Table of contents for 11 March 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

‘WE ARE FACING A POTENTIAL FAMINE SITUATION’ As a result of the drought ravaging large parts of Southern Africa, South Africa’s national beef herd has been reduced by almost a third. Our maize production, which accounts for 60% of the region’s food supply, has decreased significantly, and more than five million tons of maize will have to be imported. Already 2,5 million people in the region are classified as being in crisis as a result of a lack of access to sufficient food. And the situation is growing more dire. In the words of Omri van Zyl, CEO of Agri SA: “We are facing a potential famine situation”, and things will get much worse before they get better. The drought has exposed many of the weaknesses in the agriculture sector…

The article “Maximum temperature record in Addo” (FW, 12 February) refers. This article about the highest recorded temperature in the Eastern Cape in the Addo Elephant park (46,5°C, with a heat discomfort index of 121) was most interesting. Here in Kirkwood, some 30km to the west of Addo, I recorded a temperature of 42,4°C on my electronic thermometer, so this report must have covered the whole valley. In fact, the day was more than hot, seeing that there was basically no wind, and did we swelter! I have a record of a higher temperature of 52°C recorded sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, but this could not be verified by the weather bureau in Port Elizabeth. Peter Burton, via email…

The 44% increase in the underlying operating profit (UOP) of Mondi SA, the South African division of international packaging and paper group, Mondi, helped the group achieve “an extremely successful year” for the 12 months ended 31 December 2015. Mondi SA’s €161 million (R2,281 billion at 2015 average of R14,17 = €1) UOP for the year was attributed to higher selling prices, good cost control, forestry revaluation gains, and currency benefits, among others. A statement from Mondi reported that it had seen significant profit improvements across all of its business units in more than 30 countries. The group’s UOP rose 25% from €767 million (R11,06 billion at 2014 average of R14,42 = €1) to €957 million (R13,56 billion at R14,17 = €1). “Sales volumes [from Mondi SA] were marginally lower…

The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands area was already in an uproar after it emerged in late 2015 that an application to explore approximately 1,5 million hectares – incorporating an estimated 10 000 agricultural properties and untold freshwater resources – had been submitted to government. Now, Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (ROGESA), which submitted the exploration application for the Midlands area, recently announced that it had submitted a similar application for approximately two million hectares in the northern areas of KZN. This was despite having met with largely hostile resistance from KZN Midlands residents when ROGESA and its contracted environmental impact assessment company, SLR Africa, hosted a series of public scoping meetings on the topic. Public opposition stemmed largely from fears that, should the company be given permission to mine the…

As of 1 April 2017, all sugar-sweetened beverages in South Africa will be taxed, finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, announced during his 2016 budget speech delivered in late February. He said that the tax was intended to reduce national sugar consumption, which may cause obesity and associated health problems. The inevitability of a sugar tax has caused confusion and dismay in the local sugar value-chain. The South African Sugar Association (SASA) told Farmer’s Weekly that it would “engage closely with government to understand its thinking and its intentions” behind the tax. “The SA sugar industry promotes a healthy [and] balanced lifestyle, and supports the fight against obesity. The information that the sugar industry provides on sugar and health is available on its website www.youandsugar.co.za,” said SASA’s executive director, Trix Trikam. The…

Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan did not discuss agriculture extensively in his 2016 budget speech, but this was understandable, as the full extent of the drought, and the impact thereof, had not yet been established. This was according to Dr John Purchase, the CEO of Agbiz. This had prevented Gordhan from announcing more comprehensive drought relief measures than those already announced. Gordhan announced drought relief measures of R1 billion. This included, among others, R502 million earmarked for the provision of boreholes and water tankers; R318 million from the national, as well as the provincial agricultural departments, for the movement of livestock to state-owned farms; and the transportation of drinking water. The 2016 budget also provided for R187 million to be transferred from the rural development department for the provision of…

