Table of contents for 7 April 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

Farmers’ association and agribusiness leaders in South Africa have remained remarkably clearheaded and calm over the past few years, despite the message about land reform from some in the ruling party having grown increasingly radical. Agricultural leaders continue to urge farmers to remain calm, trust in the Constitution, and pin their hopes on the moderate faction within the ANC. But as the ANC continues to alienate loyal supporters, we have to ask how far the party will go in its desperate attempt to keep its grip on power. The fear that the EFF will finally succeed in forcing the ANC’s hand to pursue amendments to the Constitution, which will undermine private property rights and award government even greater power to expropriate land without compensation, is no longer far-fetched. Speaking at…

COURSES & TRAINING 7 TO 18 APRIL Permaculture Design Course, Mooinooi, North West. Phone Kobus Schoeman on 076 302 4791. 18 TO 19 APRIL Cattle Stockman’s Course, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 20 TO 21 APRIL Commercial Gourmet Mushroom Cultivation, Port Elizabeth. Phone Adriaan Smit on 082 749 8553, or visit mushroomacademy.com. 20 TO 21 APRIL Cattle Nutrition, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 22 APRIL Winter Garden Preparation, Fordoun Garden, KwaZulu-Natal. Phone 083 429 2867. 24 TO 26 APRIL Cattle: Artificial Insemination, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 27 APRIL Cattle Pregnancy Awareness, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 28 APRIL Calf Rearing, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on…

PRICE AND CONSUMER PREFERENCE WILL BE THE KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING THE BUYER’S DECISION After two seasons of being a net importer of maize due to lower domestic supplies on the back of the drought, South Africa will regain its status as a net exporter of maize in the 2017/2018 marketing year, which starts on 1 May. This does not only change fundamental factors in the market, but presents a possibility of hefty total exports of 2,5 million tons of maize. About 56% of this will be white maize; 44% will be yellow maize. South Africa was last a net exporter of maize in the 2014/2015 marketing season. Taking an average five-year trend, from 2010 to 2014, SA’s average annual total exports were roughly 2,1 million tons of maize. The leading…

The auction system remained the best way to sell mohair. This was according to Andries Greeff, chairperson of the SA Mohair Growers’ Association (SAMGA). However, this system was accompanied by several conditions, including the improved communication between farmers, brokers, buyers and processors, and the necessity for brokers to find a better way of valuating mohair before an auction. “The various sectors need to focus on communication with one another. Fortunately, the Mohair Trust, in which producers and processors are well represented, is the perfect vehicle for this,” he said. According to Greeff, frank discussions would lead to greater transparency and less suspicion about price mechanisms. He added that any negativity in the market was taken seriously by the local and international industries; if there were a drop in price, stakeholders…

The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC) in Spain is currently testing a system to predict hailstone sizes and their intensities. Climate scientist at the South African Weather Service, Morné Gijben, told Farmer’s Weekly that the system, known as the ‘Lightning Jump’, was based on the study of the electric shocks produced by storms as well as an analysis of their zonal growth. He explained that this method made use of total lightning (both cloud lightning and cloud-to-ground lightning). “Currently the lightning sensors of the South African Weather Service are primarily designed to detect only cloud-to-ground lightning, and we can only detect about 30% of cloud lightning. This limits the research using lightning data to forecast hail (or severe thunderstorms),” Gijben said. He was currently working on a system similar to…

The amnesty period for handing in illegal firearms recently announced by Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, still has to be ratified by Parliament. The proposed period runs from 1 April to 30 September 2017. Section 139(2) (a) of the Firearms Control Act required notices of this nature to be approved by Parliament, and members would only be able to debate Nhleko’s proposal in May when Parliament returned from the two-week recess, according to a statement issued by Parliament. According to Fred Camphor, CEO of the SA Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association, an amnesty period would mean that those handing in unlicensed firearms would not be prosecuted for unlawful possession. However, if ballistic testing found that the firearm had been used in a crime, the owner would be prosecuted. During the…

