Table of contents for 18-Sep 2015 in Farmer's Weekly

The heartbreaking image of the lifeless Syrian toddler washed up on a Turkish beach has got many people looking at immigrants in a new light. In Europe, where the attitude towards immigrants has long been ambivalent, the plight of the Syrian refugees has galvanised many ordinary peole and politicans into taking action. But there is another, more pragmatic reason to open the gates to these people: they offer a host of economic advantages to their host countries. For two decades, Turkey’s €15 million (R230 million) rose oil export industry was under threat of collapse due to the unavailability of workers willing to do the backbreaking job of picking roses. Enter Syrian refugees, desperate for any source of income. Today, Turkey harbours nearly two million Syrians who have escaped the violence…

Farmer’s Weekly staff members were recognised for their achievements at the recent Caxton Magazines Excellence Awards: • Classified Salesperson of the Year: Rowena Singh; • Cover of the Year: silver award for 23 January 2015 issue; • Best Real Life Feature: Annelie Coleman – silver award for ‘Enduring the darkest hour’, 7 February 2014 issue; • Special Mention Best Editorial Layout: Vian Roos – ‘It’s war: meet the general’, 12 September 2014 issue. Well done to all!…

Insurance companies report that at least 25% of all drivers’ licences are illegally or dubiously obtained. With one in every four vehicles having a potential assassin behind the wheel, South Africa could soon top the global road death charts – if we’re not there already. One can also blame bad roads, more cars, unroadworthy vehicles, alcohol consumption, irresponsible pedestrians and unmotivated traffic cops. However, two relatively new developments are playing a role in South Africa’s escalating accident rate. The first is that a driver’s licence is perceived by the unemployed as a passport to a job, perhaps as a taxi driver. The second is that officials – and in some cases those employed by driving schools – are increasingly accepting money under the table to put applicants through the driving…

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) is investigating the use of prawns to revitalise the province’s economy. GDARD MEC Lebogang Maile and his entourage recently returned from a fact-finding mission in the US where they learned how the state of Florida used prawn farming to revitalise its economy. This followed a decline in the citrus industry that led to economic stagnation and job losses, said Roleta Lebelo, the department’s head of communications. The Florida Bioorganic Aquaculture facility represented a “successful model of intensive prawn farming away from the coast with an excellent model for community involvement and job creation”. “The MEC and his team studied in depth the model that had been used and the problems encountered. Factors for technical success of intensive prawn farming were also…

A meeting between the directors of animal health and veterinary services of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe was held in Harare to assess the current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation in Zimbabwe, according to a recent press release by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Zimbabwe’s chief veterinary officer assured the two counterparts that the situation was under control, and said that the drought experienced in that country had resulted in a number of cattle moving southwards to relief grazing, where FMD was present. Control measures to mitigate risks that could threaten South Africa’s FMD-free zone status had been instituted by the Zimbabwean veterinary authorities, according to the press release. Over 450 000 doses of vaccine had been procured and delivered to various parts of the country where there was…

An increasing number of US farmers and meatpackers were earning added income by turning by-products such as beef fat into renewable fuel used in jets and diesel-powered vehicles, texasfarmbureau.com reported. This was a major opportunity for meat producers, because the sector had ample feedstock available, Tom Vilsack, secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, said in a report. “The challenge is figuring out how to do it, where to do it, and the most efficient way for region to region to do it,” he said. Agricultural residues such as wheat straw and orchard prunings, food waste and animal by-products such as tallow, fish oil and manure could also be used to create renewable fuels.…

Although about 19 000 communal farmers in the Eastern Cape earned more than R130 million collectively from wool sales in the 2014/2015 season, challenges to production and marketing, including crime and the informal sale of wool, remained. This was according to Andile Ndzendze, chairperson of the Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers’ Association (ECCWGA). Speaking at the ECCWGA congress held at Ndakana near Stutterheim, Ndzendze said that the theft of livestock and wool seriously diminished the ability of communal farmers to maximise income from their sheep. In many communal areas of the former Ciskei and Transkei, stock theft had taken on the form of brazen robbery rather than the surreptitious theft of animals, according to him. “[It looks to me] as if we have fewer police moving around us. The visibility…

