Table of contents for 09-Oct 2015 in Farmer's Weekly

Last month, I spent two days in Milan, Italy, with farmers and journalists from all over the world. The event was part of a New Holland social media initiative and the campaign centred on 10 farmers who collectively hailed from Italy, Brazil, Russia, Zimbabwe, Canada, Germany, France, China and the UK. Those attending gained a glimpse into the conditions these farmers work in as well as the issues affecting their ability to farm profitably in a manner that limits their environmental footprint as far as possible. The backdrop of these discussions was the Universal Exposition, or Expo Milan 2015, themed, ‘Feed the Planet, Energy for Life’. The experience was highly informative, and two aspects in particular stood out for me. The first was how similar the concerns of these farmers…

Farmer’s Weekly’s regular contributors often receive questions from our readers. In this column, we publish those questions and answers likely to be of general interest to our readers. Horse Talk Q Dear Dr Mac I recently acquired two horses and prepared a paddock for them on our farm near Montagu. Unfortunately, the paddock is not grassed and is really just a dust bowl. I would like to grass it as quickly as possible but have no other safe paddock for the horses while I do it. Should I buy kikuyu lawn strips and try to lay those, which would be very expensive? Alternatively, do I use kikuyu divots and try to get them to spread, or sow some kind of grass seed? I am a total novice when…

Rural dwellers have been urged to place their faith in the fledgling community sector policing plan that enables concerned citizens to become police reservists. Theoretically, sector policing means dividing a district into several geographical areas which are then patrolled and protected by residents. Ideally, each sector will at all times have access to an operational police vehicle and at least one willing, enthusiastic police officer on call. In cases where the general public is committed, this arrangement works quite well. However, this system is often criticised, partly because of a breakdown in communications between many farming communities and local police stations. This stems from an alleged shortage of disciplined and trained police officers. Crime thrives wherever there are weak points in a community. These include isolated farms, quiet roads, and…

Agri Eastern Cape wants to set a precedent by becoming the first agricultural organisation to initiate legal action against a sitting government minister over poor road infrastructure in the province. This follows the organisation taking MEC for roads and public works, Thandiswa Marawu, to the Grahamstown High Court for her department’s failure to maintain farm roads. Agri EC president Ernest Pringle, speaking to Farmer’s Weekly recently, said the province’s farm and district roads had been deteriorating for decades. “Many farmers can’t access their farms without four-wheel drive vehicles and these are main roads,” said Pringle, who has a farm in Bedford. He said the organisation’s 3 000 members had taken it upon themselves to repair farm roads in areas such as Queenstown, Stutterheim, Bedford and Grahamstown, and they wanted the…

The security manager of Illovo Sugar’s Noodsberg Sugar Mill in KwaZulu-Natal, who allegedly shot and killed an alleged protestor at the mill approximately three weeks ago, was reportedly acting in self-defence. This view was concluded following a comprehensive investigation conducted by the company, and supported by video, photographic and testimonial evidence, according to a statement by Illovo Sugar. The company named the shooting victim as Muzwandile Ngcobo and the security manager as Philemon Zondi. Illovo again attributed the unprotected protest action at Noodsberg Sugar Mill, where two motor vehicles were allegedly set alight by the protesters, to disgruntled temporary employees. This view was supported by a statement by the KZN SAPS. “It was ascertained that approximately 100 people [protesters] had gathered. The majority of the strikers were casual employees who…

For the past three years, drought has had a devastating effect in the Molopo region in the North West, according to Nicol Muller, Molopo West District Farmers’ Union chairperson. Muller said that livestock producers and game farmers in the region had suffered serious financial losses. They had to buy in animal feed at exorbitant prices and cut down livestock herds drastically to survive. “We’ve only had isolated showers during the past three years. The extreme temperatures of up to 46°C and depleted soil moisture levels means that we urgently need widespread rains,” he said. The Molopo region included towns such as Bray, Piet Plessis, Vorstershoop, Tosca and Tlakgameng. A survey by Molopo West Districts Farmers’ Union showed that the 24 members of the Agri Tlakgameng Farmers’ Association, for example, each…

