Table of contents for 6 plus 13 January 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

New Year’s resolutions may seem passé, but they can be a great way of at least attempting to implement what is known as the Urgent-Important Matrix in your life. This principle, first championed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the US, argues that we should prioritise tasks and goals in terms of urgency and importance, and delegate or entirely omit those that are less urgent or important. To implement this principle in your decision-making, begin by drawing up an Eisenhower Matrix. This consists of four quadrants: important and urgent tasks and goals in the top left quadrant; important, but not urgent ones in the top right quadrant; urgent, but not important in the bottom left quadrant; and neither urgent nor important in the bottom right quadrant. Without clear…

SA’S INFLATION RATE IS EXPECTED TO DROP FROM 6,6% TO 6,4% Global economies fluctuated throughout 2016, and this trend is expected to continue into 2017, with interest rates and the oil price rising to create further uncertainty in the international economy. This was according to Dawie Roodt, chief economist of the Efficient Group. “Policy uncertainty in South Africa is confusing investors, and this too will continue in 2017,” Roodt said. He added that the rise in international interest rates would lead to a rise in local interest rates. While it was unlikely that the already low rand would decrease any further, food prices would continue to increase, which would have a negative impact on consumers, especially low-income households, Roodt said. He also predicted that the unemployment rate would rise, while…

For many SA dairy farmers, 2016 was a tough year due to the drought, high production costs and sluggish milk prices. However, milk producers are positive that 2017 will be better. The demand for milk continues to rise, forecasts indicate that weather conditions should improve, and producer prices are expected to increase slightly. The drought put significant pressure on his business in 2016, said Eastern Cape dairy farmer, Rufus Dreyer. “The biggest curve ball was the milk:feed price ratio, which affected our profit margins,” he added. In 2017, farmers would have to continue adapting to new ways of farming and use technology to improve efficiency, Dreyer said. Kokstad milk producer, Tigger Bryden, said that many farmers were still struggling to recover from high feed costs. However, he thought that the…

South Africa’s total cotton yield in 2017 is expected to be almost double that of 2016, according to Cotton SA’s Koot Louw. “We expect a considerable increase in dryland hectares [production] in the coming season,” he said, adding that most producers were already planting. According to Cotton SA’s recent estimate for the 2016/2017 production season, early indications suggested that a crop of between 80 000 and 90 000 lint bales (200kg bales) could be expected from a total area planted of 20 000ha. As with the 2014/2015 season, the drought had a major influence on crop size during the 2015/2016 production season, with dryland producers being forced to wait for rain before planting. New bollworm-resistant cultivars would also influence production in the coming season as it had in previous seasons,…

South Africa’s wine industry could miss out on significant opportunities if cyclical changes resulted in higher demand. This was according to Rico Basson, CEO of VinPro, who said that total vineyard plantings in South Africa had declined as a result of cash flow constraints and the lack of investment. “Ageing vines [also] contribute to lower supply. The producers and cellars that are investing and expanding are likely to be rewarded handsomely, but the SA wine industry as a whole is likely to miss the boat, due to short-term cash flow limitations [and the] lack of profitability and risk appetite.” He added that VinPro expected that SA vineyard plantings would continue to decrease. “This process is likely to lead to a repositioning of the industry, comprising alliances and mergers. Business models…

Table grape production are expected to normalise following a difficult season caused by harsh climatic conditions. Willem Bestbier, CEO of the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), said that climatic conditions were anticipated to be more favourable in 2017, and the industry expected exports to increase 5,4% to 61,1 million 4,5kg-cartons. “Climatic conditions might still change and affect production in regions such as the Berg River Valley and the Hex River Valley. So it’s a little early to say what will happen. “A few areas are also struggling with water shortages and it is uncertain how production will be affected in areas that experienced high levels of water stress last season. [Fortunately], no water restrictions are anticipated for the Olifants River Valley so far, thanks to good winter rain,” Bestbier…

