Table of contents for 24 June 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

As if the devastating effects of the drought on the livelihoods of farmers and food security were not enough, we have now learnt that they may also result in food safety concerns. Increased climate variability causes crops such as wheat and maize to generate more toxins to protect themselves from extreme weather. These chemical compounds can cause health problems in animals and humans, according to a new research report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which focuses on emerging issues of environmental concern. In an article by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP, explains that crops respond to drought conditions by increasing their internal temperature, just as humans do when faced with a stressful situation.…

A recent announcement by King Goodwill Zwelithini that he had instituted a process to have his subjects residing on communal Ingonyama Trust land eventually gain title deeds has been widely welcomed. Managed by the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) since 1997, the approximately 2,8 million hectares of land, of which the Zulu king is the sole trustee, constitutes about 60% of KwaZulu-Natal’s land area. An announcement by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZN COGTA) quoted the Zulu monarch as saying: “This process will be exclusively for land that is utilised for residential purposes, and in line with the country’s Constitution and all due processes will be followed.” Zwelithini’s initiative was the first of its kind on communal land under traditional authority anywhere in South Africa, said an…

Angola wanted to increase banana cultivation as the country had the right climatic conditions to support large-scale production. Dr John Robinson, world-renowned banana specialist and technical consultant at Du Roi Laboratory in Tzaneen, told Farmer’s Weekly that there was an opportunity to cultivate more bananas in Angola. “The country has a tropical environment with warm winter temperatures, no fruit chilling and the potential to export good quality fruit to Europe and the UK,” he said. According to Robinson, production regions Caxito, Kwanza Sul and Benguela were situated near harbours, which was beneficial for future exports. “[The Port of] Lobito is the best port with a tradition of exporting bananas, and Angola has just sent out its first export consignment to Portugal from Lobito,” he said. Robinson said, however, that more…

Two outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) have been confirmed by the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (ARC OVI) in areas where the disease has not been recorded before. These are a communal set-up in Ipeleng Township near Schweizer-Reneke, in the North West, and on a farm near Koffiefontein, in the Free State. The virus causes haemorrhagic fever that results in high mortality rates in pigs. The disease was endemic to Africa, but in South Africa it was usually limited to the red-line area in Limpopo, said Simon Streicher, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation. “It’s not supposed to be in these new areas and the question is how it spread to those regions,” he said. Although ASF was not zoonotic, a major problem was that no…

Technology such as drip irrigation is being used successfully by farmers in Israel to grow more crops with less water, yet the adoption of the practice in other water-scarce countries such as South Africa is still low. Speaking at the Israel-South Africa Water Week in Johannesburg, Itai Melchior, head of trade at the Israeli embassy in South Africa, said that in Israel more than 90% of crops were drip-irrigated. By contrast, in South Africa only 10% to 15% of crops were watered using drip irrigation. “We hope that through farmer education this figure will increase,” said Melchior. According to Douw Steyn, regional consultant for drip and micro irrigation company Netafim, SA farmers were more reluctant to use drip irrigation due to the cost of installation and a lack of knowledge…

Land reform in South Africa has been mismanaged, resulting in tragic consequences for its beneficiaries. This was according to Tony Leon, former political leader, who spoke at the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ congress held recently in Kimberley. Leon said that the programmes to address the injustices of the past and to restore land to beneficiaries were understandably necessary. “However, there’s a big difference between good intentions and poor results,” he said. According to Leon, the former white government had nurtured white farmers, but South Africa’s first black government was neglecting black farmers. “I have no doubt that this was not the intention; indeed the motive was the opposite. But as the old saying goes, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’.” South Africa was facing its greatest…

UNDER GOOD CONDITIONS, THE PLANT BEARS FRUIT FIVE TIMES A YEAR At R50/kg, one would think more South African farmers would be producing dragon fruit. However, although local conditions are ideal for growing this cactus plant, to date plant material has been scarce in South Africa and the number of available cultivars limited. Moreover, these cultivars have not been well-received by consumers due to their bland taste. Now new, sweeter cultivars are being made available under licence to growers by Amorentia Nursery based in Tzaneen, Limpopo. Owner Howard Blight says that he bought the plant material for 14 dragon fruit varieties from a well-known plant collector, Keith Wilson, who imported it from the US. Howard has registered these varieties under the Amorentia Sweet Dragon Fruit trademark. Amorentia Nursery will retain…