At least 12 outbreaks of sheep scab disease have been reported in the Eastern Cape. Farmers were asked to report any suspected case, as required by law. Sheep scab continued to be a challenge that needed to be taken seriously, as it was a controlled disease and as such all outbreaks needed to be reported and dealt with accordingly, said Zoleka Ntondini, manager for animal health at the Eastern Cape agriculture department. “The number of outbreaks may, however, not be conclusive, as some outbreaks may have been dealt with without being reported, especially since some farmers may see their sheep scratching and treat for sheep scab without reporting or confirming the presence of the mite,” she said. Districts reporting cases of the disease included Barkly East, Fort Beaufort, Adelaide, Graaff-Reinet,…

Prof Nick Vink, agricultural economist at Stellenbosch University (SU), has been honoured as the president-elect of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). Vink is chairperson of the SU Department of Agricultural Economics and a previous recipient of the SA Agriculturist of the Year Award. He is an honorary member of the South African and Africa-wide associations of agricultural economics as well as the American Association of Wine Economists. He will serve as the president-elect of the IAAE for the next three years and will take over as president in 2018. The IAAE was founded in 1929 and has already had several Nobel Prize winners in economics in its ranks. It currently has about 1 800 members worldwide. Through its journal, webpage, symposiums and major conferences, the association’s members debate…

Many medicinal products have been extracted from plants. One of these is an anti-cancer chemical from the rare Himalayan mayapple. It is now possible to produce the chemical in other plants and in yeast. Many medicinal compounds to treat pain and cancer or counter diseases have been derived from plants and animals. The impetus for many of these comes from indigenous knowledge in communities. In modern times, the process for identifying and extracting medicinal compounds starts with growing the plant, isolating the chemical and describing its structure and composition, testing it on lab animals, and moving into clinical tests. Eventually, the chemical, after extensive safety assessments, may be registered with authorities and marketed or sold as decoctions. However, continued use of plants in the wild is unsustainable, as occured with…

Foot rot is a transmissible infectious disease that is relatively common in sheep and goats in South Africa. It may also occur in cattle. The Merino and related sheep breeds appear to be more susceptible than mutton breeds such as Romney, but no breed is completely immune. Within each breed, some animals are more resistant than others, and this resistance appears to be hereditary. Resistance is probably related to hoof structure and the degree to which the two claws splay apart as the animal walks. Foot rot is painful and affected sheep are reluctant to walk and forage. This results in depressed weight gain and reduced wool production, which leads to economic loss. Affected sheep are less marketable as they are thin and have deformed claws. CAUSES A co-infection of…

Applicants in the matter of Mark Lifman and Others v SARS and Others (case number 5961/15; judgement delivered on 17 June) in the Western Cape Division of the High Court applied for an interdict to have various orders against them set aside. These were default judgements obtained by SARS under the provisions of Section 172 of the Tax Administration Act, and comprised warrants of execution and attachment of moveable goods. The applicants also sought to halt any further action that might have been taken in terms of the default judgements. They had voluntarily declared various amounts of tax outstanding over a number of years. Payment plans had been agreed to, and security caveats registered against the applicants’ fixed properties. SARS PAYMENT DEADLINE At a meeting in early March 2015, the…

Meat MEAT PRICES MIXED International: New Zealand steers traded flat at NZ$583/head and cows traded slightly lower at NZ$379/head. US beef traded mostly lower: topside traded lower at US$245,18/cwt, rump traded lower at US$398,86/cwt, strip loin traded lower at US$536,23/cwt, chuck traded slightly lower at US$271,37/cwt, brisket traded slightly lower at US$244,31/cwt, and the carcass price was US$317,56/cwt. Although international prices seem to have reached their peak, most Asian markets have remained steady or improved. Domestic: The Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMMA) reported a decline in prices. The forecast prices for the different meat classes were as follows: Class A prices increased 0,43% to R35,10/kg, Class B traded slightly higher at R30,91/kg, and Class C increased 0,40% to R29,88/kg. Weaner prices traded flat at R20,12/kg. Hide prices were slightly lower…

MERINO FLOCK SECTION MERINO STUD SECTION CONTACTS Albert Roodt 071 453 4355 René and Jan van der Walt 082 376 6178 Kotie van Straaten 082 854 3904 Ras and Niel van Pletzen 082 301 9061…

The name ‘mycorrhiza’ (a combination of two Greek words meaning ‘fungus’ and ‘roots’) is unlikely to ring a bell with most farmers as its use has been promoted only recently. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi have a valuable symbiotic relationship with most plants. (There are other types of mycorrhiza, such as an ectomycorrhizal species associated with oak trees that produces truffles.) AM fungi penetrate the plant root but not the cells. They create an enormous ‘root system’, invisible to the naked eye, that supplies nutrients and water to the plant in exchange for sugars (carbon). In other words, AM substantially adds to the root system of plants. AM extracts phosphorus (P) from the soil even when it is in a form which cannot be harvested by the plant’s roots. The lower…