Despite the continual decline in the agriculture sector’s contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP), the sector remains extremely important, not only because of its contribution to forex earnings, but as a source of national food security. Food security is needed for political stability and therefore social and economic development of a country. In recent times, the sector has faced droughts and floods. Smallholder livestock farmers have been steadily losing animals, setting back efforts to increase livestock numbers. The loss of stock means that smallholder farmers cannot participate fully in the formal red meat markets due to their inability to supply consistent quantity and quality. The frequency of droughts in the region calls for responses that will put in place mechanisms to deal with natural disasters, be they short-,…

Thanks to infrared video recorders and biotelemetry belts used by athletes, researchers now have a good idea of how stressed blue wildebeest (gnus) can become when they are held in bomas prior to being moved, according to a statement released by Stellenbosh University (SU). These items were used by Dr Liesel Laubscher, from Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, as part of her doctoral research. She received a PhD in Animal Sciences from SU in December 2015. Laubscher’s research formed part of efforts by the SA Research Chair in Meat Science: Genomics to Nutriomics to add scientific knowledge to the activities of the local wildlife sector. About 300 000 wild animals are successfully relocated in South Africa every year. Problems during the process often lead to injuries or even the death of the…

DON’T BE TOO AGGRESSIVE WITH A TAX SCHEME – MAKE SURE THE BUSINESS HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR PAYING TAX AT SOME POINT One way to bring down the tax liability of a business, whether a sole proprietor or a company, is to keep the assessed losses alive. Of course, an assessed loss is not a good thing, as it means that a company has lost money in a year. However, the business has in effect ‘paid’ for the loss (because it cost money). Therefore, it should be safeguarded as it is, in a sense, an asset. Accounting professionals call this deferred tax. The business is able to write the loss off in a subsequent year when the profits are better. It then pays far less tax in that year than…

JOHANN WAS FACED WITH A DILEMMA: CEASE PRODUCTION OR EXPAND IT In 1994, necessity led Johann Vos to erect a small mill on his farm, Van Oudtshoorn Stroom, situated between Ermelo and Amsterdam in Mpumalanga. What started as an operation to ensure that his cattle had enough feed for winter has led to a sizeable family enterprise operating under the brand Sakhisizwe Maize Meal and Animal Feeds. Today, the business involves his wife, Hannelie, and his daughter, Hanri. “My first love is cattle, which means I actually farm with grass. The mill happened out of necessity. Cattle require feed for winter and this feed needs to be stored. Maize for the market also has to be stored at co-op silos, but at a price,” Johann says. THE FIRST YEARS The…

Zweliphi Sithole’s first two years as a full-time small-scale farmer have been a baptism by fire. In 2014, when he gave up his career of more than 20 years in government agricultural extension to pursue his lifelong dream of farming, the drought was already gaining momentum. He frowns as he discusses its affect on his KwaZulu-Natal business. Minutes later, during his conversation with Farmer’s Weekly, the frown turns into a smile as rain begins falling on his six parched hectares of mixed-farming land. Sadly, it is nowhere near enough; much more rain is needed to refill the farm’s small irrigation dam, in which only a puddle of water remains. Zweliphi is pinning his hopes on predictions the drought may break soon. He says the drought illustrates why it is important…

MAKE THE EFFORT TO FINE-TUNE THE IRRIGATION – IT WILL INCREASE YIELD The manner in which lettuces are transplanted makes all the difference to the profitability of a crop, as all subsequent practices and expenses up to maturity remain the same. It is therefore crucial to follow the right steps from the start. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, APPLY NITROGEN! Once the seedlings are transplanted, irrigation can leach nitrogen from the plugs, slowing down growth and leading to unevenly sized lettuces across the land. This problem will remain until harvest. To prevent this from happening, take action beforehand. Mix one handful (about 50g) of LAN in 8l to 10l of water for every 2 000 to 2 500 plants and water the seedlings in their trays or bags. In this way, you…