Urbanisation is driving marked changes in the way small-scale farmers connect with markets to sell their goods, and the way in which food systems are governed. This was according to Shenggen Fan, director-general of the International Food Policy Research Institute. In the latest Global Food Policy Report, he said that cities provided an opportunity to boost farmers’ income, provided that they were effectively connected to strong value chains. According to the report, cities provided opportunities for rural smallholders to increase income by connecting to larger urban markets and wealthier urban consumers. Small farmers could provide an important source of diverse and nutritious foods for urban consumers. However, in the developing world, the links between these areas were often weak, hindering growth and development. “In Nigeria, 60% of rice purchased in…

BEWARE OF YOUR OWN BEHAVIOUR AT WORK What we know today as ‘management’ took many centuries to evolve. For most of history, leadership was regarded as little more than the ability and strength of will to issue orders and kill anyone who disobeyed. During the 1500s, Italian politician and philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli, became one of the first thinkers to appreciate that both fear and love play a part in making leaders more powerful and effective. Some 250 years later, in The Wealth of Nations, economist Adam Smith described how productivity could be increased through the division of labour. Then, in the late 19th century, economist Alfred Marshall and others started recognising the theoretical underpinnings of management as a profession. The Harvard Business School was established in 1908, and the MBA…

A FARMER IS NEVER TOO YOUNG TO START THINKING ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANNING IN THE FAMILY FARMING BUSINESS Over the last couple of years, there have been many changes in the way farmers manage their businesses. Not very long ago, there was a mad rush to establish trusts, given the advantages that it could offer farmers in terms of asset protection. However, SARS noted this and is slowly but surely busy reviewing the relevant legislation. It is clear that there are significant risks associated with farming in your own name, and hence the importance of looking at other business structures, such as trusts and companies, or closed corporations. TRUST BENEFITS Trusts can still be used as an effective estate planning tool to protect assets on behalf of minors and other beneficiaries.…

Fifteen years ago, farmer Gerrie Nieuwoudt was given amaranth seeds by a man looking for farmers to grow the crop locally, with a view to eventually start exporting the grain to Europe. Knowing nothing about the crop, Gerrie asked his friend Paul Schlechter, who worked as a manager on a farm near Clanwilliam, to plant the seeds in his farm garden. The results were surprising. “With hardly any inputs, the seed produced plants that flourished like weeds,” Gerrie recalls. “Paul harvested some of the seed and returned it to me. We didn’t experiment with [the food potential of] the seed, though, because we were totally unfamiliar with it back then.” Gerrie placed the amaranth seeds at the back of a cupboard and forgot about them. At that time he was…

The much-anticipated Valtra A-series, launched at the SIMA show in Paris, received an important accolade when the A104 model was named SIMA Machine of the Year 2017 in the category for tractors under 118kW. The A104 is one of seven A-series models ranging from 56kW to 97kW. It features the largest cab in its class, with considerable driving comfort and excellent ergonomics. Visibility is exceptional; there is no less than 5,5m² of window glass, plus the option of a high-visibility roof. This makes the A104 HiTech a superb loader tractor. The A104 is powered by an AGCO Power 4,4-litre, four-cylinder, Tier 4 diesel engine that produces 75kW with 410Nm torque. The model has many of the features that found favour with users of the N and T series, but transmission…

DEVELOP A GOOD TROT BY ENSURING THAT YOUR HORSE IS ENGAGED AND LIGHT ON THE FOREHAND Horses and ponies can be shown across a wide variety of categories. There are classes for different heights, based mainly on conformation and paces; classes for working horses, focused on performance, including the ability to jump fences; and classes for breeds, which can be shown in-hand or under saddle. There are also classes for working hunters and show hunters, among many others. A show horse must have a pleasing appearance. This includes looking good, moving elegantly and being well-mannered. Conformation and ‘presence’ are key. SHOWING A HACK The hack as a type of show horse has its origins in the days when it was fashionable to ride in a town’s streets and parks. Hacks…

