Table of contents for 21-Aug 2015 in Farmer's Weekly

Over the past few weeks, Agri SA members across the country gathered at the organisation’s provincial conferences to discuss those issues most pressing to farmers. As has been the case for the past few years, government policy, especially that connected to land reform and transformation, was top of the agenda. Although commercial farmers and government have negotiated these issues for the past 20 years, a solution is no closer. But, as Dan Kriek, president of Free State Agri, said in his address, the talks must continue and organised agriculture must continue doing what it says it is doing. This echoes the sentiment of Minister Senzeni Zokwana who, with years of experience negotiating on behalf of Cosatu, understands the importance of keeping communication channels open. But I am concerned that the…

The current crop of young, highly motivated scientists and researchers bodes well for the agricultural sector in South Africa, as well as the African continent as a whole. After attending various congresses and agricultural workshops recently, I was pleasantly surprised by the number and calibre of young academics making presentations. I was particularly impressed by the quality of their contributions. I also acknowledge and appreciate the older generation of academics and organised agriculture representatives, who are giving these young men and women an opportunity on the podium. Something that stands out for me is the younger generation’s commitment to goal-orientated and pertinent research that will benefit the agricultural industry as a whole. This includes areas such as red meat traceability in South Africa, precision farming practices in the feedlot industry,…

Africa was at a crossroads as it could either build on the sustainable growth of the past decade or ‘miss the bus’, according to Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, director at the United Nations Development Programme. The former minister of public service and administration delivered the keynote address at the Nepad Business Foundation’s annual general meeting at the Development Bank of Southern Africa in Midrand, Gauteng, recently. She said that re-industrialisation and increased women’s participation were needed to revitalise the continent’s economy. A paradigm shift was needed to reverse South Africa’s trend towards de-industrialisation. Fraser-Moleketi advocated a boost in regional trade and bringing more women into mainstream economic activity. “Gender equality must get into the agenda of mainstream economy and into the private sector,” she said. Fraser-Moleketi called on African countries to explore…

Judgement was reserved in the contempt of court case brought against government by Free State Agriculture (FSA) in the Bloemfontein High Court recently. FSA took the state back to court over the latter’s failure to implement certain of the provisions laid out in an earlier court order by the June 2015 deadline, said FSA vice-president Kobus Breytenbach. These included the construction of a patrol road on the 480km stretch of border between Clarence in the north and Zastron in the south, as ordered by the High Court. “Because the department of public works has allegedly not done the necessary work on the patrol road, the SANDF could not carry out its safety and security mandate to protect the sovereignty of South Africa,” said Breytenbach. With the safety situation on the…

The opening of the European Union (EU) for fresh ostrich meat will not result in a price increase or less high-value ostrich meat being available on the South African market. Francois de Wet, managing director of Mosstrich, said that 90% of South Africa’s ostrich meat had been exported to the EU before the union closed its doors to fresh meat exports due to an outbreak of avian influenza four years ago. Since the ban, only pre-cooked meat was allowed to be exported, but this market was slow: currently, only 25% of ostrich meat was exported. The lifting of the ban meant that South Africa would be exporting fresh meat to Europe by the end of the month. While international market share had declined, local sales had almost tripled since the…

Lourens Schoeman, born and bred in the district of Cradock, started his career as a journalist at the SABC in Bloemfontein 45 years ago as an agricultural reporter. He spent some time at an agricultural newspaper, Die Kouter, before becoming a news editor at The Herald in Port Elizabeth for 18 years. Throughout his long career, the agriculture sector has always formed part of his beat, and he has been writing for Farmer’s Weekly for several years. He says he has no plans yet for retiring.…

The SAPS had not yet issued guidelines to members on how to respond to farm land being occupied illegally, delegates at the Agri Eastern Cape annual congress were told. Chairperson of the organisation’s Rural Safety Committee, Danie von Litzenborg, said farmers should immediately report any illegal occupation of land to the police and lay a charge of trespassing. “It is important to make a note of the time and the name of the police officer you dealt with. Also, immediately obtain legal representation to assist you in getting a court order to force police to act. “Should structures already be erected by the time you report it, it is not a police matter and you have problems,” Von Litzenborg warned. Referring to stock theft, he said that about 530 cases…

Entries for the 2015 Veritas Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious wine competition in South Africa, are now open. The Veritas Awards was celebrating 25 years of excellence this year according to the organisers, the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA). Winning wines will receive the Veritas emblem of excellence, which according to SANWSA, has become a reputable indicator of quality for the consumer and the industry alike. SANWSA introduced the first National Bottled Wine Show for market-ready wines in 1990 and it was renamed the Veritas Awards the following year. Top international and local wine experts will assess the entries from 18 to 23 September. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 9 October. The 2015 Veritas double…

