Table of contents for 17 March 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

The development of agriculture in Africa was high on the agenda at this year’s SIMA Paris International Agribusiness Show in France. Presenters at the SIMA African Summit focused specifically on the matters that were preventing farming on the continent from reaching its full potential. Speaking at the event, Richard Markwell, president of the European Agricultural Machinery Association (CEMA), said that for the most part, farming in Africa lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of mechanisation, and that there was an urgent need to reinforce institutional support for mechanisation, in line with development agendas. According to him, there was consensus that there was a critical need to develop agriculture in Africa, and that this would require a massive effort, especially with regards to mechanisation. He also said that…

COURSES & TRAINING 24 MARCH Calf Rearing Mangement Course, George. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 27 TO 29 MARCH Artifical Insemination – Cattle, Elsenburg. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 27 TO 31 MARCH Crop Production, George. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 30 MARCH Africa Land-use Veld Restoration, Kimberley. For more information, email info@alut.co.za. 18 TO 19 APRIL Cattle Stockman, Krugersdorp. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 20 TO 21 APRIL Cattle Nutrition, Krugersdorp. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 22 APRIL Winter Garden Preparation, Fordoun Garden, KwaZulu-Natal. For more information, phone 083 429 2867. 24 TO 26 APRIL Artifical Insemination – Cattle, Krugersdorp. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 27 APRIL Cattle Pregnancy Awareness, Krugersdorp. For more information visit rltsafrica.com. 28 APRIL Calf Rearing , Krugersdorp. For more information, visit rltsafrica.com. 29 MAY…

STRATEGIES NEED TO BE DEVISED TO WITHSTAND UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS A recent report from the South African Weather Service indicated that an El Niño weather pattern, which is typically associated with hot and dry weather conditions, may potentially return around August this year. This would be an odd occurrence, given that we recently came out of an El Niño-induced drought period during 2015/2016. Although it would be premature to provide any certainty with regard to this outlook, it is worth noting that the Australian Bureau of Meteorology concurs with our local weather service, which has noted a 50% chance of El Niño development later in 2017. This will not affect current summer crops, as they have already reached pollination stage, and a good season is expected for grains and oilseeds.…

Clover Industries Limited (Clover) has increased spending on research and development by 20%, despite a constricted environment. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Clover CEO, Johan Vorster, said expenditure on the development of the company’s first lactose-free milk, NoLac, diversification into products such as olive oil, research into removing sugar from certain products, and value-added milk products, had amounted to about R30 million. Clover’s recently released interim results for the period June 2016 to December 2016 showed a 2,1% increase in revenue to R5,1 billion, a 5,2% decrease in operating profit to R322,7 million, a decrease in headline earnings of 13,5% to R190 million, and a 14,7% headline earnings per share (HEPS) decrease to 99,8c, a statement by the company said. “The raw milk supply was volatile [during the drought]. High feed…

A coalition of Swartland winemakers, farmers and other interested parties has launched a petition against the local municipality after its decision to permit sand mining operations on about 5ha in the area. An increase in sand mining in the Swartland’s Paardeberg area “might have a detrimental effect on wine tourism and South Africa’s reputation as a producer of top quality wines”, Vinpro and Wines of SA said in a joint statement. According to Adi Badenhorst of AA Badenhorst Family Wine, his greaterst concern was that if one farmer started sand mining, more would follow. “The Paardeberg region is known for its wines, and prominent winemakers buy grapes from the area. I’m concerned about the long-term effects the mines will have on the [reputation] of the region.” According to Badenhorst, many…

Fig exports are expected to increase from about 400t to 450t this year as more trees come into commercial production. This forecast was based on government’s export figures, according to Keith Wilson of fruit breeder, re:inc. “It’s difficult to estimate the exact volume of figs sold each year, as there are three or four companies exporting the fruit, which is also sold through various formal and informal channels. A large volume of figs are, for example, sold via fresh produce markets in South Africa,” he said. The area under production had grown from almost zero to 330ha over the past 15 years. Approximately 40 farmers were producing figs, on areas ranging from 20ha to 50ha. The industry was developing a growers’ association that would fall under Hortgro. “Formalisation will help…