Dear Jonno My latest information tells me that it will cost about R5 000/m2 to build a cottage I have in mind. Despite this cost, I am keen to proceed. I have contacted a supplier of building material, and we have discussed putting together a 60m2 cottage that I can afford. If you are interested, I would like you to design a plan, please. There must be extra space in the bathroom, between the toilet and bidet, to accommodate my wheelchair. Also, according to my municipality, the stoep, garages and carport do not add to the size. Kind regards, Cecile Dear Cecile Thank you for your latest request. I’ve conceptualised a layout for a 60m² cottage that is hopefully also wheelchair friendly. As shown, the cottage construction is in phases.…

After a career in pharmaceuticals and IT, Barbara Mutch, born in South Africa, rewarded herself with the opportunity to write. The result was the bestselling THE HOUSEMAID’S DAUGHTER (Headline Review, R195), an enthralling drama played out in the early days of Cradock. Her second novel, THE GIRL FROM SIMON’S BAY (Allison & Busby, R290), is set in Simon’s Town from the 1930s onwards. It’s a Romeo-and-Juliet style saga of love lost, found and confounded by social convention and encroaching apartheid politics. She explains: • Facts My career was fact-driven and now I do extensive research in archives such as the British Museum to make sure my setting is plausible. • Context The thorn trees of the Karoo and its starkness were important parts of The Housemaid’s Daughter; they evoke the area for…

A THIRD OF ALL FOOD PRODUCED IS WASTED, CONTRIBUTING 8% OF GREENHOUSE GASES “There are many factors that govern a consumer’s food purchasing decisions. The most basic are an individual’s physiological drivers, and specific needs and preferences. There are also external influences such as marketing, religion, culture and health considerations. Inevitably, people influence each other, leading to trends, which can be defined as similar behaviour and consumption choices amongst large sections of the population. Small changes in any of the factors that influence consumer behaviour can lead to large-scale consumption trends. DEMOGRAPHIC DRIVERS It is estimated that the global population will grow 13% by 2030, with Africa accounting for more than half of this growth. Currently, 41% of Africa’s population are children under the age of 15. A similar trend…

‘YOU ARE NO LONGER THE ONLY TARGET’ Today, I want to talk about the unfolding attack on liberal democracy and the Constitution, the decline of the ANC, and the relevance of this to agriculture. The story starts in Port Elizabeth in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. Andile Lungisa, a young radical, defied Gwede Mantashe and was elected regional chairperson of the ANC. His goal is to win back the metropole for the ANC and his platform is crime and land expropriation without compensation. “We are going to make sure that all vacant land is acquired quickly, so that even youngsters have access to land,” he said, adding that “Section 25 of the Constitution must be amended”. This was in direct contradiction to a decision made by the ANC in…

THE SARAH BAARTMAN DISTRICT IS THE DRIEST IN THE PROVINCE, YET IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN DECLARED A DROUGHT AREA Despite all the money claimed to have been spent by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) on drought relief, the assistance that commercial farmers in the Eastern Cape have received has been minimal. This was according to Agri Eastern Cape president Douglas Stern. He was responding to a DAFF statement on the progress made with its drought relief programme in eight provinces. “The only assistance our commercial farmers received in the Eastern Cape was lucerne, which was given to our farmers in the north-eastern parts of the province early in 2016,” he said. “I’m not aware of any other form of drought aid given to…

The Competition Commission (CompCom) recently raided the offices of fresh produce market agencies at the Johannesburg and Tshwane fresh produce markets after allegations of price-fixing surfaced. According to a CompCom statement, the agencies being investigated were the Botha Roodt Group; Subtropico; RSA Group; Dapper Market Agents; DW Fresh Produce; Farmers’ Trust; Noordvaal Market Agents; Marco Fresh Produce Market Agency; and Wenpro Market Agents. It was alleged that the agencies, who serve as intermediaries between farmers and buyers, were involved in prohibited, coordinated activities aimed at undercutting smaller agencies by charging far below the market price for certain agreed upon periods during a trading day. The agencies allegedly kept their prices unsustainably low during these periods, then quickly increased prices significantly as soon as the smaller agencies ran out of stock,…

THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN INSECT- AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES An increase in insect- and tick-borne diseases has been reported in many areas where good rainfall has been received. Chris Nel, a veterinarian in Harrismith, KwaZulu-Natal, told Farmer’s Weekly that there had been a definite increase in insect- and tick-borne diseases among livestock. “Vets are seeing three-day stiff-sickness, redwater, lumpy skin disease and anaplasmosis. Vaccination can make a difference to lumpy skin disease and redwater, but isn’t as effective [against] three-day stiff-sickness and is difficult to administer. Fortunately, there aren’t many mortalities from three-day stiff-sickness,” he said. According to the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa’s disease report for February 2017, it was unacceptable that so many cases had been reported, as they could be curbed with vaccination. African and…

There were many obstacles to contend with when importing grain into South Africa or when exporting to countries like Singapore or Taiwan from South Africa. Looking back over a season of higher than usual grain imports as a result of severe dry conditions experienced throughout the southern region of the continent, the trade director of Seaboard Overseas Trading and Shipping, Japie Snyman, told delegates at the Grain Handling Organisation of Southern Africa (GOSA) symposium that the South African government had not created a conducive environment for imports. Strict phytosanitary measures imposed on maize and wheat had applied. However, although rail and road transport logistics, as well as port congestion, were noteworthy challenges under normal circumstances, it had worked very well the past season considering the large imports of grain, Snyman…

MOST TROUT FARMERS WILL CONFIRM JUST HOW HOSTILE THINGS HAVE BECOME A hospital stay, followed by a long period of recuperation, has been a most humbling experience for me. It has also given me time to put the events of the past three decades into perspective. Looking back 35 years, I think of the small pond farm we had near Barberton, producing fingerlings to stock farm dams, and selling tilapia at our farm store to the local farmworkers. In those days, the then Department of Environmental Affairs made founder brood stock available from its hatchery near Marble Hall. It was also very active in trout production and research at the Lydenburg and De Kuilen hatcheries. There was an extremely constructive relationship with the private sector. In the Kruger National Park…

THERE IS INCREASING APPRECIATION FOR THE BENEFITS OF HOOF TRIMMING Johan Combrink, nicknamed ‘Johan Hoewe’, has pioneered proper management of cattle hooves in the South African beef production industry. The hoof protects the foot, and its outer structures are the first line of defence against foreign objects and infection. BACKGROUND Johan, who trained under well-known Brahman breeder, Manie Maritz, says that many conditions can be prevented with effective hoof trimming. After seeing hydraulic chutes for immobilising cattle in the US, he designed his own Sound hoof management procedures can greatly reduce hoof problems in all types of animals, including cattle, and a well-organised hoof care programme will contribute to the long-term sustainability and profitability of any concern, he says. He has also branched out into the management of game species’…

The nutritional value of amaranth is greatly influenced by the species type and the product produced. According to a paper by the Agricultural Development Research Institute of the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape, the cooked grain has traditionally been given to those recovering from illness because of its high digestibility. The grain has a higher protein content than most, ranging from 8,8% to 19,5%. However, what is more significant is the quality of the protein; in amaranth, it is made up of highly prized amino acids, including lysine and a number of sulphur-containing amino acids, which are scarce in the protein produced by other plants. According to the paper, amaranth, in combination with wheat, maize or brown rice, results in a complete protein, as high in food…

Having started out with nothing six years ago, Dumisa, now 32, employs four people and has 35 Dormer sheep. He also owns a stud Brahman bull and stud Boran bull, and farms 72 Boran x Nguni beef cattle on leased land near Ugie. He mixes his own feeds and milks 44 dairy cattle, producing about 260l to 300l of milk daily, which he supplies to 11 schools as part of the government’s nutrition programme. He has also planted more than 5ha to cabbages, rye grass and oats. His mother, Elmina Nowethu Magidigidi, says that while she is very happy that Dumisa has managed to make a career out of farming, it makes her even prouder to see how the community respects him for what he has achieved. Dumisa’s passion for…

