Table of contents for 9 December 2022 in Farmer's Weekly

At the time of writing, there had been a reported three pitbull attacks in South Africa in fewer than seven days. This has sparked widespread debate on the ownership of these dogs in this country, and whether it is the breed or their owners who are to blame for the attacks. Pitbulls are popular guard dogs because of their intimidating appearance, as well as the fact that they are fiercely protective of their owners and their property. In a country like South Africa, this is a good selling point, particularly for farms and in rural areas, which are generally isolated from security services. In light of the current pitbull 'crisis', organisations and political parties have called for the immediate ban of the private ownership of the breed in South Africa.…

Green-fingered learners from Curro Delft High School in the Western Cape were ecstatic to see Dr Ivan Meyer, provincial MEC for agriculture join them for a tree-planting ceremony in early November. The main focus of the event was the official launch of a vegetable garden at the school, an idea spearheaded by grade eight learners Yola Mgogwana and Anelisa Mgedezi. The two young women came up with the idea late last year to help educate their peers on the significance of food sovereignty and to encourage others to make informed decisions about nutrition. Curro Delft is located in the heart of a rapidly expanding community on the outskirts of Cape Town, and many of the learners come from underprivileged backgrounds. Although the school provides learners with their own dedicated devices…

ARCHIVE In the second instalment of a two-part series on an Ermelo farmer Frank Olschewski's diversified operation, we continue with his piggery. The piggery is exceptionally neat and clean, and has been designed in line with the latest standards of technology. (He sometimes had to modify things as he found some operations didn't work as planned.) "For example, I have put in tipping units for feeding throughout. But in some of the pens, these are too high, and food is scattered all over the floor. In such pens, it is better to have the workers put down feed by hand. "The unit is compact, and has also been designed for a minimum labour force. It isn't my intention to reduce staff but, if necessary, I could manage on my own."…

South Africa's snail production industry is growing slowly, but still lacks critical mass to develop further market opportunities. Producers agree, however, that the industry has a bright future. Wihan Coetzer of Amber-Moon Snails, a breeding and processing company based in White River, Mpumalanga, said the expansion of snail production was slow, but consistent. "At this stage, South Africa mostly has a cottage industry, with farmers rarely having more than 2ha under production. We still need a lot of capital investment to take farmers closer to the 10ha mark, but financing isn't readily available." Coetzer, who bought snails from other farmers in addition to producing his own, processed the slime for the cosmetics industry. "This is a more lucrative market than protein, but the slime is actually a by-product and the…

A strategy that will see a nearly threefold increase in farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Zimbabwe has been announced by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Production is expected to increase from the current 5 600t/year to 14 000t/year in 2032. The strategy will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). According to an FAO report, funding for the initiative would come from the EU and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development. The increase in production would be driven by better access to inputs, services and markets for smallscale fish farmers, and would raise their annual benefits from R97,48 million to R379 million over the next decade, the FAO said in the statement. According to the Global Seafood…

UKRAINE UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced in mid-November that the deal to export grain from Ukraine's southern Black Sea ports would continue for another 120 days, after an agreement was reached with both Ukraine and Russia. He said in a statement that the UN was also "fully committed to removing the remaining obstacles to exporting food and fertilisers from Russia", a part of the deal that Russian authorities regarded as critical. UNITED KINGDOM A group, consisting of Farm Cornwall, the Farm Community Network and The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, has been set up to support farmers in Cornwall this winter as the industry faces severe financial pressure. Martyn Alvey, the member for environment at the Cornwall Council, told BBC News: "[The] increase in farm costs such as animal feed, fertilisers…

An earlier harvest and higherthan-normal volumes have led to subdued litchi prices. An earlier season usually resulted in better export prices as South Africa took advantage of the low volumes on the market before the crop from Madagascar arrived. However, economic pressure and shipping constraints had reduced the chance of price gains. This was according to Bram Snjider, a litchi grower and independent litchi consultant, who said that market prices came down quite severely in mid-November for several reasons. “There is no buying power [from consumers] in Europe or South Africa, and there are big volumes [of litchis] on the market. This year, the crop is earlier, so there’s [a greater] volume than usual,” Snjider said. Jaco Oosthuizen, CEO of RSA Group, told Farmer's Weekly that there had been a…