Due to increasing energy costs, solar water heating is becoming increasingly popular. In a residential setting, solar water heaters are typically capable of saving 200kWh/month. A solar water heater requires a capital investment of at least R14 000. The type of solar heater best suited for your purpose is determined by several factors: available solar radiation (lower radiation areas will require larger solar collectors); differences between day and night temperatures; the amount of water you need to heat; and the possibility of frost or freezing. SOLAR WATER HEATING TYPES Four separate solar water heating systems are available; these can be combined depending on specific requirements. • The direct system In a direct system, water is circulated through the solar collector. This system is highly cost-effective, but it is not freeze-resistant. Moreover,…

‘FARM AS IF THE NEXT DRY SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER’ Johan Dannhauser and his family of Goedgedacht farm near Parys in the Free State run a 4 000-commercial cow herd, a Simmentaler and Africa Droughtmaster stud consisting of 200 animals, and a feedlot finishing 2 500 calves for slaughter in two cycles per year. The Dannhausers have farmed the 10 000ha farm since 1882. Between 1950 and 2005, the family focused on grain, but in 2005 they began converting their lands to pasture for cattle. GOOD WINTERFEED VITAL “To avoid a dip in production, correct winterfeed is essential. If you get winterfeed spot-on, you enter summer with cows in good condition, which leads to good production,” Johan says. When a cow in poor condition gives birth, the calf’s immune…

Prosim Club Champions Contacts: Erich Schullenburg: 083 388 0518 | Chris Oelofse: 082 568 3360 or 018 632 2744 Peter Abrahamse: 079 526 0000 (Lucille) | Jan van Biljon: 083 379 9307 | Gert Nienaber: 082 808 6390 North West Red Brahman Champions North West Grey Brahman Champions Contacts: Andries Marx and Fanie van der Merwe: 082 859 5896 | Gawie Coetzee: 072 262 7036 Jan Serfontein: 082 850 8794 | Hanno Grobler: 082 780 3148…

DIP THE SEED TRAYS IN ROOF PAINT TO EXTEND THEIR LIFE Some farmers think that seedlings should not be kept too long because they will not be as productive. They are partly right, but age matters less than physiological development. I learnt about the distinction between age and development in the days before cavity seedlings. We made seedbeds in the soil instead, and when pulling the plants for transplanting, we would occasionally find smaller plants. Their growth had been suppressed by competition from larger, stronger plants. If we ran out of ‘good’ seedlings, we would later return reluctantly to the seedbeds and the pale, undernourished plants left behind. We did not know it at the time, but these plants were in limbo as they were not being fertilised or looked…

Someone recently wanted to know from me why the fuel-saving product he had bought a few months before had stopped working. Initially, his fuel consumption had dropped by 8% – less than the 20% claimed by the manufacturer but good enough to keep him happy. Later, however, his fuel consumption returned to what it had been. I explained that if the product was an aftermarket item, it had probably been examined by at least one major car manufacturer and found to be useless. The industry is always looking for new ways to save fuel, and any invention with merit will eventually be found on a production car. In this case, the device initially appeared to work because the driver at first drove sedately to give it a chance to ‘prove’…

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THEHARDSHIPS OF THIS LIFE TOTEMPER A PERSON’S CHARACTER In this testing time, we’re faced with corruption, the devaluation of the rand and one of the worst droughts this country has ever experienced. We need Godly counsel as never before! In 2 Chronicles 10:1-19, we read the story of the young king who took over from his father, Solomon. The youngster immediately sought counsel from his father’s advisors. The wise old men told him: “If you are kind to the people and you please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.” Unfortunately, the young king rejected this advice and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, a dangerous group of yes-men. They urged him to increase the yoke,…

Internet connectivity has improved significantly throughout the country in recent years, opening up a range of entertainment options. Last year, Showmax was launched in South Africa and it was followed this year by Netflix, bringing online film hire into our homes. “In light of the perks that come with Netflix, DStv will struggle in the age of the Internet to remain relevant and competitive, despite its big trump card, the sports channels,” states the website Clickncompare.co.za. BROADBAND IN A NUTSHELL These services require broadband, which is always-on Internet connectivity of at least 1 Mbps (Mb/s stands for megabits per second, a measure of data transfer speed). With broadband, you can stay connected for as long as you wish, and do not have to pay for every minute that you are…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 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 2016, 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. 1 TO 2 JULY SA Bee Industry Organisation’s Annual Conference, Oudtshoorn. Phone Lynette Barnes on 021 865 2050, or email info@capehoneyfactory.co.za. 3 TO 8 JULY Grassland Society of Southern Africa Congress, Wilderness. Phone Freyni du Toit on 083 256 7202, or visit www.grassland.org.za. 19 TO 20 JULY 4th Annual Africa Women in Agriculture and Agribusiness Summit, Midrand. Email Kelly Siasamba at kelly@amabhubesi.co.za. 25 TO 27 JULY 1st Annual Agribusiness Forum, Gabarone, Botswana. Phone Kabo Kote on +26 77 334 4001, or email info@fresh-taste.com. COURSES & TRAINING 20…