The Southern African business of multinational forestry, pulp and paper giant, Sappi Limited, benefited from ongoing growth in demand and a weakened SA rand exchange rate to the US dollar during the third quarter ended June 2015. However, this was undermined to an extent by planned factory maintenance shutdowns and flat demand for newsprint and recycled packaging paper during the period. Typically contributing an average of 25% to the Sappi group’s total sales – from its operations in Europe, North America and Southern Africa – Sappi’s Southern African operations yielded R538 million operating profit, excluding special items, for the third quarter. In comparison, it generated R653 million operating profit, excluding special items, for the third quarter ended June 2014. “Operating profit for the [latest] quarter was impacted by R204 million…

The National Energy Regulator (Nersa) is a regulatory authority established as a juristic person in terms of Section 3 of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004 (Act No. 40 of 2004). The Energy Regulator’s mandate is to regulate the electricity, piped-gas and petroleum pipelines industries in terms of the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006), Gas Act, 2001 (Act No. 48 of 2001) and Petroleum Pipelines Act, 2003 (Act No. 60 of 2003). Section 28 of the Gas Act requires owners of operations involving the following activities to register such operations with the energy regulator: 1. production of gas; 2. importation of gas; 3. transmission of gas for own exclusive use; and 4. small biogas projects not connected to the national gas pipeline grid. The energy regulator…

Please tell us more about the university’s plans to expand its agricultural curriculum. A flourishing agricultural sector is socioeconomically vital not only for South Africa but the continent as a whole. We’ve therefore decided to reposition ourselves in order to capacitate a broader spectrum of agriculturalists and producers on the continent. One such consideration is the reinstatement of an independent faculty of agriculture. The agricultural disciplines currently form part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Agriculture after the amalgamation of the two faculties several years ago. In its quest to strengthen the agricultural value chain in Africa, the university is committed to afford training and development to as wide a spectrum as possible. One possibility is the creation of an independent entity such as an international agricultural academy for…

Ironically, most of the plants considered to be imifino are not indigenous to South Africa but originated in the Americas, Europe or Asia. When they were brought to South Africa is uncertain but most of these species were already part of the traditional Xhosa diet by the 1800s. In fact, some species were already eaten as early as the 17th Century, with isiqwashumbe (wild mustard or wild horseradish – Sisymbrium tellungii) being cultivated by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 and utyuthu (smooth amaranth, smooth pigweed, red amaranth, green amaranth or slim amaranth – Amaranthus hybridus) documented as being stewed instead of spinach as early as 1680. Today, more than 30 species are eaten in the Transkei alone. Nophandla Chibi says it is important to include a variety of imifino in…

Much concern has been expressed about the anticipated smaller maize crop due to drought in the Free State and North West. Yet its impact on consumers should be limited, according to MC Loock, Senior Manager of Agriculture (Primary) at Standard Bank. “The 9,76 million ton crop expected as per the latest crop estimate must be seen in perspective,” says Loock. “We had a bumper white and yellow maize crop last season, giving us a comfortable carry-out stock of 33% for the 2014/2015 marketing year. Due to the drought, a carry-out stock of 25% is predicted, but an 8% reduction is no cause for alarm.” To compensate for the shortfall in white maize for the feed market, it is likely that 838 000t of yellow maize will be imported. Again, Loock…

Ben Dillon from Indiana in the US is ready to start production of the Tribine. This combine and grain cart in one unit represents the first real change in combine design since self-propelled combines started coming off the Massey Harris production lines in the 1940s. Dillon’s game-changing concept moves the grain tank from the top of the combine to a far larger bin on a separate, but connected rear axle unit. This gives an articulated combine and grain cart combination that is highly manoeuvrable and has a grain capacity similar to that of the larger chaser bins currently in use. “Our focus has been on handling the cleaned grain, not on threshing,” says Dillon in a recent interview with Ohio’s Country Journal. “This is now the fourth prototype that we’ve…

Made in China, GRIP tools have become well-known throughout South Africa and beyond for their good quality and fit-for-purpose design at an affordable price. One of the latest products is a 13-piece metric Allen key set that comes complete with a slip-over and lock handle as well as a neat snap-closure clam box. The key sizes are 1,5mm, 2mm, 2,5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 4,5mm, 5mm, 5,5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm and 10mm. I could not verify the quality of steel used, but a good file hardly made an impression on it. A handy and very practical feature is the patented grip handle of high strength polymer that looks and feels like Delrin. It has six holes with appropriate-sized longitudinal slots at a 90° to accommodate different-sized Allen keys and lock them…

