Table of contents for 25-Sep 2015 in Farmer's Weekly

The agriculture department is insulting the many hardworking, successful and deserving female farmers in South Africa by saying that Hlengiwe Hlophe is the best commercial female farmer we have. This year, she has been awarded more than R500 000 in prize money, after first being named the top commercial female farmer in KwaZulu-Natal and later winning the national title in this category in the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) Female Entrepreneur Awards. After publishing the results of the awards, a Farmer’s Weekly reader alerted us to disturbing allegations of animal neglect on her farm. An investigation (see full story on pg 16 & 17) by Farmer’s Weekly found that on visits to the farm in 2013 and 2014, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty…

Farmers in the Swartland are desperately awaiting rain to save this year’s grain harvest. Nico Mouton, who farms near Piekenierskloof, north of Darling, told Farmer’s Weekly that rainfall had been highly erratic this year. While one farm would receive 20mm of rain at a time, neighbouring farms would receive only 10mm. Dry easterly winds were also exacerbating conditions in these areas. Up to now, Mouton had received only 123mm of rain while his seasonal average was 250mm. “It’s not too late. If we receive rain within the next week, farmers might be able to recover some of their production costs,” he said. André Kristen, who farms at Oranjefontein near Darling, confirmed the dismal prospects for grain, especially in regions with lighter sandy soils. He said it was still too early…

Gerald Müller, managing director of Capespan Continent, recently stepped down from his position. Müller, who has worked at the fresh produce company for about 20 years, resigned to explore new opportunities, according to a press release. He will, however, continue his involvement with Capespan in an advisory and consultancy capacity. Capespan Fruit CEO, Leon van Biljon, said that handover arrangements would be dealt with shortly from within the wider skills base of the group to facilitate a seamless and uninterrupted continuation of business.…

A former farm worker has painted a dire picture of how he was allegedly forced to resign from his job on Ukwanda. Speaking exclusively to Farmer’s Weekly, the farm worker, who declined to be named fearing reprisals, claimed he had been bullied and victimised by Hlengiwe Hlophe’s husband, Mike Mjiyakho, manager of the 80ha farm. This was as a result of the farm worker continually insisting that something be done to address the poor state in which the pigs were forced for live. The farm worker, who only worked in the piggery section, told Farmer’s Weekly that animals on the farm sometimes had to go without food for weeks. “I would raise these issues with Mjiyakho but nothing would be done,” he said. He said he had also informed Hlophe,…

While the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Stellenbosch University (SU) have been working together for many years, they have now formalised this partnership with a memorandum of agreement. According to the agreement, staff from the department would mentor postgraduate students and give them access to research farms. In addition, students would be offered internships through the department’s Young Professional Persons programme. In return, the department would have access to SU’s resources and staff. The university is currently working on a new climate change response plan, SmartAgri, on behalf of the department. Alan Winde, minister of Economic Development in the Western Cape, said at the signing ceremony that it was government’s goal to create an environment in which to foster economic growth and unlock new job opportunities, but it could…

The Cold Storage Company (CSC), a beef processing parastatal in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, that once exported to the European Union, had all but collapsed and was operating at only 10% capacity. President Robert Mugabe’s controversial land seizure campaign which started in 2000, had depleted the CSC cattle herd from 10 000 in 2000 to 792 at present, according to the company. Mismanagement, corruption, recurrent cattle diseases and lack of capital had also contributed to the collapse. CSC owned four abattoirs in Masvingo, Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Bulawayo but only two remained operational after the other two were apparently vandalised, management at the Bulawayo-based company told a visiting parliamentary portfolio committee recently. Of the 8 533 head of cattle on its farms, 7 741 were owned by farmers leasing farms from the parastatal,…