Large-scale commercial farming enterprise, ZZ2, has refurbished, extended and updated a tomato packhouse on the farm, ESME-four, near Musina. The new packhouse has 180 workers and is 6 500m² in size, of which 4 000m² consist of coldroom facilities. It has the capacity to cool 30t tomatoes/hour, while up to 28t/hour can be packaged, according to Ian van Brouwershaven, project leader at ZZ2. “The project was a race against time. It had to be in operation when the first crops were harvested, which gave us three months to complete it,” he said. “An internal project management team coordinated the contractors and more than 150 people were involved in the project,” he said. According to Brouwershaven, the old packhouse, which was built in the 1990s, used out-dated technology and only had…

Lion numbers have increased by 12% in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, while decreasing by 60% in western, central and eastern African states over the past 21 years. This was according to a recently released Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) statement. The statement followed a meeting by the 28 African Lion Range States that reached a broad agreement to discuss lion conservation, management and restoration of habitat. Habitat loss and degradation are the predominant threat to lions in Africa, triggered by encroaching human settlements. Prey depletion as a result of poaching for bush meat, indiscriminate killing and livestock predation are other major causes of the decline. The illegal trade in lion parts for medicinal purposes was also a concern, said CITES.…

The long-term outlook for the agricultural sector remains negative, according to the latest Agribusiness Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2016. Wandile Sihlobo, head: economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, said that policy uncertainty was one of the main drivers limiting investment and business activity in the sector. The Agribusiness Confidence Index is compiled quarterly by Agbiz and the Industrial Development Corporation and reflects the perceptions of SA agribusiness decision-makers on various aspects of the agricultural economy. The index was below 50 points for the past four consecutive quarters, and the first quarter of 2016 was 15% lower than the first quarter of 2015. “This is a trend that previously only occurred in times of serious crisis, such as the droughts of 2003 and 2005, and the global financial…

South Africa’s first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures for 2016 show that the economy and the agriculture sector are struggling to achieve growth. The country’s GDP contracted by 1,2% quarter on quarter due to weakening economic activity. The agriculture sector remained in recession, based on a negative growth of 6,5% quarter on quarter, after having contracted by 6,7% in the fourth quarter of 2015. The figures, released by Statistics SA, were worse than market expectations, said Wandile Sihlobo, head: economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz. Growth in agriculture was also unlikely to improve in the second and third quarters of 2016 due to the aftermath of the drought. Independent exchange-traded funds strategist and advisor Nerina Visser agreed, telling Farmer’s Weekly that the figures “did not make for easy reading”, particularly…

‘YOU CAN’T GIVE PEOPLE LAND AND NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT’ The inherent die-hard optimism among SA farmers was emphasised during the discussions at this year’s ‘Nation in Conversation’ dialogue series at the Nampo Harvest Day. According to the organisers, from the final analysis of all the information shared during the four-day event, it would seem that farmers will endure and embrace the challenges that face the sector to ensure the continuation of food security in SA. On the final day, during a discussion on changing the image of agriculture, panellist Phumi Mashigo, founding partner of Ignitive, even suggested that ‘Feeding the Nation’ become the new brand slogan for SA agriculture. Another clear message emerging from the discussions was that transformation is nonnegotiable, but it needs to be achieved without any threat…

The name ‘dragon fruit’ was introduced by Asian marketers who fashioned a fable around the origin of the fruit. According to this ‘legend’, the fruit was created thousands of years ago by fire-breathing dragons. Once the dragon was slain, the fruit was collected and presented to the emperor as a coveted treasure and a sign of victory. It was believed that those who consumed the pulp of the dragon fruit received the strength and immortality of the dragon. • Source: www.tropicalfruitnursery.com…

FOR ALL FARMERS, A WEAKER RAND MEANS HIGHER INPUT PRICES On 11 January, the rand reached an all-time low of R16,88 to the US dollar. At the time of writing, the value had improved slightly to between R14,50 and R15,50. Economists are divided on the future value of the rand. The group that takes part in the Economist of the Year competition estimates a value of between R13,95 and R20 to the dollar for the last quarter of 2016, with a consensus estimate of R15,90. If you ignore the extreme spikes caused by global crises, the long-term trend shows that the rand devalues by about 8% per year. Why is the rand weak? The price of a currency is determined by supply and demand. As the price is expressed in…