If a horse dies, the insurance company must be contacted immediately (some have a 24-hour hotline) and a vet must do a post-mortem. You do not need permission for your horse to get emergency veterinary treatment, but must contact the insurance company as soon as possible. All supporting documents must be submitted afterwards, and it’s worthwhile to phone your vet to get the invoices and reports as soon as possible. Other claims work very much the same as those for car and personal insurance.…

Greetings William, Thank you for the detailed layout of your new home to be built in the Karoo. While your room measurements included the outer and inner walls, I’ve used these as internal measurements, adding the walls on; this will give you a slightly more spacious home. Thanks too for the chat about your preferred styling. You described the styling as something ‘semi-modern’, but which would blend in with the Karoo terrain. I’ve included bay windows, adding both a little extra space and character to the external appearance. The roof of the attached garage looked awkward next to the house’s roof, so I opted for a flat concrete roof with parapet wall surrounds. As you want to be off-grid, the garage roof can have all your photovoltaic equipment placed on…

As we all know, security systems are becoming a necessity that can help combat crime or produce the evidence needed to prosecute perpetrators. The GM01 Home Security Alarm System with Camera is a small yet efficient wireless system that operates on a cellphone network. You simply need an electricity supply point and SIM card with airtime loaded onto it. The GM01 can be mounted reasonably inconspicuously anywhere in a house or outbuilding near an entrance that requires monitoring. The camera has eight infrared night vision LEDs with a range of 5m. There is also a built-in microphone and speaker. This mini-security camera sends pictures directly to a web server when it records any activity. The owner of the camera has access to the server and, once logged in, can view…

“ It was indeed heartening to receive such a level of support after our recent open letter to ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe. The purpose of the letter was to confront Mr Mantashe with a set of facts and points of view. We made it quite clear that we farmers are here to stay and are drawing a line in the sand making it quite clear that we will not be bullied into submission. It is therefore heartening that our views were considered to be fair and that other farmers were more than willing to draw that line in the sand – should it be necessary. As farmers, we will have to make specific decisions. It is against this backdrop that I now address this open letter to all commercial…

Fani Tshabalala and his friends, Thabo and Thabiso Moloi, farm part-time on communal land in the former QwaQwa, now part of the Free State. They have been farming since 2011 and have a mixed goat and sheep operation. These kids were born on 9 August. Matter of fact In the ‘Managing soil mineral ratios’ article of 31 July, the word anion was inadvertently repeated in the ‘Tricky Terms Explained’ box. The copy should have read: ‘a particle with a positive charge is called a cation and a particle with a negative charge is called an anion’. • Farmer’s Weekly has a high regard for factual accuracy and welcomes reader input. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letters and photos to: Farmer’s Weekly, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie, 2123, SA, fax 011 889…

The diesel price would have a mixed effect on the wool industry in the coming season, although farmers would generally benefit from lower costs, according to Isak Staats, wool and mohair manager at BKB. Declining prices in Australia would have to be closely monitored, as the situation could have a major impact on the SA season. Normally, wool correlated with oil, as well as other major commodities such as cotton and coal, Staats said. Most textiles produced in the world today were made from synthetic materials, which at base level were produced from oil, according to him. After a record high of R140 clean wool/kg at the closing sale at the end of June, wool prices in Australia had started to decline. “The SA wool system is currently in recess…

The African penguin is at risk of becoming the continent’s first bird species to become extinct. The birds, listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, are becoming even more threatened as a result of competition for food and displacement. Penguins eat mainly sardines and anchovies, which are also the target of the commercial purse-seine fishing industry. Purse-seine is a fishing technique that makes use of dragnets and is a preferred method to capture fish species that move in schools close to the surface of the water. Mark Anderson, of BirdLife SA, says the threat to penguins should be viewed every bit as seriously as is the country’s rhino poaching crisis. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, the decline in penguin populations is particularly severe…

The Department of Labour is embarking on nationwide roadshows to promote the opening of the employment equity (EE) reporting season on 1 September. The closing dates for manual and online reporting submissions were 1 October and 15 January 2016 respectively. A total of 24 291 EE reports was received in the past year, said Mokgadi Pela, spokesperson for labour minister, Mildred Oliphant. The ‘Transformation makes business sense’ roadshows, which started in Rustenburg in North West, were aimed at encouraging employers to submit EE reports online and publicise the code of good practice on equal payment, among others. The Commission for Employment Equity released its 2014/2015 report in Pretoria recently, which indicated that white males still occupied many senior management positions, and this indicated the slow pace of transformation in the…

