Table of contents for 12 May 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

The most frustrating aspect of the current status of the land reform process is the total lack of any clear plan or vision for the road ahead. A recent round table discussion about the role of public-private partnerships in land reform, hosted by Vumelana Advisory Fund in Johannesburg, only confirmed to me that there are no clear goals in sight for what South Africa hopes to achieve with land restitutions and transformation over the next decade or two. Vumelana, a non-profit organisation helping communities that are beneficiaries of the land reform programme to develop their land, has a clear goal: helping these communities generate sustainable economic activity on the transferred land. Many similar organisations are active in the land reform environment, and are trying to find the best model for…

CONFERENCES, Workshops & EXPOS 17 TO 19 MAY Red Meat Abattoir Association Congress, Stellenbosch. For more information, visit agbiz.co.za/ uploads/AgbizNews17/ 170302_RMAA.pdf. 23 MAY Annual Road Transport Legislation Workshop, Stellenbosch. Email admin@altaswanepoel.co.za, or visit altaswanepoel.co.za. 25 MAY Annual Road Transport Legislation Workshop, Durban. Email admin@altaswanepoel.co.za, or visit altaswanepoel.co.za. 30 MAY TO 3 JUNE Agri-finance for Non-financial Managers, Johannesburg. For more information, visit aspyregrowth.com. COURSES & TRAINING 8 TO 12 MAY Introduction to Poultry Production, ARC - AP, Irene. Email Aloubser@arc.agric.za, or PhashaT@arc.agric.za. 9 TO 11 MAY Foundations for Farming 3-Day Basic Conservation Agriculture, Beula Park, Meadowdale. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774, or email neill@vodamail.co.za. 15 TO 17 MAY Cattle Artificial Insemination, Bloemfontein. Phone Lily Isidoroon 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 17 MAY African Heritage Cooking and Preserving, Beula…

Why we cannot keep ignoring climate change Wandile Sihlobo is head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). Email him at wandile@agbiz.co.za. In January this year, I visited Malmesbury, a small agricultural town about 65km north of Cape Town. The town was brimming with excitement as local farmers had harvested one of the largest crops of wheat in years, with yields of roughly 3,8t/ha, compared to 3t/ha in 2015. Having just survived the recent El Niño spell that crippled crops across sub- Saharan Africa, the key challenge for wheat farmers in the Malmesbury region is the import tariff, with many seeking clarity about this trade policy as it influences the commodity market prices, and not the pervasive and dire effects of climate change. However, the west…

The presence of Huanglongbing (HLB), or Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (LAS), in Africa has become a source of concern for citrus researchers. HLB, also known as Asian greening, is a bacterial disease that infects citrus fruit and is spread by insects. According to Glynnis Cook, researcher at Citrus Research International (CRI), the bacteria was spread by the insect vector, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Cook said that while recent reports of LAS in Uganda and Tanzania could not be verified by recent surveys conducted by the CRI, in collaboration with Kenyan and Tanzanian researchers, the ACP vector had been confirmed in Tanzania. She said that this was concerning, as the ACP was likely moving down the coast towards South Africa. “The Asian vector is a more robust insect and might be more…

China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) and Syngenta recently announced that they had received approval from China’s ministry of commerce for the proposed R558 billion acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina, a stateowned chemical commpany. According to a statement issued by Syngenta, the EU and US authorities had also approved the deal. The transaction was expected to be finalised in May or June this year. Syngenta spokesperson, Violaine Delli, told Farmer’s Weekly that the signed agreement had allowed Syngenta to retain the same strategy, management and people. “As a result, we can continue to operate as a market leading innovator in seeds, traits and crop protection products, which will preserve the safety, reliability and diversity of the global food supply,” said Delli. “ChemChina recognises the value of Syngenta’s research and development and…

The European Commission (EU Commission) has issued a statement denying that it was dumping chicken into the South African market and that its poultry exports to South Africa were negatively affecting the local industry. However, Kevin Lovell, CEO of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), told Farmer’s Weekly that EU producers were using “the developing world as a waste disposal site”. According to the press statement, the aggregate poultry export figures for 2016 showed that SA’s imports of bone-in chicken from the EU had not exceeded 200 000t. “[This is] less than 10% of overall poultry consumption in South Africa. We fail to see how such a moderate market share should be the main cause of the problems,” the statement said. “[If this was an issue], SAPA would have filed…