Both the trophy hunting industry and game prices took a knock last year. According to Prof Peet van der Merwe of the School of Business Management at North-West University, the number of visits from foreign hunters had declined. Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa permits showed that there were 9 000 foreign hunters in 2011, 7 633 in 2015 and 7 400 in 2016, he said. On average, international trophy hunters spent about R138 000 per hunting trip, including transport, food, ammunition, game hunted, and daily fees, he said. There were three main reasons for the decline in foreign hunters visiting SA, according to Van der Merwe. These were: legislation governing weapons made it difficult to import rifles for hunting; many airlines no longer transported trophies; and South Africa had…

The cyst nematode pathogen causes billions of dollars of damage to soya bean crops in the US every year. The first step in developing measures to counter infestation is to understand how nematode genetics work in sucking water and nutrients from plants. All plants have stem cells in their growth points. These cells can develop into various types of specialised cells, tissue and plant structures. Specialisation is initiated by specific chemical signals released by the plant, causing specific genes to be turned on or off, enabling transformation of cells into specialised organs. Researchers at Missouri University (MU) in the US found that one of these specialised structures is the xylem, a channel of dead cells moving water and nutrients up and down between roots and growth points. What was already…

SAMAC HAS BOLD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE MACADAMIA INDUSTRY IN SA The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) has tendered its resignation from the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), and will be leaving the umbrella organisation in February 2018, according to a statement by SAMAC. Subtrop is an umbrella body of associations that, for the past 10 years, has managed the affairs of South African avocado, litchi, macadamia and mango growers’ associations. The motion was proposed by 14 members at a special general meeting, where they submitted a motivation for why they believed that SAMAC would function better as a stand-alone association. The motivation also contained suggestions on the way forward for the association. The motion was passed, but the SAMAC board resolved to host meetings…

Ireland has 17 000 dairy farmers and a national dairy herd of about 1,2 million. In contrast to South Africa, dairy is the country’s most profitable agricultural sector and income generator. An abundance of high-protein grass, a boon for both dairy and beef production, is found across the country. A decade ago, the average dairy herd consisted of approximately 40 animals, but this has since risen to between 60 and 70, due to a production quota being lifted. Most dairy farmers in Ireland run their cows on pasture, using smaller, low-maintenance cows. This helps them become more resilient to low milk price, as pasture-based systems require lower input cost. Legislation limits the amount of fertiliser that can be used. This is due to environmental implications, as well as the fact…

As far as I’m aware, it is good business practice to appoint people with the skills and experience needed to do the job. This being the case, why do so many of our market managers lack the necessary qualifications for the task at hand? The first answer is politics. Too many senior managers on markets appear to be appointed for their political affiliations rather than their expertise. This is not altogether surprising; they are chosen by municipal managers who, in turn, are political appointees. Good management doesn’t come into it. The second answer is ignorance. Managing a market at senior level is no easy matter. It requires a mind-shift away from the ‘eight to five’ syndrome and a different management style. This approach includes (very) early mornings, hands-on management on…

ADD VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN B COMPLEX TO YOUR DOG’S DIET Warts on dogs often spread or form clumps, but this does not mean they are malignant. On the other hand, seemingly harmless lumps may be dangerous. Warning signs include fast growth, an irregular shape, a dark colour, regular bleeding, and swollen lymph glands. All of these point to a malignant growth requiring surgical removal. Warts, which are frequently found on puppies (usually confined to the face and mouth) and older dogs, are caused by the highly contagious papillomavirus. The warts (papillomas) may be the body’s response to a weakened immune system due to vaccination, certain medications, poor diet, worm infestation and other conditions. Warts usually appear on the lips, tongue, gums, eyelids and between the toes. If possible, separate…