Farmers in Thailand’s Suphan Buri province may have to delay planting their rice crops due to severe drought. Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Centre said that despite the wet season being underway, seven of the country’s 67 provinces were suffering the worst drought in more than a decade. The Thai government appealed to farmers to delay planting until August and the crop estimate was cut by more than two million tons. Thailand’s ministry of finance feared economic growth could decline 0,5% this year due to the drought. To save their crops, farmers had been pumping water illegally from the Tharakam Canal, causing tension with surrounding communities.…

Pork producers needed to reinvent their business operations if they wanted to bring home the bacon. This warning came from James Jenkinson, chairperson of the Premier Pork Producers’ Association, during its symposium and AGM in Pretoria recently. Jenkinson said that farmers wanted to become part of the global market and export their pork, but a lack of market access was putting paid to these ambitions. “The industry is ready to start exporting. Our farmers have been working hard over the past year to have their farms certified,” said Jenkinson. Over 50 000 farms had been certified in the past year, following a rigorous auditing process. “We need to reinvent ourselves and our farming operations for the benefit of the industry as a whole,” he said. Jacobus Hoffman, the association’s general…

The government seemed to be moving closer to socialism, and this had to be fought “with all we have” to prevent land reform from failing, according to Agri SA president Johannes Möller. Möller told delegates at the Agri Eastern Cape annual congress in Jeffreys Bay that the land reform issue needed a completely new approach, because if it failed, it would be fatal for the economy. The appointment of government officials to administer land reform was also a major problem, as they seemed to be even more politicised than the politicians, he said. The minister of agriculture, Senzeni Zokwana, received his instructions from central government, which did not know anything about agriculture, Möller said. About 50 countries around the world were currently undergoing land reform processes, so South Africa was…

Outgoing Agri Eastern Cape president Ernest Pringle urged farmers to “stand firm and united” in the face of turbulence over land reform in the immediate future. “We must support our structures within organised agriculture, and never compromise on our principles,” Pringle told the organisation’s annual congress at Jeffreys Bay. “In the end, our rulers will be forced to listen to us, for we are the food producers of our country, and the backbone of its rural areas.” At the same time farmers must “remain aware of the fact that we are not the government, so we must be flexible and accommodate our rulers where possible, but without compromising our constitutional rights,” said Pringle. “The Zuma government has brought South Africa to a crossroads. It is forcing the same policies on…

“South African farmers need to find a way to build bridges between the agricultural sector and the rest of South Africa.” These were the words of Mpumelelo Mkhabela, Sowetan newspaper editor, in his address at the Free State Agriculture congress in Bloemfontein. Mkhabela said that farmers needed to realise that the manner in which they treated their workers was a large part of what shaped perceptions around them. Farmers should create stakeholder relationships with their workers. “If one farmer unlawfully evicts workers, the entire farming community’s image becomes tarnished,” he added. Moreover, politicians were prone to run with negative stories about commercial farmers. “The sector needs a reappraisal of the manner in which it communicates with the rest of South Africa,” said Mkhabela. Farmers were inherently reticent about marketing their…

The South African division of Mondi has delivered an underlying operating profit of €69 million (R959 million) for the six months ended 30 June 2015. The local operation of the multinational forestry, packaging and paper group helped the Mondi group deliver “another strong performance”, according to a company statement. Mondi’s SA division’s underlying operating profit for the first six months of last year was €58 million (R806 million). The international Mondi group declared an underlying operating profit of €490 million (R6,8 billion) for the six months ended 30 June 2015. This was 30% higher than the €377 million (R5,2 billion) for the first half of last year. Mondi has operations across more than 30 countries, with key operations situated in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. Mondi attributed…

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is an important disease in the cattle industry, especially in intensive feedlot and semi-intensive dairy production systems, where it can lead to considerable economic losses. In cattle, the BVD virus causes BVD as well as mucosal disease (MD). BVD is caused by a pestivirus, which suppresses the animal’s immune system, reducing productivity and increasing the mortality rate. Two biotypes of the virus occur: • the cytopathogenic biotype, which destroys cells; and • the acytopathogenic (non-cytopathogenic) biotype, which does not destroy cells. Most infections in cattle are caused by the latter biotype. BVD can affect cattle of all ages, although it mostly occurs in young animals aged between six and 24 months of age. The virus can lead to either clinical (conspicuous) or subclinical (inconspicuous) BVD, but…

It’s 27 November, 1967, and a few far-sighted Lowveld avocado growers meet at Tzaneen to discuss the need for selling on the export market. In 1971, the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (Saaga) is formed – 1 880t of avocados are exported that season. Meanwhile in Peru, a military coup installs General Bermúdez as president in 1975. That same year, SA exports 4 800t of avocados. Local growers start worrying about oversupplying the market. In Peru, military juntas institute aggressive land reforms. Farms become co-operatives owned by workers. Agricultural production plummets. Nationalisation follows. New state-owned firms are created and expected to generate an important source of public financing. Instead, they immediately became a collective drain on the fiscus. A budget deficit of 1% in 1970 balloons to 10% in 1975.…