South Africa is hampered not by a lack of good policies, but lack of capacity in the civil service to implement policies. Even President Jacob Zuma has conceded the problem. This was according to Dr Theuns Eloff, FW de Klerk foundation chairperson, who spoke at the recent 2015 Agri North West Congress. Claims that white people or big business were responsible for civic deterioration in South Africa were specious, he said. “One of the reasons was the lack of experienced people in the civil service caused by cadre deployment.” The South African political situation was highly complex, he added. This was evident in the many faces of the ANC. The country was also subject to an attitude of entitlement that exacerbated corrosion in the civil service. South Africans needed to…

Private land ownership is the basis of economic growth, Dr Anthea Jeffery, head of policy research at the SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR), told delegates at the TAU SA Congress held recently in Pretoria. “Private ownership of land gives the right to an owner to use property the way [he or she] wants and creates incentives to invest,” she said. High levels of state control of land led to economic inefficiency, political repression and the corruption and abuse of power, according to her. “The benefits of private property are quantifiable by hard data,” she added. Jeffery said that South Africa currently ranked 93rd out of 152 countries on the Index of Economic Freedom. In 1990, South Africa ranked 56th. Countries with higher economic freedom had a higher GDP per…

Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana has up to 90 days to consider an appeal by the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) against the approval of Monsanto’s genetically modified maize seed MON 87460. The approval granted by the executive council (EC) of the GMO Act meant that the world’s largest seed company, Monsanto, could sell the drought-tolerant GM maize seed MON 87460 to farmers in South Africa for cultivation, according to the ACB, which lodged the appeal in August. It lashed out at the EC for “rubber-stamping” information provided by Monsanto, dubbing the process unlawful. “The EC is under legal obligation to apply a risk-averse and cautious approach, which takes into account uncertainties and the limits of current knowledge about the consequences of approving MON 87460 for commercial…

Local pomegranate production has increased by more than 20% to about 4 500t this year, according to Jack Wittles, chairperson of the Pomegranate Association of South Africa (Pomosa). There were about 800ha under pomegranate production in the country, with most orchards still needing time before reaching their full production potential, he said. “Pomegranate trees bear fruit from their third year of production, but only reach their full production potential from year eight,” Wittles said. Brent Geddes, CEO of pomegranate producer, Pomona, which produces 106ha of the fruit in the Western Cape, said that the area under production would probably double over the next two to three years due to favourable market conditions. “The market is growing for both fresh and processed pomegranates. Top-quality fresh fruit sold for about R25/kg this…

My last article examined how novice fish farmers might get started in aquaculture. Let us now examine what should be done once the entrepreneur is familiarised with a certain level of basic fish biology and system design. Learning to be a fish farmer is best done on the job, and as most aquaculturists know, the road to success is often paved with the bodies of dead fish. Learn from it and move on. It would be wise to invest in a training course: there are a number of good local options available. If the idea is to start with a pilot system that will teach the novice fish farmer the basics, with a view to expanding into the commercial sector later, don’t start too small. It is also important to…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: New Zealand steers and cows traded flat to slightly lower at NZ$583/head and NZ$383/head respectively. US beef traded as follows: topside traded lower at US$277,09/cwt, rump higher at US$461,16/cwt, strip loin lower at US$651,16/cwt, chuck slightly lower at US$292,21/cwt, brisket slightly lower at US$259,98/cwt, and the carcass price was US$358,56/cwt. Domestic: The various meat classes traded as follows: Class A prices decreased 5,99% to R32,63/kg, Class B increased 0,69% to R31,27/kg, and Class C increased 1,39% to R29/kg. Weaner prices were slightly lower at R20,13/kg. Hide prices were flat at R12,25/kg as global supply continues to outstrip demand. Outlook: US red meat and poultry production has shown good increases in recent months as a result of increasing domestic demand. US production is expected to increase…