New sprayer technologies, such as John Deere's ExactApply, enable farmers to save water and chemicals by increasing sprayer-application efficiency. Sunnyboy Moyana, tactical marketing planner of precision agriculture and intelligent solutions at John Deere Africa Middle East, says that the technology allows farmers to maintain a consistent droplet size in a wider application of speed range, and achieve greater accuracy of spray rate with turn compensation. He adds that John Deere's advanced A and B nozzle designs enable farmers to reduce overlapping, overapplication, crop burn and off-target drift by offering individual nozzle control and automatically switching some of the nozzles on and off as needed. When going around turns, the ExactApply system varies the rate at which nutrients are applied. When the equipment turns, the nozzles at the end of the…

We are approaching the 55th national conference of the ANC, where new leadership will be elected and resolutions will be adopted on critical policy matters. Agricultural policy, food security, and land reform are likely to be among the crucial topics at the conference. The outcome of the party's policy conference held in July this year gives us some insight into the ANC's broad approach to agriculture, food security and land reform. The policy papers from the July conference have championed agriculture as an important sector of the local economy, with the potential to lift many South Africans out of poverty through increased food production, vibrant economic activity and job creation. This perspective gives one hope that the policy approach for this sector will be constructive, demonstrating an understanding of the…

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have called for urgent action to address the global fertiliser crisis. This followed a study undertaken by both organisations that outlined policy recommendations for the governments of G20 countries. The study highlighted the importance of keeping the fertiliser market open to meet global demand and to avoid a food availability crisis. The results of the study were released in mid-November and focused on the current volatility in the fertiliser market and the resultant impact on agricultural production. According to the study, titled 'Global fertilizer markets and policies: a joint FAO/WTO mapping exercise', factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war, high global inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the global economic downturn led to soaring prices of…

Despite integrated poultry producer Astral Foods posting its secondbest financial results on record in late November, there is concern about the South African poultry industry's medium-term outlook. This was according to Astral Foods' CEO, Chris Schutte. For the financial year ending 30 September 2022, the company reported a 22% increase in revenue to slightly more than R19 billion (2020/21: R15,9 billion). The operating profit margin increased to 7,4% (2021:4,6%) as a result of a significant improvement in the profitability of its poultry division. Operating profits were R763 million (2021: R147 million), while the feed division reported an operating profit of R599 million (2021: R527 million). A final dividend of R5,90/share was declared. "On paper, the results look incredible, our second-best on record," Schutte told Farmer's Weekly. "But you need to…

South Africa's canning fruit season is off to a good start, according to Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers' Association. He added that while winter rainfall had been below the long-term average in most production regions, most dams were still at acceptable levels. Farmers in the Ceres region, however, had expressed concern that they might not have sufficient water for late cling peach varieties and Bon Chretien pears until the end of the season, Jordaan said. The volume of Bulida apricots destined for the canning market was expected to increase from last season's almost 14 150t to about 14 700t, and decrease from 15 970t to just over 13 550t for the juice and purée market. Jordaan attributed last season's high volumes of juice and purée to a…

The agriculture sector has faced significant challenges in recent years that threaten the viability of many farming businesses. It is for this reason that Agri SA has called on government to limit any rise in the national minimum wage to an inflation-related increase, the organisation said in a statement. Agri SA proposed an increase in the national minimum wage equal to consumer price inflation (CPI), minus 2%. According to the statement, the sector currently employed about 874 000 workers, but its employment capacity would clearly come under pressure if the increases in the national minimum wage continued to be untethered from economic reality. Johan Wege, chairperson of Agri SA's Centre of Excellence for Labour, told Farmer's Weekly that farmworkers in South Africa earned an average of about R4 550/month, calculated…

Outbreaks of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in the Northern and Western Cape have been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department). The disease resulted in high mortalities in rabbits and hares, with animals dying suddenly due to bleeding in organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen, according to a statement by the agriculture department. This was the first time that RHD had been detected in South Africa, and the department was investigating the source of the outbreaks, as the importing of hares and rabbits into the country was prohibited. Local authorities began to suspect a problem after rabbits and wild hares began dying in unusually high numbers in parts of the Northern Cape towards the end of October, and in some areas of…

Since the third quarter of 2020, global maize prices have more than doubled to reach unprecedented levels, as shown by the Chicago Board of Trade's maize price over the past few years (see graph). At the end of 2021, analysts were nonetheless of the view that elevated maize prices would lead to a favourable global supply response that would drive prices down. This, however, failed to materialise. Instead, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hot and dry conditions in Northern and Southern Hemisphere production regions, and relatively low global stock levels provided further upward price momentum. At the end of July this year, global maize prices began to ease on the back of a strong US dollar and an aggressive contractionary monetary policy. Nevertheless, this downward trend in maize prices was short-lived,…