Along thin tail is not very beautiful. Most tails that are long lack volume. Even if you’re not keen on a very long tail, you still want a thick, vibrant tail. All beautiful tails start inside your horse. Biotin is promoted as a supplement for hooves, but it will also help your horse to grow a beautiful mane and tail. A high-fat diet will ensure that your horse’s hair is shiny. Protein encourages good hair growth. Horses are designed for survival. If you feed food low in protein, fat and nutrients, the body will prioritise muscle, bone and the metabolic systems over coat and hooves. Breakage is another cause of short hair. Keep the mane and tail well-conditioned. Avoid conditioners containing alcohol. Natural conditioners will also help to keep the…

Dear Jonno I would like to build a three-bedroom house in Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape, so I kindly need your help. I have attached the existing structures on site. The house, which will be on the east side, should be modern but fit the rural setting, as shown. The roof should be corrugated iron or tiles. I would like the house to be a single-storey with two lounges separate from the dining room, a big kitchen with modern amenities, two garages, a library/office and a bar with an entertainment deck. The main bedroom must be spacious and have a sliding door. The veranda should be spacious, too. Kind regards Seni Author John Smith, better known as Jonno, can be contacted at Hillbilly Homes, PO Box 255, Estcourt 3310,…

Genius Scan from Grizzly is an app that turns your smart phone into a scanner, enabling you to scan a document on the go and email or retain it for your own use. The document is saved as a Jpeg or a PDF. (portable document format). PDFs are especially useful for documents such as magazine articles, brochures or flyers where you want to preserve the original graphic appearance online. Genius Scan also allows you to build PDF documents with multiple scans. You can zoom in and out of copy and page through the document. Jpegs (filename.jpeg) are the result of a compression method and are generally photographs. You can choose the degree of compression and there is a trade-off between quality and size. A FOOLPROOF AND EASY-TO-USE SCANNER The Genius…

“Recent years have seen a rise in inconsistent weather patterns, which have had a negative impact on both consumers and businesses globally. Southern Africa has not escaped the effects of these weather patterns, and the region’s agricultural sector has suffered the consequences of unreliable rain patterns, unusually high temperatures and floods. DIRECT EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY These weather patterns have also taken their toll on the local agriculture sector, and subsequently financial losses are increasing, resulting in damaging consequences for the economy, industry and consumers. Statistics SA recently announced that South Africa’s economy contracted by 1,3% in the second quarter of the year, with the agriculture sector contracting by 17,4% quarter-on-quarter. In addition, the UN has warned that the country is facing its worst drought since 1992. The agricultural industry…

FW STATUS (25 September) A Zambian sable antelope bull was recently sold for a South African record price of R27 million, more than double the previous record. Tumelo Olifant: This game farming is just getting ridiculous! Gwaji Mzana: Honestly, these flagrant displays of wealth are nothing short of being obscene in the worst way possible. Aaron Rakgwale: So you are showing us the market price. Makhadzi Maiwashe: Who has the right to sell wildlife? This is ridiculous. George Harrison: Millionaires circle in – the game boom bubble will soon burst. READERS’ POSTS: Marius Smuts: I can’t wait to read ‘Unlocking the potential of Boer goats’ (FW, 25 September). For years, the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Association has been feeding the public fantastic stories about the feasibility of Boer goat farming,…

Many of the world’s largest food, beverage and tobacco brands are missing an excellent opportunity to mitigate climate risks, according to a research report by global nonprofit organisation, CDP. Based on information from 97 global food, beverage and tobacco companies, the report concluded that the highest level of food-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions occurred before produce left the farm. “With emissions from agricultural production responsible for 10% to 14% of global GHG emissions, the lack of data from companies on this area [of concern] suggests that at least 10% of global emissions are unaccounted for,” the CDP report said. Over a third of the 97 companies surveyed reported lower costs after implementing climate change-related agricultural management practices, the report said. British-South African brewer and beverage company, SABMiller, had achieved average…

South Africans are turning to red meat as a source of protein and consumption is set to skyrocket, according to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The country imported 10% of its red meat requirements over the past decade, said Rowena Joemat, a senior official from DAFF. She represented the department’s food security and agrarian reform branch at the 18th annual general meeting of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo) in Pretoria recently. Red meat consumption had increased by about 20% since the 1990s, according to Joemat, who addressed delegates on cooperation in the implementation of the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP). The multi-billion rand agriculture industry was among the nine priorities identified by President Jacob Zuma to turn the economy around. Joemat said that South…