First introduced in 1923, Farmall tractors soon became known as versatile workhorses built to deliver performance and rock-solid reliability under all working conditions. This tradition lives on in the Case IH Farmall JXM series. Robust and rugged, these compact tractors offer the power and cost-effective performance needed by 21st century farmers. The Farmall JXM Series is powered by the world renowned Iveco S8000 Series engines, which are available in two versions – 59,7kW and 65,7kW. This 4-cylinder turbocharged power is further enhanced by an intercooler, meaning the JXM tractors are ready to deliver optimum and reliable performance, high torque and excellent productivity. The lower cooling requirements ensure high fuel efficiency and considerable savings. To this, add up to 340Nm of torque and an impressive 30% of torque backup. The Farmall…

Thanks to new technology and support from trusted partners, Gert Cilliers from Stella in North West has taken a leap of faith and reintroduced cotton on his farm near Stella in North West. With this kind of backing, he feels that farmers in the area can improve their returns on marginal land. Last year, he planted 550ha to dryland cotton, as well as an additional 915ha on leased land. Gert started farming with his father in 1991 after studying BSc Agric (Hons) and serving in the defence force for two years, but has now been farming independently for 24 years. Much has changed since the last time he planted cotton in 1993, he says. To begin with, a number of new cotton cultivars have been introduced. Gert planted Candia Austral,…

Last week, I mentioned how humus formation depended on nitrogen (N). Even when a large quantity of organic matter is present, very little humus can be created if the nitrogen level is too low. The late John Fair illustrated this perfectly when he pointed to a patch of crown vetch growing on a steep slope 7km from the Mooi River toll plaza on the way to Durban. As crown vetch is a legume associated with nitrogen-forming rhizobium bacteria nodules on the roots, the vegetation would have more than enough N to form the maximum amount of humus from the carbon (C) content of this material. Non-leguminous weeds growing in the same location would contribute much less to C-building and would rely on N present in rain and free-living microorganisms for…

To secure extremely valuable possessions and equipment against theft, and property against intrusion, only a fool would rely on a cheap or standard grade padlock. This type of padlock can be readily opened by a beginner lock-picker or easily broken using simple hand tools and a bit of force, and it gives the owner a false sense of security. The Abus Mariner 83MAR/45 is not such a lock. Used to bar unauthorised access to industrial plants, company headquarters, workshops, warehouses, containers, trailers, garages and farm gates worldwide, it is purpose-designed and made for high-risk security situations. Rust, corrosion and chemical proof, it is also ideal for severe weather and atmospheric conditions such as along the coast or in seaports. Careful thought and technology has gone into the design and manufacture…

Invariably, horse owners will be faced with the sad decision of whether to euthanase a beloved horse. Aches and pains in the joints of pensioned-off riding horses start to take their toll; worn down teeth can no longer chew hard, dry grasses. For some owners, it’s about economics. The grazing is gone, there’s no money to pay for feed and no market for unbroken crossbred horses on a smallholding, or for outgrown, elderly ponies at a riding school. Sometimes a horse is suffering and the veterinary and medication costs to cure them are unaffordable. The first decision is hard enough. Once you have decided, however, there are choices to be made regarding the way you want your horse to leave this world, and when and where it should happen. Don’t…

Dear Jonno I would like to build a house and have designed a plan. It is, however, incomplete, so I require your help. I need you to also include the approximate costs. I have attached the house plan together with the measurements. Kind regards Loyiso Ncobela Greetings Loyiso Thank you for your detailed sketch and the finer details for both the functionality and looks. You mentioned on the phone that the design had to be as cost-effective as possible. You’re certainly not alone when wanting to spend as little as possible to get as much as possible. I always say to clients: build the superstructure of the home first, then add in the finishes, fixtures and fittings as finances permit. The superstructure is 40% and the finishes, fixtures and fittings…