Reaching out to Kwanalu has proved to be a wise move for the Future Farmer Foundation, which has unlocked almost R10,4 million in government funding as a result of the partnership. “The relationship between Kwanalu and Future Farmers is really exciting. Kwanalu represents the farmers and together we can achieve so much more,” said Future Farmer founder Judy Stuart. Stuart approached Kwanalu last year for financial assistance. Together, they applied to AgriSeta for a grant of R397 866 to fund a work experience programme for 15 young farmers through the Future Farmer 15 (FF15) programme. AgriSeta then offered a further R10 million for a Work Integrated Learning 200 (WIL200) programme, which will pay the stipend of 200 graduates. The programmes are designed to place young aspiring farmers in real jobs…

Kwanalu held its 17th annual congress at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg on 10 September. Andy Buchan, a strawberry farmer from Greytown, replaced Mike Black as president for 2015/2016. His two vice-chairpersons are Black and Phenias Gumede. “The road ahead will be arduous but I’m confident in the strong team that we have at Kwanalu,” said Buchan. The 2015 KZN Young Farmer of the Year award was given to Tongaat sugarcane farmer Anthony Goble at the event.…

Biotechnology uses techniques, often described as ‘unnatural’, to insert useful genes into a target plant crop. A recent discovery of bacterial genes in sweet potato has shown that transgenes arose during natural development and domestication over a thousand years ago. Most modern GM employs a plant crown gall bacterium, Agrobacterium, which has been ‘disarmed’ by deleting genes that control its pathogenic nature. It also uses the naturally present microscopic circular pieces of DNA, called plasmids, inside bacterial cells, as vectors to convey desired genes. These plasmids have had their DNA reconstructed to contain the desired gene, and when they are released into plants, the desired gene may be incorporated into a few of the plant cells’ DNA. Historically, many plants have undergone gene duplication, chromosome doubling or loss of genes…

A Farmer’s Weekly reader and his wife recently purchased a smallholding just outside of Pretoria and intend retiring there. They will live permanently on the property and establish a guest farm. They would also like to sell fresh produce from the farm. This will not be their only income – they will draw a monthly pension and money from other interests. They have several financial queries, the most important of which are the following: what will they be paying tax on, and do they need to register a business? The property is not a going concern at present. Firstly, the improvements that will be necessary to bring the holding up to full production will be capital sums and cannot be claimed against tax, but the money spent can be used…

The RPO will host the spit braai competition at the Stella Beesfees on 24 October, and will appoint the judges for the event. The Stella Beesfees is a community event that aims to make a difference in the lives of members of the community. At the same time, the festival promotes red meat, specifically lamb and mutton. Mutton SA is now involved in the competition, which was launched last year and has proved highly successful. Exciting prizes, donated by the RPO, will be up for grabs for the top three competitors. Approximately 100 teams will take part in the competition. Entrants will include large companies as well as farmers. Singer Riana Nel will perform during the competition. It is hoped that a small-scale trauma centre will be established at the…

HEIFER SECTION SHEEP SECTION CONTACTS: Boet and Hannetjie Landman: 072 602 7215 | Jacques Joubert: 082 855 8063 Izak Nel and GP Nel: 082 789 7715 | Jannie Joubert: 082 689 0777…

As always, the Nedbank Eston Show was well-attended and served as a showcase for a number of interesting and useful items of agricultural machinery: 1 Remlinger four-row PST strip till unit The latest PST ‘strip builder’ models reflect improvements inspired by feedback from many satisfied customers. The PST creates residue-free planting strips with better soil aeration. It can apply granular or liquid fertiliser. 2 John Deere 5090EH Hi-clear This tractor is powered by the John Deere PowerTech 4045T 4,5 litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine rated at 67kW. Front axle ground clearance is 777mm. 3 JCB 1CX skidsteer with back-hoe The 600kg capacity JCB 1CX is the smallest model in the JCB backhoe-loader range. It can turn on its own axis to work in confined spaces. Full servo-controlled hydrostatic transmission enables the…

Controlling wheelspin while driving off-road is one of those skills that set experts apart from beginners. The aim is to reduce wheel spin as much as possible, because it’s natural to assume that when you get spin you lose traction. I recently discovered that this is not completely true. A small amount of spin will actually improve traction. I came across this difficult-to-believe idea when I visited a farming friend and paged through the owner’s manual that came with his new tractor. The handbook stated that a farmer should measure the amount of wheelspin on his tractor while working at a regular task and then adjust the weight distribution and/ or tyre pressure of the tractor to achieve the ideal percentage of spin for a specific soil type. On a…