If you want to know more about the history of the pome fruit industry, the farm Bokveldskloof is the place to go. Owner Pierre du Toit has created a museum in one of the cold chambers of the farm’s packhouse. Here, the history of the South African fruit industry is on display, dating back to Jan van Riebeeck’s arrival in the Cape of Good Hope and planting the first wijnappel seeds in the spring of 1657. “I’m preserving this old equipment as a testament to the vast progress the South African pome fruit industry has made over the years. To me, it feels as if the fruit industry and I grew up together. Much of the equipment on exhibit was in use when I started farming along with my father-in-law,…

UTYUTHU Also called imbuya, unomdlomboya or rough pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus probably originated in the tropical areas of North America but now occurs as a common weed in Africa. It is a very popular variety of imifino in the Eastern Cape. A fast grower, it reaches a height of between 30cm to 100cm. The seeds are also rich in carbohydrate and protein and the leaves are often used as a spinach substitute. An infusion made from the leaves is used in the Philippines to treat chest complaints. IHLABA Also called xabexabe, the common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but has been found in South Africa for more than a century. Tea made from the leaves is said to be beneficial to cancer patients and to…

Johannes Norval, 50, is well on his way to developing a unique private beef breeding endeavour – Winterberger cattle. He farms on adjoining farms Stillerus and Morven, totalling 675ha, situated between the bushveld north of Adelaide and the high Winterberg. Local farmers suggested that he call his new breed the Johannesberger but he preferred the Winterberger. The breed is based on genetics from four of arguably the most influential beef breeds in South Africa. “It’s my own hobby or my own stubbornness, because I don’t want to accept the composition of other synthetics,’’ he says. “I want to create my own breed and brand. I think it will work because each of the four breeds has proved itself.’’ A SOUND GENETIC BASE Johannes grew up on Stillerus where his father…

Since the 1970s, the introduction of Roundup has revolutionised the ability of farmers to control weeds in crops and boost grain yields. However, Roundup has not escaped controversy, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declaring that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, can “probably’’ cause cancer. Monsanto, the producers of Roundup, have dismissed this allegation, pointing out that the herbicide has been passed as a safe product in the past and that WHO’s recent declaration is not based on any credible evidence.…

This article deals with interpreting a soil analysis. The pH of soil is a reflection of its acidity or alkalinity. In the absence of base minerals such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and sodium (Na), the negatively charged soil colloids attract positively charged hydrogen (H) ions, inducing acidity. As these H sites are replaced with base minerals, the acid level declines until the pH reading reaches 7, which is neutral. This means there are no H+ ions left on the soil colloids. The alkalinity rises as the base minerals increase in the soil. A soil pH of 6,5 is ideal as there are still H sites to be filled with positively charged elements. At this level, most minerals are available in a form that plants can take up.…

The front half of the Tribine is, at this stage, essentially an AGCO S77 rotary combine with the grain tank removed and replaced by a 277kW engine. Clean grain passes from the front threshing module to the rear tank module via a 300mm diameter auger. The compound steering system, articulation plus pivoting rear axle, has worked well when tested on rough terrain. Chopped straw and chaff is blasted out in the space between the two modules by hydraulically powered fans. Three hydraulic pumps supply power for the all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and unloading auger. The key functions of the harvesting operation can be monitored on the four-section display in the combine’s cab.…

The first thing Mark Kitchenbrand did after investing R800 000 to buy Birdy in the South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SAMDPR) auction of the top 100-placed pigeons was to kiss his wife Naomi – then they both kissed Birdy. But even Mark could not have foretold what lay ahead. In fact, when, in the winter of 2007, the German partnership Südhoff & Van Beers chose to enter a young Blue Bar racing pigeon they named ‘Birdy’ into the annual SAMDPR, nobody knew what an astounding impact this fine pearl-eyed hen would have on the global pigeon scene. The selection of its parents was the result of skilful pigeon breeding over a number of generations. Only ‘key pigeons’ from the very best bloodlines in the world were considered good enough…

The dictionary defines ‘consistent’ as “acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate”. In short, being consistent means being reliable. As farmers, we need to become more consistent, not only in our daily routine, but also in the way in which we think. Paul, the great apostle, was very consistent in his life. That is why he was so successful in his ministry. If we look in Philippians 3:12-14, Paul says: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are…

