Table of contents for 28 October 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

Mike Mlengana, director-general (DG) of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), briefly went off script at the recent Agri SA Congress in Pretoria. What he said gave cause for serious concern, but to hear a government official speak truthfully and plainly did more to restore my hope for the department than any 500-page progress report or rhetoric-riddled speech could ever have done. The DG’s official speech for the congress, circulated to journalists, spoke of progress made with various programmes. For example, it stated: “Since the inception of the department’s Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) in 2004, we have seen many farmers benefiting from this programme. We acknowledge that there are some challenges, but we are busy addressing them with the aim of increasing the number of beneficiaries… DAFF,…

ORGANIC FARMING: NOT EVERYONE AGREES Peter Nicholson of Roselands farm in Kwazulu-Natal maintains that conventional food production poses significant dangers to human and environmental health. A former conventional producer, he recently became a successful and highly committed organic farmer. He points out that organic farming in Europe and the US is growing at 30% a year. Read Peter’s story at http://bit.ly/2efgBNF . Readers commented as follows: Christopher ‘Tigermoth’ Oldnall says: Firstly, organics has a very strong definition, as laid out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Secondly, hydroponics is not organic. Thirdly, organic doesn’t mean natural – organic farmers are known to have several fertilisers, sprays etc that are more harmful than traditional farming. Sithembiso Malusi Mahlaba says: From an academic point of…

The fourth sale of the winter mohair season saw 97,5% of the 126 365kg on offer changing hands. The mohair was of good quality, and featured excellent individual clips that attracted more attention from the buyers, according to Mohair SA’s Deon Saayman. The market remained largely unchanged, with the weaker currency filtering through too late to make any significant impact. The overall indicator closed on R193,63/kg. “The better quality young goat’s hair experienced better demand, resulting in a 3% increase in prices,” said Saayman. A highest price of R360/kg was paid for a bale of 26-micron super style kids mohair. Compared with the previous sale, prices were as follows: kids (winter), unchanged; young goats (winter), up 3%; adults, unchanged. The day started with the rand 1,5% stronger against the US…

Veld fires were releasing up to 23,5 million tons of greenhouse gases in the Free State every year, according to Malcolm Procter, deputy director of forest and veld fires in the province. He said another two million tons of particulate matter was also released per year. “We have to find ways to encourage the harvesting of the fuel load in order to mitigate the effects of veld fires on the environment,” Procter said. “Vast supplies of usable plant material are found on, for instance, road and railroad reserves, as well as firebreaks that can be harvested and processed into animal feed pellets,” he said. “The proposed harvesting would add economic value to the vastly under-valued resource. Vegetation not suitable for animal feed could be harvested and converted into biomass used…

South Africa needs a meat grading system similar to that used in the US and Australia, as it ensures quality and consistency of flavour. This was according to Dr Dale Woerner, associate professor of meat safety and quality at Colorado State University in the US. Speaking at the recent Aldam Stockman’s School, Woerner said that a grading system could take beef from being a commodity product and move it to “a marketable, differentiated, consistent and profitable product”. He added that consumer expectations in the US had been met through an improved grading system, but that such a system took time to develop. South Africa currently does not have a grading system, only a classification system according to which meat is classified based on age, with younger carcasses regarded as being…

Mega farmers, and those who farm efficiently, have certain traits in common that enable them to take their businesses to a higher level. This is according to Piet Croucamp, political scientist and former presenter of the television show MegaBoere. “Efficient farmers are often more liberal and open-minded than other farmers,” he said. Speaking at the recent Aldam Stockman School held near Winburg in the Free State, Croucamp said that when speaking to mega farmers, he was often told that their families had been trading for 100 years or more, and they could not understand how anybody could be intolerant of people they traded with. Croucamp referred to an age when trust was based on entrusting a ‘product’ such as livestock to someone and only expecting something in return after a…

‘THE DEPARTMENT IS POOR IN COMMUNICATING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES TO FARMERS’ The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has to do more to improve service delivery to farmers, and organised agriculture must approach DAFF with plans to revitalise the agricultural sector. This was according to DAFF’s recently appointed director-general (DG), Mike Mlengana, who addressed delegates at the recent Agri SA Congress in Pretoria. Before taking up the position, Mlengana served as president of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa). Mlengana said that the department was looking into improving the quality of support services provided by extension officers. “We take people in as extension officers who can’t tell cattle breeds apart and don’t know the basics of agriculture. This is not a joke. It reflects poorly on the department…