INSPECT YOUR DOG’S MOUTH FOR FLAT BONES THAT HAVE BECOME WEDGED ACROSS THE PALATE Sudden weight loss in canines is not uncommon and can be due to a number of reasons, one of which is pregnancy. In this case, the weight loss is temporary and harmless, and often occurs in the early stages of pregnancy when a bitch goes off her food for a short time due to nausea. Where pregnancy can be discounted, you need to determine one of two things: is the dog not eating at all, or is it eating all of its food but still losing weight? If the latter, the cause could be tapeworm infestation. Look out for small white segments in your dog’s faeces, then treat with a single dose of species-specific dewormer. Blastomycosis…

LET US BRING PEACE WHERE THERE IS ANGER, COMFORT WHERE THERE IS HURT AND FAITH WHERE THERE IS FEAR When Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, He had an opportunity to speak, but He said very little, and that greatly impressed Pontius Pilate. Sometimes by saying less, we make more of an impact than if we shout and scream and lose our dignity. In 1 Kings 19:12, we read: “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” The prophet thought God would be found in a huge wind that broke the rocks in pieces. Then he thought the Lord would be found in the whirlwind, the earthquake and the fire, but He was not there. Instead,…

MURDER AT SMALL KOPPIE by Greg Marinovich (Penguin, R250) Marinovich won a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of South Africa’s township battles in the early 1990s. More recently, he was on hand to cover the Marikana tragedy as it unfolded and his masterly online reconstruction of what happened in that deadly confusion rightly won him several journalism awards. In Murder at Small Koppie, he brings together his exclusive and meticulous research, his interviews and the long hearings of the Marikana Commission. The result is a detailed critique of the protest and its often distorted aftermath. A must-read. THE STRANGER by Harlan Coben (Orion, R210) A string of disappearances and deaths hit well-heeled American commuter towns where the biggest concern is usually whether your child will make the US equivalent of…

BUDGET SPEECH FW received a great deal of reaction to Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan’s, recent budget speech from our Facebook Followers. Amanda Els says: I don’t get the sugar tax on fizzy drinks – the tax should be levied on the manufacturers and a time limit should be imposed to reduce the sugar levels of all food and drink. I see no reason why everything should have sugar in it. Brerteb Guruz says: It’s up to the youth to use the platform that allows us to propose our long-planned ideas to transform our economy, which will lead to the development and growth of progressive youths! Lebza Mabokela says: People should be given jobs not grants! Instead of increasing child support grants they should be investing in youth employment, they…

With its soaring population, South Africa’s economy must absorb 26 million new job seekers over the next 15 years, according to an article by Clem Sunter posted by Protea Media. Based on figures compiled by Statistics SA in 2014, there were nearly five million children under the age of five, about five million between the ages of five and nine, more than four million aged between 10 and 14, and four million aged between 15 and 19. Considering that nearly half of the about 10 million youths of working age already cannot find jobs, Sunter is worried about the increasing pressure on service delivery, government expenditure, and general quality of life, not to mention the potential increase in crime. Perhaps one of the reasons government is not taking the problem…

Indications were that only about 28% of the South African national cattle herd was inoculated against brucellosis, according to Dr Chriche du Plessis, ruminant product specialist at MSD Animal Health. Speaking at a recent SA Studbook stud beef cattle information day in Bloemfontein, she said brucellosis was a highly contagious disease that affected both humans and animals. “It should be managed diligently and carefully. It has serious ramifications for both animals and people,” she said. In humans it is known as Malta fever, and farmers, farm workers, vets and abattoir workers were at risk. Those infected initially showed flu-like symptoms. In its chronic stage in humans, it could result in sterility, infection of the heart valve and meningitis, among others. According to retired Bloemfontein vet Dr Jan de Wet, symptoms…