REMOTE  by Lindsay Grattan Cooper (Porcupine, R195) Lindsay Grattan Cooper has been in love with the south Atlantic island of St Helena most of her adult life, and lived there for nearly 10 years. Now resettled in Cape Town, Grattan Cooper looks back on the experience of trying to integrate into one of the world’s most remote islands. It’s very easy to fall in love with St Helena if you’ve been fortunate enough to visit for the week or so allowed by the normal schedule of the island’s only commuter ship, the RMS St Helena. But being there long term was very different, says Grattan Cooper. She frequently lets off steam at shortcomings she found in the other islanders, although it’s difficult to know whether she now has a different…

For hunting to have a future in this world, it is imperative that it is supported by a sound conservation ethic. If it does not contribute to conservation, all hunting will eventually be ‘closed down’ by the public. Animal rights’ groups are attempting this with growing success. They have succeeded in persuading Australia to ban the importation of any lion trophies and products from South Africa as the public wants canned lion hunting shut down. They have also moved their campaign to Europe and the US and we hear of airlines and shipping companies imposing embargoes on and boycotts of hunting trophies. Sadly, this has been fuelled by the lion hunting industry. If we can demonstrate publicly that hunting contributes to conservation it will be unlikely that these animal rights’…

16 JUNE 1954 The guava captured imaginations 61 YEARS AGO Few fruit varieties have captured the South Africa public’s imagination to the same extent as the humble guava. In the mid-1950s it featured prominently in the print media, on the radio and on cinema screens. This intense publicity campaign was the first of its kind for a perishable product and was initiated by a group of local farmers to stimulate consumer interest in the fruit. Here are a few excerpts from an article about the campaign which appeared in our issue of the above date. “The farmers associated with the campaign are the growers who have their headquarters near Paarl where the biggest portion of the country’s guava crop is produced. No-one will deny that their publicity experiment has been…

The 2015 winter mohair season started a week earlier than usual, resulting in a very small offering of 54 701kg, of which 97% was sold at an average price of R184,82/kg. The first offering of a season was always mixed, and the small quantity of kids and young goats’ wool offered made it nearly impossible to compare prices with previous sales, according to Deon Saayman, general manager at Mohair South Africa. “However, there’s some uncertainty in the fine kid market, mainly due to the European off-season and a stronger euro. Market levels will become clearer later in the season,” he said. There was good competition for the stronger end of the clip, with the adult market remaining firm. A highest price of R300/kg was paid for a bale of 27-micron…

Having completed her probe into the controversial R570 million Vrede Dairy Project, advocate Erika Cilliers of the Public Protector’s (PP) Free State office has sent through her report to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. Meanwhile, the project continues to consume provincial funding without clear deliverables. This was according to Roy Jankielsohn, leader of the DA and Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature. He said that replies by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in response to written questions posed in the legislature had resulted in more questions than answers. He pointed out that since the project commenced in 2012: • The Free State provincial government had pumped about R184 million into the project. • About R174 million of this amount had been paid to ESTINA, the project’s shareholder and…

More than a hundred people protested in Elsenburg after they had allegedly received eviction notices from the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works. The notice affected housing on the farms Elsenburg, Vaaldraai, Muldersvlei, Kromme Rhee and Helderfontein. Allegations that the inhabitants had received eviction notices was, however, denied by both the provincial departments of agriculture and public works. Public works had sent out letters last year, requesting inhabitants to complete a ‘Survey of Occupants of Houses’, said Siphesihle Dube, spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Public Works. Some of the occupants had either not completed and returned the survey, or had failed to provide supporting documentation. Letters were also sent informing occupants of a market-related rental that was due, with subsequent letters informing them of updated market-related…

Farmers in the US were cutting expenses significantly in an attempt to survive one of the leanest seasons in eight years, according to reports. This had come after four years of bumper grain crops and earnings. Grain prices had been dropping and the US Department of Agriculture forecast that this year’s growing season would be the least profitable since 2007. Cost cutting was having a major impact on the profitability of suppliers. Deere & Co, the world’s largest farming equipment manufacturer, reported a 43% drop in profit in its first quarter. It had already retrenched 1 500 plant workers in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas and placed another 500 people on temporary leave. Monsanto also reported a 10% drop in seed sales in the second quarter to 28 February. Experts warned…

South Africa’s agricultural machinery vendors are hoping for an early start to the 2015/2016 summer cropping season with good planting rains. This would alleviate the agricultural machinery market which had been depressed since the start of the 2014/2015 season. In its analysis of national new tractor and combine harvester sales for July 2015, the SA Agricultural Machinery Association (Saama) said the 536 tractors sold in July 2015 were 7,3% fewer than the 578 sold in July 2014. Similarly, the 3 359 tractors sold year-to-date to July 2015 were 8,3% fewer than the 3 662 sold year-to-date to July 2014. Only 12 combines had been sold in July 2015, 40% less than the 20 sold in July 2014. While 238 combines had been sold year-to-date to July 2014, only 142 had…