WHEN CONDITIONS ARE TOUGH, A PLANT WILL PRODUCE A SMALLER FRAME TO HELP IT SURVIVE A crop has no way of ‘knowing’ or ‘sensing’ your good intentions. Instead, it responds to the prevailing conditions as a means of self-preservation. If you intervene too late to correct a problem, the plant would already have made other provisions to help it survive, but with a reduced yield. Plants in the wild are in fierce competition with one another and face numerous hazards: bad weather, infertile soil, hungry pests and more. It all comes down to survival of the fittest, and the ability of a species to survive and reproduce is stamped into its genetic make-up. Many ‘survival genes’ from wild, ancestral forms are present in modern domesticated crop plants. Understand this and…

75% OF PEOPLE EJECTED FROM A CAR DURING A CRASH ARE KILLED It’s a surprising fact that there are still many people who refuse to wear a seat belt. Seat belt wear rates for all occupants in a car varies from 70% to over 95% in EU countries, but in South Africa the average wear rate is a mere 56%. Many people who don’t wear a seat belt seem to hold on to the teenage fantasy that “it will never happen to me”. About 75% of all vehicle occupants ejected from a car during a crash do not survive. A common and disturbing sight is strapped-in grownups accompanied by children bouncing, or even standing, on the seats. One way to understand why this is dangerous is to remember Isaac Newton’s…

THE SHORTCUT IS NOT ALWAYS THE QUICKEST WAY HOME We once had a man on our farm who built fences better than anyone else I knew. He always seemed to be making very little progress, but he got the job done because he did it correctly the first time. I would see him sometimes spending an entire day erecting a corner post. He would pack the soil and stones in so tightly that the post would never move. His fence was as straight as a ruler. Many of our friends would remark on the accuracy of the fence line, the position between each standard and dropper, and the perfect spacing between the barbed wire strands. The man took a great deal of pride in his work. He only seemed to…

‘I READ BOOKS BECAUSE I LOVE THEM, NOT BECAUSE I THINK I SHOULD READ THEM’ – SIMON VAN BOOY (1975-) THE SPORT COACH by Jannie Putter (Kwarts, R200) The psychological coach of the Golden Lions, Putter regularly appears on TV’s Groot Ontbyt. His thought-provoking book is aimed at helping coaches and teachers hone their approach by using guidance and leadership techniques from sports psychology. It offers answers to difficult questions that perplex even our national teams, such as: “How do you teach athletes to win?”, looks at applications of well-known techniques such as visualisation, and acknowledges the impact of 21st-century realities, particularly social media. NIGHT SCHOOL by Lee Child (Bantam, R295) Child leaps back two decades to a Germany still twitchy about the diminuendo…

Tinashe Kapuya’s column titled, ‘The one-million jobs mantra: it’s time to get real’, (FW, 3 March) refers. Kapuya mentions the 6th Chapter of the National Development Plan (NDP), which sets out a vision of creating an integrated and inclusive rural economy. According to the ANC, the agricultural sector is expected to create an additional one million jobs. Kapuya asks, “how will this be possible?” I want to echo that question. JOBS IN SHORT SUPPLY Despite heavy rain in some provinces, some areas are still facing a ‘losing battle’ against the protracted drought. However, leaders in the three spheres of government, specifically at national level, keep reiterating that agriculture is a job-creating industry. Unfortunately, this is a sad lie. Not so long ago, over 3 000 RCL Foods employees working in…

Beef prices have strengthened week-on-week, as favourable rainfall countrywide has enabled producers to keep cattle on grazing for extended periods. This has resulted in farmers receiving better prices for weaner calves. However, due to the current herd building phase, fewer cattle are available for slaughter, and consumer prices have increased. This is according to an Absa Agri Trends report. Dr Pieter Prinsloo, first vice-chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) told Farmer’s Weekly that herd building was a slow process, with recovery taking at least 18 months. “One would have to re-evaluate the market closer to May when weaner calves from the previous season are marketable. There are short-, medium- and long-term impacts, as female animals take two years to be able to conceive, and one has to wait…

