Table of contents for 20 May 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

I was shocked, but not altogether surprised, to learn recently that farmers’ incomes worldwide have remained significantly lower than the average income in most sectors, often by as much as 50%. This does not bode well for the future, considering that farmers must produce enough food to meet the needs of a fast-growing and demanding world population. And in order to achieve this, they will have to farm sustainably, using fewer resources to produce more, while facing extreme climate volatility. This explains why, at its 2016 General Assembly in Livingstone, Zambia, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) stressed the importance of a farmer-centric approach to agriculture. For too long, the very people responsible for producing food have not been properly represented in the global dialogue on ending hunger. Farmers have also,…

EMERGING FARMERS The article, “Calling on our commercial and mega farmers,” was published in Farmer’s Weekly’s 8 April issue. FW’s Facebook followers responded. Solomon Meso: Some emerging farmers tend to give up, not because they are not capable, but because help is not easy to find, especially if they do not have other means of income. I have been struggling with government’s agricultural department and land affairs for assistance, but there’s just no one to help. I have thus given up on government, and will struggle on my own. Moope Malope Makgareetse: Emerging farmers will come up with new methods that can increase agricultural production. Tom Maloka: Let’s face it, our government does not take emerging farmers seriously. I am very young, and am also trying to find my way…

‘ONLY A FEW CHINESE MILLS ARE MAINTAINING LARGE STOCK LEVELS’ The wool market traded 4,2% higher and the Merino indicator increased 615 points to close at R153,10 (clean) at the forth-last sale of the current season. Australian prices increased 3,3%. Most of the wool of the 10 670 bales on auction was of good quality and between 40mm and 55mm in length, according to Cape Wools. James de Jager of CMW said: “The market regained the losses of the previous few sales, due to some extent to the weaker rand, but in some categories, gains exceeded this as a result of all-round competition among buyers.” Good, long wool of all micron groups enjoyed the strongest demand, with the highest CMW price of R126/kg achieved by HA Sandenbergh of Prieska for…

While KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) developing farming sector has welcomed government initiatives to help the sector grow, the province’s commercial farming sector feels that its needs are largely being ignored. This sentiment emerged in response to the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (KZN DARD) 2016 Budget Vote Speech, given by MEC Cyril Xaba in the provincial legislature recently. Of the R2,17 billion budget allocated to the KZN DARD for the 2016 financial year, just over R486 million was for departmental administration, about R11,2 million was for rural development, and about R1,67 billion was for agricultural development services. Aggrey Mahanjana, secretary-general of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa), described the R1,67 billion allocated to agricultural development services as “a joke” for “a province with eleven rural municipalities.” “With the…

At a recent agricultural commodities workshop in Bloemfontein, Prof Johan Willemse, an agricultural economist at the University of the Free State, said that South Africa’s 2016 groundnut crop could be much smaller than anticipated due to seed shortage. Dryland groundnut plantings had been impeded by the drought and extreme heat conditions. “We’re concerned about this industry because prices are flat and we don’t plant enough groundnuts anymore,” Willemse said. Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic intelligence and agribusiness at Agbiz, agreed that groundnut production had declined. “When compared with maize, soya beans and sunflower seed, groundnut production is the only crop showing a significant production decrease in the past ten years,” Sihlobo said. In 2014/2015, South Africa produced 74 500t of groundnuts, 80% higher than the previous season. The increase was…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and AfriForum are combining their efforts in an attempt to prioritise the farm attacks and murders in South Africa. The collaboration took place at the request of AfriForum, after the Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane, said earlier this year that farm murders should be given greater priority. Ernst Roets, the deputy CEO of AfriForum, and Phahlane recently met to discuss strategies to combat farm murders. The plan involves closer cooperation between the police and local communities. Phahlane said that attacks on farms and smallholdings had fallen from 532 in the 2010/2011 financial year to 446 in 2015/2016, a drop of 16%. “We have also seen a 38% drop in the number of murders from 80 in the 2010/2011 financial year to…