How do South Africa’s poultry producers measure up when it comes to the welfare of chickens? We think that South Africa’s poultry industry is doing well in terms of meeting welfare requirements. Disregard for the South African Poultry Association’s (SAPA) code of good practice is the exception, rather than the norm. There are many misconceptions about farmers and their willingness to adhere to welfare recommendations. Most farmers want their birds to be healthy so that they can produce and generate profit. Farming is a business and it’s therefore not in the interest of producers to keep their chickens in poor conditions. What is the industry’s most pressing welfare issue? In the egg industry, the size of layer cages is under review. Welfare organisations, international trends, and consumers want cages to…

With drought conditions still prevailing in many parts of the summer rainfall region, farmers will have to adjust their winter feeding strategies to compensate for nutritional losses. This is according to Jan Hoon, agricultural researcher at Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute. Climatic conditions and pasture types vary greatly between regions, making a ‘one size fits all’ feeding strategy impossible, Hoon stresses. Nonetheless, there is a single important factor that should be borne in mind this season: supplementary winterfeed is aimed only at addressing nutritional shortages in pastures and veld, and should not be considered a substitute for these. Feed supplementation is the provision of small volumes of concentrated feed stuff lacking in pastures or veld. “When done correctly, supplementary feeding will result in animals receiving a more balanced diet, which, in…

At a recent Potatoes South Africa (PSA) information day, I learnt a number of facts about our favourite vegetable (and the biggest-selling crop on our fresh produce markets). Consider the following, gleaned from the PSA booklet ‘The South African Potato Industry in Perspective’: Africa grows 1,9 million hectares of potatoes. South Africa’s contribution is less than 50 000ha, or 3% of that. But our average yield of 44t/ha far outstrips the continent’s average of 15t/ha. This tells us something about the prowess of our potato farmers. The market share of potatoes locally is equally impressive. They make up 12% of the R58 billion horticultural sector, and an amazing 57% of all vegetables produced! That’s R6,3 billion worth of potatoes. What makes these statistics even more impressive is that only 561…

MASKING INJURY WITH A PAINKILLER CAN BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM Working dogs are often pushed to their physical limits and thus require a special set of maintenance and welfare regimens. Many of these dogs will also regularly come into contact with disease-carrying animals – other dogs, game and vermin. If your dog falls into this category, vaccinate it annually with a rabies shot and a 5-in-1 vaccination aimed at preventing easily contracted illnesses such as parvovirus and corona virus. If your working dog is a long-haired breed, get it trimmed before entering the field. A woolly coat is an ideal environment for the proliferation of ectoparasites that can cause biliary and other diseases. CHOOSING THE RIGHT DIET FOR A WORKING DOG Nutrition is crucial for…

KIND OF, SORT OF A TRADITIONAL LEBANESE RECIPE To feed 2 to 4 vegans on a powerful tabbouleh salad, you will need: 230g bulgur wheat30ml-50ml lemon juice100ml-150ml extra virginolive oil1 cup each of diced tomato and English cucumber8 spring onions3 cloves garlic1 cup mint3 cups parsleySalt on demand¼ teaspoon ground cumin (jeera)Pinch of ground allspice½ teaspoon coarselyground black pepper For an opportunistic omnivore like myself who enjoys a happy relationship with meat, eggs and dairy, a close encounter with the dietary regime known as veganism has been a somewhat startling experience. It has two basic pillars: the first is the belief that the cruelty inflicted on animals through preparing and slaughtering them – especially in today’s ‘factory-farming’ set-up – is unacceptable. The second is the belief that animal-based products are…

The leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree are amongst the oldest known medicinal herbs. In Herbal Remedies, Dr Arien van der Merwe writes that ginkgo’s molecules, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, protect brain cells and their membranes from lipid oxidation damage that plays a role in the deterioration of intellectual functions. They keep the brain alert by improving blood circulation and alleviating certain forms of depression. Ginkgo is also said to help with deteriorating eyesight and hearing, as well as problems with balance, such as vertigo. People struggling with attention deficit disorder would do well to take ginkgo too. PAINFUL CRAMPS Ginkgo increases the blood supply to all body cells, healing damaged heart tissue, arteries, veins and capillaries, and is used to treat peripheral vascular insufficiency. Examples of such…

