Table of contents for 19 August 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

We should be well beyond the point in South Africa where anyone needs to be convinced that women can compete equally with men on all levels in the agricultural sector. There are more than enough examples of successful women farmers and women in leadership roles in agribusiness to prove this many times over. But even in this country, where women enjoy the same constitutional freedoms and opportunities as men, most women will still, at some point, be confronted with the message that remains stubbornly pervasive in every society in the world: girls and women shouldn’t aspire to the same goals as boys and men. So far, I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to have never really felt that my gender was a professional disadvantage. I believe this is…

In the article ‘Gas and oil exploration in Verkykerskop’ (FW, 5 August) the following was incorrectly reported: “Jan van Niekerk added that in its exploration application, South African gas company, Sungu-Sungu, had indicated that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) could be used to extract oil and gas reserves.” This should have read: “Jan van Niekerk added that an independent engineer consulted by the Verkykerskop Boervereniging and who wishes to remain anonymous said that fracking would most likely be used to extract gas if it was found in the area.” • Farmer’s Weekly has a high regard for factual accuracy and welcomes reader input.…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 17 TO 18 AUGUST PMA Fresh Connections Southern Africa Conference and Expo, CSIR, Pretoria. Visit www.pma.com/events/ fresh-connections-southern-africa. 21 TO 25 AUGUST 9th Citrus Research Symposium, Champagne Sports Resort, Drakensberg. Phone Liezl van der Linde on 013 759 8000, or visit www.citrusresearchsymposium.co.za. 24 AUGUST Israel in South Africa Agri Seminar, Umhlanga. Phone 011 783 9605. 6 TO 8 SEPTEMBER No-till Club's Conservation Agriculture Conference 2016, ATKV Drakensville. Phone Sandra on 033 330 2062, or email ntcsandra@gmail.com. 9 TO 11 SEPTEMBER National Orchid Show and Conference, Carbineers' Drill Hall, Pietermaritzburg. Phone Alison Young on 082 406 5638, or email Saoc2016show@gmail.com. 13 TO 16 SEPTEMBER The Land Rehabilitation Society of Southern Africa's (LaRSSA) 4th Annual Conference, Kimberley. Phone Glaudin Kruger on 028 316 2905, or email kruger@krugerassociate.com. 14 TO 15…

‘VOTERS ARE NOW FAR LESS INCLINED TO TAKE A PARTISAN VIEW OF POLITICAL PARTIES’ “Democracy is no harlot to be picked up in the street by a man with a tommy gun. I trust the people, the mass of the people, in almost any country, but I like to make sure that it is the people and not a gang of bandits from the mountains or the countryside who think that by violence they can overturn constituted authority.” – Winston Churchill, 8 December 1944 While voting in the recent local government elections, I started talking to a policeman working at the voting station. We joked about the cold – just two people, one black, one white. And despite everything we are told that divides us, we shared a moment of…

Cotton SA’s 7th estimate for the 2015/2016 production year indicates a total crop of 42 798 lint bales (200kg bales), down 53% from the previous season, and 9% less than last month’s estimate. Gert Cilliers, a cotton producer from Stella in North West, told Farmer’s Weekly that he wanted to plant cotton this coming season, but this would depend on the rain arriving in time. “We wanted to plant last season, but the rain arrived only in January. To plant cotton, we need rain in November. If all goes well, I aim to plant 600ha to 700ha,” he said. Based on the Cotlook A Index, the average price for cotton in South Africa increased from about R18/kg in July 2014 and R20/kg in 2015 to about R25/kg in July 2016.…

The Southern African division of global diversified wood fibre group, Sappi Limited, increased its operating profit – excluding special items – from R538 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2015 to R1,05 billion for the quarter ended 30 June 2016. Sappi attributed this increase primarily to higher net selling prices for both dissolving wood pulp (DWP) and paper during the latest quarter. These favourable prices for Sappi Southern Africa (SSA) reportedly “more than offset variable cost increases and lower sales volumes post the sale of the Enstra and Cape Kraft Mills”. SSA also benefited by R100 million due to the sale. While the third quarter (Q3) ending 30 June 2016 was seasonally the weakest for the group, the company was again able to show marked improvement in operating performance…

