Table of contents for 10 June 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

South Africa’s economy has stagnated, and by the time you read this, Standard and Poor’s may well have downgraded the country’s credit rating to junk status, setting the scene for our economy to slip into recession. How do we set the economy on a different course? Dr Martyn Davies, managing director of emerging markets and Africa at Deloitte, suggests that we can start by being a less angry and divided nation. Speaking at a state of the nation breakfast hosted by Deloitte in Johannesburg, Davies said that South Africa would never be internationally competitive “if we are so angry with each other, internally”. He said that research showed that three things destroyed wealth in a country – conflict, ideology, and corruption. “Having one of these present is bad, having two…

Farmer’s Weekly reader, David Lucas from Port Elizabeth, wanted to teach his sons, Brian (11) and Sureshan (8), a valuable life skill by showing them how to grow their own vegetables. Water from the washing machine is used to water the vegetable garden through a system of sprinklers. “The boys have also learned that stringing up the tomatoes gives much better yield and they only cut enough lettuce and spinach leaves for a particular meal, so the plant continues to grow. Several of our friends have started gardens as well, and when we have more of a certain variety of vegetable than we can use, we swop with each other,” David says.…

Wesgrow Potatoes, in partnership with the RSA Group of market agents, recently launched three new table potato varieties at the Joburg Market. ‘Double Fun’ has a dark purple to black appearance, ‘Magenta Love’ is a dark red potato, and ‘Chopin’ is a white-skinned variety. The potatoes will be available in winter in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg, 7kg and 10kg bags. Wesgrow, based in the eastern Free State, represents up to 65% of all potato seed production in South Africa. Speaking at the launch, managing director Gerhard Posthumus said the company had created strong branding for the new cultivars to improve consumer perceptions of potatoes. This was needed as consumers had become more reluctant to eat potatoes, thanks to the growing popularity of low-carbohydrate eating plans. “We want to grow the potato…

The image of agriculture as an industry of poverty needs to change so that younger generations can become involved. This was according to speakers at the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions’ annual conference in Hhoho, Swaziland. “Nobody wants to be associated with poverty like smallholders in countries in the Southern African Development Communities,” Dr Sinare Yusuf Sinare, president of the Agricultural Council of Tanzania, said to congress attendants. “The primary reason for the view is that smallholder farming is not organised or based on plans. Smallholders plant maize without knowing if there is a market.” According to Sinare, a lack of investment by governments in most African countries was the norm. “Farmers trying to organise themselves successfully and obtain economic power are seen as a threat to governments, and…

SA’s wheat import tariff, which went up in April this year, could increase again. This has sparked renewed calls for research into production strategies and new cultivars to reduce the country’s dependency on imported wheat. South Africa imports about 60% of its annual wheat requirements. The wheat import tariff increased from R157/t in October 2014 to a record R1 224,31/t in April 2016, according to Agbiz economist, Wandile Sihlobo. The tariff could now increase to R1 550/t. The tariff increase is “disconcerting”, given a weakening rand and rising inflation. “A high import tariff is a double-edged sword, protecting farmers from unfair international competition on the one hand, but burdening consumers through increased prices on the other.” SA must increase investment in seed breeding and higher-yield cultivars, as trade policy and…

Local agricultural exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) totalled $315 million (R5 billion) in 2014, with the US exporting around $235 million (R3,7 billion) worth of agricultural products to South Africa. This is according to statistics released by Agoa.info South Africa is also the leading exporter of African countries under Agoa, with a 61% growth in all products exported from to the first quarter in 2015 to the first quarter of 2016. The country exported $170 million (R2,7 billion) of goods on custom value in the first quarter of 2015 under the act, and this figure increased to $274 million (R4,3 billion) in the first quarter of 2016, according to Agoa.info. Prof Nick Vink, chairperson of agricultural policy at Stellenbosch University, told Farmer’s Weekly…