This is a deviant form of traditional Mexican food, enlivened by the addition of some ingredients and the blasé substitution of others. Traditional rancheros (ranchers) wrapped their breakfast in tortillas. In the hands of those inexperienced in tortilla handling, this usually means a torrent of egg yolk down the sleeve. I have replaced these with standard South African toast, freshly made and lightly caramelised by the heat. The ham is unusual but very welcome, while the sliced avocado is simultaneously Mexican and KZNish. We assume you prefer a cast iron skillet; if not, a pair of heavy bottomed frying pans should do the trick. Sweat the sliced onion, de-pipped chillies and minced garlic in a little canola oil until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the freshly ground cumin…

Recent research has identified nutritional deficiencies that cause hair to go grey. The process usually starts with a deficiency of magnesium, which results in oxidation and the production of hydrogen peroxide (bleach) in hair follicles. Catalase, an enzyme in the follicles, breaks hydrogen peroxide down into harmless water and oxygen. Magnesium stimulates production of catalase. If the level of catalase is too low, the peroxide-filled hair follicle bleaches the colour out of hair cells, and hair grows out grey. To make matters worse, the production of tyrosinase – an enzyme responsible for producing melanin (the colour in hair) – is disrupted. The researchers also found that the amino acid, L-methionine, can block free radical hydrogen peroxide damage to the hair follicle. Insufficient animal protein in one’s diet can lead to…

In 1795, the French occupied the Netherlands. The latter, of course, was the mother country of the powerful Dutch East India Company, so the move had a profound effect on the Cape. The British were highly suspicious of French intentions regarding India. As a result, they decided to occupy the Cape to safeguard the trade route to the East. Nine Royal Navy warships were soon anchored off Simon’s Town laden with troops. After an easy victory at the Battle of Muizenberg, the British took over the colony. A LADY IN HIGH SOCIETY Meanwhile, back in England, Anne Lindsay, the ninth child and first daughter of Sir James Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres, was swiftly making a name for herself in high society. Her early childhood had been spent in the spacious…

The Merino indicator increased 2% and 319 points to close at R162,56 (clean), in line with the Australian market, week-on-week. All types offered saw price increases and strong competition, on the back of concerns about diminishing supplies, and some support from a weaker rand, according to Cape Wools. Wool of 18,7 microns (µ) and finer sold 2% higher, while 19µ increased 1,5%. Wool of 20µ gained 2,5%, and 21µ to 22µ rose 1%. The price of 22µ and stronger wool went up by as much as 4% on the day. Competition for the offering was excellent, with the highest price of R154,50/kg achieved by DE de Klerk of Cradock, for a BH lot of 17,4µ sold to Modiano. “Analysts report that the strength of the current fine-wool sales is predominantly…

Despite its poultry division suffering, a diversified portfolio ensured that RCL Foods showed an increase in earnings in its interim results ending December 2016. RCL Foods reported an 8,4% increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). These earnings excluded chicken production. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Rob Field, RCL Foods CFO and financial director, said dumping of cheap chicken by the EU, Brazil and the US had influenced local poultry production. “The downsizing of Rainbow has caught government’s attention, which will hopefully lead to action to assist the poultry industry,” he said. In contrast to poultry, sugar production showed good results despite the drought. “The sugar [business unit] performed well. [However], we’ll still feel the impact of the drought for another season,” Field said. In this regard, the…

Agricultural awareness in Australia has been given a boost with the success of George the Farmer, a children’s character created to teach youngsters about farming in that country. The character was created by Simone Kain and Ben Hood to address a lack of educational farming apps for Australian children, according westernmagazine.com. It was launched as a story app in July 2014 and has won national awards. Kain and Hood, directors of the creative agency, Hello Friday, were both raised on farms in South Australia. The idea of a character came to Kain while she was trying to track down some fun farming apps and books for her then two-and-a-half-year-old son, George. The only products that she could find were from the US or Europe and used different terminology – ‘fall’,…

