Table of contents for 18-25 December 2020 in Farmer's Weekly

There isn’t much left to say about 2020 that hasn’t already been said. It was one of those years that will punctuate our generation’s brief time on this planet in the history books. And while it is understandable that many people would rather forget the hardship and anguish that 2020 brought for many, the events of the past 12 months will demand to be remembered. As individuals and societies, we have all experienced and learnt so much this year, but one of the realisations that stand out for me, and that give me hope for the future, is the swift and profound way in which we adapted to circumstances that were new and daunting to us. Even if we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, next year will not…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 23 TO 25 FEBRUARY 2021 Africa Agri Tech, Pretoria.Visit africa-agri.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 22 TO 26 FEBRUARY 2021 Cattle Dairy Farm Management and Production, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985. 5 TO 11 MARCH 2021 Wildlife Photography, Karongwe Game Reserve, Drakensberg. Phone 013 752 2532, or email enquiries@ecotraining.co.za. ONLINE EVENTS & COURSES 2 FEBRUARY TO 26 APRIL 2021 The Fundamentals of Agribusiness, Agricolleges International. Email admissions@agricolleges.com. IMPORTANT DATES 2021 10 TO 13 FEBRUARY Hackney Horse Breeders’ Society of South Africa’s Heidelberg Show, Heidelberg. Phone Sarah Koch on 082 725 4091, or email her at sarahs.val@gmail.com. 22 TO 23 FEBRUARY 13th World Congress on Aquaculture and Fisheries (webinar). Email contact@ asiameets.com, or visit aqua.conferenceseries.com. 25 TO 28 MARCH Cannabis Expo, GrandWest, Cape Town. Email The…

• In the article, ‘A man of the people’ (FW, 21 August), it was erroneously printed that Francis William Reitz became president of the Senate in the newly formed Union of South Africa in 2010. Reitz assumed this positon in 1910. • In the article, ‘An innovative mobile macadamia dehusker’ (FW, 4 December), it was erroneously printed that Robert Carlton-Shields has 10ha of macadamia trees. Carlton-Shields actually has 101ha planted to macadamias. • Farmer’s Weekly has a high regard for factual accuracy and welcomes reader input.…

The past year was exceedingly tough, and agriculture had to adapt to the shifting challenges brought on by COVID-19-related restrictions on operations, reduced demand, and bottlenecks throughout the value chain, from accessing diesel to moving export products through ports. Despite these challenges, the sector did remarkably well. The pandemic may well be with us for a while yet, but we should not lose sight of other equally important international trends that may affect the sector. The International Bar Association recently held its annual conference where the Agricultural Law Section focused on the consumer’s right to opt out of climate-unfriendly food. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been in place for a number of years, and there is a strong, global push for the economic recovery from the…

Agri SA was committed to exploring areas of co-operation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and to establish a mutually beneficial relationship that would aid integrated rural economic development and rural security initiatives, according to Pierre Vercueil, president of Agri SA. This followed a recent meeting between the two entities in Pretoria where the projects Mzansi Home Guard and Koba-Tlala, which means ‘chasing away hunger’, were on the agenda. Brigadier-General Gerhard Kamffer, project director of Koba-Tlala, told Farmer’s Weekly that the project was aimed at procuring food from developing, small-scale and subsistence farmers in areas where SANDF bases were located. He said a number of the messes at these bases had recently been commercialised to enable them to procure food products in their surrounding areas. “Let us take…

A World Trade Organization (WTO) report has shown a reduction in trade restrictions among G20 countries as they try to boost economic recovery post COVID-19. However, it appears to be a short-term development as the world increasingly moves towards market protectionism. This 24th WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures reflected the impact of the global health crisis on trade and trade policies. G20 members included the EU, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the UK and the US. Of the 133 COVID-19 trade and trade-related measures recorded for G20 economies since the outbreak of the pandemic, 63% were of a trade-facilitating nature and 37% were trade restrictive. Almost three out of every 10 COVID-19 restrictive measures taken by G20 economies had been repealed by mid-October. Most of them were export…