Sihle Ndlovu, a farmer from Boston in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and a board member of the KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), was recently awarded first place at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ #Agristars Recognition Awards. Ndlovu was recognised for his contributions to the agricultural sector in animal and plant production. He is the owner and MD of Mjadiya Oil Suppliers and Renewable Energy, which produces crop and livestock products, and also provides renewable energy products and services. In addition to serving on Kwanalu’s board, Ndlovu is chairperson of the Built Environment Support Group, and serves on the audit and risk committees of the Agribusiness Development Agency and the iLembe District Municipality. He also serves on the management committee of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s Agripark Advisory Council.…

SA AGRICULTURE WILL HAVE TO FOCUS MORE ON MARKETS IN OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES In its October 2016 World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund adjusted its growth estimates for 2016 and 2017 downwards. Slower growth in the developed economies is the main reason for the sluggish performance of the global economy. The expected improvement in the US economy in the second quarter did not materialise. Despite favourable weather, growth in the euro zone decreased during the first half of 2016. In the UK, faster growth in the first quarter was followed by slower growth in the second quarter. The slower growth in developed economies did not affect the emerging market and developing countries significantly. As a group, their economies picked up in the first quarter of 2016. China’s economy grew…

Farming is defined by unpredictable rainfall, increasing temperatures and rising electricity costs. With this combination of factors, it’s no wonder irrigation is one of the main consumers of energy on a farm. Modifying irrigation practices and adopting new low-energy technology is becoming ever more important to ensure profits. LOW PRESSURE Most irrigation systems still use high-pressure impact sprinklers that release an enormous volume of water using pressures between 2,7 bar and 5,2 bar (40 psi and 75 psi). Yet energy-efficient, low-pressure irrigation systems like those from Senninger are available – and have been proven to offer massive savings in energy and water costs. These systems use low-pressure sprinklers designed to operate between 0,7 bar and 1,7 bar (10 psi and 25 psi). Their secret? They reduce pumping demands without significantly…

THE DANGER IS THAT POLITICALLY CONNECTED PEOPLE BENEFIT, AND THE REST LOSE OUT The challenges posed by land reform in South Africa are complex and could potentially pose a threat to food security and political stability in the country if solutions benefiting all South Africans cannot be found. The restitution of land to those claimants who lost access to land due to the 1913 Natives Land Act already require more resources than the National Treasury has proven willing or able to allocate. The annual allocation provided to the Commission on Restitution and Land Rights for the three financial years from 2015 to 2018 amounts to about R3,5 billion per year on average. Compare this with the R179 billion that would be needed to cover just the cost of anticipated new…

Gauteng Limousin Champions CONTACT John and Tracey Devonport: 083 454 3095…

Ratoon cane fertilisation has always proved a difficult task. Fertiliser applied to the bare soil surface is not available to the plants when the surface dries out. At the same time, urea lying on the surface may lose a significant amount of nitrogen through volatilisation. The MultiTasker, developed by Pietermaritzburg company KZN Agriserve, has been designed to solve these problems by burying the fertiliser and thus making more efficient use of it. The implement works through residue on the soil surface, and uses inter-row ripping to improve water infiltration. The MultiTasker is close-coupled to the tractor, allowing for a full load of 300kg in each of the three stainless steel bins. No PTO or hydraulic connections are required as the unit is land-wheel-driven. Working depth, controlled by the unique Crumblebuster…

IN SA, PAINTS CAN BE REGISTERED AS PINTOS, BUT NOT VICE VERSA The old English terms for a white horse with black patches and a white horse with chestnut or bay patches are, respectively, ‘piebald’ and ‘skewbald’. In North America, a similar coat pattern appeared in mustangs and became popular with Native Americans. These coloured horses probably came to the continent in the 17th century, and were called pintos, from the Spanish word for ‘painted’. In the US, they use the terms ‘bay pinto’ or ‘sorrel pinto’ rather than skewbald. The word ‘pinto’ applies to horses of any breed and is not considered a breed in itself, but a colour registry. There is, however, a registered breed of coloured horses known as the American Paint Horse. They can be traced…