If all goes well, South Africa could expect a bumper grain harvest in the 2017/2018 marketing season. This is according to Agrimark agricultural economist, Dr Johan Willemse, who cited statistics based on Agrimark’s calculations and the latest data from the National Crop Estimates Committee. Willemse, who was speaking at a recent Agricultural Market Expectation workshop in Bloemfontein in the Free State, said that maize production was anticipated to be 77% higher than for the 2016/2017 season. The soya bean harvest was expected to increase 83%, while a 22% rise in groundnut production was forecast. The total 2017/18 summer grain harvest, including maize, sunflower, groundnut, soya bean and sorghum, was predicted to be 72% higher than the 2016/2017 harvest. In 2016/2017, South Africa had to import 2,75 million tons of maize…

Agri Eastern Cape has won a two-year High Court battle against the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works with regard to the poor state of gravel roads in the province. The High Court in Grahamstown ordered the roads department to identify contractors within 90 days for the repair of the roads identified in the order, while integrated maintenance contracts must be finalised within six months of the order. “This judgment will have a huge impact on the maintenance and repair of farm roads throughout the country. It has set a precedent that farmers will be able to apply in all provinces,” said Douglas Stern, Agri Eastern Cape president. “We are elated, relieved and very happy with the outcome of this ordeal. There are about 37 000km of roads,…

Above-normal, but localised, rainfall is expected over the summer rainfall areas of South Africa well into autumn. Temperatures, however, are expected to be higher than normal, resulting in isolated, rather than widespread, rainfall. This is according to the latest Seasonal Climate Watch, issued by the South African Weather Service. Nevertheless, there was still much uncertainty about what could be expected from the weather during the 2017 winter, said Cobus Olivier, SA Weather Service’s prediction scientist. Expectations were that an El Niño phase, usually associated with drier conditions in South Africa in summer, might develop during spring this year. However, forecasts made so far ahead were usually unreliable, and the situation would be monitored closely before informing the public, he said. “Observations show that the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is…

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY IS ALSO DEPENDENT ON THE PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS ‘Sustainability’ has become one of the buzzwords of the past decade. When asked to define the concept, a prominent Argentinian farmer said, “Sustainability equals profitability.” Put another way, farmers must remain profitable to enable them to look after the people and the environment. It makes economic sense to limit the use of chemicals. These inputs are expensive and farmers who are less dependent on them will, in general, be more profitable. However, profitability also depends on maintaining production efficiency. Thus you cannot stop using chemicals completely; the idea is to limit their use to only that which is essential. At the same time, farming in ‘harmony with nature’ does not mean that farmers should go to extremes. For example,…

What is your role as Vinpro chairperson? Which issues will you address this year? My task as chairperson will be one of oversight, with an emphasis on promoting unity between industry role players. VinPro represents 3 300 producer members in the wine industry. In line with the industry’s collaborative roadmap, the Wine Industry Strategic Exercise (Wise), we’re striving to reach our goals by 2025. These include a robust and adaptable approach to drive profitability, global competitiveness and sustainability. It specifically includes shifting the industry from a production orientation to a market orientation. The South African wine industry is currently in a slump, with only a third of grape producers farming at financially sustainable levels. What must be done to improve the situation? The theme of this year’s Nedbank VinPro Information…

In Ireland, the government provides assistance to farmers who own the land they farm. This assistance takes the form of single farm payments, which is a combination social and environmental grant. Without this single farm payment, many smaller producers would go out of business. To qualify, a farm’s previous annual production, as well as its potential production figures, are taken into account, and an annual lump sum is then calculated based on these figures. An inspection of the farm and satellite images are also used to determine production, and assist in determining the payment. Part of this payment is also allocated for conservation, such as the upkeep of the hedges to prevent smaller wildlife from gaining access to farms and infect livestock with disease. Certain regulations must, however, be adhered…