The recent strengthening of the rand against the US dollar could result in some crop farmers’ suffering losses as fertiliser prices declined due to a stronger local currency. Farmers who had stockpiled fertilisers could find themselves in trouble, said Prof Johan Willemse, from the University of the Free State, at an agricultural commodities workshop in Bloemfontein recently. “The difficulty of a stronger rand is that farmers are sitting with a lot of very expensive stock,” he said. Adriaan de Lange, chairperson of the Fertiliser Association of SA (Fertasa), said fertiliser prices had risen sharply due to a falling rand, which devalued by 41% against the US dollar from January 2015 to January 2016. The local maize sector imported about 70% of its annual fertiliser requirements. According to Fertasa’s annual report,…

Recently, Harare’s High Court permitted Ray Ndhlukula, deputy chief secretary to Robert Mugabe, to seize the farm of prominent white farmer, David Connolly. In 2014, a provisional order granted by Bulawayo’s High Court, barred Ndhlukula from evicting Connolly, and prevented him from occupying Connolly’s farm, Centenary, in Figtree, a prime farming zone in Matabeleland South. In the ruling following Connolly’s application to confirm the provisional order, Justice Joseph Musakwa ruled that Connolly was in breach of Section 3 (1) of the gazetted Lands (Consequential) Provisions Act, and added that Connolly was illegally residing on the farm, which the state had compulsorily acquired in 2000. “The applicant has no legal right to the land in question, and the elements of a clear right as a requirement for the interdict has not…

The European Commission released its latest update of the phytosanitary control regulations regarding citrus black spot disease (CBS) on citrus imports from South Africa in April. The new regulations, which would come into effect in the coming months, would allow the entry of CBS-infected citrus into the EU if the fruit was intended for processing/juicing. The European Commission has proposed to abandon its decision to strengthen controls whenever there were six or more interceptions in the same year. Deon Joubert, the Citrus Growers’ Association EU special envoy for market access, said he welcomed the acceptance of the juicing derogation, which reopened the EU market for CBS-infected fruit for juicing. He also said that the European Commission’s decision to abandon the strengthening of import controls was encouraging for the industry. “It…

This year celebrates 20 years of commercial GM/ biotech (Bt) crop adoption. GM crop areas in industrial countries slowed down in 2015 but new drivers are gearing up, such as Bolivia, Vietnam, Sudan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. GM crop plantings increased annually for 19 years, but decreased globally by 1% as GM areas became almost saturated. Reduction of production costs led to lower commodity prices. Chinese cotton bumper crops and the resultant price decline discouraged farmers, but Bt maize will be increased by 15 million hectares. US maize areas dropped in 2015, but farmers have indicated an increase for 2016. Farmers have switched to varieties with more stacked traits for herbicide tolerance and pest resistance, instead of planting more hectares. Stacked traits made up 33% of the 2015 global GM crop.…

The Land Bank is lobbying government to implement subsidised insurance as a risk mitigation tool. Why has this become necessary? Agriculture is a tough and unpredictable industry and the country’s food supply is dependent on our farmers staying in business. We simply cannot leave the agricultural sector to find solutions within the private sector only. When farmers have done everything they can, and the weather doesn’t come to the party, we need government support. As weather patterns are only going to become more extreme, we need to prepare for these changes now. Thus, government must be involved in managing natural disasters through an insurance system. Without insurance, farmers, who suffer losses as a result of extreme weather, cannot continue farming. Small-scale farmers find themselves in a situation where they either…

• LSM 1-4: The low income consumer. In 2013, about 22% of the population was in this group, with an average monthly income of R2 372. They spend up to 50% of their income on food, and are therefore very price sensitive. Most stay in rural areas; only 15,9% stay in the cities. The group has little to no access to basic services. Individuals have some exposure to high school education but no matric. The group’s age varies between 15 to 24 and 50+. • LSM 5-7: Approximately 53,5% of the population are middle-class consumers with an average monthly income of R7 683 and access to a variety of media channels. A group of 25-49-year-olds is represented in LSM 6 and the lower segment of LSM 7; the higher segment…

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime price and it opens doors.” So says Flippie Kotze about the South African record price he achieved last year with his Twee Plus Brangus bull, Master Jack (T+ 12 120). But the highly fertile Twee Plus Brangus Stud is about much more than just one exceptional bull. The Kotze family have been finalists in two of the country’s most prestigious livestock competitions: the 2012 Molatek Beef Producer of the Year and the 2015 Voermol National Cattle Farmer of the Year. BOUNCING BACK WITH BRANGUS The current success of the Twee Plus Brangus stud belies the fact that the Kotzes (Flippie and Marieta and their sons Flippie Jnr and Walter) have faced serious challenges in the past. In fact, the family lost their 2 300ha farm Swartfontein –…