Government tasked the primary agricultural sector to raise its GDP contribution to 6%, although the potential GDP share could be as high as 12%. This is far removed from the current contribution of 2,5%, according to the deputy minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bheki Cele. Cele, a speaker at the Agri SA Commodity Conference held in Somerset West recently, said his department had been instructed by government to ensure food security, create jobs and grow wealth by expanding the farming sector. Agricultural economist and keynote speaker, Prof Nick Vink, chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Stellenbosch, said government’s expectation for the primary agricultural sector to increase its GDP contribution made little sense. Increasing the sector’s contribution to a 6% share in GDP required the…

Uganda’s Bugala Farmers’ Association has called on the UN’s Development Programme to cut ties with Kenyan-based edible oil producer, Bidco Africa. The association has accused the company of involvement in land grabs, human rights violations and environmentally destructive practices in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, according to the African Press Organisation. More than 100 farmers lost their land to Bidco when, in partnership with the local government, the company deforested more than 7 500ha of rainforest and smallholder farms on Bugala Island. Farmers presented a petition at the UNDP office in Kampala, which officials accepted only after a four-hour wait.…

The week-long celebration of President Robert Mugabe’s 92nd birthday reached its climax in Masvingo Province with a large public function attended by diplomats and thousands of Zanu-PF supporters. The pro-Zanu-PF public media published supplements eulogising the president for turning 92, while ruling party youths conducted marches and undertook clean-up campaigns in Masvingo in preparation for the celebration. Opposition parties denounced the celebrations as insensitive amid a drought that has left at least 2,4 million hungry. At least US$800 000 (R12,8 million) was spent, with 54 head of cattle slaughtered and 300kg of game meat used for the celebration staged at the Great Zimbabwe ruins. Several giant cakes were prepared for the president at the occasion in Masvingo, a province ranked number two on the food insecurity list by the latest…

The National Farmers’ Association of South Africa applauds Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan for providing a new direction, based on the robust implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP), to turn around and grow the economy. In his budget speech, Gordhan mentioned agroprocessing and agriculture a number of times, as part of government’s plan to create more jobs. He focused particularly on smallholders. All this was very encouraging. The NDP (Vision 2030) sees agriculture as one of the key sectors to drive economic growth, as it has the potential to create one million new jobs by 2030. The minister said that the budget was aimed at inclusive growth, as it emphasised partnerships among role players in the SA economy, prioritised education and infrastructure investment, supported employment creation and contributed to…

Most modern food crops arose through the domestication of wild species by mediaeval farming communities. Many wild species still exist today, including the ancient and unique groundnut. Groundnuts originated in the South-Central states of South America and, at the time of colonial arrival, indigenous native Indian tribes were already growing the crop for food. Seeds were taken by colonials to other continents, where commercial planting of cultivated groundnuts increased to the present global 17 million hectares. Yield had slowly increased to 1,37t/ha by 2000. The groundnut, with its many different names, baffled farmers and scientists alike. In 1787, a formal Latin name was registered: Apios americana. The groundnut is differentiated from some 70 other species of the Arachis genus by its plant structure, which comprises an upright stalk; branches that…

THE IDEAL GRAZING SYSTEM SHOULD MINIMISE THE TRAMPLING OF VELD CLOSE TO WATERING POINTS Let me begin with a startling statement: there is no direct correlation between grazing capacity and grazing land values. The only time that the value of veld or grazing directly correlates with carrying capacity is in budget calculations. This correlation is often made by agricultural economists treading on the professional valuer’s domain. Although grazing capacity does influence grazing land values, there are other determining factors. These include alternative land uses such as grazing land purchased for conversion to a game farm, mining purposes or residential or commercial development. Grazing land, just like cultivated dryland, irrigated land, permanently established pastures or permanent crop land, is not valuated according to production capacity, but according to the comparable sales…

REPRODUCTION Males are sexually mature at six to eight years and females at 11 to 13 years. Large females can lay up to three eggs, but one or two is more usual. Males measure about 10cm in length and females 12,5cm. Geometric tortoises can live for 30 to 40 years. DID YOU KNOW? Tortoises are often killed on roads which they are attempting to cross. To move a tortoise out of danger, pick it up gently, keeping it low and close to the ground. Never turn it on its back. Then put it down safely in the direction in which it was heading, on the other side of the road. TORTOISE FACTS A tortoise can absorb water through its skin. This is a useful mechanism for cooling down in hot…