The Expropriation Bill recently approved by the National Assembly may further delay land reform. This is according to Aggrey Mahanjana, group managing director of the National Emergent Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (Nerpo). “Government thinks this will speed up the process of land reform. It won’t. Government will be challenged in court, making the process slower,” he said. Mahanjana explained that the bill had been pushed through Parliament as the willing-buyer, willing-seller approach had not been effective in helping the state achieve its redistribution targets. But government had not yet necessarily attained enough land to distribute to those in need. “If you ask government how much land it has redistributed under land reform since 1994, officials will give you a thumb-suck answer. You’ll be shocked,” Mahanjana told Farmer’s Weekly. “Expropriating land…

Zimbabwean police have released statistics attributing 153 road accidents to stray cattle in Matabeleland South Province between April 2015 and March 2016. Zimbabwe’s entire road network is unfenced, which makes it easy for cattle and other livestock to wander onto highways, where they cause accidents, according to the police. To minimise vehicle accidents caused by stray livestock, police have started arresting farmers who let their stock roam around, and imposing fines calculated per animal. Police spokesperson for Matabeleland South, Inspector Philisani Ndebele, decried the costly implications of injuries and deaths as a result of vehicle accidents due to stray cattle on public roads. Farmers who fail to kraal their cattle would be fined US$10/animal (R160/animal) during the daytime and US$20/animal (R320/animal) if the animal was seized at the night. In…

South Africa mechanically recycled 290 000t of plastic in 2015, a 3% increase from 2014. Plastic SA is an organisation that represents the local plastic industry and measures the rate of recycling in the country. According to Plastic SA executive director, Anton Hanekom, the production of virgin polymers totalled almost 1,5 million tons in 2015, up 6,4% from 2014. This growth could be attributed to the weak exchange rate, he said. According to Hanekom, a total of 310 641t of plastics had been diverted from landfills in 2015, due to reduced exporting of recyclable waste. The plastic recycling sector had increased formal employment by 3,3% to 6 234 permanent jobs, and informal employment had grown by 3% to an estimated 48 820 collectors. The cost of processing had increased by…

Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that the human body cannot produce. It is obtained by eating specific plants such as broccoli, cabbage or mangoes. These contain the orange-yellow pigment, beta-carotene, which is a precursor of Vitamin A. Beta-carotene is consumed and then converted into Vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A deficiency is prevalent in many developing countries, and can cause immuno-deficiencies, as well as blindness, in children. In East African countries such as Uganda, bananas, which are low in beta-carotene, are a staple food, and up to 50% of children in these countries suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. • Genetic modification (GM) About 10 years ago, Australian researchers transferred a gene for synthesis of beta-carotene in a wild orange-pigmented Fijian banana to conventional bananas. The gene allows the latter…

PROCESSED PRODUCTS FROM A FARM STORE ARE MORE POPULAR THAN FRESH PRODUCE Jacqui Taylor helps farmers launch and market agritourism initiatives. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Off the Beaten Track. If you are considering an agritourism business on your farm, you should ideally treat it as a separate strategic business unit (SBU). This will allow you to derive the long-term benefits associated with a separate profit centre as part of a larger business entity. A portion of the income could be derived from charging an admission fee to an event such as a festival, a tasting, a petting zoo or similar. A portion of these fees could go towards funding a farm crèche, or visitors could make donations if a business entity is registered as a nongovernmental organisation or…

According to Werner Gerber, an audit manager at BDO South Africa, the prime lending rate in SA recently increased to 10,25% and the country’s credit ratings are at an all-time low. This means that it is becoming more expensive to obtain funding and service debt. Taking this, as well as the impact of the drought on the farming sector into account – along with the increasing inflation rate – the future for local farmers is looking very bleak, Gerber says. He advises that a possible solution for farmers might be business rescue proceedings tailored specifically for the agriculture sector. “In American football, there’s a term called a ‘Hail Mary Pass’. The Oxford dictionary describes it as being ‘a long, typically unsuccessful pass made in an attempt to score late in…

