Table of contents for 19 May 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

The latest World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa Competitiveness Report released earlier this month, recognises the need to upscale farming and agro-processing, if the farming sector is to really contribute to alleviating Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Africa’s working-age population is expected to grow by almost 70%, or 450?million people, between 2015 and 2035. The report predicts that if current trends continue, only 100 million will find stable employment opportunities. Those countries that are able to enact policies conducive to job creation are likely to benefit from this population growth. Those that do not, are “likely to suffer demographic vulnerabilities resulting from large numbers of unemployed and/or underemployed youth”. Since almost all new jobs in Africa today are in agriculture and microenterprises, the report says that improving the business environment in these…

Thomas Kelly: So, government owns all land? It already owns all mineral rights and we can see the stellar results government has produced in the mining sector. If you own a farm, it is time to sell it and buy land elsewhere. Botswana looks good – farm there, because you will have a ready market here waiting and able to pay high prices (because local food prices are going to go up). Strip the emotion from it and adjust to the reality of what the ANC wants and plan accordingly. Simo Socikwa: The ANC is trapped in the Cold War era, 27 years after communism collapsed. There is a notion that communism failed because of its incorrect application, not because it is inherently illogical. Everything else the ANC does, or…

Astral Foods (Astral) was granted a High Court order that forced Eskom not to cut electricity supply to its Standerton facility in the Lekwa Muncipality in Mpumalanga. The order was attained after Astral objected to planned Eskom electricity cuts following the municipality’s failure to pay the power utility, according to an Astral statement. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Andy Crocker, managing director of Astral’s commercial division, said Lekwa Muncipality had a constitutional obligation to supply services, including electricity, to the people and businesses in the municipal area. “We have now forced an agreement with Eskom whereby it will not cut off electricity to the Lekwa Municipality as long as Astral, the largest consumer of electricity in the municipal area, continues to pay Eskom directly,” said Crocker. However, under the conditions of…

The unprecedented fruit drop of navel oranges, described as being the worst in living memory, was threatening the export of both grades one and two of the Eastern Cape harvest. Both the main citrus producing areas in the Eastern Cape, namely the Sundays River Valley and Gamtoos Valley, had been the hardest hit by the fruit drop, the cause of which remained unknown. “At first we thought the harvest might be 30% lower, but now we’re thinking it might be down by 50% or more,” said Hannes de Waal, managing director of the Sundays River Citrus Company (SRCC). “The impact could be even as much as between four or five million 15kg-cartons.” Initially, it was believed that the fruit drop was caused by a build-up of salinity due to irrigation…

While olive oil production has doubled over the past six years, there is still much more room for growth, according to Benedetta Lami, agent for Mori-Tem and Oliomio olive oil processing equipment in South Africa. Celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary in South Africa in Stellenbosch, Lami told Farmer’s Weekly that sales of processing equipment had been consistently growing, with many customers upgrading their equipment to meet rising demand. There had also been a great improvement in the quality of South African olive oil over the years, she said. “Efforts to improve processing and storage conditions in terms of timing, temperature control and hygiene, is reflected in the good quality of our virgin olive oil. When I take samples of locally produced olive oil to international shows, people are often surprised…

The first winter cereals intentionto- plant report released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) showed canola producers were aiming to plant about 32,21% more hectares for the 2017 season for a total estimated area of 90 000ha. If this figure were realised, it would result in the second biggest area planted to canola since 2005. (The largest area to date was the 95 000ha planted in 2014.) The increase was likely due to the higher profit margins expected for canola compared to wheat this season, said Koos Blanckenberg, chairperson of Grain SA’s Canola Specialist Committee. However, more hectares did not automatically translate into a bigger crop, he warned. “Canola yield is a lot more sensitive than its winter grain counterpart, wheat, to weather extremes, such as too dry or too…

Early indications were that aboveaverage rainfall could be expected during early winter in some areas of South Africa’s winter rainfall regions, prediction scientist at Weather South Africa, Cobus Olivier, said in a recent statement. He also predicted aboveaverage rainfall for the drought-stricken areas in the south-western regions of the country. According to Olivier, although temperature forecasts for the period were inconsistent, the majority seemed to indicate a higher chance of colder than usual winter conditions in the north-eastern parts of the country, while warmer winter conditions were expected over the south-western parts. ‘PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE EL NIÑO EVENT’ The possibility of an El Niño event occurring during next spring and summer also remained. Should El Niño manifest, SA could, once again, find itself…