Dear Jonno, I buy the Farmer’s Weekly regularly and have noted your designs for double-storey homes with interest. I’m planning to build a home in northern KwaZulu-Natal and would like a double-storey house with three bedrooms upstairs, and an open-plan design on the ground floor. There should be a guest toilet downstairs. I would like a traditional design. There is plenty of thatch available in the rural area where we live. Thank you, Richard Dear Richard, Here is a sketch of a home with traditional features. The layout with rounded corners is conducive to thatching. The rooms are of average size, but can be made smaller if required. With a thatched roof structure, the house should not be too wide. Added to the styling are a number of traditional decorative…

THE BEST POCKET GUIDE EVER FOR FAMILY FINANCES by Jillian Howard (Zebra, R110) Newlyweds planning their future together want to realise their dreams. They also have to be practical and realistic. To achieve both requires careful management of their joint finances. Howard briskly takes readers through aligning financial attitudes, goals and budgets from singleton to couple to parenthood, emphasising the importance of a will and adding helpful advice on challenges such as retrenchment and divorce. This brings dreams down to earth and lets the financially challenged see where they might have gone wrong and how to build towards their dreams, whatever their marital stage. A great-value gift for newlyweds and long-established couples alike. ONE PAN-POT-TRAY by Mari-Louis Guy and Callie Maritz (Human & Rousseau, R280) As…

“John F Kennedy once said: Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other” – and this year was certainly one of learning and evolving. The ANC was dealt several blows in the local elections, and four major metropolitan areas are now governed by the DA. Clearly, traditional voting patterns are shifting. As part of the Presidential Task Team for Agriculture, Agri SA cautioned against corruption, and expressed concern over the debts and maladministration of state-owned entities. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has been a stalwart of the SA economy, and we continue to advocate support for him. On the other hand, we are concerned about the lack of priority given to agriculture and food security by government. Agri SA views food security as one of the state’s primary responsibilities, and expects…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 2 NOVEMBER Goat Agribusiness Conference, Durban Botanic Gardens. Phone Nokwanda Mavundla on 082 562 9014 or email info@goatsunlimited.co.za. 2 TO 4 NOVEMBER Integrated Environmental Understanding of Food Security in Africa, East London. Visit www.agbiz.co.za/uploads/AgbizNews16/160930_IDAMconference.pdf. 9 NOVEMBER Subtrop Marketing Symposium, Emnotweni Arena, Mbombela. Phone Lizette de Wet on 015 307 3676. 16 TO 18 NOVEMBER 9th Interpera World Pear Congress, Franschhoek. Phone Thea van Zyl on 021 870 2900 or visit www.hortgro-science.co.za/interpera-2016/ 28 TO 30 NOVEMBER Africa Agri Investment Indaba, CTICC, Cape Town. Visit www.agri-indaba.com. COURSES & TRAINING 24 TO 26 OCTOBER Artificial Insemination, Krugersdorp. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208, or visit www.rltsafrica.com. 27 OCTOBER Pregnancy Awareness, Krugersdorp. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208, or visit www.rltsafrica.com. 31 OCTOBER Herdmaster Course, Namibia. Phone Agri Breedplan…

EVERYBODY IS POLITICKING, WHILE BRAAMFONTEIN IS BURNING “What we need to do is learn to work in the system, by which I mean that everybody, every team, every platform, every division, every component is there not for individual competitive profit or recognition, but for contribution to the system as a whole on a win-win basis.” W. Edwards Deming In recent weeks, we have witnessed a war of indictments. President Jacob Zuma was indicted on almost 800 charges of corruption, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan was indicted for corruption, and the Thuli Madonsela/Public Protector’s report on state capture was kept from the public through an indictment. Truly, we are witnessing a political house divided. And in this all-out war, the question asked by Daniel Irungu on the news website,…