A recent survey in the UK found that British farmers were using the Internet more than ever. The survey, conducted by UK farm management software company, Agridata, found that 85% of farmers had Internet access, 40% used it daily and a third went online a few times a week. Farmers used it primarily to access technical information, weather updates and market prices. According to Farming UK, nearly half of all farms used specialist farm software to keep farm records, 17% of farmers used the Internet to track the quantity of meat produced per animal and 16% used automated feeding or milking systems. Despite these findings, the survey revealed that printed publications remained the most popular place to source information.…

The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has failed to meet any of the targets it set itself, according to its 2015/2016 First Quarter Performance Report, which was recently presented to the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform. The commission managed to settle only 38 land claims of the targeted 92 for the first quarter of 2015. The annual target was 463 cases. In addition, it finalised only 57 of its target of 74 claims. The annual target was 373. Despite an annual target of researching 2 660 claims lodged by 1998, the commission managed to research only 195 of its targeted 532 claims this quarter. Over the same period, an additional 20 737 new claims were received. Thomas Walters, DA MP and party spokesperson for rural development…

Early spring rains have reportedly done nothing to alleviate the impact of crippling drought conditions that still have much of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in their grip. According to the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), the province’s drought crisis was deepening and had not been broken by good rains received five weeks ago. “It might look green, but there’s not enough growth to provide sufficient grazing. The fact that the prices of breeding stock are down indicates a low confidence in the industry,” said the RPO’s CEO, Gerhard Schutte, speaking to Farmer’s Weekly. Schutte said that over the past two summers, most of KZN’s northern and central parts had received as little as a third to half of their average rainfall. This had led to current low feed reserves as well as…

The South African Hunters and Game Conservation association (SAHGCA) was welcome to its policy of only hunting wild animals in their ‘natural state’, said Dr Peter Oberem, Wildlife Ranching SA (WRSA) president. This followed a statement by SAHGCA that it was opposed to the intensive and selective breeding of game animals of all species solely for hunting purposes. But places where animals could be hunted in their natural state and their natural habitat in South Africa were increasingly hard to come by, said Oberem. “The only places left are national parks and even these parks are used for scarce game breeding programmes, and are fenced and dotted with artificial watering holes,” he said. No one was forcing SAHGCA members to hunt on game ranches that did not adhere to their…

In order to maintain an up-to-date national dairy database, the minister of agriculture has been asked by the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) to extend the current statutory measures by another four years – until 1 November 2019. Explanatory notes were published in the Government Gazette of 11 September. The request is in line with the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, 1996 (No. 47 of 1996), as amended. Section 2(2) seeks to increase market access for all market participants in order to promote the efficiency of marketing of agricultural products, optimise export earnings from agricultural products and enhance the viability of the agricultural sector. The statutory measures require each milk producer to furnish accurate returns to the MPO within 15 days after 31 October of each year. This makes it possible…

Flocks varied from 187 to 1 850 sheep. Sixteen farmers ran Dorpers exclusively (47%), 11 farmers had a combination of Dorpers and Merinos (29%) and seven producers ran pure Merino flocks (21%). The age of the farmers varied from 29 to 79, with one in three being 60 or above. 10 000ha, while 21% of farms were below 4 000ha. Almost 60% of farms had no irrigated land. The remaining irrigated areas varied from from 0,5ha to 17ha, with fodder crops accounting for two-thirds of the irrigated area and fruit and vegetable seed the rest. Family history on the land varied from four to 192 years, with an average occupation of 87 years. Almost 90% of land was owner-operated and 79% of farmers reported farming on more than one block…

Farming involves combining various resources to produce food and fibre. A farmer uses fixed resources such as land and fixed improvements such as buildings, as well as capital equipment, livestock and various farm requisites and permanent labour to produce products that he can sell – hopefully at a price higher than the cost of producing these products. A large part of a farmer’s time is spent in keeping machinery, equipment and other resources in good condition. Farmers also spend a good deal of time and energy in training their workers. Unfortunately, many farmers neglect a crucial resource: themselves. Consider the following: HEALTH AND REJUVENATION Your personal health and wellbeing (as well as that of your family) cannot be ignored. Make time for off-farm activities. A holiday might cost you double…