South Africa’s reigning blade and machine sheep shearing champions retained their titles after the actionpacked SA National Sheep Shearing Championships held at the Bloem Show. World champion blade shearer, Mayenzeki Shweni, who was also out to defend his national title, was a clear favourite. Earlier this year, he retained his world champion title during the World Sheep Shearing Championships in New Zealand. The Eastern Cape shearer was calm and collected as he swiftly cut the fleece from his batch of sheep in a blazing time in the SA Blade Shearing finals. The SA Open blade finals saw more of the same, with Shweni breezing ahead of the competition for an easy win. The machine events were no less exciting, with defending champion, Giullaume Strydom, making short work of his batch…

Dr Koos Coetzee is an agricultural economist at the MPO. All opinions expressed are his own and do not reflect MPO policy. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Global Farming. With 2018 maize prices at or below R2 000/t on Safex, well-meaning consultants are likely to advise maize farmers not to plant maize as they will be unable to cover their cost at the future product prices. This is an example of how the incorrect use of income and cost figures can result in lower, not higher, income. Income and cost analysis can only be done correctly if you have a proper understanding of fixed and variable costs and other factors: • Fixed & variable costs Even if you produce nothing, you still have to cover fixed costs. When you…

Michael Cordes, formerly a farmer, is an agricultural journalist, consultant and trainer. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Subtropical Fruit. AVOCADOS SA Avocado Growers’ Association turns 50 Farmers can be notoriously independentminded when it comes to their farming operations. But South Africa’s avocado growers have shown how that streak of independence can be turned to the good of their industry. The story begins in 1967 when the first meeting of South African avocado growers was held in Tzaneen to look at ways to better promote and sell South African avocados locally and abroad. The result was the creation of a voluntary organisation, the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA), which has become a beacon for others in the agricultural sector. This journey has seldom been easy, but these farmers have…

LARGER DROPLET SIZE Fine water droplets are easily carried away by the wind and evaporate rapidly, wasting many litres of water. Larger, relatively uniform droplets, by contrast, are less susceptible to wind drift and evaporation. It therefore makes sense to upgrade to sprinkler heads that distribute droplets like these. They maintain the sprinkler’s pattern in adverse weather conditions, and are not so large as to disrupt soil structure. In addition, when less water is lost, the sprinklers can run for shorter intervals, saving water and energy. LOWER PRESSURES Low-pressure sprinkler heads (0,7 to 1,7 bars) reduce pumping demand without significantly reducing flow, so crops can continue to receive an adequate volume of water. Energy savings vary depending on the specific irrigation system, but growers can expect to see savings of…

The demand for ostrich meat and leather traditionally follows a counter-cyclical pattern, with strong demand for one counterbalancing weak demand for the other. Currently, however, the market for both commodities is subdued. This is according to ostrich farmer Joey Potgieter, who farms on Welbedacht near Oudtshoorn. The result has been a decline in slaughter numbers from an annual average of 239 000 birds to 120 000 birds during the 2014/2015 season. According to the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, approximately 180 000 birds are expected to be slaughtered this season. Joey is managing the present situation in three ways: by diversifying production, trying to keep costs low, and vertically integrating into the market. VERTICAL INTEGRATION Joey was involved in the establishment of Ostriland Meat in 2014, which was formed to…

Wealth manager, Jack Probart, started Eden Aquaponics in 2013 on Shanzeley Farm between George and Uniondale in the Langkloof to prove to himself and others that aquaponics is a sustainable way to increase food production. The technique is renowned for using fewer resources, such as land, water and fertiliser, than open-field production systems. The first two years at Eden Aquaponics were devoted to getting the system right. During the past two years, the focus has been on fine-tuning. “My father did a lot of research before starting the project and found little information tailored to the unique production conditions of South Africa,” explains Ruann Coleman, marketing and logistics manager at Eden Aquaponics. “With the system and production management under control, we’ve actually started making money from commercial sales.” The company’s…

Remove the pips from the olives and dates. Section the fowl into drumsticks, thighs, wings attached to onethird of the breast, and the remaining two-thirds breast sections. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Crush, peel and mince the garlic. Using a zesting tool, collect the zest from half an orange and half a lemon. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Select a large, heavy-based frying pan, pour in the olive oil, and bring this up to medium heat on the hob. Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper, then let them sizzle in the hot oil skin-side down for 10 minutes, then on the other side for 10 minutes. Transfer the pieces from the frying pan to an ovenproof casserole dish and fit the lid. Add the bacon to…