In 2010, Dr Philip Theunissen made the decision to plant crops on his 153ha farm near Bethlehem in the Free State, so he ordered what he thought was a conventional tillage planter. To his surprise, the Jumil planter arrived with an additional crate of no-till accessories. Storing this crate on his farm, Philip planted his crops conventionally. “During my first summer crops season, it took me almost eight days to plough, disc and plant 22ha of soya beans. Being a part-time farmer, I had to do all this work myself. I quickly grew frustrated at the fact that getting this crop into the ground was taking me so long and keeping me away from my other work,” he says. The following summer, Philip decided to see if fitting the no-till…

The trust relationship between producer and market agent is the oil that lubricates the fresh produce engine. But it takes time and effort from both parties to make that oil flow smoothly and work its way through the system. What happens, then, when the trust is broken by the producer? What are the ramifications for his business? There are many ways a farmer can break a trust relationship; I would like to have a closer look at the problem introduced when a farmer decides to split loads between his existing agent and another on the same market. Some farmers believe this will keep both agents on their toes. In fact, the opposite is true. Splitting a load shows the original agent that the farmer’s loyalty is in question, while the…

A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION COULD DESTROY A RIDER’S INTERNATIONAL CAREER Buscopan is used for treating the painful contractions of spasmodic colic and is a scheduled veterinary drug in South Africa. However, riders who compete at national level in equestrian sports fall under Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) regulations, and these ban the use of this drug during competitions unless it is administered by a vet. This is because the drug contains the prohibited substance scopolamine, also found in the weed Datura. Over the past few years, riders whose horses have tested positive for scopolamine in their urine have been suspended and fined the equivalent of R8 000, despite the fact that the scopolamine could be present due to Datura seeds or stems in the feed. The dangers of poisoning by Datura stramonium…

Dear Jonno I have been reading and looking at your sketches in Farmer’s Weekly for years. I recently saw a home on the cover of a magazine (I have attached the picture) and would like you to create a sketch of the home for me. I would like all the bedrooms to be en suite, with the front view of the house facing a lake. Although the house in the picture attached looks as if it has five bedrooms, I would like a home with four bedrooms. I do not want a swimming pool. I hope you can help me with my dream home, and look forward to hearing back from you. Best regards Deo Greetings Deo Thank you for the request to design your new home. I’ve improvised on…

ZULU PLANT NAMES by Adrian Koopman (UKZN Press, R395) Koopman has spent nearly four decades teaching Zulu language and literature, with his own personal research interest being the meanings, origins and modifications of names. This latest book is a fascinating journey through vernacular names of plants, reflecting the rich culture within which they have developed. Collecting and assessing such names is particularly challenging given that vernacular plant names in any language can vary markedly from place to place. This makes Koopman’s intriguing record of linguistic creativity and usage, as well as insights into how the plants are perceived, all the more impressive. IN THE COLD DARK GROUND by Stuart MacBride (HarperCollins, R330) Series character Logan McRae is veering further and further to the dark side. The…

CATTLE PRODUCERS MAY NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION METHODS “The demand for beef around the world is increasing, stimulated by population growth. Currently, population growth in Botswana is 1,2% per annum and is expected to continue rising at this rate for the next five years to reach a total population of 2,26 million by 2020. Due to the growing population and increasing urbanisation the availability of surplus beef for export declines annually.\ In South Africa, the per capita consumption of beef is 19kg/year. If this is assumed to be true for Botswana as well, it means that, in order to meet domestic demand by 2020, the supply of beef in Botswana has to increase to an additional 2 470t – or an average of 494t/year. Botswana exports about…

The Canon IXUS 180 has an 10x optical zoom lens which helps you keep your subject in the frame by automatically detecting the number of people and adjusting the zoom level to determine the optimal size. The IXUS 180 also features Intelligent Image Stabilizer technology, which constantly adapts to the scene to ensure the best images and movies, even when you are on the move. Equipped with the best of Canon’s imaging technology, the IXUS 180 packs a 20 megapixel sensor and advanced DIGIC 4+ processor for ultra-fast responses and superb image quality. Visit www.canon.co.za.…