North West & Northern Cape Simmentaler Champions Braunvieh Champions Contacts: Gert Nienaber: 082 808 6390 | Paul Maas Family Trust: 083 655 3602 Roland Mahne: 079 508 4806 | Kleinjan Gasekoma: 072 388 8107 North West Santa Gertrudis Champions North West and Northern Cape Simbra Champions Contacts: Johan Havemann: 082 513 8191 | AJS Lock: 082 578 9758 Gawie Coetzee: 072 262 7036 | Roland Mahne: 079 508 4806 | Cornelis Derksen Trust: 056 343 1524 Hereford Champions North West Limousin Champions Contacts: Annerie Otto: 082 805 0005 | Bertus Mong: 082 947 0701 or 028 841 4608 | Neil de Jager: 083 371 7460 Rehan van Niekerk: 073 324 6336 Kalahari Red Champions Boer Goat Champions Contacts: Elrizé van der Merwe: 083 494 7354 | Gallie Brits: 082 418…

Senescence is the aging of fruit and vegetables until final decay, when they have to be discarded. The process can be slowed by cold storage and other means, but it cannot be stopped. Generally, fresh produce with a high moisture content, such as strawberries, will decay faster than produce with a lower moisture content, such as butternut. But the end-result is always the same. Needless to say, senescence introduces a significant dynamic into the negotiations between buyer and seller on the market floor. Both are aware that the process is underway and the produce must therefore be sold – the sooner the better. The market agent does not have the luxury of a product that can remain on the shelf indefinitely. This places pressure on the price regardless of whether…

EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT, BUT DON’T OVERDO IT I’m often asked: “When can my dog be regarded as old?” This is an important question as the needs of an old dog differ greatly from those of a younger animal. It should also be understood that, as with humans, not all individuals are the same; factors such as diet, genetics and lifestyle can accelerate or retard the ageing process. Generally, canines can be divided into giant, large, medium-sized and small breeds. Giant breeds (such as the Great Dane) can generally be regarded as being old dogs from five or six years, while small breeds (Jack Russells, Chihuahuas) can be classified as old from 10 or 11. Medium to large breeds such as the Golden Retriever may be considered elderly from eight to…

To make Not-So-Humble Hot Dogs for four lucky diners, you will need: 1 loaf ciabatta 4 large rookworst or bratwurst sausages Iceberg lettuce 2 rounds feta 1 punnet rosa tomatoes 1 small onion or a shallot 2 sweet and sour pickled cucumbers 8 capers 4 sprigs fresh fennel 4 florets brocolli 4 spring onions Red Tobasco 100ml mayonnaise 100ml tomato sauce We begin with the bread. You can, of course, revert to normal and use a standard hot dog roll. But the Not-So-Humble Hot Dog deserves more, and a ciabatta or other sourdough loaf is the better road to travel. Cut the loaf into 25mm thick slices and toast. Then cut them longitudinally, leaving a thin connection between the two parts. Next, warm up the smoked sausages in simmering water,…

In Healthy Happy Eating for all Blood Types, Sue Visser writes that people with blood type AB comprise only 5% of the population and have the following characteristics: • Lower dopamine levels Type ABs tend to have lower levels of the ‘motivating’ hormone dopamine, which may result in low self-esteem and depression. • A need for exercise This is important for ABs, who react badly to stress. For them, swimming, cycling, aerobics and brisk walking are ideal, balanced by quiet times of listening to soothing music and reading. • Digestion problems ABs tend to have low levels of stomach acid, which causes problems with the digestion of fatty foods and meats and makes them more vulnerable to food poisoning. If you belong to this blood type, take digestive enzymes, bromelain and betaine HCL…

The 4 560ha Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Ezulwini was Swaziland’s first nature reserve, and is credited with prompting the conservation movement in that country. Ted and Liz Reilly founded the park in the 1960s after witnessing the disappearance of wildlife. They turned their 450ha family farm, Mlilwane, into a sanctuary, planting indigenous trees, creating wetland habitat and stocking Mlilwane with wildlife. In 1969, they donated it to a non-profit trust, and through the support of the Swazi monarchy, it has grown tenfold. Some members of the Reilly family still live on the reserve. The reserve is home to the striking Nyonyane (meaning execution rock) Mountain, on which Swazi royal graves can be found. The mountain is allegedly so-called as criminals were forced to walk off the edge at spear-point. Between…