Let go of the past Do you have any bitterness from your past? Well, the Lord says very clearly that we need to let go and forgive. “For whose sake?” you might ask. For your sake, not for the person who has wronged you. Forgiving will help you move on. I read an article about a woman who, at the age of 92, never missed a chance to tell people how her sister had refused to buy her a pair of shoes 50?years before. For half a century, she had been marinating in the gall of hostility! The writer of the article reminds us of Acts 8:23: “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” DROP THE BAG OF CEMENT YOU’VE BEEN CARRYING FOR YEARS…

REAL MEAL REVOLUTION: BANTING 2.0 by Jonno Proudfoot & team (Burnet, R190) With the long-running battle over charges of professional misconduct against Prof?Tim Noakes resolved in his favour, his much-followed Banting diet looks set for another surge in popularity. This second edition offers many testimonials from Banting converts and draws on recent studies to reinforce its convictions and offer reader-friendly action plans. THE EXECUTIVE UPDATE by Ian Mann (Zebra, R180) An executive summary is code for relieving you of the tedium of reading a long report, an approach that business consultant, Mann, has cleverly adapted to give tasters of “the latest business ideas”. So you can either learn about the latest management trends in detail or you can skim through the book and focus only on those that appeal to…

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 22 TO 26 MAY Africa Land-use Veld Management, Pretoria. Email info@alut.co.za. 23 TO 24 MAY Aquaponics, Grahamstown. For more information, email info@aquaafrica.co.za. 24 MAY Boer Goats South Africa – Profitable Boer Goat Farming, Potchefstroom. Phone Johan Steyn on 072 594 4626, or visit boergoats.co.za. 25 TO 26 MAY BLUP for Commercial Farmers, ARC - AP, Irene. Email Aloubser@arc.agric.za, or PhashaT@arc.agric.za. 29 MAY TO 2 JUNE…

Wandile Sihlobo is head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). Email him at wandile@agbiz.co.za. The over-emphasis of the Eastern Cape’s economic challenges often overshadows its potential. Yes, it’s true the province’s unemployment is above the national rate of 26,5%, with youth unemployment also higher than the national figure of 35,6%. But the discussion shouldn’t end there. The Eastern Cape plays an important role in South Africa’s economy, contributing approximately 8% to the national GDP. This makes it the fourth largest contributor to GDP after Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN THE EASTERN CAPE While typically considered a ‘rural province’, the Eastern Cape’s economy is dominated by secondary and tertiary sectors, such as manufacturing and…

Wool traded lower and the Merino indicator dropped 4,4% and 729 points to close at R159,44 clean, while the Australian index gained 2,6%. This followed a good run in which the SA market consistently traded higher for four consecutive periods. According to Cape Wools, there was improved trade in fine, medium and strong wool. Demand for good-quality, long fleece wool remained strong, with 93% of the 11 631 bales on offer sold. Competition was good, with Standard Wool the top buyer, followed by Modiano. According to wool and fibre manager at CMW, James de Jager, wool of 18,7 microns (μ) and finer lost 2%, while wool of 19μ to 21μ lost 3%. “The stronger wool of 22μ to 23μ was also down, but [only] by as little as 1%,” De…

The degradation of wetlands in Africa is destroying lives and driving migration from the continent to Europe, according to a report by Wetlands International. In the Sahel, the semi-arid ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition in Africa between the Sahara to the north and the savanna of Sudan to the south, displacement and conflict are common. The insurgence of people has resulted in, amongst others, the Lake Chad basin losing 95% of its surface area due to water abstraction for irrigation. Juriaan Lahr, head of international assistance at the Netherlands Red Cross Society, said humanitarian organisations needed to join forces to find sustainable solutions. “We need to better understand the complex and multi-faceted drivers of involuntary migration, social conflict and poverty, which may be rooted in the depletion of natural…

Timeous weed management before the start of the 2017/2018 maize planting season is vital to prevent the outbreak of pest infestations such as red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), according to Sam Kramer, Monsanto’s agriculturist based in Bothaville. Considerable damage was caused by red spider mite in maize lands during the past production season. “We have seen incidences where as much as 20% of a maize field of 90ha was destroyed by the mites,” he said. The mites tend to live in weeds during winter, from where they emigrate to maize lands. Scouting fields during the planting period is therefore vital. Kramer said the mites could usually be found in marginal areas of a maize field. If the mites colonised maize plants before the green mealie stage the entire land’s maize…