The R86-million multi-user facility, located in Zone 3 of the Coega Industrial Development Zone in Nelson Mandela Bay and first proposed in 2015, has started Phase 1 of its operations. The 6 000m2 facility, comprising smaller units from between 350m2 and 2 000m2 , is in a customs controlled area, enabling qualifying investors to benefit from customs duty and VAT incentives. In Phase 1, about 50% (3 000m2 ) of the facility would be allocated to agro-processing companies, according to Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, Coega Development Corporation (CDC) head of marketing and communications. He said that funding for the project had been sourced from the Department of Trade and Industry and the facility would enable small, micro and medium enterprises, as well as larger, more established companies, to expand their processing…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ranks Ethiopia as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. One of the main growth drivers is the government’s investment in its agriculture-based economy, which accounts for 40,2% of GDP. The World Bank expects Ethiopia’s GDP to grow by about 10% annually over the next few years. The country is advancing agriculture through the commercialisation of agriculture, high-value crop production and the promotion of micro-irrigation schemes, according to the IMF. Dr Yonas Bahta, agricultural economics researcher at the University of the Free State, said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, under construction on the Blue Nile, would benefit the sector. “It will be utilised for irrigation, which improves the possibility of food self-sufficiency,” he said. The dam should be complete in 2017. It would enable irrigation of about…

At the 2016 SA Stud Book Elite awards in Bloemfontein, Nico Harris, owner of Vriendschap Boerdery in Melmoth in KwaZulu-Natal, was named the Farmer’s Weekly SA Stud Book mentor breeder of the year. Nominated by the Nguni Cattle Breeders’ Society, Harris received the award for his significant contribution to farmer development. “I would like to dedicate the award to our family business, as it was a family effort,” he said. Harris leads a mentoring programme, which includes providing skills development on management principles training, for the Kwasanque community, a group of farmers who collectively own a 8 000ha farm. Approximately 2 000ha of this had been previously owned by Vriendschap Boerdery, but was sold to government for the establishment of the community farm. The operation consists of forestry, sugarcane, macadamias,…

Since 26 April, seven horses on five properties have tested positive for African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the Drakenstein Local Municipality, with two cases resulting in death. On all affected properties, the virus had been identified as serotype 1, according to a statement released by the Western Cape government. • Revised containment zone Since no new AHS cases had been detected in the Western Cape since early April, the containment area size was reduced. However, movement restrictions remained the same, with no movement of horses into, out of, through or within the containment area allowed without a permit from a state veterinarian. • Effect on industry Direct export of South African horses to countries in the European Union (EU) was banned. As such, a horse could be exported to the EU only…

REFUSE TO ACCEPT REPORTS LONGER THAN ONE A4 PAGE I visited a citrus packhouse last week. Parked outside was a queue of bakkies. The scowling drivers were there to purchase fruit – and some had been waiting all night! But that was just the start. Here is the full procedure: once they are let in, they must complete an ‘order form’ for the product they want. The cost is duly computed by the clerk and the buyer handed another piece of paper, in duplicate. They then drive to the company headquarters 2km away to pay. Here, they are handed a receipt, which they take back to the packhouse, where they once again have to queue, this time to collect their purchases. Such a simple transaction – yet such a complicated…

• According to global reinsurer Swiss Re statistics, the Chinese government spent US$300 million (R4,4 billion) on agricultural insurance subsidies for multi-peril crop insurance products in 2007. This increased to US$900 million (R13,2 billion) in 2008. As a result, the Chinese agricultural insurance market had reached a premium volume of about US$1,744 million (R25,7 billion) per annum by September 2009, making it the second-largest market in the world. • The World Bank has recorded many successes with agricultural index-based insurance. In 2003, the World Bank helped India implement its first weather insurance pilot project. Today, about 30 million farmers in India are covered by this insurance. • In 2005, Mongolia approached the World Bank for assistance to design and implement index-based insurance for livestock farmers. In 2012, about 11 000…

The indigenous and unpalatable invader, slangbos (Seriphium plumosum), is a major challenge to the grazing potential of Swartfontein, says Walter Kotze. The plant grows to a height and width of about 60cm and is one of 36 similar species that form part of the family Asteraceae found in South Africa and Madagascar. Although the carrying capacity on Swartfontein is 1 LSU/7ha, slangbos has drastically reduced this figure, says Walter. In fact, according to the Grasslands Society of Southern Africa, slangbos can reduce primary grass production by as much as 75% when plants exceed 10 000/ha. The Kotzes are currently controlling the slangbos threat with various chemical applications, but follow-up procedures are required every eight to 10 years.…