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” At the present time, we’re living in a very sensitive period in our beloved South Africa. We cannot afford to make mistakes, whether they be economic or political. We need to get direction from God. Right now, for example, you might feel totally lost, but God assures you today that you are not lost, even though the journey may seem long. You are not on the wrong road – so long as you trust Him with all your heart. You need to keep to the course Jesus has designed for you. It might seem pointless at the moment,…

IN OUR OWN SKINS by Richard van der Ross (Jonathan Ball, R210) This book’s cover picture apparently makes an elegantly witty comment on the title. But it also underlines the subtitle, ‘A political history of the Coloured people’, as it shows Allan Hendrickse’s protest swim at a Port Elizabeth whites-only beach in 1987. Van der Ross was briefly a member of the Western Cape Legislature in 1994 and later South Africa’s ambassador to Spain and Andorra. He concentrates on the disenfranchised period, from the beginning of the 20th century until 1994. The British 1909 South Africa Act, which created the Union of South Africa, paved the way for apartheid, removing what limited representation nonwhites had. Attempts at accommodating coloured constitutional demands within the apartheid administration are then outlined. Given the…

16 MARCH 2001 From triumph to doom 14 YEARS AGO It was with great regret that South Africa’s farming community learnt of the liquidation of the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, home of the Rand Easter Show for more than a century. The society owed millions of rands which it could not repay. Here are excerpts from a report that appeared in our issue of the above date. “The society has been struggling financially for some time, but perhaps the most crippling blow that finally brought it to its knees was struck a short while ago when one of its creditors, the Johannesburg City Council, disconnected electricity and water supplies to its huge exhibition centre south of the city in an effort to recover debts for rates and services. The amount owed…

Africa’s agricultural sector could become a US$1 trillion (R13,9 trillion) industry by 2030, according to a new World Bank report, “Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness”. However, to achieve this, farmers and agribusinesses need more investment and better support structures such as access to capital, electricity and technology. Aggrey Mahanjana, secretary-general of the African Farmers’ Association of SA (Afasa), said that compared with the rest of the continent, this country underperformed in terms of support for developing farmers. “South Africa has money to support farmers and we should be the best in Africa, but support initiatives are poorly managed and implemented as well as inconsistent,” he said. Countries such as Zimbabwe did a better job of implementing and monitoring feed and fertiliser schemes, he added. According to the report,…

Rising concern about animal welfare is driving a demand for free-range meat across the world. However, at the Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, held recently in Cape Town, it emerged that free-range did not always mean better animal welfare or more efficient production, compared with modern production systems. Dr Stephen Lister from Crowshall Veterinary Services in the UK said that there was lack of measurable standards by which animal welfare could be gauged. This problem resulted in the perception that animals were better off in an environment that closely resembled their natural habitat compared with mass-producing systems where animals were supplied with feed, water and shelter. “Who is to determine whether ‘wild’ is better than animals sheltered from the elements?” Lister said. Various other delegates referred to the…

By improving biosecurity between and on production premises, South Africa has the ability to achieve a Newcastle disease free-status, according to Prof Celia Abolnik from the Faculty of Veterinary Studies at the University of Pretoria. She was speaking at the Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association that took place in Cape Town recently. These improved biosecurity measures should incorporate measures to improve the regulation of the spent hen industry, she said. This market was a threat to biosecurity as cull buyers bought up to a thousand birds at a time from a farm. These birds were usually then moved to a central depot where they were mixed and marketed to hawkers who sold them as live birds for the pot. “The problem is that Newcastle disease is a highly…

Angola and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have entered into an agreement to finance the Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture Project (AFAP) in the central-north Angolan provinces of Bengo, Cuanza Norte, Luanda and Malange. The agreement consists of a US$11,1 million (R152 million) loan from IFAD and a US$1 million (R13,85 million) contribution from the Angolan government, according to IFAD. The project aims to reduce poverty in artisanal inland fishing and small-scale fish-farming households, improve food security and nutrition, promote inclusive and sustainable development, and support management of inland fisheries and small-scale aquaculture.…