The drought was a major impediment to the macadamia industry in 2016, with a 30% decline in yield to 38 500t, and the effects are expected to remain evident in the coming year. This was according to Alan Sutton, chairperson of the Valley Macadamias Group, who said that the 12% annual growth in yield forecast as a result of new trees coming into production might thus not materialise. “A lack of water results in smaller nuts, which ultimately results in lower income for farmers, as prices are determined according to nut size and quality,” he said. SA had to compete with Kenyan producers for exports to the US, with these smaller-sized nuts making it harder to achieve good prices. Despite volumes in the global market being lower as a result…

The year 2016 would go down as one of the poultry industry’s toughest yet, but the situation would not improve unless government intervened, according to Dr Charlotte Nkuna, senior executive at the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). She confirmed that most major poultry companies had been forced to downscale operations, threatening thousands of jobs, while many small-scale producers have already gone bankrupt. Cheaply imported products are the main concern, she said. According to Achmad Brinkhuis, SAPA chairperson and a broiler producer from the Western Cape, imports reached record-high levels last year, with 230 643t of poultry imported between January and September. Of these, 18 098t came from the US, while the rest came from Europe. Moreover, favourable import tariffs saw other countries, such as Brazil, exporting chicken to South Africa…

Sales of adult mohair, which recently achieved an average price of R200/kg for the first time, are expected to increase due to strong demand, especially from Asia. This is important for the industry, as adult hair makes up about 65% of the total clip, according to Deon Saayman, managing director of Mohair SA. “The slowdown in imports from Italy during the second half of 2015 as a result of the Italian economy experiencing GDP contraction from 2014, might continue in the short term and place kids’ hair under pressure. However, the small recovery in kids’ hair prices during the final sales of 2016 could gain momentum if the economic outlook improves further,” he said. Mohair SA would place greater focus on the marketing of the finer portion of the clip…

Astaxanthin is a biologically active, light-harvesting xanthophyll carotenoid pigment protein from the photosynthesis II system. It is found in many species and is extractable from Haemato, Chlorella, Chlorococcum and Phaffia microbes, or from oceanic microbial organisms, marine animals and some plant oils, for use as a nutritional supplement. An anti-oxidant and anticancer agent, astaxanthin reduces various disorders in humans and animals. It is also used as source of pigment in feeding trout, salmon and shrimp, and can be produced through chemical synthesis. Metabolic pathways have now been genetically altered to boost astaxanthin levels in maize oil. Scientists genetically engineered AGM-maize for its biosynthesis of high-value carotenoid astaxanthin in its kernel endosperm by inserting the genes of two enzymes – one for the synthesis of beta-carotene-hydroxyl and the other for…

“It will take time and lots of rain and follow-up rain to neutralise the effects of the drought [of] the past years,” says Santam’s specialised crop insurance manager, Johan van den Berg. In the Absa Agricultural Outlook 2017 (Absa Outlook), Van den Berg says the El Niño weather phenomenon, which caused widespread drought in Southern Africa during 2015 and 2016, had already dissipated by the middle of June 2016, making way for neutral to poor La Niña conditions. The effects of neutral to poor La Niña conditions associated with the negative Indian Ocean Dipole Index (IOD), which measures sustained changes in the difference between sea surface temperatures of the tropical western and eastern Indian Ocean, are very positive for improved rainfall conditions in Southern Africa. “Although poorly developed, La Niña…

DENYING PROPER ASSISTANCE TO SMALL-SCALE FISH FARMERS PERPETUATES POVERTY Mashudu Tamba (not his real name) is an elderly fish farmer from Thohoyandou who has a small pond farm in Venda, Limpopo. He owns a piece of land on which he grows vegetables and raises chickens, as well as a house and a fish farm. His son helps him on the farm. Tamba is one of many smallholders who were encouraged by government to try their hand at aquaculture. He dug the nine ponds, the largest of which is about 250m2 and one metre deep, with the help of family and neighbours on vacant swampy land near a seasonal watercourse. He fills the ponds from a small spring on his land. Tamba stocked his ponds with tilapia obtained from nearby streams,…

