcoming summer cropping season are looking encouraging.” Estimates for 2020 had therefore improved,…

Three South African agricultural seed companies joining forces to create the joint venture company, Limagrain Zaad South Africa, will benefit producers as well as the agricultural economy in general, due to the resultant economies of scale. This was according to Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB. He allayed fears that the amalgamation could result in reduced competition, and said the South African market and agricultural value chain were strong and robust enough to absorb it. “An added bonus for producers is the fact that the new company will have increased access to international seed technology. This does not only pertain to the local agricultural economy, but also to all the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that source their seed from us,” he added. Link Seed…

Smallholder farmers in South Africa are set to benefit from a R40 million investment in the sector by Microsoft South Africa. Microsoft said in a statement that the company regarded agriculture as a critical industry that was driving growth and job creation. According to the statement, the investment was aimed at promoting sustainability in the sector for smallholder farmers, who formed an important part of the agricultural workforce in the country. Lillian Barnard, managing director at Microsoft South Africa, said it was critical to invest in the sector and thereby address the challenges smallholders faced. “Key challenges are a lack of infrastructure, access to competitive formal markets, production and business skills, funding and financial support to re-invest in their farming activities, and compliance with food safety regulations and legislation.” The…

In the short time since Khulile Mahlalela started farming in 2015, she has already won a number of awards for her piggery business. In 2019, she won two of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s (agriculture department) Female Entrepreneur Awards: the Mpumalanga Female Farmer of the Year Award and the Minister’s Special Award for a Young Farmer. Mahlalela grew up on a farm in Nkomazi in Mpumalanga where her late grandmother, Rebecca Mkhabela, farmed pigs. At school, Mahlalela dreamt of becoming a geologist, not a farmer. By the time she finished school, however, she had resolved to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and decided to do a diploma in animal production at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal. After completing her studies, she worked as a…

The transition from conventional farming, which is generally driven by maximising yield, towards a fully regenerative farming ecosystem is not a one-season project. Neither can it be achieved by following a generic approach. Conventional agriculture has served its purpose and still does, but at what cost to the environment and sustainability of agriculture? No-till farming was accepted years ago throughout South Africa. To accommodate this new type of farming, some farmers replaced their entire conventional fleet with no-till equipment, expecting to see operational, environmental, and financial gains. Some were disappointed, because their land was not ready for no-till practices. These failures caused other farmers to take a step back. Ideally, farmers would like to see a clear map of how to get from a conventional operation to a profitable regenerative…

Kefir grains produce a sour-tasting drink, while yoghurt has more body. They can be enjoyed together, and combined with berries or fruit, seeds and nuts. Kefir grains are available online and in health shops. Or ask someone you know, who makes their own kefir, for some of the grains. You only need a small quantity of grains as a starter culture; they multiply quickly. As explained last week (FW, 21 August), kefir is easy to make. Just ensure that your utensils and materials are spotlessly clean. To recap: mix some grains into full-cream milk in a glass container. Cover with a cloth, and allow to ferment at room temperature for 24 hours or so. (Avoid using a tightly fitting lid; the fermenting mixture builds up pressure if the container is…

The Zimbabwean government’s agreement to pay out US$3,5 billion (about R61,91 billion) in compensation to farmers who were evicted during land invasions in 2000 has raised serious concerns. This was according to Ben Freeth, spokesperson for the SADC Tribunal Rights Watch, Zimbabwe. He said Patrick Chinamasa, acting secretary for information and publicity in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, announced that, through the signing of the government’s ‘Global Compensation Agreement’ in July, there was now acceptance from white commercial farmers that there would be no compensation for land from the Zimbabwe government. According to Freeth, Chinamasa indicated earlier this month that by agreeing on the amount of compensation for improvements, the time frame for payment and the modalities for raising the resources, ZANU-PF wished it to be known that it no longer…

BULGARIA Almost 200 East Balkan Swine pigs, a rare breed in Bulgaria, had to be culled by veterinary authorities there after an outbreak of African swine fever was detected on a small pig farm near the village of Yunets, close to the Black Sea city of Varna. This followed the death of 15 of the 212 pigs, Bulgaria’s food safety agency said. Bulgaria has had to cull more than 170 000 pigs since 2019, when the virus hit several breeding farms. UKRAINE Unfavourable crop sowing conditions in Ukraine’s central and southern regions have resulted in the forecast for the country’s 2020/2021 canola harvest being revised down to 2,93 million tons from the previous outlook of 3,33 million tons, analyst APK-Inform told Reuters, citing weather forecasters. Farmers in Ukraine, who traditionally…