The Roux family own the farm Ramah on the banks of the Orange River. The family has been farming there for 100 years. In 1996, Roux Pecans were certified organic. Bob Roux says that they used to use flood irrigation in the orchards. He remembers the big old engines on the river that pumped the water to the orchards and how workers with spades would open and close strategic points to make sure water was channelled into the desired part of the land. This method was not the ideal way to irrigate, but it was all farmers had back then, as I’m sure many of our readers can attest to. “Today, we have self-starters and with my smartphone I can start a pump and set the pressure needed,” says Bob.…

The Free State provincial government’s announcement that the province had been declared a drought disaster area was welcomed by farmers in the province. Farmers have been pleading since February for aid. Maseli Letuka, Nerpo secretary in the Free State, said farmers in the Western Free State desperately needed government’s assistance to purchase much-needed feed and even water for livestock. The official drought disaster declaration set in motion a process to make resources available to mitigate the effects of the drought. Letuka is however worried that the assistance will come too late for many farmers. “Aid will most likely only arrive in February next year, by then it would have rained already,” he said. “We are however grateful for government’s assistance.” Dr Jack Armour, Free State Agriculture operational manager, said the…

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has been punting the Investment Bill he wants Parliament to adopt. The bill, which was currently before the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, seeks to provide support for foreign investors in the same way as government provided for local companies. The bill came as a result of bilateral investment treaties South Africa had with some countries, Davies said in a recent radio interview. “When they lapsed a few years ago we took a decision that we wouldn’t renew them. There was a bit of a controversy around that. In their place we said we would [introduce] a law that would cover all foreign investments, including [those] from countries where we had never had an investment treaty. So we developed the Investment Bill,” he…

Australia hoped to restore confidence among international trade markets with the introduction of upgraded bio-security measures, according to Prof Phil Taylor, an associate at Macquarie University in Sydney. A new national sterile insect technology facility in Port Augusta in South Australia, valued at A$3,8 million (R36,9 million), would produce 50 million sterile male Queensland fruit flies that would mate with the wild population, ensuring offspring were not produced, he said. According to news website theleadsouthaustralia.com, the move would help secure producers’ access to citrus and almond export markets such as the US, New Zealand and Japan, which is valued at a total of A$800 million (R7,7 billion) this year. The Queensland fruit fly presented the most difficult and costly biosecurity challenge to market access for most Australian fruit producers, Taylor…

For wool to compete with cheaper cotton and synthetic alternatives, consumers must be convinced that the fibre is good enough to warrant a higher premium, according to Geoff Kingwill, chairperson of Cape Wools SA, referring to wool’s niche market positioning in the global fibre market. “We can’t compete with them in terms of price and that’s why we do the promotions,’’ he said, speaking at the Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers’ Association congress, held at Ndakana near Stutterheim. He said the promotion of wool should involve an intimate understanding of the needs and values of potential consumers. “Promotion is all about a conversation with your consumer, and a conversation is a two-way event – it’s not just us talking to them. It is also about listening to what the consumer…

The agricultural industry cannot allow land reform to be an ungovernable issue. That would be poor citizenship, according to Agri North West president Pierre Vercueil. He said at the 2015 Agri North West Congress that the sector had to become proactively involved with the management of transformation. “We have to engage with government in a friendly but firm manner to find workable solutions, particularly for land reform. We must maintain the moral high ground,” Vercueil said. Organised agriculture’s main aim was the well-being of its members while government was focused on socio-economic matters, he said. Ways had to be found to satisfy both of them. However, land reform was a reality, irrespective of the political party in charge, according to Vercueil. The sector had to work with all role players…

TAU SA was in the process of developing a new curriculum in agricultural studies, the union’s president, Louis Meintjies, said at the TAU SA congress which took place recently in Pretoria. Accreditation was currently being acquired from the department of education through the Afrikaanse Protestantse Akademie, where a faculty of agriculture would be established, according to him. “We hope to start in January or February 2017. According to our research, we already have 40 students who are interested.” Development of the curriculum began in 2014 when union members and their children indicated a need for training. “Existing agricultural colleges are dysfunctional and others, like Elsenburg, have problems,” he said. Modules of the course would focus on the practicalities of farming as well as a general overview. “The basics, such as…