Agriculture minister, Senzeni Zokwana, recently told Reuters in an exclusive interview that government was considering creating a strategic reserve of maize to buffer the country against future shortages. “If we have a bumper crop this year, how do we make sure we have some grain that is reserved for darker days?” he asked. While the idea of stockpiling maize sounded like a solution to South Africa’s climatic woes, Tinashe Kapuye, head of international trade and investment intelligence at Agbiz, said it had not been properly thought through. Firstly, the World Trade Organization only allowed members to stockpile up to 10% of its production value, based on prices attained between 1986 to 1988. “During that period, South Africa produced an average of 9,3?million tons of maize per year at a value…

South Africa’s National Treasury has indicated it still plans to implement a tax on the sugar content of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) as soon as possible. This was despite the tax’s original driver, former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, being replaced earlier this year by Malusi Gigaba. Responding to questions from Farmer’s Weekly, Treasury said that the policy issues with which it dealt, such as the proposed ‘sugar tax’, were independent of the personal views of individual finance ministers. Gordhan first announced the proposed tax in his national budget speech of February 2016. “The proposal to impose tax on sugary beverages came as a result of a growing global concern regarding obesity from the overconsumption of sugar, especially from sugar sweetened beverages,” said Treasury. “The problem of obesity has grown over…

The Virtual Irrigation Academy (VIA) is a website where farmers can learn how to improve crop yields through better management of irrigation water, soil nutrients and salinity levels. The system introduces simple tools for managing irrigation more effectively through monitoring, observation, and experimentation. The project is headed by Dr Richard Stirzaker of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Partner country project leaders include Dr Brian Isabirye of the Association for Strengthening Agriculture in Eastern and Central Africa; Dr Isaac Fandika, Malawi Department of Agricultural Research Services; Dr Eliakim Matekere of Tanzania’s National Irrigation Commission; and Dr Joe Stevens of the University of Pretoria. AFRICA CAN LEARN MANY LESSONS FROM AUSTRALIA The project has brought together the University of South Australia, the South African Water Research Commission, and the International…

Advocate Peter O’Halloran is a tax specialist. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Tax. In a number of recent articles, I have shown that there are no statutory remedies available in the case of a taxpayer owed VAT refunds or diesel rebates. In other words, the written laws, such as the Income Tax Act, VAT Act and Customs and Excise Act, as well as the Tax Administration Act, are silent on the time period for making refunds. But in South Africa, the acts or statutes passed by parliament are only one source of the law. When a written set of laws is silent on a certain situation, we turn for help to the Common Law. In this instance, the solution it offers taxpayers is the mandamus (‘We command’), a High…

Why do you think SA grain producers lack skill in marketing their products? It’s more a case of a lack of confidence. Marketing in agriculture is not easy, as you are working with a product that is a commodity, so market forces will always play a role. This means that one side of the value chain has many sellers, and the other side has only a few buyers. The most important thing to remember is that agriculture is reliant on weather, which can change the risk very quickly. One should also keep in mind that up until 1995, the grain market was regulated, and farmers could focus solely on production, not marketing. The advent of a free market system meant that they had to deal with both aspects. Newer farmers,…

Traditional water pumps are prone to overheating, leading to a loss of efficiency or even damage to the winding of the motor. Overheating can cause grease to liquefy and leak, resulting in damaged bearings. It also increases electrical resistance in the windings, which can ultimately destroy the winding. An additional problem is that these water pumps require frequent maintenance and constant priming. THE IDEAL ALTERNATIVE The Oddesse water pump, developed and manufactured in Germany and distributed in South Africa by Ernest Electro Engineering, will not overheat as long as it stays submerged in water. It is the only motor on the market that can be operated horizontally. Submersible pumps need no priming. The Oddesse motor is maintenance-free. It uses carbon brushes, with virtually no wear and tear, unlike the ball…

Vryburg Haltered Brahman Club Champions Contacts: José Maciel: 083 779 0601 | James Hamilton: 071 527 9490 | Donovan Pietersen: 083 781 7819 | Gawie Coetzee: 072 262 7036 Vryburg Non-haltered Brahman Champions Vryburg Simbra Champions Contacts: Hennie Jacobs: 082 890 9496 | David van der Merwe: 082 820 3828 | Cornelis Derksen Trust: 082 415 0515 | Dr Obakeng Mfikwe: 082 354 2402 North West Santa Gertrudis Champions Limousin Champions Braunvieh Champions Contacts: Raymund de Villiers: 082 946 2343 | Tina and Willie de Jager: 082 774 4777 or 082 565 5445 | Jozeph du Plessis: 082 578 1616 Johan Havemann: 082 513 8191 | Carl le Roux: 074 465 6451 | Gawie Naudé: 082 897 9555 | Hans Bester: 083 469 1258 North West Angus Champions Contacts: Johan…