A few years ago, when South Africa was struck by an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, a leading cause of diarrhoea in sheep, Johan Barnard was forced to rebuild his stud, Johanri Dormers. As a result, he now runs a lucrative operation producing top-class animals. This is evident in the number of Johanri animals that achieved South African record prices at the 4×4 Dormer Auction held live in Bethlehem, Free State, and online earlier this year. Not only did Barnard's ram 'Spiekeries' JB 20 0099 achieve the highest price ever paid for a Dormer ram in the country when it sold for R510 000, but his ewe JB 20 0034 sold for R180 000, the highest price ever paid for a ewe in South Africa. In addition, the Johanri ram 'Sniper' JB…

SERVES THREE TO FOUR Shoulder of pork, around 1kg 3 Tbsp oil Salt and pepper, to taste 1 cup apple cider 2 cups chicken stock 2 onions, halved 4 garlic cloves 2 bay leaves Handful fresh thyme 3 medium apples, roughly chopped Steamed vegetables, for serving • Preheat the oven to 220°C. • Rub the shoulder of pork with oil, and season with salt and pepper. • Place the meat onto a baking tray and roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until the outside has turned golden-brown in colour. Reduce the heat to 160°C. • Add the remaining ingredients to the baking tray and roast for another 90 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. • Serve with steamed vegetables of your choice.…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 20 TO 24 MARCH 2023 Africa Regional Apimondia (bee) Symposium, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, Durban. Visit apimondiaafrica2023.org.za. 24 TO 26 MARCH 2023 Cannabis Expo, Grandwest, Cape Town. Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za. COURSES AND TRAINING 5 TO 9 DECEMBER Academy Poultry Module, George. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 7 TO 9 DECEMBER Basic Goat Production, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Email karabo@mathema.co.za. 9 DECEMBER Calf Rearing, Gauteng. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 9 TO 14 DECEMBER Commercial Mushroom Substrate Design, Cultivation, Marketing and Business Planning (online). Visit mushroomacademy.com. 18 JANUARY TO 10 MARCH 2023 Online Field Guide Course. Email Meagan Gilfillan at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za, or phone her on 013 752 2532. 31 JANUARY TO 14 MARCH 2023 Citrus Planting Management (online). Phone Agricolleges International on 063…

Traditionally, the US midterm elections are regarded as a referendum on the performance of a US president in the first two years of a four-year term. The 2022 mid-term elections were held under unprecedented conditions, with the Republican Party expected to win by a landslide and take control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. But the results surprised everybody, with the Democrats winning the majority in the Senate and only just losing the House. But first let's ask a more elementary question: why should South Africans concern themselves with this domestic development in the US? The answer has two parts: the US is the largest economy in the world, and it is one of South Africa's biggest trading partners. More than 600 US firms are currently doing business…

Fair Cape Dairies near Durbanville has won the Agricultural Research Council's (ARC) National Master Dairyman of the Year award, as well as a special award for Innovative Development by a Dairy Producer, at the recent 2022 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards recently held in Durbanville. For the fourth consecutive year, the small-scale award went to Zim Dairy, situated between Harrismith and Kestell in the Free State. Etienne Zeeman of Swellendam won the award for the Herd with the Best Somatic Cell Count, with 170 000 cells/ml, while Tweekop Boerdery near Heidelberg in the Western Cape won the award for the Best Intercalving Period, with a period of 370 days. Peter Pentz Sr of Groote Post near Darling in the Western Cape won an honorary award for Lifetime Contribution to the…

Dairy farmers in Tunisia are selling their cows and drastically reducing production, which is adding to a shortage of milk while that country's cash-strapped government battles with high inflation. According to dairy farmers, they can no longer afford to produce milk at the state-mandated purchase price, against the backdrop of rising prices of feed and other inputs. According to a report by Reuters, the government was keen to keep prices down for ordinary citizens, but was bound to reduce farming subsidies, which was a requirement for obtaining a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. "[The government's] inability to resolve the problem has left farmers poorer and consumers fuming, adding to a sense of economic breakdown and government mismanagement in a country where frustration over politics is already simmering," the report…