“I have no regrets,’’ says 90-year-old Neville Fletcher. “I’ve done what I wanted to do.’’ Neville is a Second World War veteran from Cathcart in the Eastern Cape who fought with distinction in the war, returned to play sport at a national level, and ultimately farmed on nine farms. His sons, Craig and Grant, are also farmers and continue the Fletcher family’s agricultural legacy. CHILDHOOD AND WWII In 1862, Neville’s great-grandfather, Joseph, left Cuylerville near Bathurst in the Eastern Cape to build the military road between Cathcart and Queenstown on the Cape’s extreme Eastern Frontier. Not long afterwards, he settled on the isolated frontier farm, Dungella. Here, in rugged country, Neville’s grandfather, Walter, and later his father, Clayton, farmed cattle and goats. Neville travelled 38km a day on horseback to…

HARVESTING 16T/DAY AMOUNTS TO 3T/DAY OF DRIED TOBACCO Peter Kok, who produces tobacco on Nyawa Farm near Marble Hall in Limpopo, says that tobacco is an efficient cash crop that has made it possible for him to diversify and expand his permanent crops. He co-manages the farm with his father, Neels, and brother-in-law, Norman Snygans. Eight years ago, Peter planted 40ha to tobacco, but has since expanded and now plants 140ha to tobacco. The entire enterprise is run on 700ha, with maize, soya and cotton used as rotational crops in a three-year rotation programme. They also produce citrus. PLANTING TOBACCO Before planting, soil samples are sent to Prof Hennie Boshoff in Rustenburg, whom Peter describes as one of South Africa’s last specialists in soil analysis for tobacco planting. After the…

IF YOU ARE BITTEN, DISINFECT THE WOUND THOROUGHLY, AND CONSULT A DOCTOR OR CLINIC IMMEDIATELY Rabies was once known as ‘hydrophobia’ (fear of water) because in the later stages of an infection, the victim has difficulty swallowing and shows panic when presented with liquids to drink. Any mammal infected with the virus may demonstrate hydrophobia. Rabies affects the brain, leading to acute inflammation and invariably killing the person or animal involved. It is spread when an infected animal scratches or bites another animal or human. Saliva from an infected animal can also transmit rabies if it comes into contact with one’s eyes, mouth and nose, or broken skin. Every year, rabies causes about 55 000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. More than 95% of these occur in…

TO CHANGE THE SEEDING RATE, JUST TAP IN THE NUMBER OF SEEDS/M 2  ON THE OPERATOR TERMINAL The new Duplex Seed system from Pöttinger plants maize for silage or harvesting in double rows, promising improved cost effectiveness, versatility and convenience. The system is available on Aerosem Precision Combi Seeding (PCS) seed drills. In addition to increasing yield by up to 10%, it improves planting efficiency by enabling an increase in the forward speed of the planter. Maize can be planted with a companion crop or simultaneously fertilised. In 2015, the University for Soil Sciences in Vienna tested the Pöttinger Aerosem PCS Duplex Seed and confirmed its efficiency. Silage maize yield increased by more than 11%, while that for harvest maize increased by over 8%. In 2016,…

IF THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON, STOP AND SWITCH OFF RIGHT AWAY Many modern cars are equipped with a ‘check engine’ light to alert you when an emissions-related fault occurs. This light does not always command you to stop and you should familiarise yourself with its operation by reading the owner’s manual. This article deals with other important warning lights. If any of these illuminates, stop, investigate and call for help if you cannot sort out the problem yourself. This may be inconvenient, but to carry on is to invite a breakdown and possible major damage to the engine. WATER TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT This comes on when the cooling water temperature has reached the normal limit, which is usually close to 100°C. Stop the car and check for a…

‘PEACE IS THE SMILE OF GOD REFLECTED IN THE SOUL OF THE BELIEVER’ If ever we needed peace in our land, it is now. And genuine peace comes from within. I have seen many successful farmers who have no peace in their hearts. They are apprehensive, fearful and anxious. They live on their cellphones and have little time for their families and loved ones. We need to slow down for peace to enter our inner selves. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. In John 14:27, He says: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” A WAKE-UP CALL There was once a New York businessman who…