There has been a recent flurry of articles in the mainstream print media about the Competition Commission’s actions against certain market agencies. I’m not about to comment on specifics because the cases are still sub judice, but the furore does highlight the question of competition on the market floor. A busy market floor remains the most effective venue for setting the prices for fresh produce. If you take the time to observe the apparent bedlam that occurs there, you might be forgiven for thinking this is ‘organised chaos’. Beneath this appearance, however, is a scene of intense rivalry as buyers compete for product and price, while salespeople compete for business. Casual visitors do not always appreciate this because they see only the exterior activity of the system, not the inner…

Eczema – Part 3 Glutathione is a crucial anti-oxidant found in every cell of the body. It is essential for the functioning of white blood cells, and low levels lead to chronic inflammation. A 1982 study looked at 61?healthy subjects and 506 patients with various skin disorders. Depressed glutathione levels were seen in patients with eczema. The researchers then added glutathione precursors via diet and supplementation and observed improvement in these conditions. Exposure to high levels of modern environmental chemicals found in pesticides, herbicides and personal care products can reduce the body’s store of glutathione. In addition, mental and emotional stresses lower glutathione levels, while poor sleep promotes immune dysfunction and increased inflammation. MAST CELLS According to a new study, mast cells, which release histamine molecules, also cause eczema. Histamines…

The website wolframalpha.com is home to an ‘answer engine’. Developed by Stephen Wolfram, who published his first scientific paper at the age of 15 and received his PhD in theoretical physics at 20, it is the culmination of more than 30 years’ work. With a conventional search engine, a query typically produces many pages of links, and a user often has to sift through a great deal of junk before finding the information needed. Let’s say that you would like to know the GDP of South Africa. Google gives many answers. Wolfram Alpha, however, provides only one: South Africa’s GDP, albeit a 2015 estimate. The apps on the website should not be mistaken for search engines, despite looking the part. They are ‘informational tools’ that deliver specific answers calculated from…

Tinashe Kapuya is head of international trade and investment intelligence at Agbiz. Email him at tinashe@agbiz.co.za. It was thanks to Anton Earle, a water expert and director of the Stockholm International Water Institute, that I learnt that Johannesburg actually receives more rain than London. I checked online just to make sure, but he was right: Johannesburg receives an average annual rainfall of 604mm, compared to London’s 593mm. But why then does London look and seem so much wetter than Joburg? According to Earle, it’s all a result of evaporation. There is much less evaporation in London than in Joburg, and therefore moisture is retained for much longer in London. In fact, as Earle explained, water in sub-Saharan Africa tends to evaporate three times faster than in Europe. Therefore, sub-Saharan Africa…

The situation remained critical for irrigation farmers in the Eastern Cape’s Gamtoos Valley, and continued to worsen, due to the prevailing drought. In the week of 1 May, the level of the Kouga Dam, which supplies water to these farmers, was just above 24%. Some farmers in the region had already exhausted their annual quotas for the current water year, which ends in June. The water quotas for the 2017/2018 water year would come into effect on 1 July. The Gamtoos Valley was known as the ‘pantry of the Eastern Cape’ due to vegetables produced there. “Our irrigation scheme has a unique system in that your water inlet is physically locked when you have used up your quota,” said Petrus du Preez, chairperson of the Gamtoos Agricultural Association. Producers could,…

Allegations of irregular dealings in white maize futures on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) are being investigated by the Directorate of Market Abuse (DMA) of the Financial Services Board (FSB). DMA head of department, Solly Keetse, told Farmer’s Weekly he was prohibited from providing more details at present by Section 22 of the FSB Act, but could confirm the directorate was focusing on claims of false and misleading reporting relating to white maize futures traded on the JSE in December 2015. “The findings will be made known on completion of the investigation,” said Keetse. When it comes to maize futures, said Dr Dirk Strydom of Grain SA’s Grain Economy and Marketing section, “Grain SA makes sure possible problems are constantly looked at and works with the JSE to improve systems…