KwaZulu-Natal has been severely affected by drought, with eight out of 10 districts suffering serious drought and extensive losses. With no sign of disaster relief from government, agriculture needed to look at different ways of dealing with disasters, said Kwanalu CEO Sandy La Marque at the union’s annual congress recently. “Our participation in assessments and our lobbying efforts appear to have fallen on deaf ears. The national and KZN departments of agriculture have not bothered to show any true intention of how we are going to resolve the situation.” While Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) had awarded hundreds of millions of rands to drought relief, that money had not been utilised for agriculture. “Agriculture needs to look at new ways to better manage disasters if government funding is not…

Neosporosis is a reproduction disease in cattle transmitted by the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum. This parasite was formerly incorrectly identified and classified as Toxoplasma gondii. Dogs and other meat-eating animals, including jackals, are the final (definitive) hosts of the parasite. Neosporosis causes abortion in cattle and other species such as goats, sheep, horses and dogs. It is the cause of more than 10% of abortions amongst these animals in the UK. The disease is distributed worldwide. DISTRIBUTION AND DISEASE SIGNS Neosporosis occurs in both beef and dairy cattle. Abortion is the only disease sign visible in an infected mature cow, and some cows that abort may do so again. The incidence of abortion in a herd may vary from 5% to 30%. Cows of any age may abort between the…

To what extent is the Boer goat industry important for SA agriculture? South Africa is not a very agriculture-friendly country. Its northern neighbours have a much more favourable climate. Large areas of the country receive an average annual rainfall of less than 400mm, which is classified as a semi-arid environment. The Boer goat is bred to thrive under extensive livestock farming conditions in hot, arid environments where the quality of grazing is poor. The breed has the ability to convert poor-quality forage into meat at a very low cost, enabling livestock farmers in these arid areas to farm commercially. Cultural practices among black and Indian communities provide a steady market for live slaughter Boer goats, with KwaZulu-Natal being by far the largest market for Boer goats. South Africa imports large…

South African retailer, Pick n Pay, has also weathered a few tough years, with the company posting a 18% full year profit decline in 2011. This was according to Paulo Peereboom, Pick n Pay’s head of merchandise and supply chain, speaking at the PMA Fresh Connections Conference. Peereboom says that SA consumers are still highly price-sensitive. “People in South Africa like to say they are brand-loyal, but this only applies until there is a discount.” He adds that there is a big difference between retail trends in First World countries and those in developing countries. “In First World countries, people have the luxury to live to eat. Here in South Africa, people are eating so that they can live. Overseas trends are therefore not always applicable to what is happening…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: New Zealand steers and cows traded flat at NZ$583/head and NZ$383/head respectively. US beef traded mostly lower: topside traded lower at US$268,77/cwt, rump higher at US$461,42/cwt, strip loin lower at US$621,59/cwt, chuck lower at US$286,13/cwt, brisket slightly lower at US$260,36/cwt, and the carcass price was US$352,07/cwt. According to a US Department of Agriculture world supply and demand report, beef production declined as a result of a lower slaughter rate in the third quarter. Domestic: Local prices increased. The various meat classes traded as follows: Class A prices increased 0,26% to R35,05/kg, Class B increased 3,35% to R31,12/kg, and Class C increased 6,92% to R30,27/kg. Weaner prices were slightly lower at R20,02/kg. Hide prices were slightly lower at R12,07/kg as supply continues to outstrip demand worldwide.…

Corrie de Vos moved to his 2 324ha farm near Ermelo in 1997 and two years later established his Riccor Charolais Stud. He initially had 180 stud cows but reduced them to 100 as there was not enough demand for stud animals in his area. He also runs 400 commercial cows. “A Charolais bull adds value to other breeds as a sire line, not a dam line,” he says. “A Charolais bull will add 30kg to the terminal slaughter weaners of any other breed such as the Brahman.” Corrie used Charolais bulls on commercial Brahman females specifically for this purpose. In addition to contributing hardiness, the Brahman also increases parasite resistance to the offspring. But Corrie admits that with the Brahman, even the cows can be challenging to handle and…