‘PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT ORGANIC PRODUCTION SIMPLY MEANS THAT A FARMER SITS BACK AND LETS NATURE DO ALL THE WORK’ Net income generated from wine grape production in the Olifants River Valley region has deteriorated significantly over the past 12 years. According to Willem van Zyl, a third-generation farmer in the region, farm gate prices have virtually stagnated, whereas the cost of inputs, such as labour, fuel, electricity and fertiliser, have more than doubled. “Five to six years ago, farmers did not pay that much attention to their energy and labour costs. These days, you have to count every cent to survive,” he says. This situation has resulted in a number of wine cellars in the region falling on hard times. According to Willem, they were unable to meet their…

To obtain an indication of the fertiliser requirements after a particular planting, arrange for soil and leaf analyses when the trees reach fruit-bearing stage. Begin by selecting about 20 trees, spread throughout the orchard, that are similar in appearance and representative of the planting (they must be neither strikingly good nor poor). Mark each tree clearly with a spot of paint on the stem. Thereafter, take leaf and soil samples once a year from the same marked trees. Four leaf samples per tree should be taken during the first two weeks of January. The leaves must be free of sunburn, deficiency symptoms, insect damage and disease. A soil sample must accompany each batch. If the samples are analysed annually for at least five years, the results will enable you to…

IT IS IDEAL FOR WORKING ON HILLSIDES, DELIVERING FEED, AND IN FENCING OPERATIONS The all-terrain John Deere Gator was introduced in 1992 to replace the three- and five-wheel John Deere AMT launched in 1987. The utility vehicles, which are available in four- and six-wheel configurations, can be used for many tasks, such as working on steep hillsides, delivering supplementary feed, collecting calves, and in fencing operations. The US Army and US Marines have both adopted a version of the Gator known as the M-Gator. Increased demand has seen the building of a 36 000m² Gator factory at the John Deere Horicon Works in Wisconsin, US. At the opening of the facility, Horicon Works factory manager, Steve Johnson, said that each utility vehicle on the assembly line would be built “exactly…

SAY ‘CAN-TER!’ AND USE THE LUNGING WHIP JUST BEHIND THE HIND LEG Most horses have three gaits: the walk, the trot and the canter (the gallop is usually regarded as a faster, four-beat version of the canter). The walk and trot are easy to understand and easy to ride. By contrast, the canter gait can be more difficult to master, although it is more comfortable. When a horse canters in a circle, the first hoof to strike the ground is that of the hind leg on the outside of the circle. The last leg to hit the ground is the inside foreleg; this is also the leg that the rider uses to check if the ‘canter lead’ is correct. Horses naturally canter on the correct lead when not being ridden,…

Dear Jonno The recent article in which you used old tyres as a mould for building walls was a unique application for cutting costs dramatically. This got us thinking about the feasibility of building a house in stages. We want to build a house for our farm manager on our farm near Bloemfontein, to ensure that our livestock and home are secure when we are away. We plan to build it in stages as money becomes available. The first phase would be a two-bedroom home, with additions being built in the future as needed. We would like the design to be stylish and contemporary, using concrete blocks for the structure, with a tiled roof. It must also be as cost-effective as possible. We can’t wait to see what you come…

BUSINESS WRITING FOR SOUTH AFRICANS by Bittie Viljoen-Smook, Johan Geldenhuys & Wena Coetzee (Tafelberg, R230) So much communication has become informal these days that having to write letters, reports or business proposals fills many people with horror. This handbook puts you right on how to structure such writing, the acceptable tone to use and, most of all, how to make your point effectively. It champions the use of plain language, and includes a useful bibliography. While helpful and concise, it has one glaring omission: an index. So you will either have to guess the chapter that featured the interesting point to which you want to return, or create an index of your own at the back of the book. ON YOUR BIKE by Chris & Tim…