Ndakana village near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape hosted the Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers’ Association (ECCWGA) Congress recently. The congress was well-attended by communal farmers, the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA), Cape Wools SA (CWSA) delegates, government officials and representatives from role players in the agricultural sector, including veterinarian and animal feed companies.…

US-based manufacturer of agricultural machinery and solutions, AGCO, recently launched its annual video contest for the next AGCO Africa Ambassador. Young African entrepreneurs with sustainable agribusiness concepts that could help to develop the continent’s agricultural sector in an inclusive way, are asked to create a video of themselves outlining their original business idea for inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa, according to a press release by AGCO. They should also explain why they should become the next AGCO Africa Ambassador. Entrants can post their videos on the AGCO Africa Ambassador Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ AfricaAmbassador), the AGCO Africa Ambassador Twitter profile (https://twitter.com/ AGCOAmbassador) or email it to info@africaambassador.com. The winner would become the next AGCO Africa Ambassador and represent African youth as the host of the fifth AGCO Africa Summit ‘Agribusiness…

The Nerpo Provincial Congresses were held during the months of June and August. Matters affecting farmers at grassroots level up to provincial level were discussed. Below are summarised reports of some of the meetings: EASTERN CAPE AGM AND CONGRESS The Eastern Cape Nerpo held its AGM and conference on 12 July in the Chris Hani District Municipality. According to Xolani Sikhunyana, who was re-elected chairperson, the main discussions centred on two flagship programmes: the Nerpo Livestock Syndicate Scheme and Farmers’ Cooperative Bank. Sikhunyana said the province had so far established five livestock syndicates – two in Alfred Nzo District, two in the Chris Hani District and one in the Amathole District. The provincial committee was working closely with the leadership in the district to assist in establishing a syndicate in…

Most sugarcane-producing countries have employed various conventional and GM techniques to improve traits, one trait being enhancing sugar content. Australia has received approval for field testing its high-sugar GM variety. Results obtained in greenhouse assessment of new improved varieties need to be followed by on-farm field assessment to verify that improved traits are adequately expressed and stable under variable environmental conditions. In Australia, GM development, field testing and commercial release are strictly regulated under the Gene Technology Act of 2000 and overseen by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR). Biosafety assessment also involves consultation with the public, state and territory governments and agencies that include the minister for the environment. Scientific advice is provided by the technical advisory committee. Submissions from the public are also invited. The high…

What are the reasons and contributing factors to farm violence and murders in South Africa? This is difficult to determine because a lot of factors contribute to this. When analysing serious and violent crimes, we need to determine the reasons people commit them. Crime analysis experience has, however, shown that the generators of crime are mostly found in the socio-economic environment where criminals live. Media coverage, perceptions of farmers, articles by criminal experts/academics and conversations with some investigative officers this year showed that farm crimes were being driven by ‘greed’. This stems from the perception that farmers have money, firearms, cellphones and vehicles on their premises, and that criminals’ motive could mainly be associated with robbery. A recent analysis by FSA (Free State Agriculture’s) on serious and violent incidents on…

The recent International Macadamia Symposium (IMS) held at Skukuza under the auspices of the South African Macadamia Growers’ Association (Samac) attracted more than 400 delegates from more than 20 countries. As might be expected, South Africans were in the majority, but there were many Australians, with strong contingents from countries such as Mozambique and Kenya. Macadamias might account for only about 1% of world nut production at present but that number is changing – upwards! The conference reflected this growing prosperity. It was one of the best organised that I have ever attended, with the special ‘bush atmosphere’ of Skukuza providing the perfect backdrop. Speakers from various countries offered comment on marketing and consumer-related subjects, production, processing, post-harvest and future trends. Michael Waring, CEO of the Waring Group and a…