Agri Western Cape recently presented honorary awards to Joyene Isaacs, former head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Dappie Smit, former general manager of Dried Fruit Technical Services, and Wiehahn Victor, former CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association. The Western Cape Stock Theft Committee also presented Sergeant TS Moetsane of Beaufort West with the award for the best member of a Stock Theft Unit, an award he has now won four times in a row. The award for the Best Stock Theft Unit went to the Malmesbury Stock Theft Unit. The unit received 284 cases and had a 71% detection rate between April 2019 and 31 March 2020.…

JANUARY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Cabinet accepted 60 of the 73 recommendations made in the report by the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, including the recommendation to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation. However, the panel’s report was met with resistance from some agriculture associations. DROUGHT PERSISTS DESPITE RAIN Farmers in the drought-stricken regions of South Africa expressed gratitude for the rain that had fallen since the end of the previous year, but follow-up rain was urgently needed to break the ongoing drought. They said it would take a considerable number of years for the veld to recuperate fully, and for farmers to build up their livestock herds. FREE STATE CRIME SYNDICATES Organised crime groups and syndicates were increasingly targeting…

SA Harvest started out small in 2019, with a single truck in a single city and only three employees, recalls Regional Manager Ali Conn. He adds that the organisation was formed in direct response to many issues that plague not only South Africa’s food system, but global systems worldwide. “About 10 million tons of food go to waste in South Africa each year,” says Conn. “At the same time, we have millions of South Africans on the verge of starvation and even more who are food-insecure.” and ‘We implore companies individuals to exciting get involved journey in this ’ This while South Africa produces more than enough food to feed all of its people. “Our food system is broken, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. SA Harvest is…

Having a diverse basket of produce helps a vegetable farmer reduce production risk and cope with fluctuating market prices. The trick, though, is finding the right mix of vegetables to avoid over-complicating production. Francois Steyn of JF Steyn Boerdery near Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, is always keen to try new varieties, provided there is a market. As part of this approach, he cultivates close relationships with buyers and third-party packhouses, putting him first in line to hear about new opportunities, and the trust flowing from this gives him greater confidence to try something new. When he was approached to plant a pumpkin variety relatively unknown in South Africa, the Hokkaido (also called the red kuri squash), he took up the challenge, and has found that this addition to his crop mix fits…

Histamines are chemical compounds found in animals, plants, insect venom and elsewhere. In the body, they function as part of the immune system, triggering inflammation and other symptoms in response to an infection or injury. In the case of an allergy, the body overreacts to what are usually harmless substances (pollen dust, and so forth), producing high levels of histamine and hence the familar runny and itchy nose, sneezing, bronchial constriction and other symptoms. Certain foods are also high in histamine, and can set off an allergic reaction. Antihistamines are compounds that block or decrease the level of histamines, and hence reduce the allergy symptoms. Many types are available at a chemist, but these should be taken in moderation. One solution, if you suffer from an allergy, is to follow…

If you want to take your bushveld tracking to the next level, you need to learn to recognise and decipher birds’ tracks and signs. BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA AND THEIR TRACKS & SIGNS by Lee Gutteridge ( Jacana, R320) is a companion volume to earlier guides to the tracks and signs of mammals (2016) and invertebrates (2017). It demands detailed study, making it perfect for birders who like to turn detective to track down inconspicuous or rarer species. A must for the bushveld bookshelf.…

Effective veld management following wildfires, such as the recent devastating fires in the western Free State and Northern Cape, is crucial for the safeguarding of grazing resources in the long term, according to rangeland specialists, Dr Mias van der Westhuizen of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and emeritus professor at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Hennie Snyman. “The ideal would have been to rest the burnt areas for two growth seasons after the destruction. However, this is not always possible and calls for crisis management in the short term,” said Van der Westhuizen. Farmers had to manage the veld as effectively as possible by recalculating carrying capacity and reducing livestock numbers as soon and by as much as possible. Snyman advised producers to only retain core…