South Africa has a healthy agricultural export market, according to Ezra Steenkamp, deputy director: international trade at the trade research desk at the department for agriculture. Steenkamp spoke to Farmer’s Weekly shortly after the publication of the SA Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Trade Performance Review. Edible fruits and nuts were the largest SA export sub-sector by value, generating R37 billion in revenue, with citrus, grapes and apples mainly going to the UK, the Netherlands and Hong Kong, according to the report. This was a 21% increase from 2014. The share of edible fruits and nuts in South Africa’s total agricultural exports increased from 31% in 2014 to 38% in 2015. The fact that exports rose and imports declined between 2013 and 2015 could be ascribed mainly to the devaluation of…

West Africa must urgently reduce its high levels of mycotoxin contamination in food. At the 2016 Autumn International Science Conference on Food Safety and Security, Prof Hussaini Makun from the Federal University of Technology Minna in Nigeria, said that countries in the region were struggling to bring mycotoxins under control. More than 25% of the world’s crops contain poisonous moulds and fungi known as mycotoxins or aflatoxins. These chemical compounds are a serious food safety risk and cause disease and death in humans and animals. In Nigeria, aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnuts is the most likely cause of the 7 761 cases of liver cancer diagnosed a year, he said. “Nigeria has reported the highest estimated number of hepatocellular carcinoma liver cancer cases in the world.” Lack of research…

While healthy animals and crops are essential for profitable farming there may be too little focus on the health of the farmers themselves, including their emotional state. According to ‘Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Among Farmers: The HUNT Study, Norway’, farmers do not readily ask for help when it comes to ‘mental illness’. Recently published in the Journal of Agromedicine, the HUNT is one of the largest health studies ever performed, having surveyed 125 000 participants since the 1980s. The main research was done in Nord-Trøndelag County, which has a substantial agricultural output and is mostly rural, with the largest of the six main towns boasting a population of only 21 000. In comparing the levels of anxiety and depression symptoms among Norwegian farmers between the ages 19 and 70 with…

SA sugar producer Tongaat Hulett’s annual results for the year ending 31 March 2016 show the company had a tough year as a result of the drought. Operating profit declined by 13,5% to R1,808 billion, down from 2015’s R2,089 million. Headline earnings dropped 17,1% to R783 million from R945 million in 2015. Peter Staude, CEO of Tongaat Hulett, said that sugar production volumes had declined to 1,02 million tons, a drop of 291 000t from 1,31 million tons in 2015. This was the second annual decrease: 1,42 million tons were produced in 2014. According to Staude, the severe drought in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) had resulted in lower cane yields. In Mozambique and Zimbabwe, low rainfall and dam levels, as well as irrigation restrictions, had resulted in poor growing conditions. “The SA…

Citrus farmers on the banks of the Klein River in the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape are concerned about raw sewage leaking into the river from the Hankey sewerage treatment works. They fear that not only will their fruit and vegetables, including export quality produce, become contaminated, but that people along the river using the water for domestic consumption might contract infectious diseases, one of the farmers, Neels Schellingerhout, said. Recent tests performed, revealed that E. coli levels in the river far exceeded acceptable limits, said Schellingerhout, owner of the farm Schellingerhout Boerdery outside Hankey. He added that more samples would be taken within days. The raw sewage leaks from Hankey’s sewerage treatment works and runs over sections of land before ending up in the Klein River. “The danger…

The South African Society of Dairy Technology (SASDT) held its 49th annual symposium at the Gateway Hotel, Durban, from 10 to 12 May. National president, Stephen Steyn, said that the turnout had been good, with more than 130 registered delegates. Speakers addressed a range of topics and presented recent research on dairy nutrition, product market trends, and food safety challenges. Input, ingredient and equipment suppliers also presented the latest research in their respective fields. SAMPRO (SA Milk Processors’ Organisation) chairperson, Melt Loubser, said that over the past five to seven years, the industry had seen steady growth in milk production and consumption, with production increasing 20% over this period.…