The Co-op Group recently announced the acquisition of the Eastern Cape-based company, Chicory SA. According to Henk Agenbach, CEO of the Co-op Group, the addition of Chicory SA to the group’s stable was a strategic decision to continue providing a comprehensive service to its producers. “By ensuring a [sales platform] for chicory, economic stability and growth will ensue for the chicory sector, which is of particular value during a time where a drastic economic decline has occurred. It is a labour-intensive industry that provides some income to people in very vulnerable rural areas. “By including the chicory industry [in the company’s business], the scope and reach of the [group] are more diverse and effective.” On the production side, Craig Elliot, field agriculturalist at Chicory SA, said production had varied between…

There has been a wide difference in response to the leadership of various countries in the fight against COVID-19. In some, the general populace has obeyed the dictates of their governments to the letter; in others, there has been disobedience, defiance and division. Why have some countries done so much better than others at minimising the impact of the disease? After all, it’s not as if some had the knowledge of what was necessary and others not. As scientists gleaned information about the virus and how to combat it, their findings were instantly available all over the world. And the solutions required to contain the spread of the virus could not have been simpler. Stay at home; keep your distance; wear a mask. DECISIVE LEADERSHIP Obviously there are wide differences…

Towards the end of June, Tshwane Market advised that it would be closed for a short while owing to some staff being infected with COVID-19. By any standards, this was disturbing news. Let’s leave the human aspect aside for the moment, and focus on some of the practical implications of the closure. A MAJOR DISRUPTION No doubt those in charge considered their decision very carefully, but to close a large fresh produce market remains a serious matter. Tshwane is the second-largest fresh produce market in South Africa, and closing it down was unprecedented and disruptive in the extreme. Farmers, buyers, agents, market employees and consumers were all affected. What could farmers, in particular, have done in a situation like this? Rerouting consignments to other markets would only partially have solved…

Dear Jonno, From your website, we’ve selected one of your featured homes. It is exactly what we would like. The only difference is that our house should be built entirely of timber. On the farm we recently bought in the southern Drakensberg are hectares of fully grown pine and gum trees. We would like to make use of some of them in the construction of the house, and would appreciate your technical input on the most practical way to utilise them. Most of the tree trunks are 30cm or more in diameter. Kind regards, Mike and Brenda Dear Mike and Brenda, It’s good to hear that you’ve bought a farm, together with a plantation. The trees can be cut and milled into suitable planks on site. I’m sure that someone…

THE MISERY MERCHANTS by Ruth Hopkins (Jacana, R280) Subtitled ‘Life and death in a private South African prison’, Hopkins’s detailed exposé of G4S, the multinational security services company contracted to run Mangaung prison, is detailed and deeply disturbing. Working with the Wits Justice Project, Hopkins spent eight years investigating complaints from inmates about the handling of their legal cases, allegations of torture, and more. To broaden the scope of her investigation, she also spoke to released prisoners and former warders, some of whom leaked damning video footage. This and their testimonies contributed to the recently released documentary on Hopkins’s investigation, Prison for Profit. Both the book and the film vociferously question the so-called civilised values of our age that permit these shocking abuses of human rights in South…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 7 SEPTEMBER MENA Food Security Digi-Conference (online). Email Lara Tan at lara@gmevents.ae. 29 OCTOBER AgriAllAfrica Agribusiness Conference, CSIR, Pretoria. Email Marianna du Plessis at marianna.duplessis@gmail.com, or phone her on 063 076 9135. 6 TO 7 NOVEMBER Environmental Waste and Landfill Management, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg.Email admin@maphosam.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 7 TO 11 SEPTEMBER Introduction to Pig Production, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone her on 012›672›9153. 14 TO 18 SEPTEMBER Introductory Course to Small-stock Management, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone her on 012 672 9153. 19 SEPTEMBER Cattle Calf Rearing, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985. 21 TO 23 SEPTEMBER Artificial Insemination, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria.…