The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) recently elected Peter John Hassard as its new president following the resignation of cotton and vegetable farmer, Phenias Gumede. Hassard is a game and cattle farmer near Hluhluwe, and also chairperson of the Hluhluwe Farmers’ Association, vice chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, director of the Zululand Conservation Trust, and serves on the Hluhluwe Land Forum. He said he was looking forward to supporting every farmer in the province, large or small, and his goal was to ensure that all farmers, irrespective of the commodities they produced, worked together throughout the province. He said the sector was in a good space, despite various challenges, and the outlook for next year was positive. “There is a big future for agriculture in South Africa, and…

According to the latest International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Situation report, per-capita consumption of dairy products increased from 105kg in 2010 to 114,7kg in 2019, while the global population increased from 6,9 billion to more than 7,7 billion. A recent Bloomberg report emphasised that the global dairy industry managed to increase consumption steadily during the past four decades despite changes in dietary trends. Butter has recovered from the false negative publicity by the margarine industry, and butter sales are now higher than margarine sales. Many consumers have also moved from low-fat to full-cream milk. The higher demand for butter and lower availability of cream from skimmed milk resulted in sharp increases in butter prices to a record US$6 200/t (about R95 000/t) in 2017. Butter prices have decreased slowly…

Tyre pressure is crucial to getting the best from a tractor or other farming vehicle. Overinflated tyres increase soil compaction, negatively affecting the crop, whereas under-inflated tyres wear faster and can be damaged more easily. Tyre manufacturer Continental (continental-tires.com) has introduced a new VF (very high flexion) tyre, and for the first time in the UK, a self-propelled sprayer has been fitted with them. VF tyres are highly durable. They are also driveable at low air pressure and can carry greater loads with less soil compaction due to the tyre’s larger surface area at a lower pressure. AIR PRESSURE MONITORING With Continental’s tyre pressure monitoring system, a farmer can monitor tyre pressure and temperature, ensuring that it remains at the optimal setting. This in turn maximises tyre life and performance,…

South Africa is among the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries containing the majority of the planet’s species, and is home to iconic wildlife, such as the Big 5. These animals are not only famous around the world, but remain major tourism drivers, making them crucial for the local economy. For the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)/ Nedbank Green Trust (the Trust), the work to ensure the sustainability of species and the resulting contribution to the local economy remains a priority. Through their Rural Initiative for a Sustainable Environment (RISE) initiative at the Southern African Wildlife College, the Trust enables rural communities to benefit from protected areas by developing the necessary management, governance and financial skills. At carefully selected project sites, the RISE team identifies which benefits are available, advises on…

The South African government is currently drafting its localisation strategy as part of various measures underpinning the economic reconstruction and recovery plan to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agriculture, food and beverage sector accounted for an average 8% of South Africa’s total imports over the past five years, at an annual value of around US$6,5 billion (about R99,8 billion). This makes it a fairly notable sector to be explored in the process of promoting localisation. The top 10 products on the imports list account for 46% of all agriculture, food and beverage imports. These are rice (7%); poultry meat (7%); wheat (6%); alcohol, including vodka, whiskies, spirits, gin, and rum (5%); sugar cane (5%); palm oil (4%); beer from malt (4%); protein concentrates (3%); sunflower oil (3%);…

A humanitarian disaster is looming for the community of Tsitsikamma as around 150 employees at the Boskor sawmill fear they could lose their jobs due to MTO Forestry’s decision to reroute its saw logs to George. MTO Forestry is partly owned by the Global Environment Fund, a US-based investment fund, and its products are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). MTO previously supplied the timber from its plantations in the area to Boskor and other sawmills in the immediate area, but was currently trucking logs to its own sawmill in George. Boskor and the forestry operations in the area were originally set up by the state specifically to generate sustainable socio-economic activity in the Tsitsikamma area, according to Hans Hanekom, CEO of Swartland Investments, a locally owned business that…

Livestock producers continue to be under pressure from high feed costs, with yellow maize prices, a key ingredient in animal feed, 24% higher year-on-year, averaging R3 342/t from September to November. This was according to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB, who said the high prices were being underpinned by the strong export demand, despite the record harvest this year. “Export demand surged 373% for the current marketing season, while domestic feed utilisation fell 19% relative to the same period last year.” He said the largest volumes had so far been shipped to South Korea, which accounted for 30,9% of total exports, with China accounting for 28% of total exports for the 2020/2021 marketing season, followed by Japan and Vietnam at 13% and 9% respectively. Neighbouring countries in Africa…

The Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) National Beef Performers Awards was held during a virtual ceremony on 26 November. The beef performers’ awards recognises farmers’ excellence in producing exceptional beef cattle for the commercial and stud markets. Speaking during the event, Dr Shadrack Moephuli, CEO and president of the ARC, said that as the demand for beef was expected to increase around 30% over the next decade, local producers were faced with many challenges. However, this also meant that there were plenty of opportunities. He added that the ARC National Beef Performers Awards was a “prestigious” event that celebrated farmers for using cutting-edge technology, amongst other methods, to improve herd and breeding management. “[South Africa’s] beef industry has made remarkable progress over the past four decades, and currently ranks as one…

Before committing funds to building your cannabis production facility, you need to decide which market (medicinal or recreational) you will be supplying. As discussed in previous articles, the product requirements for these differ. Briefly, medicinal buyers seek efficacy and standardisation of the end product. They rarely want cannabis in its raw form; typically, they extract specific cannabinoids and create a tablet, patch, or tincture-based product. By contrast, recreational customers seek top-quality bud and concentrates that possess exceptional looks, density, smell and psychoactive effect. The three main methods of producing cannabis are the following. OUTDOOR CULTIVATION Outdoor cultivation is by far the cheapest of the three. There is no need for expensive lighting; a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system; or a dehumidification system. Other benefits include: • Terpene expression…

The Syngenta Leadership Academy Class of 2020 recently had the opportunity to present the insights they gained from participating in this business leadership programme, and so shed light on how to tackle some of the greatest challenges faced by the agriculture sector. Now in its eighth year, this programme, which is run by Syngenta in partnership with the North-West University Business School and Grain SA, seeks to empower a new generation of leaders in agriculture. Since its inception, the programme has successfully hosted about 150 young commercial farmers and agriculture sector professionals. The 2020 intake included 17 candidates from the sugar, feedlot, forestry, livestock, agrochemical and seed, equipment, horticulture and agronomy industries, amongst others. THE MAJOR CHALLENGES Mbali Nwoko, CEO of Green Terrace, an agribusiness that supplies retailers, food processing…

Are there any farmers or other fresh produce people who don’t believe the consumer is king? If they exist, I suggest they revisit their antiquated beliefs before the tide of consumerism overwhelms them. Around the world, retailers have led the charge to put consumers at the top of the podium. Does that mean other role players need not bother and can leave it all to the retail trade? Only the unwise would do that. NEXT SEASON’S CROP To plan their own crops, farmers need to be up to date with the latest consumer trends. If they fail to do so, they could easily grow the wrong crops or varieties for the market or package them inappropriately. And they could end up wondering why they haven’t been getting good sales and…

1. MY SWEET LIFE by Faaiza Omar (Human & Rousseau, R450) Abandon diets all who enter here! If you’re taking the Festive Season literally and enjoying the feasting, there’s no question that you have to round things off with a sweet treat. My Sweet Life is an excellent place to start looking for ideas! Omar claims to have had a lifelong sweet tooth, and as an “ardent traveller”, she has indulged this in her travels around the world. The result is her take on delights from Eid bakes to Italian tiramisu and many more in between. So if you and your tastebuds like the sound of cinnamon roll cheesecake, Key lime pies, rose and cardamom tart, Peruvian alfajores biscuits and delicious sweets using home-made dulce de leche, try…

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? In no particular order, and without presenting a complete business plan, I would expand my current operation by investing in farm infrastructure and buying the latest technological mechanisation. This would need to go hand in hand with retraining my employees. My second move would be to invest in existing secondary and tertiary value chain businesses related to my primary farming business, with the main aim of facilitating meaningful participation of black people in formal and informal markets through the agricultural value chain. Lastly, I would work with the universities and the Agricultural Research Council to explore the viability of developing a truly…