While all major supermarkets in the UK were reportedly committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs by 2025, South Africa was unlikely to emulate this practice within the same time-frame. The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) said that cage-free eggs were more expensive to produce than eggs produced in the more widely-used, but increasingly controversial, battery cage systems. UK-based online publication, FG Insight, recently reported that local supermarket chains, Asda and Lidl, had joined Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Iceland in pledging to source only cage-free eggs by 2025. SAPA CEO, Kevin Lovell, told Farmer’s Weekly that while cage-free eggs were produced and sold in South Africa, they were largely unaffordable for the majority of the population. “A study done by the Human Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council a…

The 43rd Annual Fauresmith Endurance Ride was held in Fauresmith, Free State, over three days – 5 to 7 July – and covered 204km. The first day consisted of 75km completed over three legs with a compulsory veterinary check between sections. Day two was a reverse of the first day’s route. The third day consisted of 54km completed over two legs. According to participants, the cool riding conditions were favourable for horses and riders, with both benefiting from the improved roads. Because this ride took place over a slightly longer route than in previous years, no horses were able to beat the 1997 record of seven hours 55 minutes and 54 seconds held by Riaan van der Linde on Rakib Shah. A total of 187 horses completed the course successfully,…

A water storage scheme piloted at the Moedwil Secondary School outside Rustenburg in North West is to be replicated in 20 communities countrywide. The system provides clean, safe drinking and irrigation water. The storage will be provided by the GreenSource Sport for Water system, sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its sustainable water fund. Project spokesperson Corné Erasmus Theunissen, told Farmer’s Weekly that the idea had been conceived by visiting Dutch engineers during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. “They became aware of the growing water problem in the country and engineered an integrated system,” he said. Currently, about 17 million litres of water are stored in a basin under a soccer field at the Moedwil Secondary School. The system was installed as a pilot project in 2015,…

DESPITE THE WORST DROUGHT IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES, NO CONSUMER HAD TO FACE EMPTY SHELVES South Africa’s commercial farmers occupy a favourable position on the doorstep of a huge and growing market both locally and in the rest of Southern Africa. But they need government’s support to feed this population. In South Africa, the population is unevenly distributed among the provinces. According to Statistics SA, 24% of the population of 54 million live in Gauteng. This represents 32% of the country’s working population and 22% of the households with access to electricity. Income distribution is also skewed. Gauteng produces 34,5% of the total GDP, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 15,7%, and the Western Cape with 14,2%. The average monthly household income increased from R7 000 in 2009 to more than…

‘ACCESSING A MARKET IS ABOUT MORE THAN SIGNING A CONTRACT’ Leeko Makoene was recently named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2016. This initiative recognises notable South Africans under the age of 35 who are using their skills and talents to improve people’s lives. She was chosen from 1 000 entries and is one of six achievers in the ‘environment’ category. It was Leeko’s vision for South Africa’s agricultural sector that brought her to the public’s attention. She is the founder of Made with Rural, a company that helps young, small-scale farmers get on their feet. Through a cluster-farming model, her company helps young producers achieve economies of scale and access markets through group buying, selling and production. Leeko was born into a farming family,…

Free State Pinz²yl Champions Free State Pinzgauer Champions Contacts: Toerien Family: 082 373 9100. Bertie van Zyl (Pty) Ltd: 015 395 2040 | Igmar Bester: 082 839 5106 | Eugene Cilliers: 082 333 7559 Dexter National Champions Contacts: Hendrik Strydom: 073 289 5111 | Jurg and Torrie van Aswegen: 083 455 9379 Sam Marx and Gerald Jagger: 084 548 4971 | Johan Daffue: 082 338 5319 | Nelius Uys: 082 447 0227…

FERGUSON SUED FORD FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT The first Ferguson TE20 tractor, affectionately known as the ‘Vaaljapie’ in South Africa, rolled off the assembly line in Coventry in the UK on 6 July 1946. More than half-a-million were built over the next 10 years. 1 THE SYSTEM The TE20 was the brainchild of engineer and inventor Harry Ferguson (seen above demonstrating the tractor), one of the founders of the present-day Massey Ferguson company. Key to the global success of the TE20 was its unique three-point linkage system. Designated the ‘Ferguson System’, this effectively turned the tractor and implement into a single working unit. Acclaimed as one of the most important engineering developments of the 20th century, it achieved Ferguson’s ambition of helping farmers to mechanise all aspects of crop production affordably.…