Farmers who are concerned with both profitability and sustainability should strive to reduce their reliance on farm chemicals, and instead enhance the natural resilience of their crops. The goal is to produce a plant with a strong immune system that requires less chemical intervention, benefiting the environment and the farmer’s bank account. This is the opinion of Graeme Sait, CEO of Australian company Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS). “Crop resilience is intimately related to the quality and yield of the crop,” says Sait. “There’s no substance that boosts plant immunity that does not also boost yield and crop quality. In this context, pursuing increased resilience is a win-win approach for the grower. “However, there’s no magic bullet for achieving crop resilience.” Improving crop resilience involves an integrated five-pronged approach, which includes a…

Healthy ‘living’ soil can contain up to 15t/ha of bacteria, actinomycetes, protozoa, algae, fungi, nematodes, earthworms and arthropods. Each group, and each species within each group, has different functions, and scientists are still trying to understand these and the huge number of interactions that take place. A single teaspoon of soil may contain up to six billion microbes of 30 000 species. The number of organisms and thus their ratio to one another change constantly as soil conditions change. The relative populations are closely associated with the organic status of the soil, the climate and soil management. Tilled soil tends to have more bacteria, while untilled soil has more fungi. Bacteria prefer simpler carbon compounds as food, whereas fungi can digest the cellulose and lignin found in hard stalks and…

At some time in your life you are likely to be challenged by an aggressive dog that threatens to bite you. Should this happen, never do the following: • Panic or try to stare the dog down – this will be viewed as aggressive behaviour by the canine; • Raise your arms and hands. Many dogs view this as attacking behaviour; • Turn to run away. This will cause the dog to chase, as its predatory instinct kicks in. A big dog can even bowl you over after hitting you high on your back, and then you’ll be in trouble. When approached by a vicious dog, try to do the following: • Stay motionless while bracing yourself properly – many dogs try to knock you off your feet when they…

To feed four gloriously indulged diners with twice-cooked pork belly, you will need: • 1kg pork belly• 15g salt• 8 cloves garlic• 14 spring onions• 40mm fresh root ginger (see surreal peeling advice)• 20ml Old Brown Sherry• 20ml soy sauce• 25ml Hoisin sauce• 1 bunch fresh coriander (dhania)• 5g Sichuan peppercorns• 50ml peanut oil Firstly, some notes on supplies and substitutes. Hoisin sauce is available from major supermarkets. Mrs Ball’s Chutney (with chilli) is an unorthodox but workable alternative. Sichuan peppercorns can be found in specialist food shops where they are sometimes labelled Sichuan berries. Peanut oil is first choice, but a teaspoon of peanut butter mixed with warm sunflower or canola oil makes an admirable workaround. The pork belly must be fresh (that is, not smoked) and in one piece. Let’s begin. Peel the ginger with a teaspoon. This is…

Narcolepsy is a neurological disease that causes you to be completely (and unnaturally) overcome by sleepiness during the day – sometimes even when you have had a good night’s sleep. This can happen at inconvenient times, such as at work, in meetings, waiting in a queue or, worse, when driving a car. Narcolepsy can appear at any stage in life from about 15 years of age upwards. What is really happening is that the normal control of sleep and wakefulness in the brain is affected. This kind of behaviour is often mistaken for laziness and is sometimes wrongly associated with mental illness. The only way to obtain a proper diagnosis is to arrange for an overnight stay at a sleep laboratory: professionals will check if your night-time sleep cycle is…

“We can surely say that the modern Merino has come of age and matured into a highly efficient converter of grass, pasture or Karoo bossieveld, into a well-balanced mix of meat, wool (fibre) and reproduction,” Julian Southey, outgoing president of Merino SA said at the recent annual general meeting. Reproduction and ewe productivity are two key elements deserving more and more attention, as this is where the profitability of Merino enterprises lies. “We can expect to see a lot more focus in this regard in future,” Southey said. After a worryingly dry summer the previous season, most regions received good rain during autumn and winter. The high wool price, currently at around R130/kg (clean), along with good meat prices, have therefore resulted in a rise in demand for Merino breeding…