IF YOU CAN’T REMOVE THE CAUSE OF YOUR STRESS, MANAGE YOUR REACTION TO IT Dr Koos Coetzee is an agricultural economist at the MPO. All opinions expressed are his own and do not reflect MPO policy. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Global Farming. Modern agricultural equipment provides reliable service as long as it’s properly maintained. Crop farmers know that they must take care of the health of their soil, while livestock farmers have to look after their animals. Why is it that farmers molycoddle their crops, animals and machinery, yet neglect to maintain their most important resource: their own physical and mental well-being? A recent New Zealand study cites the following as among the main causes of mental stress in farmers: workload (too much to do in too little…

The new Independence line from Geringhoff includes two headers that enable maize growers to plant in any configuration without having to worry about how to harvest the crop. FREEDOM HEADER The Freedom maize header’s angled, two-chain system optimises crop feeding, maximises yield retention, and reduces crop loss and plugging. Its radical gearbox design can handle row spacing in various planting configurations, while its Rota Disc technology offers excellent residue processing – crucial for maize crops with a high plant population. PATRIOT HEADER The Patriot maize header was designed specifically to harvest twin row planting configurations; its double sprocket gathering chain system eliminates the whipping effect that occurs when conventional maize headers are used to harvest twin row crops. Optional end-row augers improve feeding and crop retention. • Joe Spencer is…

THERE MUST BE NO EXCESSIVE SIDE-TO-SIDE OR FRONT-TO-BACK ROCKING When a saddle is fitted to a horse, the animal should feel no discomfort or pain. If it does, its behaviour will indicate this. It is also important to remember that a horse’s back alters slightly over time, and you should therefore check the fit of the saddle every six months . When fitting a saddle, begin by getting your horse to stand on a level surface, and give it a teff net to prevent fidgeting. Place the saddle on the animal’s neck, put pressure on the pommel (front of the saddle), and slide the saddle backwards onto the withers until you cannot move it anymore. The final position will be dictated by conformation. Repeat this exercise a few times until…

Dear Hannes, Further to our meeting, I’ve configured a multipurpose mini-complex. As the units will be for casual visitors, the sizes of the rooms shown are adequate. The outer walls of the rondavels will be raised a metre higher than usual, which will allow for sufficient head room in the upstairs attic. The two units on each stand are interlinked by a passage. Shown are two safe-storage rooms in the passage. These could be separate toilets, allowing the en suite bathrooms to remain private. The sitting rooms open onto a braai deck, which could be sectioned off with a fold-back screen, depending on visitor occupancy. With the beds as shown, 10 or more visitors could occupy both units, providing accommodation for small groups. A separate ‘granny flat’ of the same…

THE DISRUPTORS by Kerryn Krige & Gus Silber (Bookstorm, R280) Without quibbling too much about what a person has to achieve to be termed an ‘entrepreneur’, this book covers a range of inspiring entrepreneurial projects in education, IT, food production and community job creation that have re-invented “business and society”, as the subtitle suggests. Award-winning journalist Gus Silber provides the profiles. Kerryn Krige, head of the Network for Social Entrepreneurs at Johannesburg’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, gives an academic overview of each project. ISIS: INSIDE THE ARMY OF TERROR by Michael Weiss & Hassan Hassan (Regan Arts, R399) News bulletins tend to concentrate on the ‘how’ of events in the current Syrian and greater Middle East conflict. So it’s easy to be left wondering about…

Avid Farmer’s Weekly reader, Gregory Stubbs of the Three Streams aquaculture company near Franschhoek in the Western Cape, shares his view on the reality of the aquaculture production environment in South Africa. The letter titled, ‘Time to act on aquaculture potential’ (FW, 13 May) refers. The writer, Eamonn Ryan, is quite correct in saying that aquaculture promises to be a leading food production sector. Globally, it continues to outstrip all forms of agriculture in terms of growth. It is also true that Africa will play a considerable role in its future growth, particularly when one considers that established aquaculture nations’ resources are fully tapped, and Africa has immense underutilised resources, such as Lake Kariba, Lake Victoria and Lake Volta. As much as Operation Phakisa has noble intentions, the notion that…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 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 Trade Show, Emperor's Palace, Johannesburg. Visit www.sapoultry.co.za. 27 TO 29 JUNE Agriculture and Horticulture International Conference, Cape Town. Visit agriculture-horticulture.conferenceseries.com agriculture-horticulture.conferenceseries.com. COURSES & TRAINING 7 TO 9 JUNE Three-Day Basic Conservation Agriculture Course, Beula Park, Meadowdale. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774 or email neill@foundationsforfarming.org. 11 JUNE Distillique's Liqueur and Infusion Workshop, Hennopspark, Centurion. Phone Hendre’ Barnard on 021 653 6871, or visit www.distillique.co.za. 20 TO 22 JUNE Artificial Insemination Course, Krugersdorp. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208…