Feeding and socialisation in the first six months of a pup’s life has a major impact on the health and functionality of the dog later in life. Pups have special dietary needs, so it is advisable not to prepare them home-cooked meals. These may not have enough essential fats, minerals, protein or calcium to allow for the development of strong bones and muscles. I have found the more expensive supermarket brand dog kibble (pellets) to be very good, and there is no need to buy the very pricey brands available only from vets. However, it is unwise to start with a particular brand, only to realise that the feed is too expensive. Sudden changes in diet can cause gastric upset such as diarrhoea. It is also a bad idea to…

Make a litre of fresh chicken stock or thaw a litre of your home-made stock stored in the freezer. Or simply make a litre of chicken stock from the industrial cube or concentrate of your choice. Next, try not to think about the authenticity of the haricot beans which, in all honesty, are not a major feature of Western or Tex-Mex cooking. But they taste good and add a thickening agency to the final outcome. And so it begins. Cut the pork into 25mm cubes. Peel and thinly slice the onions. Peel and deseed the butternut, then cut it into 15mm cubes. Crush, peel and finely chop the garlic. Make some decisions about the chillies right now. If this is your first attempt at this recipe, limit the chillies to…

If you have high blood pressure (BP) and are trying to reduce your salt intake, here’s a tip: use herbs, spices, onions and acids (vinegar and lemon juice) combined with dried fruit (for sweetness) to make your dishes more appetising. Many processed foods and condiments are very high in salt, even if they do not taste like it. These include tomato sauce, most factory-made soups, stock cubes, gravy granules, mustard, pickles, breaded chicken and fish products, sausages, bacon and ham. Also, use single packaged herbs and spices rather than mixes, which are usually salt-based. ALTERNATIVES If you still crave salt, try a low-sodium alternative; this uses potassium instead of sodium as a key ingredient. It may also help to lower BP because of the effects of potassium. But if you’re…

It had been a fast and furious dogfight, and Squadron Leader Chris le Roux of 602 Squadron had emerged from it with spectacular results: two Messerschmitt Bf 109s destroyed and two damaged. But hardly were his guns silent when the sight of a German staff car and two outriders caught his eye, and he and his squadron swooped down for the attack. A hail of.303 bullets riddled the car and it veered off the road, colliding with trees near the village of Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery. The senior officer was flung out of the vehicle and ended up with a fractured skull and cut face. But he survived. Le Roux and his pilots had come within an ace of killing General Erwin Rommel. The Wehrmacht commander was returning from a meeting to discuss…

“The dominant narrative of women in agriculture, specifically in Africa, is one of perpetual struggle and cyclical poverty. We seldom hear about their successes and triumphs. Yet the role played by African women in agribusiness is as complex as it is significant. Not all women in agriculture are subsistence or smallholder farmers, or provide their labour to the industry. Across the agricultural spectrum, you also find commercial producers, processors, entrepreneurs, scientists and policymakers. It is a challenge to define the crucial role of African women in agriculture and agribusiness, largely because it is such a rich and heterogeneous group of people within a large and non-homogeneous locality. For instance, even within the smallholder farmers’ group, there is a great deal of diversity. Sizes of farms differ, and farmers’ objectives range…

The editor’s comment ‘The information vacuum’ (FW, 29 July) refers. You have hit the nail on the head with regard to the impact of the lack of data informing government policy with respect to black smallholder farmers, many of whom dream of becoming fully-fledged commercial farmers. This is indeed critical to harmonious transformation in our agricultural sector. As an alumnus of the agricultural faculty at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, it is my sincere desire that the heads of the different departments of agricultural economics take heed of this dire need and encourage postgraduate students to take up this topic for their masters and doctoral degrees. This research is of national importance. DR Galloway, Uitenhage…