A little appreciation goes a long way. So thank you to Agri North West’s vice-president, Daan van der Merwe, for his positive attitude towards the agricultural writers of South Africa. The fact that he thanked us from the podium at the recent Agri North West congress, and that his thanks was applauded by the delegates, came like a breath of fresh air. It underscored the fact that the agricultural media was doing something right. We have not given up on objectivity and thorough investigative reporting. There are no holy cows or political correctness in good journalism, but that does not take anything away from our dedication to the agricultural sector in its many facets. We want to see the industry flourish, profit margins increase and a just and fair policy…

Maize stover can be successfully incorporated in ruminant rations. It has high nutritional value and is widely used by livestock producers in South Africa’s summer rainfall regions. It is used as an additional feed source for herds and flocks during winter when the natural grazing nutritional value is low. This picture, taken in the Ventersburg district, shows a stud SA Mutton Merino flock grazing the stover from the 2014/2015 maize harvest. It is estimated that 25% of stover disintegrates naturally while 25% is ploughed back into the soil. The rest remains as feed for the animals. About 5,5% comprises of grain kernels and 94% is raw fodder. Maize stover has a low protein and high fibre content. The digestible organic material in good winter grazing is between 50% and 53%…

The South African livestock industry recently experienced an upsurge in livestock theft which amounted to millions of rands, according to Willie Clack, chairperson of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NWGA). The most recent statistics were not yet available, but R509 million had been lost to livestock theft in the 2013/2014 period, he said. Goats to the value of R43 million, sheep to the value of R100 million and cattle to the value of R366 million were stolen during that period. “Noncompliance by role players in the red meat industry added to the increase in stock theft,” he said in a statement. Animals that were not properly marked, as legally required, contributed markedly, according to him. The Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002) provided for the compulsory marking of…

Hlengiwe Hlophe won the DAFF Top Entrepreneur: Commercial Female Farmer of the Year for KwaZulu-Natal this year, receiving R300 000 in prize money. On 27 August, Hlophe was also named the national winner in this category, winning an additional R250 000. Minister Senzeni Zokwana’s spokesperson, Bomikazi Molapo, said that neither the provincial nor national winners had yet received their prize money. “At provincial level, it depends on the procurement processes of each province in processing the payment. This includes filling in vendor/ beneficiary maintenance forms in the system and verification thereof. “The prize money in the six categories for national winners was paid by Total South Africa and payment was normally made in October. The same process of registration and verification applies,” Molapo said. DAFF’s adjudication process for the awards…

Animal health company, Merial, has produced an effervescent tablet form of its traditional Newcastle disease vaccine. The product, Avinew NeO, was launched globally at the Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association in Cape Town. Instead of having to extract the vaccine with a syringe from a vial, the producer simply removes the tablet from its aluminium foil packaging and places it in water. The drive behind the development was to improve application efficiency, according to Jérôme Baudon, head of the avian business unit at Merial. “Most of the time, when we hear of outbreaks in vaccinated birds, it’s because the vaccines weren’t used correctly,” he said. “The effervescent pill helps to significantly reduce this challenge, as it contains the whole dosage and is much easier to use.” The new…

After 1000 years of exemption from climate change treaty, the Montreal Protocol, strawberry growers in the US have to start complying with its pesticide requirements, Chemical & Engineering News reported. This was a major concern for farmers, who use methyl bromide as there are no suitable replacements on the market. Methyl bromide is a fumigant that is sprayed on lands before planting to kill off pests such as mites, insects and fungus. This would pose a significant challenge to the strawberry industry in that country as major diseases that have been suppressed for years could return. Farmers had been using methyl bromide since 1961, but in 1990 the Montreal Protocol mandated farmers to stop by 2005 because of its ozone-destroying properties. Several government exemptions allowed farmers to continue using the…