NATIONAL ILE DE FRANCE CHAMPIONS SUPREME CHAMPIONS ON SHOW KZN SUFFOLK CHAMPIONS CONTACTS: Corné Els: 082 456 9213 | Magda Pienaar and Yvonne Daffue: 082 820 5595 | Van der Linde Ile de France Stud: 079 524 7954 CONTACTS: Scheepers Lamprecht: 082 807 3152 | Mark Thiele: 082 944 0481 | Janine Leimer: 082 491 2790 | Jan-Willem Lots: 083 633 3156 | Grant Holmwood: 082 570 2119 CONTACTS: Corné Els: 082 456 9213 | Van der Linde Ile de France Stud: 079 524 7954 | Dr Charl Scholtz: 083 305 0668 | Willem Botha: 082 782 3055 | John and Tracey Devonport: 083 454 3095 | Collin Emanuel: 082 434 1712 | Kevin Lang: 082 556 8090…

When a farmer decides to buy a new tractor, does he choose the shiniest, most expensive model? It’s hardly likely any farmer would spend his hard-earned money so frivolously. The more likely scenario will have a farmer investigating all aspects of the machine before making a decision. In essence, he’ll seek out the machine which offers the best value for money. PROFESSIONAL FARMERS CONSTANTLY MONITOR ALL MARKETING COSTS AGENTS AND MARKETS If we apply this way of thinking to a fresh produce market, the question arises: ‘How many farmers measure the value of the services they receive and pay for from both market agent and market authority? The combined cost to the farmer will be about 12,5%. How many will look at that 12,5% and ask themselves: ‘What value am…

When the Roman Empire ruled the world a couple of thousand years ago, no army or civilisation could touch it. The Romans were such good soldiers and engineers that they could not be conquered by any other nation on earth. The aqueducts they built to carry water are still standing. Some of the roads they built in Europe are still usable today. And yet this mighty empire collapsed. No army defeated its forces. The empire imploded. Why? Because its standards were not kept up. Immorality, compromise and sloppiness crept into the government and it disintegrated. FINISH THE WAY YOU START As farmers, we must finish the way in which we start. It might be a good idea to make a checklist and see if you are still doing what you…

EUGENE DE KOCK: ASSASSIN FOR THE STATE  by Anemari Jansen (Tafelberg, R250) Jansen essentially took on the role of authorised biographer to the Vlakplaas commander who became notorious under the name ‘Prime Evil’. In his quest to be understood, De Kock let her use his prison diaries. Jansen’s account exemplifies the problems and advantages of authorised biography. A chilling, immensely tragic quest emerges, but one essential to helping round out the historical record, as well as giving us deeper understanding of those times and the people involved in them. LAMPEDUSA PIE: RECIPES FROM THE LEOPARD  by Andrea Burgener (Bookstorm, R375) Burgener is best known as a Masterchef SA guest judge, a profile partly built on the success of her Johannesburg restaurant The Leopard, as the subtitle suggests. The title’s Lampedusa…

14 FEBRUARY 1940 Does farming pay or not? 75 YEARS AGO In a strongly-worded letter, Farmer’s Weekly correspondent, Gordon Nicholson, complained bitterly about the long list of problems faced by the average South African farmer. He contended that it was impossible to make a decent living from farming. Some readers agreed with him, others not. Below are excerpts from a letter from a farmer calling himself ‘Stockfeed, Free State’, published in our issue of the above date. “It may sound rather Irish to agree with Mr Nicholson’s theory and at the same time to disagree. Farming does pay, and handsomely too, but only for the man with sufficient capital at his disposal for his particular venture. Woe to the man with too little cash and too much patience and optimism.…

Although several awards were presented at the Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers’ Association (ECCWGA) congress held at Ndakana near Stutterheim recently, it was the Zoetis lucky draw for two Dohne Merino rams that ensured the most excitement amongst communal farmers attending the event. The international animal health company also donated R15 000 to the ECCWGA.…

Effective policing is only one part of the solution for rural safety and security, according to Brigadier Judith le Roux, head of the SAPS’s section for proactive policing and crime prevention. Social upliftment, rural development, education, accountability by government departments and community involvement were also essential she said at the 2015 Agri North West Congress. “It is only then that the transformation of rural and farming communities, securing of their rights and the restoration of their dignity can be achieved,” Le Roux said. The SAPS’s Rural Safety Strategy that was approved in 2011 was taken under review. The new plan would be announced at the end of this financial year, she said. The SAPS had shown a consistent decrease in rural crime since the implementation of the 2011 plan. The…