While most wine grape producers in the Olifantsriver have been struggling to keep their heads above water, Izak de Beer won the 2015 regional VinPro competition with a block of Colombar vines. His block yielded an income more than double the regional average. The 10,5ha block produced an average of 50t/ha at a cost of R30 000/ha and an income of R75 000/ha. For 20 years, Izak kept his focus on quality. Then, last year, he shifted to profitability. “People often think that mechanisation shortens the vineyard’s lifespan. My vineyards have proved that mechanisation can boost farm profitability without having a negative impact on vine health. The judges found that the roots of the vines in the winning block grew right to the middle of the path between the planting…

Growing seedlings is the easiest and most economical way to propagate papayas. Seed can be sown directly in seedling trays or planting bags, or it can be germinated in special containers and transplanted within 14 days of germination at the two-leaf stage. The advantage of the latter method is that the germination trays can be moved to a warm spot at night. The number of seeds planted in a container (seedling tray, cell or planting bag) will depend on the germination vigour and the cultivar. Generally, more seeds will be planted per container than needed (about six seeds/bag). Thinning takes place in the land when the plants start to flower and can be sexed. • Growth medium Composted pine-bark can be used without fumigation if from a reliable source. It usually…

GOOD QUALITY IS FETCHING GOOD PRICES I recently attended the annual producers and market agents’ information day hosted in Ceres by Korkom (korkom.co.za). The aim of the event is to give producers and market agents the latest production and marketing statistics, trends and forecasts for potatoes and onions in and around Ceres. Potatoes South Africa (PSA) provided an overview of the national potato production and marketing scenario. The mood was sombre as the impact of the drought was highlighted by speaker after speaker. PSA’s Louise Swart said that in January, one million fewer pockets of potatoes had been delivered to markets than in the same month last year. This scarcity is reflected in high prices. A market agent told me that 10kg potato pockets were going for R75 each at…

This hydroponic production system, which operates in an insulated PVC and aluminium alloy case, allows even a suburban garden to produce fodder and human food with minimal water. IN A NUTSHELL • Year-round production, with daily harvests. • High yield and turnover: 6kg to 7kg of sprouted fodder from 1kg barley seed in seven days. • Highly nutritious with exceptional protein, vitamin and fatty acid content. • Low maintenance cost, small ecological footprint. • Sprouting barley seed increases its digestibility from 30% to above 80% and doubles its protein level. • Sprouted barley does not cause acidosis. • External inputs limited to seed, electricity and water. • Needs only 1% of the water needed to produce traditional fodder. • Daily production 450kg to 500kg fodder (fresh mass). • Fodder is…

Oral hygiene should be prioritised. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly and check for the onset of gum disease. If this is present, veterinary treatment will be required. Avoid giving your dog flat or splintered bones; they can easily become wedged and cause dangerous lacerations. Rather provide large, round bones with some meat on them Make certain your dog does not have access to foreign objects such as mealie cobs or plastic, and keep it away from your household refuse bags. These might contain toxic substances along with kitchen scraps.…

To make approximately 30 Parmesan dip biscuits, you will need: • 2oz/57g butter• 2oz/57g Parmesan cheese• 2oz/57g strong cheddar cheese• 2,5oz/71g plain flour, plus one tablespoon semolina• A little salt and freshly ground pepper• A generous pinch of cayenne pepper The big deal here is measurement accuracy. Charlotte Sutton, this recipe’s creator, comes from Norwich in the UK and her units are imperial. She emphasises the amount of experimentation that went into the development of this recipe and she knows that the measurements are crucial. Hence my conversion to metric, rounded off to the nearest whole gram. The result is an outstanding batch of baked biscuits – or dip chips – each one a complement and a compliment to the quality of your homemade dip. Let’s begin. Grate the cheeses separately before weighing. Combine all the…

Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) can be depleted by sleeping pills, alcohol, caffeine and oestrogen. Symptoms of depletion include a burning sensation and numbness in the feet. If you suffer from these symptoms, consider taking an all-round B-complex supplement. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, is especially helpful to smokers to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco toxins. Aspirin also reduces the level of Vitamin C in your body. Vitamin A is essential for the health and integrity of the mucous membrane that protects the throat, nasal passages, bronchial tubes, digestive system and genitourinary tract. Cortisone, prescribed to treat inflammation, depletes this vitamin, as does mineral oil, which is frequently used by the elderly as a laxative. INHIBITING ABSORPTION Generally, minerals in the body are not lost due to depletion, but because of…

THE BORAN TODAY HAS GOOD FEED CONVERSION AND CAN SURVIVE EVEN UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS Six years ago, Wilco du Toit and Nils Pieterse established the Pratos Borane stud on their farm Rietkuil near Lichtenburg. They now run 60 Stud Proper (SP) Boran cows with quality SP Boran bulls bred from selected sires, in addition to a commercial Bonsmara herd. Wilco and Nils chose Boran because of the breed’s high value and the ease with which it can be farmed. The Boran’s heritage allows it to utilise veld optimally, according to Wilco. “Those animals that survive drought better were naturally selected in Ethiopia and Kenya, where the breed originated,” he explains. “Those that could make do on poor quality forage survived; those that could not, died. This means that the Boran…

President Jacob Zuma said at the ANC’s recent 104th birthday celebrations held in Rustenburg that land was the cause of poverty, inequality and unemployment in South Africa. He was obviously referring to redistribution of income and wealth by means of land reform. What are the facts? • The unemployment figure among South Africans is at least 25%. • Agriculture, forestry and fishing contribute less than 3% of South Africa’s GDP (according to the latest information). Therefore, to transfer income and wealth by redistributing from less than 3% of the economy to economically empower 25% of the people of South Africa, does not seem to be a good economic strategy. If the economic upliftment of people is the government’s concern, should the attention not be turned to those sectors of the…

The wool market traded 3,2% lower, leaving the Merino indicator down 502 points at R150,92 (clean). The Australian market fell slightly less. The volatility of the rand in response to the Budget Speech weighed in on purchase decisions. However, demand remained strong, with good competition for quality wool, according to Cape Wools. Meanwhile, a new apparel retail concept was taking shape, with forecasts that Amazon would shortly be marketing larger volumes of fashion-wear electronically in the UK, according to CMW’s James de Jager. “Also interesting is that the average micron of wool in Australia has migrated from 21-micron to 19- to 19,5-micron in the last two decades. The supply of the finer microns has therefore increased due to price and demand, resulting in coarser volumes decreasing and thus stimulating demand…

In June, voters from the UK and Northern Ireland will vote whether Britain remains or exits the European Union. Despite contradictory views, those in favour of, and those against, the British exit – dubbed “Brexit” – fear the effect that either action may have on the economy. British citizens supporting Brexit think that Europe’s immigration crisis and the rising unemployment rate will weaken the economy, while those who fear the exit reportedly believe that it will result in “ten years” of uncertainty in Britain. These opinions are contained in a study by Agra Europe, a company that tracks EU and UK policy. The company warned that Brexit would have a damaging impact on UK farmers and food exports, as Brexit would disqualify UK farmers from EU subsidies that account for…

Wine grapes in Australia are ripening between one and two days earlier each year due to climate change, and this could lead to certain regions becoming unsuitable for traditional varieties, viticulture experts say. Snow Barlow, honorary professor of agriculture and food systems at the University of Melbourne, said ripening dates had gradually shifted forward over the past 30 years, according to guardian.com. Grapes were ripening about seven days earlier for every degree the climate warmed. Research scientist Dr Leanne Webb, from the same university, analysed records of 44 vineyards, some dating back 115 years. She found that grapes ripened 1,7 days a year earlier between 1993 and 2009. Another study found that change was driven by warmer temperatures and lower soil moisture content. Damian Sheehan, chairperson of the Wine Victoria…