The energy value of silage depends on the amount of grain it contains. Thus, the best grain-producing hybrids in a particular area are usually those most well-adapted to local growing conditions and hence the best silage-producing hybrids. The following should be considered when selecting a hybrid: adaptability, disease pressure, targeted date for cutting, whether a contractor will be hired to harvest the crop, and grain yield potential. Each of these factors affects the ultimate yield and the obtained silage’s quality. Hybrids with thick, woody, highly lignified stalks (well-regarded by grain farmers for good standability) should be avoided for silage use, as much of the dry matter is likely to consist of indigestible lignin. SILAGE HYBRIDS Pannar markets a range of maize silage hybrids: • Medium season (6-series) These maize hybrids should…

‘THE TRAINING MADE ALL OF US MORE AT EASE WITH THE MACHINES’ With the ever-increasing complexity and cost of farm machinery, it is becoming more and more important that suppliers of this equipment can install the machines properly on the customer’s farm and provide complete operating instructions to enable the farmer to get optimal in-field performance. To this end, Case IH recently held a full-scale training session for the staff of its dealers so that they are fully versed in all the systems and production-enhancing techniques that enable the machines to be used to their full potential. The dealers’ trained representatives are now able to pass this information on to the farmer. The two-week training session, for more than 100 salespeople from Africa and the Middle East, was held in…

‘SPEAK TO GOD ABOUT PEOPLE BEFORE YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD’ When you or I get too busy, our heart starts to die. In fact, it’s eventually annihilated. We become so busy we can’t see the people around us. We tend to push them aside in order to reach our target. Worse, we often have so much to do that we neglect the very ones we’re doing it for. I remember as a young farmer coming home late at night and my wife saying: “Where have you been? The children are already in bed and they haven’t seen you today, because you left this morning before they woke up.” I would become very self-righteous and tell her in no uncertain terms I was doing this for her and for…

Social media is all about connecting people. Twitter, Facebook and other platforms allow you to interact with a diverse group of people worldwide. Facebook gives users the opportunity to ‘follow’ people without having to send a friend request online – and many successful farming personalities have their own Facebook pages. They share information about anything from the latest high-tech methods to simple daily farming activities. Groups on Facebook discuss topics dedicated to a specific farming subject and are an invaluable source of information for a budding young farmer. You can ask a question and get many responses from those who have experience. Keeping posts positive has a snowball effect on building an online community. Sometimes, admittedly, this can be difficult when discussing current happenings in South Africa. Social media is…

Crime discouraging youth from farming The Editor’s note in the 22 April issue, addressed the need for a new generation of farmers in the South African agriculture industry. This reader responds. If not for the crime in South Africa, and the ever-increasing input cost saga, I would still be aiming to enter the agricultural sector with as much passion as a few months ago. What put a halt to my plans of starting a farming business and continuing my grandfather’s love for farming, was President Jacob Zuma’s knee-jerk decision, late last year, to replace the then finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, with Des van Rooyen. The seemingly uneducated logic for this decision, and the resulting collapse of the rand, hit a proverbial ‘sore spot;’ could I risk joining a sector that…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 24 TO 25 MAY Inaugural Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium, Ukulinga Research Farm, Pietermaritzburg. Phone Dr Gareth Lagerwall on 033 260 5177, or email lagerwall@ukzn.ac.za. 27 TO 29 MAY 23rd Annual Gauteng Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo, Waterfall Polo Estate, Midrand. Visit www.gauteng.outdoorexpo.co.za. 31 MAY TO 3 JUNE Hortgro Science Technical Symposium, Allée Bleue, Simondium. Visit www.hortgroscience.co.za/hortgro-sciencetechnical-symposium-2016. 1 TO 2 JUNE Agbiz Congress 2016, Lord Charles Hotel and Conference Centre, Somerset West, Cape Town. Email admin@agbiz.co.za, or visit www.agbiz.co.za. 9 JUNE Potatoes SA Transformation Symposium, East London. Visit www.potatoes.co.za. 19 TO 23 JUNE International Food and Agribusiness Management Association’s 26th Annual World Conference, Denmark. Visit www.ifama.org. 21 TO 23 JUNE Agri Food Expo, Johannesburg. Email admin@exhibitionsafrica.com, or visit www.expoza.all.biz/ agri-food-expo. 21 TO 23 JUNE AVI Africa,…