South Africans talked about each other and not to each other, according to Dan Kriek, Free State Agriculture (FSA) president. Speaking at the recent FSA congress in Bloemfontein, Kriek said South Africans were good at racial stereotyping but there was an uncomfortable silence on issues that needed to be discussed in the national interest. The majority of farmers in the Free State supported broader liberal and socio-democratic values, he said. “They know what social justice is. This is underscored by the fact that FSA commissioned a land audit for the Free State to support orderly and efficient land reform. Nevertheless, the perception remains that white farmers are conservative and resistant to change. The agricultural sector has to break the silence on this mistaken belief. “The belief that farmers don’t take…

Wildfire risks posed by the KwaZulu-Natal drought have led to the provincial government planning to establish a disaster management centre in each of KZN’s 11 district municipalities as soon as possible. The eThekwini, uMkhanyakude, Harry Gwala, uThukela and Ilembe district municipalities each already had a new disaster management centre. “The risk of wildfires [is much higher] as vegetation is much drier than in previous years,” said KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, in a statement issued to coincide with the recent opening of a disaster management centre in Ilembe. The statement said that these disaster management centres would allow municipality residents to obtain a speedy response to any reported emergencies. Dube-Ncube urged KZN’s residents to use water sparingly as the drought worsened daily. “We have a collective…

Entries for the SA Stud Book’s Elite Dairy Farmer of the year regional competition open in September. The competition will run countrywide in five regions and six top herds will be nominated. The nominated herds will compete in April 2016 for the title of SA Stud Book Elite 2016 National Dairy Farmer of the year. The Northern regional competition will take place on 1 September, Free State on 1 October, KZN on 8 October, Western Cape on 15 October and Eastern Cape on 22 October. Production plays a large role in the assessment criteria, with herd health also being important. One of the decisive factors in determining the national winner is the financial management of the farm. The six best herds in the country will be placed in the platinum…

Breeding sugarcane varieties is difficult due to the crop’s complex genetic system. Despite this, much progress has been made in conventional and biotechnology breeding. Sugarcane is grown on 24 million hectares globally and is the planet’s predominant source of sugar, reaching 2,16 billion tons in 2013 (of bulk sugarcane). It is produced in 90 countries and accounts for 80% of all sucrose produced; with Brazil being the dominant producer at 456 million tons. South Africa is a bit player, with between 20 million tons and 27 million tons produced by 48 000 farmers on 430 000ha. Most varieties planted in Africa have been conventionally bred at the SA Sugarcane Research Institute. The following new international approaches have been developed by applying modern biotechnology: • Raising sugar content by neutralising one…

Eqstra Industrial Equipment (EIE) has added two new SAME Deutz-Fahr models to its range of tractors. The recently-launched models, the 54hp SAME Frutteto Natural and the 65hp SAME Explorer Special, were introduced to the local industry at the recent Nampo agricultural trade show earlier this year, and orders have already started rolling in. EIE is the licensed distributor of SAME Deutz-Fahr (SDF) products in Southern Africa. The two new models, positioned as entry-level tractors, offer the superior product quality that have made SAME Deutz-Fahr tractors renowned worldwide, but at a price suited to tight budgets. The models are custom-designed for South African conditions by SAME Deutz-Fahr, based on input from EIE and its in-depth understanding of the requirements of the local agricultural environment. The new models provide high productivity and…

AVOCADOS (SA Avocado Growers’ Association – SAAGA) Recently-appointed SAAGA chairperson, Kosie Eloff, shared the following observations about the current avocado season: “The season is going very well, although volumes are lower than last year, when 15 million cartons were exported, compared with the expected 13 million cartons this year. Both quality and prices are good, with the latter performing above expectations in Europe. The export market continues to grow despite increased supplies from Spain, Israel, Peru and Mexico. Hail damage in Nelspruit and KZN during the summer rainfall season did not affect most farmers too badly. There is good demand for avocados in the local market and because there is no oversupply, prices are firm for this time of the year, both on the fresh produce markets and for direct…

YELLOW HYBRID MAIZE The fast-growing yellow hybrid maize CAP 122-60 is suitable for silage or as a grain crop. It takes 120 days to 134 days to reach maturity. It is highly prolific, with long cylindrical cobs and a semi-dent seed. The variety can be grown at a population of 80 000 plants/ha under irrigation and other optimal conditions. Its yield potential is up to 15t/ha. CAP 122-60 responds well to fertilisers. While susceptible to grey leaf spot and rust, it is tolerant of Helminthosporium blight and stalk rot. WHITE HYBRID MAIZE CAP 9001, a white flint grain, is a medium hybrid that matures in 122 days to 134 days. It is highly tolerant of most maize diseases in Southern and East Africa, making it well suited to areas with…