As many as 1 000 bikers from across the country were expected to participate in a rally during late June, to create public awareness of farm attacks and murders in South Africa. The event, to be held in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, was also aimed at raising funds to help farmers improve security, and provide trauma counselling to farm attack victims. Mandy Rasmussen, the organiser of the Bikers Ride Against Farm Murders (BRAFM) rally, told Farmer’s Weekly that many bikers in SA felt that the country’s safety and security authorities were turning a blind eye to farm attacks and murders. She said that the organisers of the rally wanted to “create awareness at ground level of the importance of our farmers, and educate [people about] where our daily sustenance comes from”.…

Peter Hughes is a business and management consultant with 30 years’ farming experience. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Managing for Profit. Go to mycreditcheck.co.za. Follow the simple instructions and access your personal credit status. The website is provided by Compuscan, one of 14 registered credit bureaus in South Africa. They keep track of the credit status of 24 million ‘credit active’ consumers, including you, and sell the information to banks, retailers and others who provide credit or loans. (About 9,7 million of these consumers have an impaired credit standing, so be careful about who you lend money to!) I suspect you might not have heard of Compuscan, but unless you’ve had your head in the sand, the names Standard & Poor, Moody’s and Fitch must ring loud bells. These…

Contacts: Maritz Mouton: 082 783 1972 | Buks and Koos de Wet: 082 400 4935 Van Aardt Greyling: 082 782 7674 | Louwtjie Hanekom: 081 049 9201 | André Malherbe: 084 645 9335…

Despite being a small cheesemaking operation, Latana Cheese is slowly becoming a contender in the local market. At the World Jersey Cheese Awards in 2014, the cheesery’s Boerenkaas (a form of Gouda cheese) and yoghurt balls were awarded silver medals, while its haloumi, feta and Boerenkaas with green pepper received bronze medals. Latana Cheese has also excelled at the annual SA Dairy Championship, winning a bronze medal for its Boerenkaas in the semi-hard cheese (maximum age three months) category both this year and in 2015. In 2016, it took first place in the Dairy Snack Yoghurt (with condiments) category and won a bronze medal in the Any Type of Semi-hard or Hard Cheese (with or without condiments) category. Dean Lategan, co-owner of the company, is pleased with the cheesery’s results…

When you’re ready to buy a horse, you’ll notice that there are many wonderful candidates on the market. However, when you want to sell, you’ll see there aren’t that many willing homes. Therefore, it’s really important to remember that a horse is a lifelong commitment. The money you use to buy your horse is just a deposit; your horse will cost you, every day. At some point, we all have to come to terms with the fact that our beloved equine friend will become old. However, there are a few things you can do to help make the golden years of your horse’s life easier. CARING FOR AN OLD HORSE While it may seem idyllic, retiring your old horse to a farm is not a good idea, as old horses…

Treating eczema: Part 2 Most people think you have to apply something topically in order to improve the skin, but numerous articles stress the importance of oral probiotic consumption to reduce inflammation and decrease skin sensitivity. It all starts in the gut. Poor microbial balance in the gut leads to leaky gut syndrome and chronic inflammation. Research shows a clear relationship between gut problems and skin disorders such as eczema. The gut flora has a profound influence on the structural integrity of the skin. Gut flora imbalances lead to increased inflammation, possible infection of the skin cells and eczema. When the skin is irritated, the neuropeptide, Substance P, is produced, triggering inflammation. Individuals with abnormal bacterial balances have increased Substance P production. PROBIOTICS As noted, it’s not only the application…

This year, the Beefmaster Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa tour group visited breeders in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). 13 March: The bus departed from Wolmaransstad early in the morning, stopped in Kroonstad to pick up tour members, and from there travelled to Van Reenen where the entire group assembled. After enjoying a meal prepared by Charles and Ansia Campher of Sandspruit Beefmaster, everybody spent the night at the Pyramids Motel in Van Reenen. 14 March: The group departed early to Cas Joubert and sons’ Bergstroom Boerdery near Ingogo, also known as ALS Beefmasters. Explaining their breeding and selection philosophy, they gave the group a rundown of their Beefmaster herd’s origins. From there, the group travelled to Kobus Muller’s farm near Dundee, where members had the opportunity to see the herd’s progress…