The Bakhresa Group, an East African company, intends increasing its investment in Tanzania’s agricultural sector by setting up more fruit processing facilities to boost value addition and farmers’ incomes. According to agricultural news portal, Fresh Plaza, company chairperson Said Bakhresa recently made the commitment to Tanzania’s prime minister, Kassim Majaliwa. Bakhresa has food processing plants in Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It identified Tanzania’s Lake Zone for the new processing facilities, as farmers there have to travel up to 4 000km to Dar es Salaam to sell produce. Cotton, sunflower, sugar cane, spices, bananas, vanilla, sweet potatoes and sorghum are cultivated in the region, according to the Lake Zone Investment Forum. Expanding processing capacity could increase the agricultural sector’s contribution to Tanzania’s economy. Agriculture absorbs 80% of…

The Wagyu Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa (WCBSSA) is introducing a member protocol for certified South African Wagyu beef. “In principle, the protocol has been accepted, but we still need to include a traceability platform,” James Shnetler, WCBSSA council member responsible for the protocol, told Farmer’s Weekly at the recent Aldam Stockman’s School, where the society’s annual general meeting was held. The society’s logo had been submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for trademark purposes, Shnetler said. An important aim of the protocol would be to ensure a production channel to deliver a consistent quality product to consumers, he said. The WCBSSA currently had 42 breeder members. Shnetler said the aim was for the first offspring (F1 animals) of Wagyu breeders’ bulls to be managed under…

Rural safety and stock theft are priorities, according to SAPS acting national commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane. Phahlane gave farmers this assurance at the recent Agri SA Congress in Pretoria. “We’ve accepted that we aren’t allocating enough resources to rural safety. We have reprioritised farm attacks. Livestock theft also remains a priority and we are going to dedicate resources to this,” he said. The SAPS had made progress with implementing its rural safety strategy, he said, but its success depended on the participation of the farming community. “The fight against crime can never be won by the police alone,” said Phalane, adding that it helped no one “if we continue to point fingers at each other instead of working together to ensure that crime is addressed”. Dr Johan Burger, senior researcher…

Jozua du Plessis of the farm Middelbult near Delmas is this year’s recipient of the Grain SA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year award. Speaking at the awards ceremony in Kyalami, Gauteng, Du Plessis praised South African farmers for being the best in the world. He said that all the challenges that farmers in SA had to endure, such as the drought and tough economic conditions, only made them stronger and more resilient. “Every farmer in South Africa deserves an award for the way in which they have weathered all the difficulties the sector is faced with,” he said. Du Plessis, his wife, Sarah, and two of their sons, Jozua Jnr and Chandré farm maize, soya beans, wheat, potatoes and Bonsmara cattle. Frans Mokoena of Tweespruit in the Free State was…

The South African apple industry is currently ranked the 13th most competitive in the world, down from seventh position in 1995. One way of remaining competitive is using more efficient, dwarfing rootstocks. At the SAPO Trust Nursery Information Day, Hortgro Science crop production manager, Prof Wiehann Steyn, said that rootstocks had a great influence on production efficiency and fruit quality. “More efficient, dwarfing rootstocks would allow SA producers to embrace the highly efficient planting systems envisioned by Hortgro Science’s ‘Orchard of the Future’ project. Such systems have allowed competing countries to improve their fruit quality and labour efficiency with the help of mechanisation.” He added that growers were sometimes hesitant about trying out new rootstocks. The industry therefore evaluated rootstocks in an attempt to eliminate inferior examples. But the system…

CONSULT A TAX LAWYER WHEN ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS WITH OFFSHORE CLIENTS The case under the spotlight this week deals with the question of whether services supplied to foreign tour operators by a South African operation are subject to VAT at zero percent or to VAT at the standard rate, and involves Section 11 (2) (l) of the VAT Act. The appellant’s company sold package tours to tour operators and individuals abroad. The appellant contracted with local operators to run the tours and arrange entertainment, travel and catering. The appellant charged VAT at zero percent upon its sales to the clients, who were typically offshore groups or individuals. SARS conducted an audit and issued assessments in which VAT was levied at the standard rate. The appellant objected. After the disallowance of…

• The land restitution programme was initiated in 1994, and by the initial 1998 cut-off date, 63 455 claims had been lodged. This, however, was revised to 79 696 by 2007, according to the University of the Western Cape’s Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). • Prof Ruth Hall of PLAAS, in a paper that examines the possible implication of reopening land claims, says that by 2014, when the claims process was reopened, 37% of claims lodged during the initial claims process had not yet been fully implemented. • According to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), by 2014 more than 8 400 of the claims filed before the 1998 cut-off date were outstanding. • In response to parliamentary questions, rural development and land reform…