WINE, WOMEN & GOOD HOPE By June McKinnon (Zebra, R200) McKinnon believes that people should “rejoice at the rebellion and penchants for mayhem that run in their blood”. She also aims to show that society was no more prim and proper in previous centuries than it is today, and hopes that discovering this will help make her readers more open-minded. Wine, Women & Good Hope contains plenty of forbidden love, carousing (including passing off brandy as rhino blood), crimes of passion and missionary high jinks, but does not overlook the dark side, especially when it comes to Cecil John Rhodes. Curiously, there is no index to help you orientate yourself, but if you never thought that history was so much fun, you can follow up the excellent footnotes. THE LIBERATION…

“Discovering where you come from and the stories of your ancestors is like being a part of your own personal detective story,” says author and genealogy website reviewer Renee Shipley. “Genealogy websites help you find your family members by connecting you to verified resources for information such as birth, marriage and death dates. The best genealogy sites have information from sources overseas, including parish, military and immigration records. After helping you find your ancestors, some will allow you to build a family tree or connect directly to your genealogy software and download the files there.” Most free websites are very limited, so it’s worth paying the money for a professional service. The members of your family may be willing to contribute. Visit bit.ly/geneol for an in-depth review of the best…

Will 2017 be a watershed year? Taken literally, will the rain finally bucket down, filling our empty dams and bringing an end to the drought? The odd shower in December kept our hopes, and our garden, alive, and provided slight relief for the parched veld. Figuratively, will it rain on Zuma’s parade? Storm clouds are gathering on his presidency now that the state capture report has been made public and the Constitutional Court has become involved. Dare we hope to see the end of political and financial corruption and a revival of sane and honest governance? Here on the farm, neighbour Jan’s pig project is now complete and the houses are fully occupied with squealing piglets. “What’s your next project?” I asked him over morning coffee on my stoep. “If…

This year would prove a challenge for South Africa’s maize producers, according to Sannieshof maize farmer Derek Mathews. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, he said that he expected South Africa’s 2017 maize crop to be about 12 million tons, despite the fact that vast areas in the western summer grain production area had not been planted to maize by mid-December 2016. “The local weather outlook has improved significantly, underscoring the possibility of a normal maize harvest in 2017,” Mathews said. However, the situation would remain ‘tight’ due to large global inventories of the commodity. In the second quarter of 2016, the total reached 224 million tons, or 60% of the longterm average US harvest, according to Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s manager of grain economy and marketing. Strydom agreed with Mathews…

South African banana growers able to produce marketable fruit during 2017, despite the lingering effects of the drought, would benefit from the anticipated increase in prices. Blaine Peckham of the Banana Growers’ Association of South Africa (BGASA), said that while some of the country’s banana-growing areas had received good rainfall in recent months, others had not, and continued to struggle to produce reasonable crops. “Prices are purely determined by supply and demand. If the drought continues [and results] in lower volumes on the markets, then prices will remain [high]. The converse also applies should the supply exceed demand,” he said. Peckham added that other threats to the local banana sector in 2017 included imports from South America, the new national minimum wage, and the recent discovery of banana bunchy top…

Despite the widespread drought in parts of the Western Cape, the province’s deciduous fruit production has generally stayed on track. Pome fruit volume was higher in 2016 than in the 2015 season, which could be attributed to new orchards coming into production, as well as some regions recovering from the adverse weather conditions of the previous season. This was according to Jacques du Preez, general manager for trade and markets at Hortgro. Du Preez added that apple and pear exports were expected to increase slightly during 2017 due to current favourable stone fruit harvesting conditions. He said that the drought remained a challenge for producers, but a positive spin-off was that hot weather improved the taste and flavour of fruit due to a higher sugar content. “This year, we also…

Despite the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in 2016, Andrea Bernatzeder, operations manager of the department of agriculture’s (DAFF’s) aquaculture Phakisa delivery unit, was optimistic about the sector’s prospects in 2017. Lack of growth in the sector was the industry’s biggest challenge, and was the result of an absence of streamlined legislation, funding avenues, access to good quality feed and seed, and skills development, according to Bernatzeder. However, she added that producers and relevant authorities at DAFF were maintaining good relationships, and that existing players were mostly expanding production. Bernatzeder said that the trout and abalone sectors were faring well, as they provided niche markets with high-value products. “Trout is still on an upward curve and import price parity will help maintain or increase prices. Another large market for…