THERE IS SCOPE FOR SA TO ACCESS NEW GLOBAL MAIZE EXPORT MARKETS The current drought has arguably been the most pronounced negative factor faced by South Africa’s agricultural and agribusiness sectors in recent history. The impact on crop and livestock production has been devastating and these sectors are expected to continue bearing the brunt of the drought’s fallout for years to come. Having said that, we need to remember that droughts are interspersed with several good production seasons, and already a number of weather forecasters are suggesting that there is a 65% chance of the occurrence of a La Niña weather pattern towards the end of this year. With La Niña, one can expect rainfall to normalise throughout the country and it could even exceed the historical averages from the…

Late plantings, late frost and rainy weather have resulted in delayed harvesting in the summer grain production region, according to a recent survey by Grain SA. Between 30% and 40% of the maize in the north-western Free State had not been harvested by the first week of August, while in the south-western parts of North West, only 10% of the maize crop had been harvested. In the Reitz, Bethlehem and Frankfort areas of the eastern Free State, up to 85% of the maize harvest had been completed, while only about 40% had been harvested in the Ladybrand, Ficksburg and Clocolan regions. The survey showed that the summer grain crop harvest in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal had been completed. According to Chris Schoonwinkel, a producer from Wesselsbron, the kernel moisture levels…

Approximately 2 300 reindeer have died from anthrax in the far north of Russia. According to media reports, climate change had resulted in an average temperature increase of 0,43°C in northern Russia, causing permafrost to melt. This had in turn enabled anthrax spores, which survive in animal remains for hundreds of years, to escape. The outbreak had also caused the death of a young boy – a nomadic herder – and the hospitalisation of 61 people. Dr Peter Oberem, founder of South African veterinary product supplier, Afrivet, said that anthrax was endemic in the Kruger National Park (KNP). “Outbreaks occur when it is dry and when the anthrax spores, which survive for many years, are concentrated in the dams as they recede. Animals become exposed when they stir up the…

The South African Pork Producers’ Association (SAPPO) is working with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to gain access to international markets for locally-produced pork products. Simon Streicher, CEO of SAPPO, said that the organisation was looking to export to China, India, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and Russia. “We’re working hard to open these export markets. If we get access, we’ll be a relatively small player, but we’ll be exporting a high-value product,” Streicher said. He added that despite the drought and high feed prices, local producers had continued to export pork to other African countries. “Africa is an important market for our local producers,” he said. According to export figures provided by the SA Revenue Service, Mozambique imported 788t of SA pork, while Namibia imported 686t, Lesotho 377t,…

Farmers cannot continue farming in the way they did years ago; they have to become far more efficient. This warning was sounded by Ernst Janovsky, head of Agricultural Business at Absa and a guest speaker at the annual Agri Eastern Cape congress held at Port Alfred recently. Janovsky told delegates that Africa held many opportunities for growth, but South Africa was becoming poorer than the rest of the continent. “The fact that the growth of money in circulation is less than the expectations of the Reserve Bank is a clear indication that the consumer is under huge pressure,” he said. Expected increases in interest rates, especially with the threat of radical land reform, were making investors more prudent. “Nett agricultural revenue is expected to increase after the decrease in volumes…

While waterborne pathogens are the greatest disease threat to intensive crop production operations, insect pests and airborne pathogens can also impede an operation’s success. Mark Laing, professor of plant pathology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and director of the African Centre for Crop Improvement, explains that there are a number of ways, however, in which producers can significantly reduce, and then manage, disease and pests in their intensive crop farming systems. REMOVE CONTAMINANTS First, remove all physical contaminants from water applied in the intensive crop production enterprise, Laing says. “If you don’t do this, you’re wasting your time when [using] any additional water treatments further along in the process.” While standard water filters can assist in removing physical contaminants, blockages may occur due to the large volume of water…

INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND EMPLOYMENT CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING As part of its efforts to reposition South Africa in the global economy, government has established Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Companies are granted tax incentives to locate their premises at these purpose-built areas, thereby creating jobs and assisting with regional development. Benefits include a lower tax rate for corporate permit holders of 15% (as per Section 24(4) of the SEZ Act (2014), special building allowances as tax deductions, and special allowance for both greenfield operations (brand-new concerns) and brownfield operations (expansion of existing concerns). In addition, because the SEZ is in a customs-controlled area, a business will qualify for VAT and customs relief. So far, SEZs have been established in Koega, East London, Richards Bay, Dube Trade Port –…