Stock theft and predator attacks can result in major financial loss, and many farmers despair at finding a solution. Philip Lötter, a former sheep farmer in the Western Cape, suffered ongoing livestock theft on his farm. In 1999, he decided to tackle the problem head-on, and collaborated with Stellenbosch-based company Etse Electronics to develop a livestock anti-theft system. “We wanted an affordable, user-friendly and effective solution to stock theft,” explains Lötter. Initially called Celmax, the system is now sold as FarmRanger. A FarmRanger collar is placed on only one animal per group, thereby monitoring the flock or herd. If the animal is threatened, the collar senses the abnormal movement and triggers an alarm on the farmer’s mobile. With built-in GPS, FarmRanger allows a farmer to keep precise track of a…

‘YOU WANT REALLY NICE, HOT AND DRY SUMMERS, AND COLD WINTERS’ In 2000, Dries Duvenhage decided to plant 1ha of pecan nuts on his 125ha farm Terre Donne, loosely translated from French as ‘healthy earth’. It was a bold move, as pecan trees begin yielding an economically significant crop only from eight years onwards. Since then, Dries has expanded his orchard, and today Terre Donne has nearly 75ha planted to pecans. He is also a partner in the company Nensis Nuts. Between his own farming operation and Nensis Nuts, he manages the production of about 150t of pecan kernels per season. “To farm pecan nuts is a challenge because it takes about eight years to see a return on your investment. You must have a cash crop or alternative source…

When I first began planting tomatoes in soil in tunnels, the soil was infested with eelworm, which killed susceptible varieties before they could even start producing. I wanted to avoid using chemicals if possible, but had little success with various ‘biological’ products. Then I remembered reading that marigolds control eelworm when planted as companion plants. Although I was aware that many of the claims made about ‘companion planting’ had been debunked and the practice was of value only in rare cases, I asked the Agricultural Research Council to track down studies on the use of marigolds to control eelworm. It emerged that marigolds are indeed effective at combating most species of eelworm from the soil, but not in the way suggested by many gardening books. Firstly, only certain varieties of…

THE FIRST CAR WITH AN ELECTRIC STARTER WAS A 1912 CADILLAC Millions of drivers start their cars, lorries and tractors daily without giving a thought to the technology behind this effortless action. Yet in the early days of motoring, getting an internal combustion engine going was a laborious, and even dangerous, process involving a hand-crank. THE ELECTRIC STARTER In 1910, a motorist, Byron Carter, tried to hand-start a young female motorist’s car that had stalled. Unfortunately, he forgot to retard the ignition timing and the engine backfired, flinging off the crank handle, which broke his jaw. He died a few weeks later following complications. Carter had happened to be a friend of Cadillac founder, Henry Leland. So upset was Leland by this tragedy that he asked two of his senior…

WHEN FARMERS ARE NO LONGER POSITIVE, THE COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE We as farmers should keep as far away from negative people as possible. In Psalm 1, we read: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” We need to stay as close as we can to people with vision and purpose. Luke 9:62 says, “But Jesus said to…

A new mobile app called ‘Cell 411’ (bit.ly/pbcell411) helps you to ensure your personal safety and receive assistance in an emergency. It is available for download on Android and the iOS platforms and is currently the 15th most popular social networking iPhone app in South Africa. The app allows you to create a network (cell) of friends, family and other members of your community. If you find yourself in trouble, you simply tap a key on your phone to alert them that you need help. They will instantly receive your location so that they can come to your assistance. A panic button for the app is also available. It has a Bluetooth range of just over 20m indoors and 90m outside, and can be bought online for US$24,95 (about R360).…

Transnet hits back The article “Eskom has become too big to save” (FW, 14 October) by John Kane-Berman refers. Kane-Berman views Transnet as one of several state-owned companies that are “complacent” because their “debts are guaranteed by the government”. This statement is misleading and cannot be left unchallenged. Transnet is currently pursuing its R340 billion to R380 billion infrastructure investment programme – the Market Demand Strategy – aimed at strengthening the country’s railway, port and pipeline infrastructure. Our investment programme is backed by a diversified funding approach through various sources. Transnet has been successfully raising funding through domestic and international debt capital markets on the strength of its financial position with no government guarantees since 2005. This points to the company’s solid financial position, management’s track record of executing its…