South Africa should rather strengthen individual trade relations than wait for the liberalisation of world trade to work to its advantage. According to a recent e-book, ‘WTO: agricultural issues for Africa’, released by the National Agriculture Marketing Council of South Africa (NAMC) and the Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa (Tralac), market access gains, especially to the EU, would be more likely to come from direct negotiations than from the Trade, Development and Cooperation agreement with the EU. This agreement could even be to South Africa’s disadvantage by improving market access for some of the country’s competitors. Dr Moses Lubinga, senior economist at NAMC, and one of the authors of the book, said that direct negotiations with trade partners in Africa would also be beneficial despite some difficulties experienced with…

International Santa Gertrudis breeders, ranchers, judges and fanciers, who participated in the breed’s world congress hosted in South Africa at the recent Bloem Show, said it came as a big surprise to realise SA was home to the best Santas in the world. This was the opinion of Dr Egon Neufeld from Paraguay, who served as president of the country’s breed society for 16 years. His focus is on research into cattle genetics and breeding and ranching across various breeds. He said it was clear that, over the years, the breed had been selected for functionality and production capability in South Africa, resulting in an intermediate type of animal with heavy muscling and a good topline. What was very refreshing to see was that there was no differentiation between show…

Staple foods such as maize and groundnuts are easily infested by Aspergillus fungi, which produce carcinogenic aflatoxins, which are toxic to both animals and humans. In groundnuts, which are particularly susceptible to aflatoxins, unacceptably high concentrations of the toxin may have devastating effects on human health. There are strict regulations for maintaining aflatoxin levels below certain maximum concentrations, and if the crop’s aflatoxin concentration exceeds these, the groundnuts are declared unsuitable for human consumption. Aflatoxins are produced via some fungi’s metabolic processes. Recently, researchers at the University of Arizona in the US announced a breakthrough: aflatoxin-free maize. If this breakthrough can be extended to groundnuts, it will significantly decrease the risks that aflatoxins pose to farmers and consumers. The scientists applied a new genetic technique, ‘gene silencing’, to stop aflatoxin…

Conce Moraba is an agricultural economist at Absa Agribusiness. Email her at conce.moraba@absa. co.za, or email senior agricultural economist, Wessel Lemmer, at wessel.lemmer@absa.co.za. In its third forecast for the 2017/2018 season, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has increased its forecast for South Africa’s total maize production to 14,5?million tons. This is 212 200t higher than the second forecast of 14,3 million tons, and will be the highest maize harvest in South Africa since the record 1980/1981 crop. As a result, the export surplus will increase to 1,8 million tons, which will leave South Africa with about 2,3?months’ worth of available stock. The expected increase in production, coupled with a stronger rand, has had a negative effect on the maize price. For the week ending 21 April, the white maize price…

Safety is in the DNA of every Volvo truck. In the words of Torbjörn Christensson, president of Volvo Group Southern Africa, “Safety has always been one of our core values”. Perhaps the clearest proof of this is the fact that, today, every vehicle of every make is equipped with three-point safety belts, a Volvo invention. To emphasise its continued commitment to safety, Volvo Trucks South Africa has invested R6,5 million in its Durban SKD manufacturing plant. This will enable the facility to install and calibrate several unique features previously unavailable to the market. “We believe that all original equipment manufacturers in our industry have a responsibility to provide the safest transport solutions to their customers, as this has a trickle-down effect on all road users,” says Torbjörn. He adds that…

The executioner tasked with hanging the rebels had brought just one length of rope to take the lives of five men. To find some more, he searched in the nearby Van Aardts military post on the farm, Verkeerdewater, and found some old rope. Its poor condition would help change the course of South African history. The executions were intended to illustrate the consequences of treason. But when the trapdoor fell, the nooses of four men snapped, leaving them stunned but alive, while the fifth man hanged twitching in his death throes. He was Stephanus Bothma (42), and his four compatriots, Hendrik Prinsloo (32), Abraham Bothma (28), Cornelis Faber (43) and Theunis de Klerk (29), were now at the mercy of the authorities. PLEA FOR MERCY Instinctively, the men and their…

Fusarium ear rot in maize is one of the main diseases affecting maize production worldwide, and poses a major threat to the trade of foods and feeds. The disease also has harmful effects on human and animal health. The fungal species Fusarium verticillioides, F.?proliferatum and F. subglutinans are some of the most important causative fungal agents, with the fumonisin mycotoxins being the main toxigenic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites that contaminate South African maize. Fusarium infects maize in the field. Fumonisins are concentrated in the surface layers and embryo of the maize kernel, and reach their highest levels at harvest-time. Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production are affected mainly by water activity, temperature and atmospheric composition, while nutritional factors such as kernel endosperm composition and nitrogen sources also play an important role.…