In my previous article, we discussed the importance of location when determining the value and price of a farm. Location in relation to relevant markets and unsafe areas were of specific importance. This month’s article will concentrate on another major role player in the valuation of farmland: climate. Climate is a critical aspect in determining what and how much can be produced in any particular area, as well as how much a purchaser is prepared to pay for land. It includes aspects unique to an area such as rainfall, temperature, hail and wind. RAINFALL – TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE? This word might be one of the most powerful prayer-starters in a farmer’s vocabulary. Some pray for more, some pray for less. Whichever the case, rainfall has a significant influence on…

In 2010, businessman and farmer Braam Riekert Jnr bought two registered Boerboels as guard dogs. A breeder friend of Braam’s, Lukas van Vuuren of Spitsvuur Boerboels, was so impressed with these animals that he requested that one of them be mated with one of his own top dogs. From that litter, Braam Jnr raised three dogs, and gave one to another friend. A year later, on a visit there, he saw that the canine had grown into a fine animal. “That’s when I realised that I too wanted to breed Boerboels,” says Braam Jnr, who now runs Braambos Boerboels with his father near Marble Hall in Mpumalanga. Braam Snr, who farms commercial cattle and sunflower, once bred Boxers. “I never realised how clever Boerboels are. They learn easily, and one…

DORMER SECTION SA MUTTON MERINO SECTION MERINO FLOCK SECTION SA MUTTON MERINO SECTION CONTACTS: Steyn and Tjaart Steenkamp: 082 438 8991 | JP Potgieter: 083 701 3552 | Vanaardt and Faan Greyling: 082 782 7674 | Piet Strydom: 045 942 1022 | Jannie Schlebusch: 083 499 7825 | Martin Cloete: 082 458 6017 CONTACTS: Hansie and Johan Sauer: 045 942 0024 | Pat Vorster: 082 561 9842 | Ras van Pletzen: 082 301 9061…

Kakamas and Marianne have been used as rootstocks for stone fruit production since the 1950s. They still produce good yield, but better rootstocks are now available. Under the right conditions, the new rootstocks can reduce costs and improve fruit yield and quality, private consultant Dr Piet Stassen told delegates at a farmer information day hosted by the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association near Robertson. Stassen has been evaluating various new stone fruit rootstocks under different production conditions over five harvest seasons in trials at Worcester, Stellenbosch, Robertson and Bonnievale in the Western Cape as well as at Mookgophong in Limpopo. In these trials, trees grafted on Atlas, Viking, Garmen, Cadaman and GF 677 performed well in alkaline soil with a pH (KCl) of between 7 and 8. Trees grafted on Guardian,…

Angora farmers suffered considerable losses in cold snaps following the Mohair boom of the 1980s when prices made it worthwhile to feed their flocks. Some believe this artificial feeding – mainly with treated maize – led to the breeding of animals less adapted to veld conditions, less hardy, and therefore more susceptible to cold. Today, however, there seems to be a move back to the intensification of extensive farming. Flocks are given extra feed on the veld and kraaled at night to protect them from predators. But many animal experts believe the focus should instead be on breeding easy-care animals able to fend for themselves during droughts and inclement weather. Unfortunately, in the current economic situation, a farmer can hardly take a chance and leave goats out in the veld…

As I write this, I’m midway through a two-week training programme at the Ongwediva Fresh Produce Business Hub (OFPBH) in the north of Namibia, en route to Angola. Commissioned in 2013, it is the first of four such hubs to be built in Namibia. (Rundu in the northeast now has a twin hub in operation and the Windhoek facility is nearing completion.) The OFPBH boasts about 3 500m² of trading floor, cold rooms with multiple level racking, a high-reach forklift to serve them, a ripening chamber, a quality control facility and a packing section. To the uninitiated, the OFPBH might look like a white elephant in the making. But one should be careful not to judge too soon. These ‘hubs’, as the Namibians like to call them, are part of…

JOINT TIGHTNESS How do you know when a bolt is tight enough? A bolt will not lose its grip if applying a greater clamping load than the internal load that is trying to force the parts away from each another. The correct bolt for any application is therefore made of the right material to the right dimensions so that it distorts less than the parts being clamped. Tightening the bolt compresses the mating surfaces and tensions the bolt. The proportion of stress borne by each part depends on the design, but often up to 90% is taken by the mating surfaces and 10% by the bolt. During service, the joint experiences tensions and temperature changes which relax the mating surfaces and increase the tension in the bolt. In a correctly…