Although most provincial districts had formed District Land Reform Committees (DLRCs) by the March deadline set by government, most of their activities had come to a standstill as they were awaiting further guidance. Aggrey Mahanjana, secretary-general of Afasa, told Farmer’s Weekly that problems had started when provinces had different interpretations of what was expected. In addition, amendments to the terms of reference, which some provinces were unaware of, had resulted in misinterpretation, he said. “Usually, the government takes too long in taking action. With the DLRCs, however, it acted haphazardly, resulting in most people on the ground misunderstanding what was expected of them,” he said. Annelize Crosby, legal advisor for Agri SA, said that a frame of reference existed but had not been communicated effectively. Another problem was that it…

“TAU SA looks at agriculture from an economic point of view, not a political one. The future of agriculture lies outside the government,” said Louis Meintjies, TAU SA president, speaking at the union’s recent 2015 congress. This year, the congress focused on property rights. Commercial farmers could not be expected to function as an instrument of their own demise in the name of a corrupt democracy, he said. “One cannot speak about land without speaking about food. It’s easy to talk about it in parliament, but it’s about one issue: is there food on the table?” he said. Legislation that eroded the principle of private property rights in South Africa undermined the agricultural sector’s ability to contribute to job creation and would ultimately jeopardise food security, a congress press release…

Tree health experts are collaborating with industry partners to determine the spread and host range of what has been described as a “very serious pathogen” on commercially grown eucalyptus tree species in South Africa. For the first time in the country, symptoms of destructans leaf blight caused by Teratosphaeria destructans (formerly Kirramyces destructans) have been noted on E.grandis x E. urophylla hybrid clones in a clone screening trial in KwaZulu-Natal’s Zululand area. “The disease is now known to be present in an area stretching from Mtubatuba to Kwambonambi [in Zululand],” said Izette Greyling, forest entomology extension officer for the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP) and Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) at the University of Pretoria. Greyling described symptoms of destructans leaf blight as chlorotic or yellow lesions…

August tractor sales of 507 units were 12% lower than the 579 units reportedly sold in August last year, according to a press release by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA). On a year-to-date basis, sales were approximately 9% down on last year. August combine harvester sales of 15 units were significantly down on the 25 units sold in August last year. On a year-to-date basis, combine harvester sales were approximately 40% down on last year. Despite sales for the first eight months of the year being significantly down compared with last year, the market attitude remained positive. Early general rain helped a lot in this regard, the release stated, with summer crop farmers preparing for the forthcoming season. Potential buyers would do well to bring forward their buying…

Afasa’s fourth national AGM and conference will be held from 25 to 27 October at the St George’s Hotel and Conference Centre, Pretoria. Afasa board chairperson Tshianeo Mathidi will give the welcoming address. Highlights on 25 October will be Afasa president Mike Mlengana’s presidential report, while Aggrey Mahanjana, Afasa secretary-general will deliver an operational report. A social function will be held at 7pm, when Gauteng premier David Makhura will give the welcome address. A WIDE VARIETY OF GUEST SPEAKERS Highlights on 26 October will include a message of support from Evelyn Nguleka, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation in Rome, and an address by agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana. Other speakers on the day will include Prof Ferdi Meyer, director of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy; Colleen Magner, managing…

It’s one of the buzzwords currently in favour: we hear a lot about mentoring taking place between commercial and smaller farmers. I have learnt the hard way that ‘business coaching’ is less about the wisdom you have to impart than the relationship you establish with those you mentor. And I have often wondered how successful farmers’ mentorship programmes really are. Little comprehensive information is available on the subject, but what I have found and what anecdotal evidence I have gathered myself seems to indicate the failure of administered mentoring programmes may be even higher than we think. There may be many reasons for this, but to my mind there are two fundamental problems. Firstly, as with all coaches, the relationship between the mentor and trainee is crucial. Think about the…