Operation Phakisa aims to speedily deliver priority services as set out in the National Development Plan, and is to be carried out under the auspices of the Presidency. The methodology originated in Malaysia where it had apparently been very successful in facilitating swift and effective service delivery by state departments, and had produced quick and far-reaching results. This methodology involves eight consecutive steps, of which the first step brings together key role players in the public and private sectors, academic environment and civil society to work together. THOSE INVOLVED One of the prerequisites was that Agri SA and all nine provincial and 24 affiliated commodity organisations should make experts available on a full-time basis for five weeks to develop the different initiatives. This invitation caused quite an upset. Everyone –…

A state-of-the-art camera system is being trialled by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Eskom in an effort to reduce the number of birds colliding with power lines. It is hoped that information gathered by this locally designed and solar-powered Bird Detection System (BDS) would help EWT and Eskom better understand bird behaviour that led to these collisions. The BDS was currently being tested in the De Aar area, Northern Cape, where bird mortalities are frequent. “Actions to minimise the threats of energy production on birds is important to Eskom,” said Thava Govender, Eskom group executive for transmission, risk and sustainability. The BDS is able to transmit real-time video clips and photographs directly to a cellphone or databank. This data could be used to count birds, identify species, and observe…

South Africa’s sugar value-chain has welcomed Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan’s announcement that the proposed tax on the sugar content of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) will not be implemented from 1 April, as previously indicated. Gordhan made his announcement after Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance and the Portfolio Committee on Health jointly ordered Treasury to conduct an extensive public consultation process on the proposed tax. The SA Sugar Association (SASA) said it felt vindicated by the order because it believed that the legally required consultation process on the proposed tax had been characterised by “insufficient public involvement”. The tax would lead to a reduction in sugar consumption and loss in revenue and jobs in the sugar milling and sugar cane sectors, said SASA chairperson Rolf Lütge. Gordhan and the Treasury had…

It was “incredible” that President Jacob Zuma was embarking on a philosophical road so different to that of the late Nelson Mandela. This was said by economist, Roelof Botha, at a recent Standard Bank Agribusiness Roadshow held in Pretoria. Discussing economic realities and their impact on agribusiness, Botha said that when asked whether the ANC would nationalise land and property, Mandela’s response had been, “Do you think we’re stupid?” “Mandela said the ANC would seek a compromise, as the private sector was a tax base. Everything Mandela built, Zuma is trying to destroy,” said Botha. There was enough rainfed land in government hands to make a meaningful difference to the emerging sector, and current productive land should be left alone, he added. “The R84 billion agricultural output becomes half a…

A partnership between the Zambian government and a private business in that country aimed to commercialise thousands of Zambian subsistence farmers through cassava production. Cassava’s starchy root is a staple food for many rural Zambians, but can also be processed into a variety of value-added products. At a Cassava to Flour stakeholders meeting held recently in the capital Lusaka, Zambian Breweries announced that it would source 3 000t of dried cassava chips for use in the manufacture of its Eagle brand of beer during 2017. In this way, the brewing company could help create a guaranteed market and sustainable income for smallholder farmers who grew cassava. At the same meeting, the Premiercon Starch Company said that it was currently working with 7 000 smallholder farmers in western and north-western Zambia…

Rhino poaching incidents have declined markedly in South Africa’s national parks, but poachers appear to have shifted their focus to rhinos in private ownership. Statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the period January 2016 to December 2016 have indicated a decline in the number of rhinos poached both in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and the country as a whole. Overall, 1 054 rhino were poached in 2016, compared with 1 175 in 2015, a decline of 10,3%, the statement said. A total of 662 rhino carcasses were found in the KNP in 2016, a 19,85% decrease from the 826 found in 2015, despite the number of illegal incursions into the KNP continuing to increase. There was also an increase in the number of arrests for…

Semi-hydroponic systems are often referred to as passive sub-irrigation hydroponics. I prefer to refer to this group of hydroponic systems as capillary hydroponics, which better describes what it entails. Capillary hydroponics is a method whereby plants are grown with their roots in contact with an inert porous medium or polymer film that transports the nutrient solution by capillary action to the plant root zones from a separate reservoir nearby. This system provides the plant roots with a continuous supply of water and nutrients without the assistance of a pump, thus reducing the labour involved. WICK SYSTEM The simplest capillary system is the so-called wick system, which has no moving parts or pumps, and requires no external energy or electricity for its operation. It is useful for small-scale and low-cost hydroponic…