Of the 248 million square metres of fabric produced locally in 2015, about 78 million square metres were estimated to be from cotton fabrics. This was 4% more than in 2014, according to the latest Cotton SA market report and crop estimate. The report added that research by the Sustainable Cotton Cluster in 2014/2015 had found that local demand for apparel and home textiles was substantial. “This demand translates to 1 827 million metres of composite fabric, or 543 million kilograms of composite fibre, for fabric manufacturing. Cotton fibre makes up almost 60% of the consolidated demand scenario. In order to produce this amount of cotton for the composite fabric, 340 million kilograms of cotton yarn are required, which translates to 1,5 million bales of cotton,” the report stated. The…

The Pretoria Food Co-op is a new initiative uniting South African small-scale farmers in an attempt to deliver affordable, nutritious and fresh produce to consumers at savings of up to 25%. The launch of the co-op was recently hosted at the Pretoria residence of Catherine Hill-Herndon, the US Deputy Chief of Missions. Co-op members, local agricultural experts, small-scale farmers, and representatives from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service attended the event. The co-op’s premise presumes that South Africa has sufficient affordable, fresh produce available to benefit both farmers and consumers. However, as much of it is grown by emerging farmers, consumers do not have access to the produce. “These small-scale farmers don’t meet the criteria to supply major retail chains, so they often simply sell their produce at…

South Africa’s 2016 macadamia nut crop yield is expected to contract as a result of the drought, but international demand and prices are expected to remain strong. According to Barry Christie, Operations Manager: Macadamias at the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (Samac), the 2016 season would yield approximately 39 000t of nut-in- shell (NIS). This was 15% lower than the 2015 crop of 46 000t NIS, and down on initial crop estimates of 43 000t NIS. Christie said the revised forecasts showed that the drought had affected the industry more severely than initially anticipated. Walter Giuricich, Samac’s chairperson, attributed these lower volumes to higher nut drop. According to Alex Whyte, sales manager at Green Farms Nut Company, lower production was not expected to negatively effect prices for local growers. “Because…

The year’s first blue/white light operation was held in the Free State on 28 April, with more than 1 000 farmers and police officers collaborating to curb livestock theft. The operation was held between 6pm and midnight, and focused on property-related crimes, including stock theft and farm attacks, in rural areas. According to a statement released by VKB and Free State Agriculture, 731 farmers in 462 vehicles, and 368 police officers in 186 vehicles, participated. Last year, provincial police management announced that these events would be held every two months. On 3 April, the local farmer’s union in the Leeufontein district apprehended three men in Marble Hall for the theft of 30 goats. The men were taken into custody, and one suspect has been released on bail. Nomki Lodi, the…

Only six days after announcing a ban on the unlicensed trade of quail birds and eggs, the Zimbabwean government has reversed the prohibition. Announcing the ban on 28 April, Zimbabwe’s minister of environment, water and climate, Oppah Muchinguri, had said that traders were overcharging consumers for quail eggs, as well as misrepresenting the health benefits of quail through misleading advertising. “The price of US$6 (R96) [for a crate of 30 quail eggs] is too much considering that they [traders] stole the eggs from the bush. We don’t want people to be taken for granted by lies that [claim that] these birds can heal cancer, blood pressure and so forth,” Muchinguri had said. While the unlicensed trade in quail birds and eggs was thus illegal, the minister had added that those…

The South African citrus industry is planning on expanding its share in the Indian market tenfold over the next decade. The local industry needs to grow its international market share, as production is predicted to increase significantly over the next five to ten years, according to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association. “While exports this year are expected to reach around 111 million 15kg cartons, exports are expected to grow to about 130 million cartons over the next five years and substantially more over the next ten years,” Chadwick said. Due to its huge population and growing middle class, India was a promising market compared with traditional European markets that had become relatively stagnant over the past few years, according to Chadwick. The country also had a strong…