Dr Jan Venter is a political analyst at Aginfo. Email him at aginfo@amtrends.co.za. The recent one-step downgrade of South Africa’s foreign-currency debt won’t change the picture substantially for Joe Public in the short term. In the longer term, however, it will cost more to obtain credit. For banks, the cost of borrowing on overseas markets and from the Reserve Bank will also go up, and these increased costs will then have to be levied against their clients. Therefore, tractors, credit cards, and everything else bought on loan will become more expensive. As you can surmise, ultimately the poorest among us will find it the most difficult. However, things will really go pear-shaped when investors that track investment-grade debt indexes are forced to sell off foreigncurrency bonds. This is not happening…

Bee colony populations in the Western Cape needed to double over the next four years in order to meet the growing demand for pollination caused by expanding crop production. This was according to Robert Post, a representative from the Western Cape Bee Industry Association. He said that an additional 30000 bee colonies needed to be established by 2021 to pollinate the new crops that were being planted in the province. “Exceptional amounts of highvalue, seed-producing plants, like carrots, leeks and cabbages, are being cultivated, along with the regular increase of traditional fruits such as plums, pears and apples,” said Post. He added that blueberry production, which was also heavily reliant on pollination, was increasing at an annual rate of 800%. Bee populations were severely effected by natural factors, including the…

The Durban High Court has dismissed Umfolozi Sugar Planters Limited’s (UCOSP) application to force iSimangaliso Wetland Park to artificially breach the Lake St Lucia Estuary mouth during flooding. Following a drawn-out legal battle, UCOSP and co-complainants, Paul van Rooyen and Petrus Maphumulo, were also ordered to pay iSimangaliso’s legal costs. Legal action was first instituted against iSimangaliso in August 2015, in which the complainants argued that iSimangaliso’s policy of allowing the uMfolozi River, which flows into the Lake St Lucia estuary, to back-flood upstream during incidences of high rainfall, threatened just over 90ha of sugar cane fields. The complainants sought an order compelling iSimangaliso to artificially breach the Lake St Lucia mouth to allow floodwaters in the uMfolozi River to flow into the Indian ocean. “Hanging in the balance was…

Ostrich skin quality impacts ostrich production earnings. Speaking at an ostrich information day at the Ostrich Research Farm in Oudtshoorn, Dr Anel Engelbrecht, an ostrich researcher at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, explained that ostrich skin prices varied greatly, and could earn anything between R50/ skin and R5 500/ skin. The average price is about R1 100/skin. Engelbrecht says that size, nodulation, defects and damage are the main determinants of leather quality and price. “The size of a skin may result in a R10 to R578 price increase for every square decimetre added, depending on the size category the skin falls into,” she explains. “Skin damage, however, may cause the downgrade of a Grade 1-sized skin, resulting in a R332 to R1 202 difference in what the skin could…

Nicholas James is an ichthyologist and hatchery owner. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Aquaculture. A Lowveld export fruit farmer, Hans (not his real name), has a farm north of Komati. His farm is situated at an altitude of 308m, and he uses water from the Lomati River for irrigation. Hans used 10ha of heavy clay soil, unsuitable for crop production, to construct a tilapia pond farm, and now produces over 100t of fresh fish every year, which he markets locally in Kangwane, Mpumalanga. This Lowveld region has water temperatures that range from about 30°C in summer, to between 15°C and 17°C for three months during winter. The growing season for tilapia is about eight months. POND MANAGEMENT Hans’ half-hectare ponds were carefully constructed to ensure that they were 100%…

Contacts: James Reeders: 082 860 6868 | Arnold Fouche: 083 754 7764 | GB Nel: 082 789 7715 | Jaco Nel: 083 276 4959…

Although South Africa’s climate is ideal for kiwifruit production, attempts to establish a green kiwifruit industry in the early 1980s foundered due to the use of incorrect varieties and local consumer resistance to what was then a little-known fruit. Malcolm Nicholson, owner of the 1 150ha mixed enterprise, Roselands Farm, near Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal, was one of the pioneers of green kiwifruit production in SA, planting a 7ha kiwi orchard on the farm in 1983. When his son, Peter, took over the running of Roselands in 2005, he retained the orchard. At this time, New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry, which began just prior to SA’s attempt, was thriving and had grown to 14 000ha. But Peter believed that the Chinese gooseberry, as the fruit is also known, still held potential for…