MEAT PRICES COULD INCREASE IN 2017, AS FARMERS CONTINUE TO REBUILD THEIR HERDS The price of food is currently a hot issue in South Africa. This is understandable, considering that the 2015/2016 El Niño-induced drought led to a 23% year-on-year (y/y) decline in total summer crop production to 9,2 million tons in 2016. This is exacerbated by the fact that SA’s summer crop production was coming from a low base, as 2015 crop production was already 28% lower y/y— a decrease of 11,9 million tons from a normal production level of 16,5 million tons realised in 2014. As a result, food inflation has maintained an upward trend, with the August 2016 reading at 11,6% y/y according to Statistics South Africa. Agbiz estimates that this could peak at 12% y/y in…

A study is currently underway to determine whether existing treatment specifications for poles produced from eucalyptus trees need to be updated. The study, being conducted by Stellenbosch University and funded by the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), was prompted by the increasing number of pest- and disease-resistant eucalyptus hybrids that have been planted in commercial plantations in South Africa over the past 15 to 20 years. Concerns had been raised that existing minimum standards for the treatment of these poles were no longer effective, said Bertus Coetzee, managing director of Dolphin Bay Chemicals (DBC). The company manufactures and markets concentrated chromated copper arsenate (CCA) used as a preservative for eucalyptus poles. Coetzee explained that the research followed questions raised about the new hybrids’ varying sapwood ratios. The sapwood ratio…

The annual Aldam Stockman’s School was held recently near Winburg in the Free State. This year’s theme was ‘meat quality’ and included experts from the US and Australia speaking about how South African beef producers could benefit from the implementation of a meat grading system. The three-day event was attended by over 200 farmers. Awards were presented to top breeders and farmers who contributed to the beef and cattle industry.…

The conflict between primary agriculture and mining for land and water was in the spotlight at the recent Agri SA Congress. One of the messages was that these sectors would continue to compete for resources and government backing, and agriculture must do more at a national level to elevate the sector’s importance. Dr Victor Munnik, a research associate at Wits University, said mining was a real threat to farmers due to a “fundamental conflict of interest” between the industries. “Mining, unlike other industries in South Africa, is not regulated by the country’s environmental authorities but by the Department of Mineral Resources whose mandate is to promote mining,” he said. Ellen Davies, a researcher at the World Wide Fund for Nature SA, said the agricultural sector was “the poor cousin to…

Agriculture minister, Senzeni Zokwana, assured the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo) that he would take the necessary steps to address the issues behind Onderstepoort Biological Products’ (OBP) inability to ensure that there was a regular supply of the necessary vaccines available to farmers. In a letter to minister Zokwana, Nerpo group managing director, Aggrey Mahanjana, demanded that a new CEO and board be appointed to OBP. “The minister must immediately remove the CEO, Dr Steven Cornelius [and] the board. They should be replaced with people who have business acumen and understand the importance of the institution,” Mahanjana said. “OBP’s inability to supply sufficient vaccines is not a problem that has occurred recently. It started three to four years ago. They [the board and CEO] should have corrected it…

The onset of spring has seen a rise in national tractor sales. The 623 units sold during September was a 35% increase on the 460 units sold in August. However, according to the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA), September sales were 2,2% down on the 637 units sold in September last year. Year-to-date tractor sales of 4 486 units were 13,7% down year-on-year. “Fundamentals underpinning the market haven’t changed much in the last month. With regard to rainfall prospects, with the [dry] El Niño effect having given way to a weak [wet] La Niña system, the country is in a better situation in terms of prospects for the forthcoming summer cropping season than it was 12 months ago,” SAAMA chairperson, Lucas Groenewald, said. SAAMA reported that the figure of…