The 7th annual Aldam Stockman’s School, to be held from 14 to 16 October near Ventersburg in the Free State, will focus on reproduction and meat quality. The school is considered to be the leading stockman’s training event for beginner, commercial and seedstock producers in Africa. International speakers Prof Bob Weaber, associate professor at the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University in the US, and Christian Duff, beef production expert from Australia, will be presenting an international perspective. Talks on genetics and management, selection for fertility, understanding genomic principles, physiology and nutrition in the cow herd, as well as practical sessions on cow selection, meat quality, dehorning, kraal setup, veld management, and financial management are some of the aspects that will be addressed. Prof Mohammad Karaan,…

Commercial farmers are proposing inflation-coupled wage increases for the next three years for farm workers. The Department of Labour is currently reviewing the industry’s sectoral determination, which governs conditions of employment and wages. Free State Agriculture (FSA) and Potatoes South Africa (PSA), among other industry stakeholders, have submitted proposals to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant that inflation-coupled wage increases should be implemented for the next three years due to a downturn in the economy. FSA wanted government to develop a system of categorisation of job descriptions within the agriculture sectoral determination and ensure the profitability and international competitiveness of the sector as a whole. Dr André Jooste, CEO of PSA, said that his organisation agreed with FSA. He cited an increase in input costs and a decline in real market prices…

Fruit is commonly thinned out in orchards to reduce competition and thus produce larger fruit. The practice also helps to regulate annual bearing. The process can be carried out by hand or mechanically, but chemical thinning, which saves labour costs and is much faster, is effective only for pome fruit (apples and pears). Successful chemical thinning of stone fruit has proved elusive. Now scientists at Stellenbosch University (SU), in collaboration with Philagro SA, are researching chemical thinning of stone fruit, and developing a growth regulator to reduce fruit set in plum and peach orchards. South Africa is at the forefront of this research, says Prof Karen Theron of the university’s horticultural science department, explaining that scientists have been working on the problem for two years. Thus far, her department has…

Peruvian economist Hernandez De Soto puts it well: “The core of the capitalist system, as I understand it, is that it is essentially a legal property system.” Individual property rights include such diverse rights as the right to intellectual property, mineral resources, water, urban properties and farmland. Property rights are never absolute. They are limited by public interest and can be expropriated in the name of national interest. This is true in most countries. Governments can and do expropriate land for the purpose of developing infrastructure or other uses that are in the public interest. Before 1994 in South Africa, farmland was expropriated and added to the ‘homelands’. By 1986, an estimated 17,6 million hectares of land had been bought by government for this purpose. These days, property rights are…

DITHOLO GAME LODGE Escape the stresses of city life by reconnecting with nature at stunning Ditholo Lodge, surrounded by indigenous bush that’s home to a rich selection of Africa’s wildlife, including more than 250 bird species. The resident family of hippos at the renowned waterhole can be viewed up close from the safety of the lodge. Easily accessible from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, Ditholo Lodge is set in a malaria-free wildlife estate with more than 1 100ha of intact wilderness. After a perfect day of game viewing, birdwatching or simply unwinding, enjoy a pre-dinner drink at the Lakeside Bar or indulge in a sundowner on our unique elevated viewing deck. Then move on to the authentic bush lodge restaurant complete with lounge area overlooking the swimming pool. Traditional boma dinners…

Although Simply Bee was established in 2011, its roots lie in the gift of a single beehive as a wedding gift in the 1950s. “My grandfather gave my father a beehive to put honey on the table because he thought he was too poor to buy jam,” says Simply Bee founder Helena van der Westhuizen. That hive grew to 50 hives and a beekeeping hobby, and then in 1994, turned into a full-time beekeeping business. The lifetime of beekeeping knowledge was then handed down to Helena’s husband, Pierre, in 2008, and Simply Bee took flight. SMALL BEGINNINGS “I have an unusually sensitive skin,” says Helena. “So I started researching propolis, beeswax and honey, and making concoctions in the kitchen. Pierre laughed but I told him I was going to make…