According to small-scale farmers, agriculture remains one of the least transformed sectors in South Africa. Kgadi Senyatsi, who is responsible for the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) developing farmer projects in Gauteng, the Free State and Western Cape, said that farmers who wanted to enter the pig industry felt particularly marginalised. “Pig farmers are one of the most disadvantaged farmer groups. People who want to be in the pork industry feel discouraged,” Senyatsi said. Access to finance and land ownership were the two main barriers preventing more black farmers from entering the sector. She told Farmer’s Weekly that new farmers could not access finance because they did not own the land they farmed on. “Tribal authorities can grant a farmer 5ha, but you can’t do much with this,” she…

Research and development (R&D) in the South African forestry industry has increased and will continue to increase, not just in the private sector but within government as well, according to Michael Peter, executive director of Forestry South Africa. Peter was speaking at the 27th annual meeting of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), where international and local scientists gathered at the University of Pretoria from 18 to 20 May to discuss tree health. “The government has an agricultural policy action plan committed to more equitable allocation of R&D funding; it has supported the implementation of the R&D strategy and established national forestry research,” Peter said. According to an industry review conducted by Forestry SA, the sector employed 165 000 people across the entire value chain, and contributed R48 billion to…

Consumable goods manufacturer, Premier FMCG, has managed to avoid a class-action lawsuit by various civil society groups that sought to sue Premier, and three other food manufacturers, for damages incurred as a result of the companies participating in the fixing of local bread prices. The Competition Commission in December 2006 investigated the anti-competitive practices of the so-called ‘bread cartel’, comprising Premier, Pioneer Foods, Tiger Brands and Foodcorp, in the fixing of bread prices. The commission then referred the case to the Competition Tribunal in February 2007 for adjudication. “Premier was a leniency applicant in the matter in terms of [the commission’s] corporate leniency policy and admitted its participation in the bread cartel. However, it was not cited as a respondent in [the commission’s] complaint referral made to the [tribunal],” said…

In a watershed judgement in the Grahamstown High Court, Judge J Smith ruled in favour of Agri Eastern Cape and nine applicants that the MEC for Roads and Public Works be forced to repair and maintain the Eastern Cape’s roads as expected. On Thursday, 12 May, Smith ordered that the first respondent, the MEC of roads and public works, and the second respondent, the director-general of the same department, file a report with the registrar of the court within 30 days, after which the applicants had 30 days from the filing of the report to respond. The report needed to elaborate on the strategies they would employ to repair and maintain roads within their jurisdiction. “The respondents must also indicate what steps they will take in future to repair roads…

Macadamia nut production in Zimbabwe is projected to drop 10% this season from 4 500t last year, due to the prevailing drought, as well as an invasion of sting bug that affected the crop at key stages of development. The crop is grown mainly in Chimanimani, Nyanga, and Chipinge districts in Manicaland Province in the east, and Marondera in Mashonaland East Province in the north of the country. Lazarus Dhliwayo, technical director of the Macadamia Growers’ Association of Zimbabwe, said the drought had caused trees to abort flowers and fruit and triggered a resurgence of stink bugs. “Stink bugs are the biggest enemy of a macadamia farmer in Southern Africa. They stung us hard this season. Drought also affected the crop, and because of these two factors, output and quality…

South African Ploughmasters (PM) recently staged a ploughing match at the Weston Agricultural College in Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The event, run by SA PM vice-chairperson, Warren Blaker, was a great success, despite the dry conditions as a result of the current drought. It was so dry, in fact, that some of the tips on the ploughshares had to be replaced. Farmer Roy Fuller, now farming in Stellenbosch, was present to offer advice to competitors and highlight some of the finer points of match ploughing. Fuller has extensive experience in ploughing competitions in Zimbabwe and has also attended the world champoinships as a competitor, senior coach and judge. His assistance is likely to be of considerable benefit to South African ploughmen aiming to progress to world competitions. Sam Williams…