International wool forecasts appear to be upbeat, and show improved demand for natural fibres. In 2017, demand for wool should be strong, with selling percentages remaining in the high 90s, said James de Jager, fibre manager at Cape Merino Wool in Port Elizabeth. “Greater European participation in the market, together with a stabilising Chinese economy, should see the current wool season strengthening gradually. This is preferable to a rapid rise, which usually ends in an over-correction in prices,” he said. Rising manufacturing costs in China, together with a lower euro, were driving interest towards garments manufactured in Europe, especially Italy. “This could benefit the finer end of our offering in the long term,” he said. Meanwhile, apparel wool production in Australia and South Africa was under pressure due to severe…

What negative impact has mining had on South African agriculture? Agri SA: Mining has had a significant negative impact on agriculture. Conflict between mining and agriculture often occurs when, for example, crop yields are limited or impeded by pollution, and water quality and availability deteriorates, or health hazards are posed to humans and farm animals due to increased air pollution. Other issues include the deterioration of roads and other infrastructure, increased criminal activities in mining areas, and, in some cases, a total lack of rehabilitation of mined land after mine closures. TAU SA: Mining has various material impacts on agriculture. Water pollution is an ongoing problem; acid mine drainage, already at unacceptable levels, has led to the contamination of groundwater reserves. Air pollution results in acid rain, which reduces the…

According to Johan van den Berg, there are many encouraging indicators that 2017 will be a better year for agriculture in Southern Africa, but there is also much to be concerned about. The good news: • Most of the eastern summer crop production areas received rain and were able to plant before the 2016 cut-off dates for planting. • Towards the end of 2016 grazing conditions were starting to recover in the central and eastern Free State, Mpumalanga, KZN and parts of Limpopo. The bad news: • Water resources for irrigation and human consumption remain at critically low levels. • Grazing conditions are poor in the central, western, northwestern and south-western regions, and Namibia. The drought is intensifying in parts of the central and western provinces, and Namibia. • Summer…

CONSUMERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BUY LOCAL Few consumers are aware of, let alone fully appreciate, the challenges faced daily by South Africa’s farmers. This is not because these consumers do not care, but because they have very limited knowledge of the complexities of agricultural production. Agritourism can encourage urbanites to visit farms and gain a better understanding of some of these challenges. Farmers face problems ranging from policy uncertainty to pest control. Many farmers’ input costs outstrip their income, making agriculture a less than viable option. Of course, there are large farms that benefit from economies of scale, but small- and medium-sized farming businesses make up the bulk of the sector. If farmers enlisted the support of consumers to act as ‘activists’ for the industry, or at least got…

Supplementary feeding is a widespread practice in South African livestock farming. Dr Liesel Foster conducted a study on the effect of three lick supplementation levels on the production and profitability of an extensive beef herd run on mixed veld in the Zastron district for her PhD thesis. The vegetation in the study area is typical of transitional Cymbopogon-Themeda veld and had a grazing capacity of 5ha/LSU to 7ha/LSU. The study herd of 150 Drakensberger cows was divided into three treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3). A three-phase supplementation programme was divided into three supplementation periods – summer, early winter and late winter. The last two included roughly the same nutrients, while the early winter supplementation period featured 20% less lick. The supplement was a commercial pre-mix, supplied ad lib and…

GET AS MUCH OF THE SPRAY UNDER THE LEAVES AS POSSIBLE When spraying different pests at the same time, many farmers try to kill two birds with one stone by making elaborate mixtures. In the previous issue, I discussed the importance of choosing the appropriate adjuvant. In this issue, we’ll see that the same applies to pesticides. Pesticides are formulated by mixing various chemicals. Add other chemicals to the tank and you run the risk of reducing the efficacy of each chemical. You could even end up with a toxic mixture that may damage the plants. In my early farming days, I was also guilty of this. I added various products to the tank, thinking that each would somehow remain separate. Different chemicals might well be compatible, but never assume…