The wool market traded 5,4% lower this week and the Merino indicator decreased by 875 points to close at R152,06 (clean), while the Australian market fell only 1,7%. The 2015/2016 season closed as expected with strong demand for medium length wool and excellent competition for longer and better quality wools, said Cape Wools. However, the rand strengthened by 5,5% against the US dollar compared with the average rate at the previous sale. It strengthened 3,7% against the euro as well, to trade at R16,83. Wool of 18,7 microns [µm] and finer traded 5% cheaper, 19µm to 21µm shed 4%, 22µm was down 3% and wool of 23µm lost 6%. CMW’s highest price of R130,60/kg was achieved by Hampton Farms Cathcart for an AH lot of 18,9µm purchased by Stucken. “The…

South Africa, the world’s seventh-largest producer of wine, will soon be doubling its exports of duty-free wine to the EU after the recent signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which also includes Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana. The EPA means that South Africa can now export 110 million litres of duty-free wine, up from the current 48 million litres, according to Wines of South Africa. The agreement, which was finalised in July 2014, must be ratified by each SACU member before the end of September to come into effect in October, said Michael Mokhoro, spokesperson for South Africa’s wine and brandy industry. Currently, the EU is the SA wine industry’s largest export destination, accounting for 74,8% of annual off-shore…

The biggest problems encountered by the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) in the Western Cape over the past year, were the drought and the increased risk it imposed on animal health, as well as stock theft. John Dürr, chairman of the RPO in the Western Cape, highlighted these issues at the organisation’s recent annual meeting near Wellington. “The recent drought has once again brought the important aspect of biosecurity on our farms to our attention,” said Dürr. He added that diseases such as brucellosis, were brought into herds in the Western Cape due to the transportation of animals from drought areas to alternative grazing areas in the province. “The Southern Cape dairy industry, in particular, suffered major damage due to the slaughter of cattle infected with brucellosis. Many of these…

The absence of regular abattoir inspections could be increasing the risk of salmonella contamination in rural areas. There are specific slaughter regulations aimed at preventing salmonella from spreading to humans, but the absence of regular abattoir inspections in rural areas could result in some abattoirs taking short cuts that could increase the risk of the disease. This was according to Dr Evelyn Madoroba of the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, speaking at the Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA) conference held in Stellenbosch recently. She said that salmonella was one of the leading causes of gastro-enteritis in the world, with 93,8 million people falling ill and 155 000 people dying due to the bacterium each year. “One of the problems is that animals might appear healthy, while they actually…

At a recent Israel-South Africa Water Week in Johannesburg, leading Israeli water experts discussed how technological innovations developed in that country could be used to address water shortages and drought conditions in South Africa. Israel is known as a world leader in drought management and water technology. Speaking at the event, renowned hydrologist, Prof Eilon Adar, said that any country could achieve water security “If we managed to overcome our water problems in Israel, it can be done almost anywhere in the world,” he said. Israel is one of the few countries in the world where water is considered a strategic commodity on a par with oil. Through government and industry partnerships, the country has achieved water security. Although it is 60% desert, it has a water surplus and is…

The vaccine supply shortage at Onderstepoort Biological Products’ (OBP) and the increase in animal vaccine costs were amongst the topics discussed at the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation’s (RPO) Animal Health Committee (NCRPO) congress held in Kimberley recently. Dr Koos Louw, chairperson of the NCRPO, said that brucellosis was out of control in the province, and that antibiotic resistance in livestock had become a worldwide problem. He added that while sheath rot remained problematic, research conducted by Stellenbosch University had recently produced promising results. “It would be remiss of me to announce the preliminary results, but I can announce that some 700 organisms have been identified in the fight against sheath rot,” he said. Louw urged farmers to implement strict bio-security measures, and to use technology to combat animal…

Family businesses play a massive role in economies all over the world. During a Nation in Conversation session dedicated to family businesses in the farming sector, some of South Africa’s most successful family-owned farming businesses shared lessons they have learned over the years. “Make sure you have a good succession plan so that the next generation does not have to start from scratch. Also ensure that everyone in the business shares the same vision and steer clear of greed,” said ZZ2, CEO Tommie van Zyl. Family businesses face the same challenges as other business, but with added hurdles, noted Prof Elmarie Venter, director of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Unit of Family Businesses. “You have to be aware of and manage issues like nepotism,” she added. In addition, issues such as…