African maize farmers have been struggling with the Striga hermonthica parasite (witchweed) for years. An ingenious use of seed treatment with two herbicides has now stopped infestation by Striga in its tracks. Striga, a hemi-parasite, produces hundreds of thousands of seeds per small flower. Germination is activated by a chemical secreted by the host plant. Not all seeds germinate, however; some remain dormant for years, building up high populations in the soil. This makes breeding for crop resistance or spraying herbicides ineffective. Striga starts by infiltrating plant roots to produce toxins even before the Striga plants emerges. The germinated seeds develop into small plants with small red flowers in the SA species, or pink or yellow in other species. Crops worst affected by Striga are maize, sorghum, pearl millet and…

THE COST OF SOLAR PANELS HAS PLUMMETED IN RECENT YEARS It is said that more power from the sun strikes the earth in an hour than humanity uses in a year. Some experts, such as inventor and business magnate, Elon Musk, predict that solar power will be mankind’s greatest source of energy 25 years from now. Recent figures in Abu Dhabi put the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from solar power at 34c/kWh (‘levelised’ means the cost can be compared equitably across all forms power generation). The LCOE for South Africa’s new coal-fired powered stations, Medupi and Kusile, is R1,05/kWh and R1,16/kWh respectively. There is a debate about the LCOE for nuclear power but it is generally agreed to be about R1/kWh. With figures like these, it is difficult to…

The Elliot Show was held on 1 September. In the sheep section, the Merino flock and Merino stud champions were judged by Gavin Isted and Evan Hartley of CMW. Merino Flock Section Merino Stud Section CONTACTS: Isak and Mariska Botha: 082 967 8582 or 045 931 2292 Pierre Roodt: 082 449 3793 | Pat and Sarel Vorster: 082 561 9842…

I paid an early morning visit to the Joburg Market recently. It was an icy Tuesday, and the place was hectic. I wish some producers could see the apparent chaos which is at the heart of the prices they receive! It’s called competition. Whenever possible, I stopped to chat to market agents. Among other things, I learnt that the cold snap had affected tomato production, which explained why prices were going through the roof. A market carries a full range of quality and caters for everyone. But over the years I’ve noticed a definite improvement in the overall standard of produce. Again, this is competition doing its job; weaker products simply don’t stand up to the exposure and buyers reject them. I saw some excellent quality in a wide selection…

SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT IF YOU DEVELOP ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS The World Health Organisation reports that 17% of all infectious diseases are vector-borne – spread by living organisms between animals and from animals to humans. It is estimated that these diseases lead to one million deaths a year worldwide. Potentially dangerous vectors such as ticks and mosquitos are climate-sensitive creatures that often thrive in warmer or moister environments. It therefore stands to reason that, given the threat of desertification to large parts of South Africa through global warming, we may experience a marked proliferation of these parasites. I have already discussed the effect of tick-borne illnesses such as biliary on dogs. In this article, I shall focus on tick-bite fever and how to recognise and guard against it. In South…

To make Levantine brinjal (baba ganoush) for four of the Middle Eastern fans who love this page, you will need: 4 generous-sized brinjals (aubergines or eggplants) total mass 1,5kg 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons tahini 5 cloves garlic Juice of two large lemons 1 tablespoon oregano or majoram leaves 1 tablespoon freshly ground cumin seeds (jeera) Salt and coarsely ground black pepper Rice or ultra-thin pasta Burning fresh brinjals may seem an odd idea. But this alarming process is essential to produce the smokey flavour that every baba ganoush lover wants. Traditionally, this was done over a small charcoal fire, so you can attempt this on a braai. But here is a simpler, easier-to-control method. Arrange the fresh brinjals on a rack mounted on a fireproof surface…

Gout is an intensely painful type of arthritic attack caused by excessive amounts of uric acid. Foods that help treat gout naturally include the following: • Cherries Boston University researchers found that in people who ate a cup and a half of fresh cherries within two days of gout attacks, recurrence was reduced by 35%. Fortunately, frozen cherries, tart cherry juice, concentrates and extracts have the same anti-inflammatory effect – as do similar processed versions of blueberries and blackberries. • Low-fat dairy foods and coffee In two studies, participants who consumed one serving per day of low-fat milk or yogurt, or increased coffee consumption, had lower blood levels of uric acid. • Vegetables Eat plenty of these, especially onions, which are rich in healing phytonutrients and antioxidants. • Water Drink plenty of fresh water.…