As predicted by race director and on-site vet, Dr Wim Peters, the new One-Day Loft Victoria Falls World Challenge Pigeon Race (VFWCPR) is tough, but the best birds have begun to show themselves. Pigeons have been entered from many countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, China, Australia, Ireland, Romania, Angola, Belgium, Germany, Kuwait, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and South Africa. Training is currently underway and two of the five longer Hot Spot pre-final training flights have been completed (see tables below). The overall results for Hot Spot 2 (from Gwayi River; 161km) were disappointing. The pigeons cleared the liberation point well and the first 350 or so arrived back in reasonable time, albeit scattered in groups. After this, however, the temperature rose rapidly past 30°C and the number of returning…

To make this excessively marvellous pork casserole for six, you will need: 2kg pork (see the note below before visiting your favourite butcher) 1 red sweet pepper 1 green sweet pepper 5 cloves of garlic 1 large onion 2 cans of chopped tomatoes 5 spring onions 40mm fresh ginger rhizome ¼ cup of fresh basil 10 whole black peppercorns 5g salt 250ml chicken stock 30ml extra virgin olive oil 30ml balsamic vinegar 30ml light soya sauce Vegetables: plain long-grain rice, or ultra-thin pasta with baby potatoes and butter accompanied by a crisp green salad There are few dishes as emotionally and socially satisfying as a generous casserole served at the table. As you lift the lid the aromas fill the room, diners salivate politely, pupils occasionally dilate. What else? Oh…

Farmers in certain parts of the country continue to suffer the negative effects of the drought. During the past year, Agri SA launched various initiatives to provide needy farmers with drought relief. A shortage of funds has now resulted in Agri SA being unable to provide further assistance, and we therefore urgently call on the private sector to make further contributions to the Agri SA drought relief fund. “The time has now come for government to provide further assistance to commercial and small-scale farmers to help them survive,” says Johannes Möller, president of Agri SA. “A drought is not a one-year phenomenon; it has had a serious impact on cash flow and production credit arrangements, which will increasingly affect farmers’ financial survival. It has also had an extremely negative effect…

Increased exports could be in the pipeline for the livestock industry in 2017, supported by the weak rand and the exceptional quality of South Africa’s red meat, said Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation. The local over-production of high-end cuts not utilised by South Africa’s growing middle class also created the ideal opportunity for red meat exports, as did the fact that South Africa had retained its foot-and-mouth disease-free status, allowing it more access to global markets, he said. Feedlotters were currently exporting red meat to 42 countries. The challenge now was to exploit the US dollar and British pound markets to ensure sustainable profitibility for producers, he said. Schutte added that the industry could benefit from implementing a formal traceability system and from setting up an…

The citrus industry could expect continued growth in the production of lemons and late mandarin varieties in 2017. According to Rowan Vickery, executive head of citrus at Capespan South Africa, this was a result of the large number of hectares planted over the past few years. “This growth will continue in the coming years and significantly affect the citrus industry in terms of markets, marketing and sales strategies,” he said. PERU AND CHILE ARE EXPECTING SUBSTANTIAL INDUSTRY GROWTH Prices would be affected by the size of the crop and fruit availability from other countries. “The market price is essentially a function of supply and demand.” He added that rainfall would also affect total citrus volumes in 2017. “Water restrictions impact [farmers’] ability to effectively irrigate, especially if temperatures are high.…

One of the game industry’s greatest challenges in 2017 will be the oversupply of game animals. This is according to the Absa AgriBusiness outlook for 2017. “The lower market price, the uncertain (all-round) market sentiment and higher population growth rates on the back of growing breeding stocks and intensive breeding practices, are all factors that are likely to contribute towards an increase in the number of animals offered on auction. With supply that is expected to increase and demand that is likely to remain under pressure, prices for most colour variants are likely to continue weakening,” the outlook said. However, higher-value male game animals, such as sable antelope and disease-free African buffalo, were expected to remain amongst the most sought-after by trophy hunters, and recent developments in the live game…