Some people still do not accept that growing GM crops brings benefits. The PG Economics group in the UK reported in their recently released 1996 to 2014 analysis that the global economic benefit of GM crops in 2014 amounted to US$17,7 billion (R283 billion), two-thirds of which came from higher yield and extra production, with developing countries gaining relatively more than developed ones. The environment also benefited due to facilitated conservation agriculture to reduce tilling practices, insecticide use, and using more benign herbicides. The highlights were: • Farmers were able to produce more crops without using more land, saving at least 20 million additional hectares. • Biotechnology boosted yields that amounted to 322 million tons more maize, 25 million tons more cotton, and 158 million tons more soya beans. •…

BETTER TERMS ARE AVAILABLE IN COUNTRIES CLOSE BY The deduction allowed for research and development (R&D) is available under current legislation only until 2022. As is to be expected, not everything related to R&D is deductible. In fact, the deduction is subject to stringent and narrow interpretation and requirements. Section 11D of the Income Tax Act mentions five categories: non-obvious scientific or technology discoveries; inventions, designs, innovative computer programs and associated essential knowledge; making significant and innovative improvements with respect to the foregoing; creating a multi-source pharmaceutical product; and conducting clinical trials. The collation of data in the normal course of business does not qualify, neither does development of internal business processes, unless the development is done for resale on an arm’s-length basis. Also excluded are market research, oil/gas/mineral exploration…

Grain SA reports that a record 75 116 visitors attended this year’s Nampo Harvest Day, while exhibitors totalled 685 – the most ever. Here are the tractors that caught our eye: 1 Star of the show The first John Deere 9570RX ‘4-Track’ articulated tracked tractor in South Africa was snapped up at the start of the show. And this, it transpired, was no one-off deal: the next four days saw 11 more orders placed for the giant tractor. The new 425kW 9570RX (seen here) is one of four models rated from 352kW to 465kW. 2 Compact, but efficient Smith Power Equipment, South African distributors for Kubota, recently introduced the L45 tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB), featuring the HST Plus hydrostatic transmission. With 34kW available from the Kubota diesel engine, this unit is ideal…

ALWAYS CHECK ALL FOUR LEGS BEFORE AND AFTER WORK I often get emails along the lines of the following: How much work can my horse do? How do I get my young horse working? My horse has been off work after an injury – how do I bring it back into work? Let’s start with the basics. In the wild, horses move most of the day and a good part of the evening. The average wild horse that is free to roam covers about 30km/day. By contrast, our horses are stabled for most of their lives. This means that they need additional exercise to prevent them from gaining unnecessary weight and becoming stiff and bored. The horse’s circulation will slow down and eventually the toxins in its body will start…

Dear John Your article in Farmer’s Weekly of 19 June 2015 refers. We intend building a house in Zambia shortly, and need your assistance with the plans. Here are the details: • The double garage must be converted into an en suite bedroom; • The entire structure has to be built on a wooden deck 3m above the ground, with a wrap-around veranda; • The house must be built from logs and poles, and have a thatched roof; • The windows cannot contain glass or have steel frames; • The plans do not have to be submitted to any authorities. Regards André Dear André After our chat this morning, I drew a conceptual sketch for your future home. I have modified the layout here and there, to make it more…

THE ROAD TO SOWETO by Julian Brown (Jacana, R250) Brown depicts Soweto 1976 as an upswelling of what he calls South Africa’s ‘insurgent citizens’, rather than an isolated incident. He weaves it into the 1960s growth of student activism, giving it contemporary and global context such as the 1968 Paris student protests and the 1974 pro-Frelimo rallies. Providing this fresh perspective is, in fact, the main thrust of the book, so that only the final chapter is devoted to the actual events of Soweto 1976. GIRL AT WAR by Sara Novic (Sceptre, R235) Novic’s strong debut novel centres on the lasting impact of a child being part of a civil struggle – in this case, the infamously brutal Bosnia-Croatia conflict, traced from its outbreak in Zagreb…

IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE GREATEST GOLD RUSH THEWORLD HAS EVER KNOWN! Orphaned at the age of eight, Harry Filmer was sent to a convent in Bruges, Belgium. The lively child flourished under the guidance of the good sisters. After four years, he was sent back to London, where his fascination with languages led him to learn a new type of communication. In 1837, Sir Isaac Pitman had developed an ingenious collection of symbols that enabled one to record verbatim anything that was said, and Pitman shorthand was fast becoming the wonder of the business world. It was ideal for court cases, conferences and newspaper reporting. Harry was hired by The Tablet, and although only 16, he was entrusted with one of the most responsible and arduous tasks assigned…