As modern-day farmers, we need to ask ourselves: is the Bible still relevant in today’s society, and to us as farmers? If it is, how much are we using it in our day-to-day farming experiences? I often say that the Bible is my agricultural handbook. Although written 2 000 years ago, it is still relevant today. The Bible has taught me how to appreciate the land that God has allowed me to farm, and how to care for the soil, treating it with the greatest of respect so that it will, in turn, yield bountiful crops. The Bible has also taught me not to muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain. In other words, pay a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. CARING FOR PEOPLE AND…

UNDERSTANDING MINERALS AND CRYSTALS  by Bruce Cairncross and Terence McCarthy (Struik Nature, R290) The larger portion of this long-overdue book is what might be called a field guide to about 80 common minerals – except that it is illustrated not with field photographs but with magnificent studio photographs that seem to add an extra level of mystique and attraction. This complements the opening section, which gives detailed explanations of how minerals form and how their atoms bind into the intriguing crystals this book helps us know and love. An excellent Christmas gift. MAKING MY MARC  by Marc Wainer and Tudor Caradoc-Davies (Burnet Media, R200) Many South Africans dream of escaping everyday business demands by making their fortune in property. Wainer built up Redefine Properties, whose successes include Soweto’s Maponya Mall…

I’m a new, upcoming farmer who has been passionate about farming for years but never had the opportunity to farm, until recently. Farmer’s Weekly has made matters easier for me. Ever since starting out on my farm I’ve not missed a single copy of the magazine. Farming is indeed not easy and it’s not for the lazy. Firstly, you need drive, then vision, common sense and patience, but above all else you need the financial resources to put everything into action. However, even if the finances are in place, you need to start as small as possible. Remember that the market will always be there, the only difference is the price you receive for your produce when you are ready to deliver to the market. To all those aspiring farmers,…

1 MARCH 1933 Performance hits the headlines 82 YEARS AGO In 1933, the head of Britain’s Royal Agricultural College, Robert Boutflour, launched a scathing attack on pedigree-cattle judging without performance records. This attracted interest world-wide. Boutflour also tilted at the traditional standard of judging dairy cattle at shows. Below are some of his remarks, published in our issue of the above date. “Boutflour said that agricultural shows started in Britain in about 1770 when the principles applied by the great beef-cattle improvers, Colling and Bates, were unfortunately also applied to milking cows. At that time, breeders started insisting that what was wanted in the cow was something beautiful to look at, that she must have a level topline and underline, and that she must be as fat as a pork…

Joburg Market (JM) has still not revealed the reasons for the suspensions of its CEO, Simangele Sekgobela, and acting CEO, Bafana Dhlamini. Sekgobela was suspended from his position nearly a year ago and Dhlamini about 10 months ago. The operation had also not indicated the outcome of the reported investigations into the conduct that led to their suspensions. Farmer’s Weekly had regularly tried to obtain answers from JM regarding Sekgobela’s and Dhlamini’s suspensions as well as the outcome of the investigations into the pair’s conduct, but to no avail. Farmer’s Weekly, however, determined that on 22 September, the operation’s assistant company secretary, Keeran Singh, sent a general email to representatives of its stakeholders indicating that Joburg Market’s third acting CEO within less than a year, Josiah Mazibuko, would be out…

The Land Bank’s CEO, TP Nchoncho, made a plea to farmers to be patient as they worked towards giving the parastatal a facelift. Emerging farmers had accused the bank of having a slow turnaround time for processing applications for funding. “I’m aware of inconsistencies we have in the decision-making process and the long turnaround time. “I’m aware of complications that go into the buying of farms and of complications in the land reform programme,” Nchoncho said. He was addressing delegates at the 18th annual general meeting of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo) at the St George Hotel in Centurion, Pretoria, recently. Nchoncho said he was not promising farmers “heaven and earth” but added that the bank’s executive team had crafted sustainable strategies to drive transformation in the…

French newspaper L’Est Republicain reports that farmers in northern France have to destroy this year’s crop after metal and toxic compounds, caused by armaments left in the soil after the First World War, contaminated produce. The seven farms affected are situated near Verdun in the Meuse region, where some of the heaviest battles took place during the war. Authorities made the decision after a ton of old artillery was discovered in the area earlier this year. Milk to the value of €150 000 (R2,3 million) was among the agricultural products that had to be destroyed. Certain French regions allow the ban of food if produced on land contaminated by heavy metals. According to the news report, more than one billion shells were fired during the war but about 30% did…