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has initiated an investigation into whether anti-dumping duties against bone-in chicken imports from the US, which expired in November, should be renewed. This was in response to evidence presented by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), which revealed that, in 2021, US dumping margins ranged from 175% for whole birds cut in half to 279% for frozen thighs. "The removal of these tariffs would therefore result in the continuation and escalation of dumping. This would seriously harm the poultry industries of the Southern African Customs Union [members]," ITAC said in a statement. During ITAC's investigation, producers, exporters and importers would be contacted to determine whether dumping was ongoing and, if so, which duties were required to counter it. Izaak Breitenbach, general…

Local and global shipping, as well as airfreight volumes, have started to show signs of contraction amid sluggish global economic conditions, which in turn could ease some pressure on supply chains, according to Business Unity South Africa's (BUSA's) 113th Cargo Update report. "Perhaps there is an opportunity to reset the global supply chain and restore some much-needed service reliability," BUSA stated. Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz, concurred, adding that the logistical congestion on South Africa's roads and at its ports was clearing up. "There'll always be day-to-day issues, such as broken-down cranes, but these are usually resolved fairly quickly," Boshoff told Farmer's Weekly. "Currently, Agbiz's biggest concern is the fact that there is no spare capacity at our ports. They all operate at 100% capacity at all times. "It's very…

High commodity prices, increased international sales, and the expansion of its biostimulant business were the main drivers behind the good performance of Omnia Holdings's agriculture division. This was according to Stephan Serfontein, Omnia's group financial director, who was commenting on the company's results for the first half of the 2022/23 financial year. The diversified chemicals group recorded an interim operating profit of almost R1,1 billion for the six months to end-September 2022, up 47% (2021/22: R723 million). Group revenue from continued operations, excluding those in Zimbabwe, rose by 19% to nearly R12 billion (2021/22: R9,9 billion). Serfontein told Farmer's Weekly that the Zimbabwean segment of the business had been omitted from the financial results due to complications stemming from currency volatility and a lack of a uniform exchange rate. The…

According to the Food Price Index compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the average global price of meat in June 2022 was 14% higher yearon-year and 33% up on June 2020 levels. Lamb and mutton prices have decreased since November 2021, and beef prices have decreased since March 2022. Poultry prices increased by 25% from February 2022 to June 2022. The effect of international prices on the South African market depends on the exchange rate, the vulnerability of local markets to imports, and possible exports. The poultry sector is particularly vulnerable, as about 22% of local consumption is imported. The beef industry also recently became a net exporter. The expected slowdown in global economic growth, as well as expected lower grain and oilseed prices, will…

In a new study, researchers observed the effects of tomato consumption on the gut microbiome in piglets, the Medical News Today website recently reported. For their study, conducted at Ohio State University in the US, researchers chose to monitor 20 male piglets. After being weaned, the piglets received a basal diet for one week. They were then randomly divided into a control group and research group of 10 piglets each. Over a period of 14 days, the research group was fed a diet that contained 10% freeze-dried tomato powder, which was added to the basal diet. The control group received a basal diet that had been adjusted to match the sugar and fibre content provided by the freeze-dried tomatoes in the research group's diet. The study showed that the ratio…

Diddly Squat ’Til the Cows Come Home by Jeremy Clarkson (Michael Joseph, R320) From the terror of Top Gear to … a terror on a tractor? Clarkson readily admits this is one steering wheel that he's not safe behind. His previous Diddly Squat: A Year On The Farm chronicled how he decided to turn gentleman farmer and answer his own regular question, "How hard can it be?" Not so hard, perhaps, if you're promoting your farming venture on a TV show and the queues to get into your farm shop are so long that they're allegedly annoying the locals. More invaluable publicity came from newspaper columns on which that first book and this successor have been based. Wry and rambunctious self-mockery runs through Clarkson's tales, while the cows endlessly break…

Dear Prof McCrindle, I live in Texas in the US, and have a 20-year-old mare, who has had many problems since I purchased her. The man I bought her from rescued her from a kill pen. She is incredibly skinny, and although I dewormed her twice and am feeding her two scoops of lucerne cubes, sweet feed and weight builder, she is not gaining weight. Her right hind fetlock is also grossly swollen and was treated for cellulitis, but it remains swollen. Although my vet certified the horse as completely sound when I bought her, I later got X-rays showing damage to her sesamoid bone with several bone fragments. Her foot was also swollen, but I was told that she had broken her foot as a filly and everything was…