Erika Oberholzer established Pico-Gro 21 years ago. The company, situated in Midrand, Gauteng, consists of 7ha divided into three separate smallholdings, and propagates, amongst others, herbs and medicinal plants, used in the manufacture of essential oils. It also produces rooted herb cuttings and potted herbs. Five years ago, Erika began growing culinary crops for the commercial market, and established PicoGreens, a division of Pico-Gro. PicoGreens now produces around 100 different product lines, including microgreens, edible flowers, micro-vegetables and speciality herbs and spices, which constitute the bulk of Pico-Gro’s products. PicoGreens produce is exported to the UK, Germany, Hong Kong and Dubai, and supplies restaurants and Woolworths branches across South Africa. BUSINESS PROGRESS Erika attended the Rand Afrikaans University, now the University of Johannesburg, and graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry…

IF POSSIBLE, USE A CENTRE-PIVOT AND IRRIGATE FREQUENTLY AND LIGHTLY There are various ways of planting onions. You need to consider the pros and cons of each to find the method that suits you best. The cost of labour has made direct sowing a more popular option these days, despite the risks attached. Here, you use your entire land as a seedbed. The climatic conditions have to be right, however. A good starting point is to determine the plant population required and then work out how to achieve this in practice. You will never obtain 100% germination, so take into account the factors influencing the final percentage. The first is the germination and vigour of the seed. Fresh seed with good vigour will germinate better and sooner, helping to reduce…

TURN THE NEWCOMER OUT WITH THE OTHERS, ONE AT A TIME Getting a new horse is an exciting event. But introducing the newcomer can result in some tension within your existing herd, even if it’s only two animals. Horses are herd creatures, and when several live together they quickly develop a hierarchy with leaders and followers. Invariably, there will be a leader who has a favourite sidekick, some followers and, at the bottom of the ladder, the underdog. Before you bring your new horse home, check your paddocks and stables for any dangerous places or objects the horse might encounter as it tries to get away from the others. If it’s muddy underfoot, hold off until conditions improve. Keep the new horse separate from the others until you are sure…

A client, Peter, is keen to add public facilities to his lodge in the White Mountain area of the Central Drakensberg. His plan is for a wine-tasting cellar with a ground-level pub above it; here, customers will be able to sit at leisure and enjoy their selections. Peter asked for an unusual feature: a glass dome in the floor of the pub that will allow light to filter through to the cellar below. This will also help to integrate the two rooms. Another request is for a koi pond at the front of the pub, enhancing this side of the building, which has dramatic mountain views. This will be a superb place to relax after a day’s work. I can’t wait for the roof-wetting! Jonno Smith is a registered architect.…

OUR KIND OF TRAITOR by John le Carré (Penguin, R180) First published in 2010 and re-released to tie in with the ‘major motion picture’, Le Carré’s clever novel takes us into the shadowy world of amateur spies, Russian oligarchs, money-launderers, and maverick spooks. A thought-provoking blend of expendability, pragmatism, and hoping against hope from one of the world’s great writers. 4X4 TRAVEL GUIDE: EASTERN AFRICA by Maureen Day (Struik Nature, R230) Day is proof that your passion and perseverance can land you a book deal. She was born in Zambia, educated in Rhodesia and South Africa, and became a midwife and psychiatric nurse, sharing her love of the outdoors and 4x4 adventuring with husband Brian. Their experiences formed the basis of this guide to 4x4 travel in Zambia,…

The Peinke Ranch Boran (PRB) herd, situated on the 800ha Peinke Ranch near East London in the Eastern Cape, is owned by father-and-son team, Kenneth and Keith Peinke. Over the past few years, the Peinkes have produced Borans with exceptional genetics; a number of females have fetched over R100 000, while the last five Boran bulls they auctioned were sold for R350 000. At the National Sale in July 2016, the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society named the PRB stud herd the second-most productive Boran herd with fewer than 50 cows in South Africa. “For small-scale farmers like us, it’s a great achievement,’’ says Keith. “But there’s a lot of room for improvement.’’ In 2007, the Peinkes sold their herd of 150 commercial Bonsmara x Brahman cattle and set about establishing…

The Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) has revised South Africa’s Valencia export volume for 2016 to 41,6 million cartons, down 4,8 million cartons from its original estimate of 46,4 million. Growers reported excellent pack-out percentages (fruit size and quality), but lower fruit volumes due to dry conditions over the past summer, said CGA CEO, Justin Chadwick. Rowan Vickery, executive head of citrus at export company Capespan, told Farmer’s Weekly that at the beginning of the year the Letsitele, Senwes, Limpopo River, Hoedspruit and Mbombela/Onderberg regions, which together account for 60% of the country’s total Valencia crop, had reported a 17% decline in crop yield. “The latest decrease should not come as much of a surprise to anyone in the industry [as] we’ve been anticipating it,” he said. Dry conditions and water…

International packaging and paper group Mondi reported a strong financial performance for its six months ended 30 June. The group’s South Africa Division, one of 30 across the world, made a significant contribution to increasing Mondi’s underlying operating profit (UOP) by 8% to €529 million (R8 billion) for the period. Mondi’s UOP for the same period last year was €490 million (R7,5 billion). Mondi reported that its SA Division generated a UOP of €98 million (R1,5 billion). This was 42% up on the UOP of €69 million (R1 billion) generated in the first half of 2015. Mondi attributed this improved performance to “higher domestic selling prices, forestry gains and the timing of the Richards Bay [mill] shutdown”. In the first quarter of 2015, the Richards Bay mill in KwaZulu-Natal was…

Westlands Nurseries in the UK has developed a fragrant edible rose that can be used as a culinary ingredient. The rose was selected from a range of eight English cultivars that bloom from May to September. In a Fresh Plaza article, James Seymour, marketing and product development manager at Westlands Nurseries, said there was a long history of using roses to add flavour to food in the UK. This tradition, combined with renewed consumer interest in cooking with recipes passed down from earlier generations, had stimulated growth in the edible flower market. Initially, nurseries sold edible roses only as whole heads but in response to consumer demand, it now also sold loose petals. Jac Duif, CEO of the SA Flower Export Council, said that edible roses were not yet cultivated…

The Land Bank Insurance Company (LBIC), a division of agricultural financial institution Land Bank, has accredited the country’s first 17 black crop insurance brokers. Dini Nondumo, executive manager: sales and distribution at the LBIC, said the brokers could help small-scale and emerging farmers access formal insurance products. The division had established a programme to train black brokers to sell LBIC products. Suitable brokers were then identified from the Financial Services Board’s database and invited to apply. A three-month training programme introduced them to crop insurance, the basics of agriculture and how insurance could benefit emerging black farmers. Nondumo said there was a need to train black brokers who could work with small-scale farmers where established brokers might see no market. “Many small-[scale] farmers do not have access to, or knowledge…

Farming indigenous crops could help black women gain economic freedom. This was according to Tebogo Sebambo, Gauteng agriculture sector coordinator of Progressive Youth in Business (PYB), a forum that champions youth entrepreneurship. He was addressing delegates at the 4th Annual Women in Agric/Agribiz Summit 2016, recently held in Randburg, Gauteng. Sebambo, who established a farming enterprise in Magaliesburg, north of Johannesburg, in 2014, was the first SA farmer to produce indigenous vegetables for the formal market, including Pick n Pay. His interest in growing indigenous food was sparked in 2012 while he was working for a multinational information technology company. During his travels, he noticed how people’s diets of indigenous food in other African countries differed from those in South Africa. He researched these foods, acquired a piece of land…

Cyst nematode is a devastating pest for soya beans in the US and other countries. However, a new genetic modification approach of boosting plant resistance could overcome this problem. Soya bean cyst nematode (SCN) is a plant-parasitic nematode that penetrates the roots and moves through the plant cells to vascular tissue, where it feeds, thereby disrupting gene function and impeding the plant’s natural defence mechanisms. When pathogens attack, the synthesis of salicylic acid in root hairs alerts the plant’s defence cells and thus mediates a range of defence mechanisms. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have uncovered a range of SCN strains. Testing the known resistance genes in the 118 soya bean lines, the researchers proved that very few of these lines had resistance to four or more SCN…