The ongoing strengthening of the El Niño climate phenomenon was causing great concern for KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) already drought-stricken sugarcane farmers. News of drought conditions in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola indicated that the drought experienced in KZN in the past two years was becoming more widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Kathy Hurly, director of regional services with the SA Canegrowers organisation, said that many of KZN’s sugarcane farming areas had already experienced approximately 20 months of below-average rainfall. This had led to groundwater resources becoming “severely depleted” in these areas. “The worst affected areas remain Darnall, Amatikulu and Zululand. Dry conditions have been experienced in the [KZN] Midlands, which is in the process of recovering from terrible frost earlier on in the year,” said Hurly. She told Farmer’s Weekly that if…

The Agri-Expo Livestock Show, due to take place from 15 to 17 October at Sandringham Farm in Stellenbosch, will showcase the best of SA’s livestock industry and value chain, according to a statement from the organisers. The expo will host exhibits and events on animal nutrition, genetics, animal health and hygiene, milking and dairy equipment, and value chain products. Visitors can look forward to the biggest interbreed beef cattle show in the Western Cape, a regional youth show, a young auctioneer competition, and beef cattle and milk goat information days. The Farmbiz Power Debate on Agribusiness in Africa will be hosted at the expo for the first time. High-profile speakers such as economist Dirk Hanekom will discuss ways to strengthen agribusiness and food security in Africa. Dr Tobias Doyer, managing…

The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, a South African and majority-women ranger group, has emerged as one of the winners of the United Nations’ top environmental accolade, the Champions of the Earth award. This was according to a statement by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Community-led initiatives are crucial to combating the illegal wildlife trade and the Black Mambas highlight the importance and effectiveness of local knowledge and commitment,” UNEP executive director, Achim Steiner said in the statement. “Their many successes are a result of their impressive courage and determination to make a difference in their community. The Black Mambas are an inspiration not only locally, but across the world to all those working to eliminate the scourge of the illegal wildlife trade. “While their work contributes most toward ecosystem…

Over the last 50 years South Africa has experienced a dramatic change in the composition of its sheep flock, primarily driven by a change in the relative prices of wool and mutton, which increasingly favours mutton (Dorper) over woolled (Merino) sheep. In the mid-1950s, there were 13 woolled sheep for every mutton sheep in the Central Karoo. But by 2002 this figure had declined to barely two woolled sheep for every mutton sheep. “While Laingsburg produced more than 600 000kg of wool during the 1950s and 1960s, woolled breeds’ relative superiority can no longer be taken for granted,” says Prof Beatrice Conradie of the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town. She carried out the study during the 2012 season in the Laingsburg district of the Western Cape.…

You were the chairperson of the local organising committee of the World Veterinary Poultry Association Congress that was recently held in Cape Town. What were the main poultry trends emerging from the congress? First of all, there is a growing concern over the welfare of poultry, especially in First World countries. People project their own feelings onto chickens. They think of how they would feel if they were a chicken and kept in intensive production systems. They don’t realise how irrational this comparison is nor do they acknowledge that most humans in any case find themselves cooped up in flats in cities – very much like layers in battery cages. Provided stocking density is within accepted norms, water, feed, fresh air and suitable lighting are available, these layers produce optimally…

Jakkie Erasmus of Sumsare Black Boerboels bought his first Boerboel for security purposes and has been breeding Boerboels since 1998. He bred the exceptional Sumsare Hercules now owned by Braan Riekert, Jnr. “Hercules is an outstanding dog. You cannot improve on his build,” says Jakkie. “We’ve bred from him multiple times and his offspring are even better than he is.” He recalls that there was a great deal of interest in Hercules from overseas breeders, but he refuses to let his top dogs go abroad. “Overseas buyers always want the best two dogs in the litter. That means the best animals go out of South Africa – and we’re left with the third- and fourth-best dog. I won’t allow it”. Jakkie also breeds golden wildebeest and runs sheep, horse and…

MERINO STUD SECTION CONTACTS: Isak and Mariska Botha: 082 967 8582 | Pat and Sarel Vorster: 082 561 9842…