THE APPELLANT HAD NOT TRIED TO EVADE TAX; HE HAD FAILED TO COMPLETE HIS RETURN CAREFULLY A judgement handed down on 14 December 2016 in an appeal by the M Family Trust (M) against the findings of SARS (case 13935, Western Cape Tax Court) should prove valuable to business owners. Briefly, taxpayer M sold certain shares and options to the trust. After a time, the shares and options were sold to an Australian entity and the proceeds were held by a corporate entity in the Netherlands. Before the funds could be repatriated to South Africa, they were embezzled and lost. SARS sought to disregard the loss represented by the embezzlement and the loss made when the shares and options were sold. At the hearing, it also sought to increase the…

Pat Henessey uses a rotary platform manufactured by Pearson Milking Technology, an almost 70-year-old Irish company. Cows enter the platform easily through the entrance system, allowing for smooth, continuous flow onto the platform. The platform positions cows at 90° to the operator, providing a full view of the udder and teats for preparation and cleaning. Each cow has its own bail area and feed trough to prevent bullying, create a more relaxed environment, and lower stress. The platform rotates on nylon rollers, and each roller has a high modular density and low coefficient of friction for strength and stability.…

EACH CHANGE OF WEATHER HAS AN INFLUENCE ON CROP PERFORMANCE Having dealt with depth and frequency of irrigation, let’s look at how to irrigate after a rainy spell. It’s all very well to get into a cycle where you have just finished irrigating and the land or block that you started the cycle with is now ready or nearly ready. But what do you do when the entire farm is wet? The problem arises when the farm is ready for irrigation following a dry period after soaking rain. Few farmers can afford an irrigation system that allows them to irrigate all lands simultaneously. If you, like most farmers, follow an irrigation cycle, the last land to be irrigated may be suffering a water shortage by the time you get to…

IF POSSIBLE, REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TYRES WITH SIMILAR NEW ONES Motoring magazines sometimes publish comparative tyre tests conducted on a racing track by their (untrained in engineering) journalists plus a racing driver. The inevitable result is that dry road grip and handling take preference over all other tyre qualities. Gut feel and personal opinion rule the day instead of a more scientific approach that generates numerical results. I realised how inadequate these tests can be when I visited two tyre testing facilities in Europe, both owned by a major tyre company. I came away highly impressed with the way the testing was conducted. The first test centre was based at an abandoned racing circuit, modified to create the required conditions. The road surfaces were perfectly flat, not cambered, and the…

GUARD AGAINST BITTERNESS – THE LONELIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD IS THE HUMAN HEART WHEN LOVE IS ABSENT It’s always a delight to see young people who have just fallen in love, particularly in a world so full of negativity and hate. We should remember, however, that real love means far more than dreamy romance. Love, as someone has said, “rolls up its sleeves and goes beyond safety”. We need to exercise this love, not just with our spouses and partners, but with our peers as well. “Christian love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will,” says CS Lewis, the great Christian writer. In other words, love is a choice. It’s very easy to love those who love you. The Lord says that even the…

Need a way to organise your life and keep track of key events? “If you’re not using Google Calendar to organise your life, you probably should be,” says Marziah Karch from Livewire.com. “It behaves like a tool written by people who actually use it. The calendar makes scheduling tasks so easy, you’ll wonder what you did without it.” Google Calendar can be downloaded from Google Play (Android) and Itunes (IOS). Begin by setting up a free Google account, if you don’t have one already; the process is very easy. Then go to calendar.google.com or open the calendar app on your phone to use it. With the calendar opens, you will see tabs in the upper right-hand corner. These enable you to switch between day, week, month, the next four days,…