KZN LIMOUSIN CHAMPIONS Le Rohne Jagermeister LR 09 62, Senior and Reserve Grand Champion Limousin Bull, with Reimarc Tratschler (owner, Rooi Draai Limousin Stud, Winterton). Devlan Depth DK 06 123, Senior and Grand Champion Limousin Cow, with Leon du Toit (handler). Owned by John and Tracey Devonport of Devlan Limousin Stud, Johannesburg. Devlan Ideal DL 03 34, Limousin Breedplan Bull, with Leon du Toit (handler). Owned by John and Tracey Devonport of Devlan Limousin Stud, Johannesburg. Devlan Geisha DL 11 45, Reserve Senior Champion Limousin Cow, with Lucky Xoxo (handler). Owned by John and Tracey Devonport of Devlan Limousin Stud, Johannesburg. KZN SUSSEX CHAMPIONS Bulls Run Victory LAM 13 03, Junior and Grand Champion Sussex Bull, with (from left): Bread Nkosikona (handler) and Liege Lamb (owner, Bulls Run Sussex Stud,…

South Africa’s fresh produce commission markets have a number of unique features that set them apart from other markets around the world. One is the Freshmark Systems software, which captures daily sales data from 18 markets. This useful information is available monthly from the Tshwane Market, which consolidates the basic data on behalf of the SA Union of Food Markets. The Freshmark Systems program has been around for nearly 30 years and has grown from providing basic sales data into a system that covers a wide range of statistics. It is continually updated to stay in line with clients’ requirements. A good example of this is Technofresh. This provides producers with exclusive sales information on their products per market at any given time. A valuable marketing and management tool, the…

A good competition or breeding horse is a valuable investment and may be difficult to replace if something unforeseen happens. Recently, a highway accident claimed the life of a valuable showjumper, when a motorist collided with the horsebox. Last year’s outbreak of African horse sickness also killed several well-known breeding horses. Today’s equine insurance policies cover a far wider range of unforeseen and unplanned expenses than before. The policy can include veterinary fees, critical care and colic surgery, as well as cover for mortality and loss of use. It can also extend to personal liability and third party damage, horsebox and tack theft. Riding schools, guest farms and wedding venues are beginning to look more seriously at liability insurance, as graphic videos on YouTube show horses kicking people unexpectedly or…

To make southern fried chicken for six hungry diners, you will need: • 12 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper• 2 teaspoons coarse salt• 2 teaspoons ground paprika• 2 teaspoons onion powder• 2 teaspoons garlic powder• 1 teaspoon freshly ground dried chillies• 3 cups plain flour• 3 cups sunflower or canola oil• ½ cup bacon fat• Red Tabasco on demand for each diner The big deal here is learning how to deep-fry. Use a cast iron Dutch oven with a lid as your basic equipment and buy a cooking thermometer that reads up to 200°C. Be alert and careful – hot oil is dangerous. We begin with the preparation of the chicken thighs. Pour the flour and all the dried seasoning ingredients into a large Ziploc bag. Seal it and shake to evenly distribute the…

Scientists at a Seattle cancer research centre have found that weight loss in combination with Vitamin D supplementation has a greater effect on reducing dangerous chronic inflammation than weight loss alone. (Vitamin D has multiple functions beyond its well-known role in regulating calcium levels and bone metabolism.) Inflammation normally occurs when the body is exposed to pathogens such as bacteria or viruses; these put the immune system in overdrive until the ‘attack’ ceases and the inflammatory response abates. Overweight people often exist in a state of chronic inflammation, because fat tissue continually produces inflammation. “Weight loss reduces inflammation, thereby reducing cancer risk,” says lead researcher Dr Catherine Duggan. TWO-MONTH STUDY The clinical trial involved more than 200 healthy overweight women with low Vitamin D levels. Half received 2 000IU of…

The slight figure in an air force uniform alighted from a taxi in front of the Savoy Hotel in Piccadilly, London. Two policemen stared at the ribbons on the young man’s tunic and promptly approached him as he was about to enter the hotel foyer. They had decided that the young man had to be an imposter – it was impossible for someone of his age to have earned all ribbons adorning his tunic. The chief constable tapped him on the shoulder and advised him that it was an offence to wear ribbons he was not entitled to. It was 27 November 1919, and with the First World War having ended the year before, there were many such imposters about. The policemen suggested that the youngster accompany them to the…