A STOCKING RATE OF ANYTHING OVER 30KG/M 3  WATER IS UNREALISTIC The promotion of new technology in any industry follows a predetermined path. This is one of experimentation, assessment of results, data gathering and refinement of systems. If these prove successful, only then is the technology promoted for sale. In intensive livestock production this logical process is essential, as it requires that many factors be combined at often near-critical levels for the well-being of the animals. This applies particularly to recirculating-type aquaculture. Promotion of new systems based on an incomplete process results in unrealistic expectations on the part of the customer who has invested in it. PROVE IT! Some years ago, a recirculating-type system claiming production of 69t/year from a 50m tunnel system was heavily promoted.…

The SA Avocado Growers’ Association recently held its annual Research Symposium in Tzaneen. Three presentations are summarised here: • Seasonality and host utilisation of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis By T Grové and MS de Beer, ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops There are about 4 800 species of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). The larvae of many species develop in the seed-bearing organs of plants. Frugivorous tephritids attack healthy fruit still on the tree. The larvae develop inside the fruit, feed on the plant tissue, and complete their life cycle in the soil. About 100 fruit fly species are considered pests, with some being amongst the most destructive fruit and vegetable pests globally. Africa is home to only a few endemic species of fruit fly. The Oriental fruit fly, the…

Stoller, a US-based company specialising in plant science, now offers South African farmers a range of products aimed at helping them get the best from their crops. Anthony Bowker, from Standerton, Mpumalanga, is a local farmer who has already seen excellent results, thanks to Stoller. It’s to be expected that yield will take a dive during drought, yet this was not the case on Anthony’s farm. He attributes this in large part to Oosvaal Landbou’s Neels and Nic Jooste, Stoller’s agents in the area. They helped his crops withstand excessively high temperatures and abnormally low rainfall. “We usually receive around 750mm rain, but this season’s total rainfall was significantly less. It placed tremendous pressure on our dryland crops,” says Anthony. His operation consists mainly of the single-cob maize cultivar DC73/74,…

SOIL MICROBES OFFER MAJOR POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL PESTICIDES Integrated pest management (IPM) combines various methods to control pests. The system has not been exploited by growers as well as it might have been as it demands more knowledge, experience and crop inspection than simply spraying according to a set programme. And, of course, a set programme suits chemical companies better because more insecticide is used. However, interest in IPM is growing as consumers become more mindful of the possible effects of chemical pesticides. This has led to retailers monitoring fresh produce for residues. I find farmers today are far more aware of the potential consequences of what they spray on their crops. Recently, while a farmer and I walked through his land of Swiss chard, we flushed…

The Valley Macadamias Group has built its reputation on pioneering systems that offer maximum benefit to its farmers. During its 12 years in the industry, it has identified trends and blazed a trail for the market to flourish, resulting in a considerable increase in prices paid to farmers. This year, the group has again led the way by implementing a system of preferred vendors. These growers have a reputation as suppliers of quality, ethically farmed nuts. Such partnerships will give the Valley Macadamias brand yet another advantage in a highly competitive global market. INDUSTRY FIRSTS Valley Macadamias has pioneered the following: • Opening of the Asian market This resulted in a substantial increase in prices for farmers, as traditional Western markets now had to compete with Eastern markets. At the same…

To make Asian fusion soup-stew for four chilled and chilly diners, you will need: 1 supermarket broiler complete 3 onions 5 cloves garlic (or 10 or 20 – see text) 50mm fresh root ginger 2 carrots 10 prawns 200g pork neck steaks 15ml fish sauce (nam pla) Juice of 2 lemons or 3 limes Bunch of fresh dhania (coriander) Black pepper A couple of dashes of Red Tobasco 1 cup basmati rice Canola or peanut oil Regular consumers of South-East Asian food will note a couple of nontraditional items on this list, such as basmati rice instead of noodles, Tobasco in place of a living chilli. See these as artistic licence. Moving on: butcher the fowl by cutting it into drumsticks, thighs, wings, breasts and back. Rip off and discard…

High blood pressure (HBP) may not be related only to high cholesterol. The latest studies point to calcification of the arteries as a co-factor in the development of this condition. Researchers do not yet know why calcium is deposited in our arteries (and not in our skeletons, where it is supposed to go), but they have found that certain nutrients can reverse the process. One of these is Vitamin K2. It activates the process that takes calcium deposits from inside the arteries to the skeleton. When the deposits are removed, our arteries become more elastic and better able to respond to the needs of increased (or decreased) blood flow, as may be required during exercise or intense emotion. GRASS-FED COWS Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables, but K2…