The past two years were likely to be remembered as some of the most challenging times for South Africa’s potato production industry. This was according to Dr André Jooste, CEO of Potatoes SA. While producers harvested record-high yields in 2015, with prices realising well below break-even point, prices were substantially higher in 2016 as a result of crop losses due to drought and high temperatures. Jooste said that improved weather conditions could result in better yields in early 2017. However, he added that the widespread rain reported late in 2016 had occurred erratically and was accompanied by hail in some regions, which damaged the crop to be marketed in early 2017. “The uncertain weather conditions experienced towards the end of 2016 make it very difficult to make any accurate predictions…

South Africa’s olive industry is expecting an above-average crop in the coming season. “So far, the fruit set on the trees is very good. We’ll have to see how much rain we get in the next few months, but at this stage the harvest for 2017 looks promising,” Barry Anderson, general manager at Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate, said. SA Olive chairperson, Nick Wilkinson, said that current forecasts indicated an increase in total olive oil production. “In 2016, South Africa produced two million litres of olive oil, but in 2017 the production total will probably amount to 2,5 million litres.” According to Wilkinson, olive oil consumption in South Africa was still low, despite a five-million litre increase in consumption for local and imported oil, from two million litres in 2000 to seven…

Whereas the ostrich industry slaughtered about 239 000 birds a year before the avian influenza outbreak in 2011, the estimate for July 2016 to June 2017 is only 180 000 birds. This is 10% lower than the previous season, but still significantly higher than the 120 000 slaughtered in the 2013/2014 season, according to Piet Kleyn, CEO of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC). The local market for ostrich meat and the export market for pre-cooked ostrich meat had grown well, but the industry was struggling to reclaim overseas markets. “The export market for fresh meat isn’t doing as well as it used to before the four-year-long ban of fresh meat exports, due to the outbreak of avian influenza,” Kleyn said, adding that it seemed as if some consumers…

Despite a decrease in plantings over the past two years, the canola industry was expected to rebound in 2017. According to the latest baseline report released by the Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy (BFAP), the area planted to canola was projected to increase by an annual average of just over 6%, to exceed 130 000ha by 2025. Southern Oil Ltd (Soill), a leader in the South African edible oil industry, said that it had already experienced a strong demand for canola seed for 2017. “We expect canola plantings to be up 35% [in 2017],” said agriculturalist at Soill, Franco le Roux. According to Le Roux, this increase could be attributed to increased yields in 2016, which had a direct impact on producers’ profitability. He added that canola prices also…

The most important aspect of any farming enterprise is viability; this forms the foundation of sustainability. There is little sense, for example, in starting a hydroponic or greenhouse project if your primary motivation is to create jobs or improve the living conditions of local communities. I have seen many enterprises fail due to poor planning and not focusing on the viability of the project right from the start, or even later, when in full production. It also does not help to invest your capital in elaborate buildings, sophisticated greenhouses, smart hydroponic systems and full climate control without first considering the factors that could influence the overall viability of your enterprise (see Figure 1). MAKE SURE YOUR TIMING IS RIGHT! Timing your production with care could help to ensure the viability…

Annelize Crosby Agri SA advisor on legal and land affairs, and parliamentary liaison officer. What is Agri SA’s stance on the current state of land reform? This is a difficult question to answer, as land reform is such a multi-faceted topic. Agri SA members are pleased with some developments , but concerned about others. Agri SA now showcases land reform projects on its website. This is an exciting development, as people can become aware of the success stories and get an idea of what works and what doesn’t. We also feel positive about our interactions with the many stakeholders who are keen to partner with Agri SA to make a difference for the better in rural areas. What are your greatest concerns? We fear that irresponsible incitement to ‘land grab’…

ACCOUNTING ABBREVIATIONS CAN TRIP US UP, BUT THEY ARE USUALLY NOT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND I knew they were talking English, but they might as well have been talking Martian. I was sitting in a meeting where the accountants were discussing the year-end accounts with my boss. I heard the word ‘cost’, which I thought I understood, but then I heard ‘cost of sales’, ‘operating costs’ and ‘capital costs’, and wasn’t quite sure what the difference was. ‘Marginal cost’ and ‘opportunity cost’ came up next, and I started getting even more confused. What were all these different types of cost? I kept my mouth firmly shut. When the conversation moved onto sales, I relaxed, as I thought I might now understand a little more of what was going on. But in…