POULTRY BEST-OF-BREED CONTACTS: Frans Koch: 082 620 1313 | Raingopal Pillay: 039 979 4883 | Jeremy Goble: 082 938 2161 Jon Alison: 083 660 0602 | Faith Matel: 031 785 1676 | Carin van Straten: 082 382 0017…

Fresh produce markets and their agents face a multitude of challenges and it’s inevitable that comment on the market floor will be vociferous. Moreover, the ‘negativity brigade’ will always seem to be the loudest. But hidden among the horror stories – some true, some not – is always a thread of positivity. The problem is, the ‘positivity brigade’ have a much more difficult task when spreading their message. People listen but often slip back to holding their negative perceptions. Perhaps the positive stories are not as juicy as the negative ones; perhaps people simply like to feed off negativity. You only have to follow the news to hear all the negativity your heart desires. It’s a sad reflection on human nature. PLENTY OF GOOD NEWS There are numerous examples of…

In the heat of summer, dog droppings become even more unpleasant than usual. They also become a prime attraction for flies, increasing the danger of spreading disease. This means they have to be collected and disposed of safely and regularly. The Pet Flush, a simple yet ingenious and effective device, has been on the market for some years. It is basically a funnel-shaped orifice with a hinged protective cap that fits onto the corner fitting in the 90° bend in the 110mm exterior toilet drain plumbing. Open the cap, put the droppings into the funnel where they fall down into the drain, and close the cap again. A hole in the lock stub even takes a small padlock to prevent unauthorised opening and tampering with the system. Not that many…

Sheared heels are asymmetrical: one heel is higher than the other. A horse with crooked legs or poor joint angles will have feet that wear unevenly and one side of the hoof will therefore have a different shape to the other. This makes the animal a prime candidate for sheared heels. Sheared heels can also be triggered by pain higher up the leg, in the shoulder or even the wither, in the forequarter or in the hind leg. This can cause the leg to move unnaturally and result in the hoof landing badly. Sometimes, poor trimming and shoeing (leaving the sides or heels of the foot uneven and out of balance) or neglect (bare feet growing too long), combined with one side of the long foot breaking off, will create…

Dear Jonno I need your help as I would like to build several one- and two-bedroom flats on a 1ha piece of land. I would like these to be double-storey flats with a modern, attractive design. They should have an open-plan kitchen and sitting room, a bathroom with a shower, a toilet and a small porch or balcony. Please could you draw a concept for me so that I can visualise how these would look once completed? Regards Thandi Dear Thandi Thank you for the request for the let-table one- and two-bedroom units. In the sketch, I have shown the units to be compact but comfortable. These can easily be enlarged proportionately to suit your anticipated lessees. The perspective view shows the single and double bedrooms alongside each other. These…

As described last week, the Roux family of Ramah Farm on the banks of the Orange River uses Hydra Sensor Technologies and Probe Schedule software to control irrigation on their pecan lands. The probes form an ‘intelligent mesh network’ to communicate with the farmer by a GSM/ SIM card or by wireless where there is no network. Probe Schedule makes use of weather data and crop coefficients for more accurate scheduling and better water use. Systems such as this are becoming more common as the cost of electricity forces farmers to use power more efficiently, says Bob Roux. VARIABLE FREQUENCY In the past, all motors ran at maximum speed using a great deal of energy. Taps or gate valves were used to reduce flow (volume delivered). Now, variable frequency drive…

JOHN STRETTON John Stretton from Strydfontein, Molteno, started his career in 1977 when he was appointed manager of the newly-formed nucleus flock of the Stormberg Merino Group. He was also instrumental in the formation and running of Top Tier Merino Stud in 1984 (the link flock for eight Merino groups). In 1984, he was elected to Merino SA’s performance test committee and became chairperson of the performance test division in 1986. In 1991, he motivated the abolition of the existing two divisions within the society, with one class of membership for one breed, the Merino. Stretton was then elected chairperson of the newly-formed technical committee and served on the council until 1995. He served as president of Merino SA from 1999 until 2005. In that year, he received the Eastern…