There is a growing volume of literature outlining what ought to be done to reconstruct South Africa’s economy after the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have certainly added to these by outlining options for igniting growth in South Africa’s agriculture sector along the east coast, and all the way up to Limpopo. In reality, however, it might be too early to place much emphasis on some of the plans that have been published by various institutions, as we are all still trying to fathom the full ramifications of this pandemic. It seems as if we have thus far only seen a glimpse of the impact, as only four provinces in South Africa have experienced increased infection numbers, namely, Gauteng, the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. One can…

The South African red meat industry is faring relatively well at present, despite the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was according to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the South African Red Meat Producers’ Organisation. He told Farmer’s Weekly that cattle prices were about 5% lower than a year ago, while mutton prices increased 13% year-on-year. In mid-August, weaners sold for R32,50/kg, while the producer price of sheep increased to about R85/kg. “The [anticipated] record 2020 maize harvest and [resultant] decline in maize prices bode well for our industry as far as inputs are concerned, and despite the pandemic, we are still continuing with exports.” ‘CONSUMERS ARE NOW LEFT WITH MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME’ South Africa exported red meat to more than 40 countries, with the bulk going to China,…

The judge hearing the high-profile legal case on whether or not livestock exports by sea from South Africa should be permanently banned due to animal welfare considerations, reserved judgment to first deliberate on the reportedly thousands of pages of arguments submitted by the opposing parties. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) was the applicant in the recent case presided over by Judge AJ Dukada in the Grahamstown High Court, to have Kuwait-headquartered company, Al Mawashi, and its associates permanently banned from further exporting any live animals by sea from South Africa. Al Mawashi had already exported approximately 120 000 sheep from the country since late 2019. Representatives of the NSPCA had repeatedly argued that conditions for the livestock during loading, aboard the transport…

The livelihoods of many women working as street vendors in South Africa have been severely compromised as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the consequences of the COVID-19-related lockdown regulations was that many women working as informal traders had been “locked out” of their livelihoods. Speaking during a webinar presented by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, Themakholo Mathebula of the Mahlathini Development Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal said there had been varied effects for different communities. She explained that of the farmers she worked with in the Midlands region, about 95% were women producing crops including maize, beans, cabbage, sweet potato and amadumbe. “The maize is mainly produced for ‘green mealies’, which are sold to ‘bakkie’ traders and vendors.”…

The ongoing ban on liquor sales is continuing to have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of stakeholders in the South African wine value chain. However, support has been pouring in from consumers overseas intent on saving the local wine industry. The UK supermarket chain, Waitrose, has weighed in by launching a promotion in support of South African wines. The promotion consisted of a specially curated case of wine being offered at a 25% discounted price, which included a collection of wines, representing a selection of varietals from different regions. “It’s been really hard to see our fantastic winemakers in South Africa struggle due to the domestic sales ban, some of whom we have worked with for over 20 years,” said Victoria Mason, South African wine buyer at Waitrose. The…

The reinstatement of the ban on liquor sales in South Africa, due to the COVID-19-related lockdown regulations, has resulted in a second unexpected increase in local demand for pineapples for home-brewed beer. Pineapple producers in the northern KwaZulu-Natal region have expressed the hope that as the economies in overseas countries start to “open up” after the COVID-19 pandemic, exports will recommence and even increase. This was according to Josua van Straaten, chairperson of the Hluhluwe Pineapple Growers’ Association, who said exports had almost come to a standstill due to high airfreighting costs, which had more than doubled, as well as the trading restrictions on the pineapple processing and catering sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Van Straaten said the losses suffered as a result of slow exports were at…

Smart irrigation can save water while increasing both the quality and yield of a crop. “Using smart irrigation when growing wine grapes, for example, can make a substantial difference in wine quality and as a result increase the price,” says Anat Solomon, CEO of Saturas, an Israeli company specialising in precision irrigation management systems. SUPER-ACCURATE “Water sensors have been available for at least 30 years, and with these sensors, farmers can measure all manner of key factors, such as leaf shrinkage and even changes in the thickness of the stem. But sensors have limitations and farmers want more accurate ones,” he says. According to the Saturas website, stem water potential is considered the most accurate indication of a plant’s water status, but measuring it has always been a manual, labour-intensive…

If you were given R30 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend it? I would direct R10 million towards rural safety, R10 million towards climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the other R10 million towards farmer support programmes. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? First, make sure you get all the facts before you make a decision. Second, if you have to differ from people, do so with kindness so that respect and friendship follow after the disagreement. This advice was given to me by my father. If you were given carte blanche to effect one major change in South Africa tomorrow, how would you…