Amongst members of the agricultural community, FAW vehicles have become particularly popular, and the number of sales are growing year-on-year in this sector. Farmers choose FAW vehicles for their strong chassis, their grip and traction through manual transmissions, and the decent cab design for tough handling in-field, as well as on-road driving comfort. Last year’s interest in FAW’s stand at Nampo and its vehicles was astounding. LOCALLY PRODUCED FAW VEHICLES ARE WELL ENGINEERED AND AFFORDABLE According to Jianyu Hao, CEO of FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa, visitors to the FAW stand at Nampo 2016 remarked on the exceptional finish of its cabs, the reasonable pricing, and the modern look of its trucks. Hao also says that “customers have become ever more convinced of the inherent value for money FAW provides…

The Airbnb Story by Leigh Gallagher (Virgin, R320) Even in SA, the name Airbnb is likely to evoke praise or hisses. Bed and breakfast owners that have listed on the platform, however, have nothing but praise for Airbnb, having seen their bookings skyrocket. Like its disruptive predecessor, TripAdvisor, Airbnb evokes love or hate reactions: the kind of conflict that has the makings for a great story, and one that Gallagher, assistant managing editor at Fortune magazine, relished getting her teeth into. Airbnb made Fortune’s ‘unicorn’ list (for private companies worth more than US$1 billion [about R30 billion]) a long time ago, and is now valued at about US$30 billion (R401 billion) Gallagher knows how to narrate a good story and the conflict surrounding Airbnb, both past and future, gives her…

SA must learn from its neighbours’ mistakes The editor’s comment titled, ‘Coffee with Mantashe’ (FW, 28 April), refers. As a farmer, Gwede Mantashe should know how much management, time and effort it takes to run a successful and profitable business. Ownership of the land on which a farmer operates is crucial to the financial security and stability of the venture (agricultural land will not be developed if it is not owned). Yet, he espouses a garbled philosophy about the state owning the land. Much of what he says has already been tried without success elsewhere in Africa. Zimbabwe is only the latest example of this disastrous government policy. Don’t seize productive land to achieve short-term gains The ANC is essentially doing the same things many African states have already tried,…

The Merino indicator increased 1,5% and 239 points to close at R166,73 (clean). According to Cape Wools, while there was no sale in Australia during the past week, the wool market performed well locally on the back of a smaller offering, which mostly consisted of medium and long wool. Fine wool traded higher and good-quality, long wool increased nearly 2,6%. James de Jager, fibre manager at the the OVK/ CMW Group, said that wool of 18,7 micron (μ) and finer decreased 4%, while wool of 19μ and 23μ remained unchanged. However, wool of 20μ and 22μ gained 2%. “Our highest price of R168,10/ kg was achieved by AJ Raubenheimer of Somerset East for a BBFY1 lot of 16,9μ, [which was] purchased by New England,” De Jager said. According to De…

According to the latest estimates released by the South African Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), South African grain producers intended planting less wheat for the 2017/2018 production season, compared with that of the 2016/2017 season. Estimates were at 496 350ha of wheat for the 2017 season, 2,36% less, or 12 015ha fewer, than the 508 365ha planted in 2016. Wheat estimates, per province, were: Western Cape: 325 000ha; Free State: 90 000ha; Northern Cape: 35 500ha. The expected area planted to malting barley was 96 000ha, which was 8,24%, or 7 305ha, more than the previous year, while the expected area planted to canola was 90 000ha, 21 925ha more than was planted in 2016. The preliminary area estimate of winter crops for 2017 would be released on 26 July 2017.…

The UK has indicated that it will roll over existing trade arrangements to provide continuity and predictability following its exit from the EU. This was according to Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, who was speaking at a recent workshop held by the British Chamber of Business to discuss UK-SA trade after Brexit. The implication was that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed by the EU and the Southern African Development Community in June last year would form the basis of future trade negotiations between SA and the UK. “The EPA represents an improvement on the Trade Development Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) in that it harmonises the trading regime between SA’s Customs Union and the EU and provides new market opportunities for us,” said Davies. Under the EPA, SA also…

New molecular techniques enable researchers to discover new genes and determine the traits that their DNA codes control. Bread wheat accounts for 20% of global food and is an important part of the human diet. New efforts to improve wheat genetics are essential to raise food production efficiency. Genetics of modern bread wheat is complex, as this wheat was derived from three wild species that naturally inter-crossed, giving rise to a new species with three sets of DNA. It is possible to determine the DNA codes of part of a single plant’s wheat genetic system, or that of one variety. Researchers at the University of Western Australia extended this, as much as possible, to all wheat varieties in one species, Triticum aestivum (bread wheat). This process is known as pangenome…