Due to changing trading conditions, businesses often have little choice but to realign and reorganise themselves to become more competitive or maintain an existing position in the market. If you are restructuring your business, you are legally compelled to follow labour legislation if any changes are made to employees’ terms and conditions of employment. This is especially relevant if there is a possibility of employees losing their jobs in the process. KEEP THE BUSINESS STABLE AND CONSULT WITH EMPLOYEES Closely follow the procedures in the legislation to ensure that stability is maintained, and avoid making any unilateral changes to employment contracts. Pay attention to the following in particular: • Review all employees’ employment contracts to confirm their duties, responsibilities and goals. Also confirm the available resources and how these resources…

Highveld SA Mutton Merino Champions Contacts: Johnny Hipkins: 082 829 7766 | Dr Vos and Jan Grey: 082 559 7861 | Manie and Alta Lombard: 083 232 4324 | Joe Wilkinson: 072 146 0467…

Malting barley infected with fungi is considered unfit for human consumption and downgraded to ‘under grade’. Fungal infection usually occurs when grain ready for harvesting is subjected to continual moist conditions or barley with a high moisture content is harvested and stored on the farm in unfavourable conditions. Barley with moisture content of more than 12,5% should be dried according to specifications as soon as possible. Malting barley with a moisture content of higher than 12,5% will be rejected, but a pro rata premium is paid for grain if the moisture content decreases from 12,5% to 9,5%.…

Almost every fresh produce market in South Africa has a licensing agreement with Freshmark Systems, the providers of the industry’s dedicated IT-based sales processing system. In operation since 1987, the system is unique, and provides market agents and producers with comprehensive and highly functional daily sales data. While each market is responsible for the daily management of the system, it pays Freshmark Systems a fee for backup and service. Naturally, Freshmark is a business, not a charity, and requires this money to continue offering its services. So what happens when a market authority does not pay its fee to Freshmark? This is not a silly, hypothetical question. It has already happened on more than one market and has recently taken on disturbing proportions, with a few markets seriously in arrears.…

RINSE HORSE BLANKETS IN EPSOM SALTS AND CEDAR OIL TO MAKE THEM SOFT AND INSECT-REPELLENT As a horse owner, one of my favourite home remedies is Epsom salt – it’s right up there with apple cider vinegar and raw honey. The scientific name is magnesium sulphate. The compound was first extracted from mineral springs in the town of Epsom, in the UK, hence the common name. Magnesium and sulphate are transdermal. This means that they are absorbed into the skin. It has been shown that magnesium reduces inflammation, improves nerve and muscle function and helps to prevent arteries hardening. Sulphates speed up the absorption of nutrients into the cells and detoxify the body efficiently. If you have been on a long, hard ride, or have taken a tumble, Epsom salts…

If intestinal gas is the bane of your life, it may be reassuring to know that hundreds of widely used prescription medications could be the source of your embarrassment. Check the pamphlet, and if constipation (with flatulence) is listed as a possible side-effect, ask your doctor for an alternative drug. But flatulence more commonly comes from food. Eggs, starches (especially with gluten), bananas, beans and other legumes, dairy products, many types of vegetables and even fruit might be the cause. Fructose, which is added to many foods, can also result in flatulence. A healthy population of probiotics, the ‘good’, vitamin-producing germs in our intestines, may be able to neutralise gassiness and bloating. Look for formulations containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (GG strain) and Lactobacillus plantarum. TRIED-AND-TRUSTED REMEDY Fennel seed is an old…

Tom Cruise’s devotion to Lee Child’s series character landed him the lead in the 2012 movie Jack Reacher. Cruise recently returned to the screen to act in the film of Child’s 18th Reacher book, Never Go Back. The title encapsulates Reacher, who lives on the road, buying a change of clothes as he goes. Unfortunately, our hero backtracks on his own resolution by going to see the new female CO of his old army unit in Virginia – only for them both to be thrown in military prison. Both are convinced the charges are contrived, but have to storm their way out and investigate on the run across country, even ending up in elegantly concealed opium dens. The tale builds on Reacher’s back story, making it a convenient starter novel…