Increases in tobacco product excise duties were recently announced by finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, during his 2016 budget speech. And while these increases were intended to increase fiscal revenue, the Tobacco Industry of Southern Africa (TISA) fears that they will simply allow the illegal tobacco trade to profit at the expense of the South African government, and the legally compliant tobacco industry. As annouced during the budget speech, excise duties will increase as follows: a pack of 20 cigarettes will increase from R12,42 to R13,24; 25g of pipe tobacco will increase from R3,89 to R4,16; 50g ‘roll your own’ tobacco will increase from R13,94 to R14,88; and a 23g cigar will increase from R64,96 to R69,28. In response to these increases, TISA said that while it was aware that Gordhan…

A potential famine situation was staring Southern Africa in the face as a result of the devastating drought which has decimated crop yield in the region. This was according to Omri van Zyl, CEO of Agri SA, who addressed members of the media and stakeholders in the regional agricultural sector at a briefing hosted by Agri SA and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (Sacau) in Pretoria recently. Agri SA and Sacau announced at the briefing that these two organisations, along with other farmers’ organisations from 12 countries in Southern Africa, had joined forces to conduct a survey on the current drought situation in the region. The results of the survey showed both the economic and social impact of the worst drought in 50 years to hit the region.…

The Free State’s top stud beef cattle breeders were recently honoured by SA Stud Book in Bloemfontein. Dr Pierre van Rooyen, SA Studbook CEO, praised the winners of the bronze, silver and gold divisions for their diligent record-keeping and the implementation of the data gathered. It was disconcerting that only 60% of SA’s stud breeders took part in animal recording, he said. Nearly 80 stud beef cattle breeders attended the prizegiving ceremony.…

SO FAR, THE ONLY REAL AID FOR FARMERS HAS COME THROUGH PRIVATE CHANNELS Last year, South Africa received its lowest rainfall since 1904. The key summer crop production areas have been the worst affected, although the impact of the drought is being felt nationwide. In many extensive production areas, subsistence and small-scale farmers, as well as commercial farmers, have been unable to provide feed for their animals, resulting in heartbreaking scenes. The impact of a drought on crop producers is immediate; for livestock producers it is evident later. Intensive livestock producers managed to maintain production during 2015. However, the weakening product-to-feed ratio, driven by the higher maize and soya bean prices, has reduced profit margins. In the case of milk, higher production from the coastal areas has resulted in lower…

Goscor Hi-Reach’s Hydralada is a mobile elevating work platform that provides swift, easy access to areas of an orchard off-limits to standard power ladders. The result is a dramatic boost in output. The Hydralada enables a worker to be twice as productive as he or she would be on a conventional ladder. Goscor Hi-Reach, part of the Goscor Group of Companies and the leading supplier of work-at-height equipment to agriculture, is the exclusive distributor of the Hydralada range in Southern Africa. Managing director George Landsberg saw the need for a no-nonsense, work-at-height machine. “The Hydralada delivers all the benefits of low service costs, low total cost of equipment ownership, and quick return on investment,” he says. The Hydralada, manufactured by the Hydralada Company in New Zealand, has minimal service requirements…

Of the large variety of red and white wine grapes that Izak de Beer produces on his farms near Klawer, only the Pinotage has been problematic. The cultivar is simply too vigorous, he maintains. “If you prune Pinotage mechanically, it sprouts all over the place. The grapes also become susceptible to sunburn and there are problems with the colour of the end-product.” To overcome this, Izak prunes Pinotage vines mechanically and then gets his workers to prune the vines by hand. He is also investigating the use of other rootstocks as a way of stunting the growth of this cultivar.…