Dawie Maree is head of Information and Marketing for Agriculture at FNB Business. For any queries, email fnbagricomms@fnb.co.za, or visit fnbagricomms.co.za. The first four months of 2017 have been characterised by much political and economic uncertainty. For the agricultural sector, this was the culmination of the uncertainty that had been experienced due to adverse climatic conditions since 2015. Last year saw the surprise election of Donald Trump as US president, as well as Brexit, which resulted in political and economic confusion in the EU. Locally, we went from the worst drought in history to almost record crops. More recently, South Africa’s sovereign credit-rating was downgraded to junk status. The fact of the matter is that in the medium term, uncertainty is here to stay, whether political, economic or climatic in…

Contacts: Danie Erasmus: 083 297 6165 | Jamie Berger: 084 416 3703 or Marius Nel: 083 983 7280 Albert Slabert: 083 455 8332 | Paul Maas Family Trust: 083 655 3602…

Timeous and effective weaning enables a cow to calve every year by allowing her sufficient time to regain her condition after weaning. This, in turn, allows the farmer to produce as many calves as possible from his/ her breeding stock. WHEN TO WEAN The ideal weaning age of calves is between seven and eight months. Wean the calf before the cow’s condition score drops below 2,5. During times of drought and poor feed supply, wean calves at a younger age (just before six months) to allow the cow to recover before winter starts. In the eastern regions of SA, wean calves born during spring in early May, at the age of about seven to eight months. In western regions, wean calves born during spring in early June (also at seven…

We human beings are a strange bunch sometimes. We want our independence and freedom, but we allow government to drown us in legislation. It doesn’t help to blame the parliamentarians for making laws we don’t like, as we put those politicians in power! There’s a load of legislation affecting markets and market agents, and I sometimes wonder how much of it is really necessary for a smooth functioning market sector. The bureaucrats will point to numerous examples of why we need these rules to govern us. I’ve no doubt they’ll be right in many cases, but I remain eternally optimistic and believe people can also regulate themselves. I’m not suggesting we scrap all of these laws, but I am asking if we’re not overburdened by them at times. The element…

The importance of good genetics in racing pigeons cannot be understated. The foundation stock of South Africa’s renowned pigeon racing loft, Kitchenbrand’s Loft, is a case in point. Co-owned by Mark Kitchenbrand, the Kitchenbrand’s Loft’s Ace Pigeons are bred for performance and speed, and the loft’s incredible gene pool is sourced from the best genetic stock worldwide. The genetic strength of top racing pigeons will secure results on race day. As such, ambitious fanciers are continuously on the hunt for top genetic pigeon stock, which results in them often purchasing offspring from the same foundation stock. Therefore, the genetic composition of champion Olympiad pigeons in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, for example, may often intertwine, making them distant relations of each other. Because they are also sellers, the offspring of…

As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, here’s a dish to banish the winter woes. This, fellow pasta fans, is a blend of Greek and Italian flavours: a lasagna with delicate oyster mushrooms, subtle ricotta and Parmesan cheese, and the tang of basil and tomato sauce. First, the sauce. Whizz the tomatoes and their juice in a food processor for two seconds. Crush, peel and chop the garlic. Bring the olive oil to medium heat in a large frying pan, then add the garlic and stir for 60 seconds. Pour in the tomatoes, their juice, salt, and the brown sugar. Let this simmer and thicken. Tear the basil leaves by hand and add them to the mix. Cover and reserve for later. Now for the major stuff: Drop…

Learning to walk on water I recently came across a beautiful saying: “If our circumstances find us in God, we shall find God in all our circumstances.” Think about that for a moment. If you farm according to the principles God has set before you, whatever happens to you, God will be there with you. “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose,” says Romans 8:28. In Hebrews 13:5, the Lord promises that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. If we live according to Godly principles, we won’t be exempt from drought, fire, disease or bankruptcy. But we do know one thing; in every circumstance, God will be present. DO YOUR…

Up to 30% of crop yields are lost worldwide each year due to plant diseases and pests, says Simone Strey, CEO of Peat (peat.technology). With this in mind, Peat has developed Plantix. Simply put, users send in photos of ailing plants, and the app endeavours to reveal the cause. The more Plantix is used, the more photos are added to its database, and the more accurate it will become. The app’s artificial neuronal network is constantly learning. In this way, Peat is building “a globally unique database”, says Strey. In turn, the app provides users with customised information concerning best practices, including information on preventative measures. Since June 2015, more than 100 000 pictures have been analysed by Plantix. “We’ve received more than 10 000 pictures from India alone,” says…