Assassin bugs belong to the family Reduviidae, the largest in the order Hemiptera with about 7 000 species. Of these, 450 are found in South Africa. While many assassin bugs are little more than a few millimetres in length, a few can be exceptionally large, reaching about 4cm. Many are winged and capable of flight. As predatory insects go, assassin bugs are fearsome and voracious hunters justly deserving of their name. They are highly agile, respond quickly to movement and are ever on the lookout for the next meal. Most assassin bugs either lie in wait to ambush prey, or actively run it down with a series of jerky sprints. When they detect prey in reasonable range, they grasp it with a pair of jack-knife limbs. These have small ‘adhesive’…

The manager of Elgin Orchards, Neil Read, is one of the Western Cape’s fruit producers who have found Kubota tractors ideal for orchard operations. “We use the front-mount option for moving our apple bins and Kubota has made a palpable difference to my operation in terms of efficiency and bottom line savings,” he says. “We bought Kubota tractors primarily because their wet multi-plate shuttle clutch technology facilitates manoeuvring and has a much longer life than dry clutch systems. We found that other transmission systems suffer undue downtime during the harvest season.” UNIQUE FRONT AXLE According to Kubota technical specialist Mike Heath, the company’s tractors, specifically the M7040N and M8540N models, are particularly well suited to front-mount operation because of the unique front axle and transmission. The axle has a level…

Gerhard van Aswegen of Krugersdorp was introduced to pigeon racing by his father-in-law during the early years of this century. He now owns GJT Lofts and races with the Noordheuwel Racing Pigeon Club, one of nine clubs under the banner of the strong West Rand Racing Pigeon Association (WRRPA). GJT Lofts has invested in pigeon families such as De Rauw Sablon, C & G Koopman, Jef, and Luc & Nadia Houben, which meet top performance criteria. A large portion of the original local prime stock was made up of the established SA lines of Ds Gert Painter & Son, who produced the winner of the 2001 Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race and whose pigeons form the base of the Tom Lock line in South Africa. In 2011, in partnership…

To make feta and broccoli lasagne for six diners, you will need: • 500g lasagne sheets• 800g broccoli• 400g feta cheese• 60g butter• Zest of half a lemon• 75g Parmesan cheese For the white sauce: • 35g white flour• 400ml full cream milk• 60g butter• Salt and pepper to taste• Grated nutmeg (optional) The only big deal here is the white sauce. This is a basic of many recipes, so it’s well worth your while to add it to your kitchen skill set. Select a small saucepan and over a gentle heat melt the butter. Do not let it turn brown as this will negatively affect taste and appearance. With the kitchen tool of your choice (a ball whisk is mine), mix the flour with the butter. Keeping up your high-revving whisking action, add milk a little at a time until…

Tumeric contains only a few nutrients: small amounts of manganese, iron, copper, potassium and Vitamin B6. Its health qualities are entirely due to curcumin, which gives the spice its characteristic bright orange-yellow colour. Researchers believe curcumin has an anti-oxidant effect in the bowel and inhibits a major cellular inflammatory agent. So, if you suffer from bowel problems, consider consuming turmeric in moderate quantities by eating curried dishes to which turmeric has been added, or consuming the drink mentioned in the previous article (FW, 11 September). (Curry mixes do contain turmeric, but the amount is too small to be of benefit.) RELIEF FOR JOINT DISEASES Thanks to its strong anti-oxidant action, curcumin can also help sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. This condition produces free radicals, which are responsible for painful joint inflammation…

The slim, lithe man sitting across the desk from the captain of military intelligence had come to Roberts Heights, Pretoria, to volunteer his services in the war against the Kaiser. The captain was suspicious, though, and cross-questioned him. A highly unusual story emerged. Pieter Pretorius was brought up on the family farm in the Nylstroom district of the then Northern Transvaal. At the age of 16, he went up to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) as a transport rider for the British South Africa Company. In 1893, he joined the British South African Police. Six years later, he left to become a professional hunter. When the First World War broke out, Pretorius was farming in Tanganyika, the UK-ruled territory in German East Africa. His land was commandeered after he refused to hand it…