MANY COUNTRIES BAN FOREIGN LAND OWNERSHIP Many agricultural role players have expressed dismay about the recent publication of the controversial “Regulation of Agricultural Land Holdings Bill” in the Government Gazette. If promulgated into law, it would lead to the capping of land ownership by South African nationals and the prohibition of direct land ownership by foreigners. According to Annelize Crosby, legal and policy advisor of Agri SA, the concept of land ceilings had been hotly debated since 2011, and Agri SA had made it clear from the start that it was an ill-considered idea that would have a negative impact on agricultural production, as well as employment and food security. “Firstly, the bill is aimed at agricultural holdings. Why is commercial farm land being targeted for land reform, but mining…

Dairy products processor, Parmalat, has denied falsifying laboratory reports to hide the contamination of some of its products. The company was responding to a recent news story published by Rapport, which alleged that it had hidden the repeated and serious Salmonella and Listeria contamination of some of its products. The allegations apparently emerged during a dispute between Parmalat and ex-employee, Tertius Carstens, which had been mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Carstens, the former quality manager at Parmalat’s Bonnievale plant in the Western Cape, had reportedly been fired for trying to expose the alleged bacterial contamination, as well as the company allegedly falsifying laboratory reports. In its response, Parmalat said that the Rapport article had been triggered by a 2016 CCMA ruling between “a disgruntled…

Whereas the economies of most regions in the Western Cape are starting to recover from the 2008/2009 recession, economic growth in the Klein Karoo, and specifically Oudtshoorn and Kannaland, has remained dismal. At an ostrich information day held at the Oudtshoorn Research Farm, Willem Burger, district manager of Farmer Support and Development in the Klein Karoo, ascribed the poor economic recovery to the significant part played by agriculture in this region. “At first sight, primary agriculture seems like a very small contributor to the region’s economy. A closer glance, however, reveals that primary agriculture forms the backbone of many other industries, such as manufacturing, tourism and services,” Burger said. During his presentation on economic trends and opportunities in the Klein Karoo, he said that the gross domestic product growth rate…

Forestry scientists are conducting urgent research into wattle rust (Uromycladium acacia) management methods, which in the four years since being discovered in South Africa, has spread to over 110 000ha of commercial black wattle plantations, according to Craig Norris, chairperson of the Wattle Rust Project Steering Committee. While it was difficult to quantify the economic impact of this fungal disease, it had been estimated that 10% to 40% of black wattle production could be lost, depending on the severity of infection, he said. Research was currently being conducted into developing an integrated management strategy for the disease, Norris said. “This includes monitoring, impact assessment [as well as] chemical, tree breeding, and epidemiology research. The spread of wattle rust cannot be controlled and it is present throughout the growing area,” he…

Live modified microbes have been used extensively in the production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, special chemicals and feed additives. Now, application has been extended to food additives. This is because many fungi, bacteria and other microbes naturally synthesise products that can be used as additives in food production. Genetic modification enhances their efficiency. Also, they are renewable due to their fast reproduction, and leftovers are biodegradable. Three requirements have to be met: the microbe must be able to naturally produce the additives; it must be able to be cultured for use in fermentation factories; and the final food product must contain no live GM microbes. Here are a few examples: vitamins B2, E101, C, E300; xanthan from Xanthomonas bacterium as thickener; lysozyme and natamycin as preservatives; numerous enzymes used in cheese,…

Misconduct in the workplace can vary from minor to serious offences. Employers are required to have a disciplinary code in place that lists offences, as well as appropriate sanctions. An employer cannot dismiss an employee under any circumstances, even with a valid reason, without a disciplinary hearing. This is to ensure that fair procedure is followed and there is a substantive reason (proof) for dismissal. DEALING WITH MISCONDUCT To identify misconduct and enforce discipline in the workplace, employers should: • Investigate The employer must determine all the facts surrounding the misconduct. The investigation should be conducted in a fair and objective manner by a person with sufficient knowledge of the specific working environment. • Gather evidence The employer should confirm the facts surrounding the misconduct. Evidence can include witness statements, photographs, video…

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in conjunction with the University of the Free State (UFS), has been investigating commercial amaranth grain production since 2010. First attempts at production, however, were made at Roodeplaat at the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Research Institute from 1994 to 1996. The project, according to William Weeks, agricultural scientist at the North West Department of Agriculture, formed part of an incentive to produce the grain for the European market. “While the project proved that amaranth grain production was possible in the country, the project was not taken any further since European markets demanded an organically produced product, which, along with other constraints, prohibited further development,” he explains. (There were no organic-certification authorities in SA at the time). The…