THE SAME TIME CONSTRAINTS DO NOT APPLY TO SARS Advocate Peter O’Halloran is a tax specialist. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Tax. A taxpayer has 30 days to object to a SARS ruling; this can be extended by another 30 if written reasons for the ruling are requested. However, the playing field is far from level, as the taxpayer found out in ABC (Pty) Ltd v CSARS (0038/2015), heard before the Tax Court of South Gauteng, Johannesburg. The dispute involved about two million rand. The taxpayer’s objection was late by 65 days and the court held that no “exceptional circumstances” had been proved in order to justify the tardy response. Thus the objection was not heard and the assessment was confirmed. DIFFICULT FOR LAWYERS The bench suggested that the…

Miki and Cathy Clark spent two years exploring the Western Cape in search of the right farm to buy. When they came across Weskuskraal, situated about 8km from Yzerfontein on the West Coast, they knew they had found it. Although the tunnels were derelict, the buildings were sound, the infrastructure was comprehensive, and the couple saw great potential. Miki contacted the owner and they rented the farm for three years, purchasing it two years ago. Weskuskraal is a 10ha property in the Jacobskraal Nature Reserve, and only 25% of the land may be farmed. Miki farms 1,2ha and has the equivalent of 36 standard-sized tunnels in which he grows herbs and salad leaves. Each tunnel houses 60 000 plants, totalling over 2,1 million plants. Miki manages the running of the…

DISSOLVE LAN FERTILISER IN WATER AND APPLY TO THE SEEDLINGS JUST BEFORE TRANSPLANTING To produce optimal results, seedlings must be in good condition when planted, and thereafter cared for properly until they are established. Unfortunately, many farmers do not fully understand what is required in either case. A large seedling grower I visited in Florida in the US produced seedlings according to the specific requirements of individual farmers. These farmers knew exactly what type of seedling would produce the best results for them. The lesson is clear: establish a good relationship with your seedling producer, and communicate openly and frequently with him. I’ve known farmers who have started buying from another grower while their first supplier remained blissfully unaware of their client’s increasing dissatisfaction with the products. Of course, it’s…

REPLACE THE PADS WHEN THE LINING IS DOWN TO 1MM OR 2MM Drum brakes are common on trucks and at the rear wheels on some less expensive cars. Most modern drum brakes have self-adjusting mechanisms. Unfortunately, these tend to seize up with time. Replacing brake shoes requires some experience but useful videos can be found on the Internet. Take a cellphone photograph of the old shoes before removing them; this will help you to replace the springs in the correct position. You will need special brake spring pliers – or very strong arm muscles. DISC BRAKES Disc brakes, unlike drum brakes, are used in combination with a servo, and respond more uniformly to pressure applied by the driver. For example, if the driver doubles the pressure on the pedal, disc…

 I learnt many years ago as a young farmer that if I was not going forward, I would definitely slip backwards. There is no such thing as being ‘in neutral’ when farming; you’re either expanding, or you’re losing ground. WE NEED TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON FOR THE LORD In Revelation 3:16, we read: “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Strong words! We have to do business until He comes – that’s the mandate from the Lord. We cannot afford to sit on the fence, not least because it’s extremely uncomfortable. In a rugby match, neither you, nor your team, are going to get anywhere if you’re lukewarm, or if you remain on the periphery of the…

Now that you have created a Facebook account, as discussed last week, you will need to upload a cover photograph. This is the large image at the top of your page; your profile picture (also discussed previously) is the small photograph of yourself next to it. Choose a unique image that represents what you are or what you care about (such as a picture of your cattle). The cover and profile pictures can be changed at any time and as often as you choose. Next, the ‘timeline’. Simply put, this Facebook section shows the story of your (online) life on your Facebook page. Starting with your most recent postings, friends can scroll down the timeline. You can post a picture or video on your timeline by clicking on the photo…