The target market is the most important consideration when choosing a cultivar. • For export, small fruit (300g to 500g) with an excellent shelf life is required. Presently, Sunrise Solo, Baixinho and, to a lesser extent, Af-1, are suitable for export. • Supermarkets also require a good shelf life (and smaller fruit for prepacks). The Tainung varieties as well as Sunrise Solo are best here. Fresh produce markets and farm stalls prefer the bigger Tainung varieties and Hortus Gold types, such as Fl-2. In general, a hermaphroditic cultivar such as Sunrise Solo is unsuitable for cooler production areas with mean minimum temperature lower than 12°C during winter. For the cooler, frost-free areas, dioecious separate male and female trees) cultivars such as -2 are recommended.…

The following equipment, showcased by Pöttinger at Agritechnica, could be of value to SA farmers on the lookout for cost-effective technology. 1 HIT 10.11T Pöttinger’s HIT 10.11T 10-rotor tedder has a working width of 11m and a transport width of only 2,9m. The unique Dynatech rotor provides protection for the crop, while the Liftomatic Plus is an excellent way of working headlands. The rotors are first set in a horizontal position and then raised. At no stage do the tines touch the ground during lifting or lowering. In addition, the high headland position of 900mm ground clearance prevents the tines from smearing or scraping the ground, leaving the forage clean and protecting the sward. 2 Loader wagon The Faro 4010 L/D is now available as a multi-purpose Combiline with bodywork…

IN EVERYDAY SPEECH, ‘WEIGHT’ AND ‘MASS’ ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME South Africa changed over to the metric system of measurements (more correctly called the SI-system [French: Système international d’unités]), in 1971. There are many different units, but most people become familiar only with those they use frequently. Kilogram and kilometre, for example, are in daily use, and computer technology uses kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte and terabyte, but most people’s knowledge of the rest of the metric system is often hazy. In this article we look at the pitfalls and peculiarities of some of the units. Let’s start with the two units responsible for the most misunderstanding: mass (measured in kilograms) and weight (measured in newtons). • Mass The mass of an object is a measure of the…

HORSES THREE MONTHS AND OLDER CAN BE VACCINATED, AND A YEARLY BOOSTER IS REQUIRED Rabies is a virus from the Rhabdovirus family and is usually found in wild animals such as bats, the yellow mongoose, the bat-eared fox and the black-backed jackal. The disease can be spread from any of these creatures to humans – or unvaccinated domestic animals, pets and horses. I have never heard of any human getting rabies from an infected horse, however. There is no effective treatment once an animal has been infected with rabies. INFECTION AND SYMPTOMS The virus is transmitted through saliva. The incubation period can be anywhere from two to 10 weeks, depending on the area on the body bitten. There have been cases of incubation periods up to 15 weeks long. Rabies…

I received a call from a Farmer’s Weekly reader in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to design an upmarket lodge developnment. After browsing through my many conceptual sketches and consulting with the client and his family, I formulated a proposal. It may sound obvious but it needs emphasising: when spending large sums of money on a building project, all aspects and financing must be carefully planned. This ambitious and extensive project is no exception; it requires an exclusive lodge development that will serve and accommodate bikers, hikers, walkers, runners, horse riders and fishermen. Most importantly, it must attract and accommodate groups of young nature enthusiasts, eager to learn about the environment and how to preserve it. The layout alongside shows some of the many functional activity compartments envisaged. The accommodation would be…

Computer programmer Kyle Wiens is the creator of the iFixit website, ‘the free repair guide for everything, written by everyone’ (ifixit.com). To date, the site claims to have helped more than 15 million people repair every conceivable piece of machinery or equipment. Wiens recalls the time he helped a farmer friend repair a tractor. The tractor was a hi-tech model and the farmer’s spanners, wrenches and screwdrivers were hopelessly inadequate to the task, as was his expertise as a mechanic. But Wiens understood computers and identified the problem: a hydraulic sensor was on the blink, and each time it malfunctioned the onboard computer would shut the tractor down. It would take at least two days for the manufacturer’s technician to order and fit a new sensor. ”Dave [the farmer] asked…