A senior manager from one of South Africa’s largest markets was a guest speaker at a large conference I attended recently. Many farmers were in the audience. The manager gave a highly positive presentation on the market and the way forward. And therein was the problem. I know this market well, and as the minutes ticked by, his claims seemed more and more fantastic. Halfway through, I began asking myself, “Is he talking about a market I don’t know?” The facility he was describing was a shining example of what a market should be. It was bristling with wonderful services and ambitious future developments that should have had farmers and buyers queuing at the entrance. I could only shake my head; in reality this market is precisely the opposite. It’s…

GOLDEN PRINCE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE LINEAGE WITH EXCELLENT GENETICS On 4 March, two South African pigeon fanciers paid a record price of €360 000 (about R5 million) for the handsome blue bar cock, Golden Prince. The best long-distance champion pigeon in Belgium’s history, it was auctioned by Gino Clicque, a Belgian pigeon breeder and West Flanders Belgian champion, in association with PIPA, an online pigeon auction site. The nail-biting bidding scuffle lasted 12 days, and included fanciers and breeders from several countries. The eventual winners were Samuel Mbiza and Mark Kitchenbrand. MEET THE BUYERS Mark made headlines in 2008 when he paid R800 000 for Birdy, the most expensive local and best-performing pigeon in the 21 years of South Africa’s Million Dollar Pigeon Race. Mark and his older brothers, Kevin…

This recipe requires manual effort, which means you will need several bowls, a whisk and forearms like Popeye the Sailor Man. Begin by separating the eggs, reserving the yolks and whites in separate bowls. Whisk the yolk vigorously then add the entire contents of a standard tin of condensed milk. Whisk again to mix the ingredients together. In the second bowl, using a clean whisk, beat the whites until they are stiff and form slight peaks. Pour in the 625ml of cream and mix them well together. Pour in the condensed milk and egg yolk mixture and whisk them to combine. Add the two teaspoons of vanilla essence, whisk yet again to evenly distribute the flavouring agent, then freeze under a clingfilm cover. While the ice cream is freezing, make…

Muscle movement on bone helps stimulate bone growth, and there are specific types of exercises that strengthen your bones. These are called ‘impact’ exercises because the feet or hands connect with the ground. When the feet strike a surface, the muscles contract and rub against the bones. Even jumping lightly on a hard surface, a wooden gym floor or a trampoline is an excellent impact-type exercise. Wrists and forearm bones become more prone to fractures with age. Weight training with free weights helps to strengthen the bones, as they require moving the body in three dimensions, compared with weight machines that reduce motion to two dimensions and decrease much of the impact. IMPACT EXERCISES Dumb-bell flyes, chest presses, bicep curls and tricep extensions, with at least 5kg weights, are all…

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN SEE YOUR EXACT LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS Over time, each area in South Africa has developed its own list of public and private sector emergency assistance providers. This profusion of contact numbers makes it difficult to source up-to-date, all-inclusive emergency services. Now, thanks to the free mySOS app, this is a problem of the past. With the aid of GPS, mySOS automatically generates a list of emergency numbers for your area. It also works the other way around: if you don’t know exactly where you are, mySOS will notify emergency services of your exact location, enabling them to find you. The app has three main tabs: • Emergency This provides keys for medical, police, fire, stroke/heart-attack and roadside assistance. You can also access poison and snake bite…

Predictably, the Constitutional Court has ruled that Cash Paymaster Services must continue to pay social grants for a further year, under strict conditions, despite the original contract being declared illegal years ago. It had no option but to do so to ensure that grant beneficiaries received their money on 1 April. Sassa could not find an alternative contractor to take over the payments at the eleventh hour. Culpability lies firmly with the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini. She should lose her job, but President Jacob Zuma is protecting her. Why? Your guess is as good as mine! Our country is lurching from crisis to crisis, relying on the courts to govern. But this is not the judiciary’s job; it’s Parliament’s, led by the president. Yet one had only to…