 How did you become involved in agriculture? CULTURE AND TRADITION HAVE PROGRAMMED WOMEN TO STEP BACK My grandfather bought some land in Jamestown near Stellenbosch in 1942 to augment the family’s income through the production of agricultural products such as strawberries, seedlings and cut flowers. But at the age of 13, I already realised that I did not want to be a farmer. My farming experiences on our smallholding taught me that farming is associated with high risk and required continual hard work throughout the year. Farmers need to plan extremely well, even if they just want to go away for a weekend. However, when agriculture is in your blood, it is in your blood. I wanted to study towards a degree in microbiology after leaving school, but had to…

Grain production is the farm’s main income stream, but the sheep operation helps to diversify risk and add value to production, as pastures are incorporated in the rotation, and stubble lands are grazed after harvesting. About 600ha of the farm are planted to grain and 400ha to pasture. The latter consists of about 85% lucerne, while the remainder is planted to medics. Conservation farming practices were introduced as far back as 1984; they include minimum tillage, crop rotation and stubble retention. The crop rotation programme consists of planting lucerne for five to six years, followed by wheat, breakfast oats, wheat, and then canola undersown with lucerne to complete the cycle. According to Elnora, the oats are replaced with lupins if grass weeds are a problem. Depending on market prices, they…

In this issue, we focus on the bacterial and fungal diseases that every tomato producer should guard against. • Bacterial canker This disease, which is spread through infected seed and seedlings, can be devastating in both field and greenhouse plants. Plants show progressive wilting; older leaves die, but remain attached to the plant. The leaf edges and internal stem tissues turn brown. Control: Plant disease-free seedlings; use resistant cultivars; apply strict sanitation; practise crop rotation. • Bacterial wilt Ralstonia solanacearum can be a serious problem in warm subtropical areas such as Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Young leaves wilt, after which the plants die. There is no browning or yellowing of leaves or stems. If the lower stem of a badly wilted plant is cut off and placed in water, a milky stream of…

Regular readers of this column will know that I am strongly opposed to political interference in markets. It becomes a serious matter when key food distribution facilities are subjected to the machinations of politics. South Africa’s fresh produce markets play a vital role in ensuring that fresh fruit and vegetables reach the consumers of our country. They handle millions of tons each year, valued currently in excess of R15 billion. They contribute to employment and food security. Enlightened politicians would grasp the importance of this and say, “Here’s a key asset for the country that needs to be preserved. How best can this be done?” Sadly, this is all too often not the case. Politicians and their cronies jump at the prospect of controlling the markets through bureaucratic structures. But…

In the early years of the last century, most engines employed a low-tension magneto ignition system. An engine-driven magnet rotated inside a coil of wire. The relative movement between these produced a current. The magneto’s output was connected to an engine-driven contact breaker, and whenever the points opened, the voltage increased, creating a spark in the spark plug. DOUBLE-COIL MAGNETO The low-tension spark delivered by this system was weak, so in 1905 a double-coil magneto was introduced to create a transformer. A second coil with many more turns than the first was wound around the same axis as the first coil. This produced a strong spark across the spark plug gap. A capacitor (condenser) was fitted to absorb the voltage surge that would otherwise cause sparking across the circuit breaker…

 I was sitting in the parking lot of a shopping mall, waiting for my wife. Roadworks outside the mall had blocked off most of the entrances and exits. As a result, drivers were trying to enter and exit the mall at a single point. I could see the road rage building up. When the drivers got into the parking area, they treated it like a race track. ‘HE WHO RESTRAINS HIS LIPS IS WISE’ Once again, I became aware of the need for us to exercise patience in our country at this time. We’re struggling with unprecedented drought and face crop failures. People want their money, especially from farmers who planted their crops in faith and now have nothing to reap. We should encourage one other to have patience, be…

Farmers and fellow Christians who follow Angus Buchan will be pleased to hear about the new app released in March this year called ‘Uncle Angus’. The app, developed by Subsplash, is a relatively small file size. It is available for download on Google Play (Android) iTunes (iPhones), the Amazon app store and for Windows phones. In addition to a Bible section, the app includes: • A Farmer’s Journal This is a daily devotion voice clip that can be played or downloaded to your mobile phone. It is about three minutes long. • Grassroots This is a 24-minute-long programme hosted by Angus and filmed on his farm in Greytown. It gets to the essence of what it means to be a child of God. • Family Time This is a five-minute voice clip taken…