Although his advice was applicable to all stone fruit, Dr Piet Stassen singled out apricots because of rootstock compatibility problems. Because of their deep penetrating roots, apricot rootstocks were found to be unsuitable for shallow, alkaline and wet soils. Using other rootstocks, however, was not an option, as these grafts usually formed poor unions that broke over time. Grafting with the plum rootstock Marianna resulted in breakages of 17% to 37%, while grafting with the peach cultivars Kakamas and Flordaguard caused breakages of up to 50%. Results were even worse with G677, SAPO 778, Atlas, Viking and Cadaman, where breakages of up to 100% could occur, said Stassen. Supporting the trees with a trellis-system might help, but there was no guarantee this would prevent breakage at the bud union. It…

Working horses can be treated with easily available remedies, as long as you are careful about how you use them. In the last issue, we discussed using sugar and honey for treating minor ailments in horses. Table salt and Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) are also handy. One teaspoon (5ml) of salt in a cup (250ml) of boiled cooled water can be used to clean wounds and wash blood off hair to prevent it from attracting flies. The same solution can be used as a disinfectant to treat footrot (thrush) in the hoof, after you have cleaned out all the bad-smelling muck with a hoof pick. In more serious cases, soak the hoof in a stronger table salt- or Epsom salt-solution (three tablespoons per litre water in a bucket) for about…

The Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (German Agricultural Society) conferred silver medals on 44 of the 311 innovations registered at this year’s Agritechnica Show. Here are a few of the ideas and inventions that could have particular relevance to the SA market. 1 John Deere iTEC AutoLearn Programming headland turn sequences into a tractor requires navigation of a software menu. This is often a challenge for uninitiated operators, hence JD’s iTech AutoLearn system. After it detects that the last headland sequence was repeated three times, it suggests the sequence be automated. The operator can accept the suggestion by pressing a button. The auto-recorded sequence can be edited at a later time. 2 Automatic machine setting system Väderstad has introduced a method of adjusting machine settings in real time according to current soil conditions.…

After shopping around for a good set of all-terrain tyres at the best price, you find a tyre dealer that’s selling a popular brand for much less than your friend paid for exactly the same set. A bargain! But three frustrating bush trips later, you’re far from satisfied. You picked up more punctures than seem reasonable, while your friend, who joined you for these journeys in his own 4x4, did not suffer a single puncture. You now have a closer look and discover why: your friend’s tyres are designated ‘LT’ for ‘Light Truck’, while yours are ‘SUV’. An LT tyre is the genuine off-road alternative to the SUV tyre. In the case of Cooper tyres, the Cooper A/T3 is available in both SUV and LT form. Both have exactly the…

The correct age to take ownership of a puppy is at eight weeks. Never be tempted to take a pup before it reaches this age, because up to this point it is undergoing very important socialisation with its mother and siblings which helps to establish a good temperament. Before buying a new puppy, research the various breeds you are interested in. This includes contacting your vet to ascertain genetic problems and breed-specific ailments such as deafness, blindness and hip dysplasia. Next, find a reputable breeder who breeds good quality animals by contacting the Kennel Union of South Africa (kusa.co.za). In this way, you will be able to avoid con artists who will request a monetary deposit in order to ‘secure’ the pup for you – and then vanish. When visiting…

Begin with a generously large saucepan filled with lightly salted water. Bring to a rolling boil, kill the heat, fit the lid and have it standing by for later. Break the brocolli into florets. Top and tail the beans, and cut them into 20mm sections. Do the same with the courgettes. Choose eight fresh basil leaves from the sprigs and chop these finely. Produce a quarter cup of finely chopped parsley. Depip the chilli, discard half of it and finely chop the remainder. Crush, peel and mince the garlic. Thinly slice the big brown mushrooms. Blanch, peel and dice the tomatoes. Grate the Parmesan yourself to ensure the freshest taste. Action stations! Bring a second pot of water to the boil and lightly cook the peas, mange tout, beans, courgettes…

Along with Vitamin C and beta-carotene, Vitamin E is the best-known of the vitamin anti-oxidants that neutralise damaging oxygen free radicals. It occurs in two main forms – tocopherols and tocotrienols. The former are those most commonly found in foods and supplements. Both forms of Vitamin E do very much the same thing, but tocotrienols are more potent. They are used to improve heart and cardiovascular health and to lower cholesterol. Doctors generally prescribe statins for this, but these can have serious side-effects. One of the key differences between statins and tocotrienols is the fact that statins lower coenzyme 10 (ubiquinone), a nutrient vital for the health of your heart cells’ energy factory, the mitochondria. Tocotrienols, by contrast, maintain the production of and actually increase coenzyme 10 levels. This is…