Table of contents for 6 October 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

On first impressions, it is difficult not to be envious of the Swiss and begrudge them their seemingly easy lives. It is one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries is the world, the scenery is achingly beautiful, and even the livestock wear jewellery too expensive for me to afford. But then one comes across farmers like the Theiler family. The Theilers live high up in the Alps in the Entlebuch Biosphere in central Switzerland, and have farmed here for three generations. When I visited them as part of a tour for agricultural journalists (see pg 20), the family was preparing for the annual Alpabfahrt, the descent from the Alps, when livestock and people move from the mountains to the valleys for winter. The women in the family were singing…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 12 TO 14 OCTOBER Agri-Expo Livestock, Sandringham, Muldersvlei, Stellenbosch. For more information, visit livestock.org.za. 13 OCTOBER Agri-Food Fest Conference, Pretoria Show Grounds. Visit agbiz.co.za/uploads/AgbizNews17/170915_AgrifoodFest.pdf. 19 OCTOBER 2nd Goat Agribusiness Conference, Durban Botanic Gardens. Phone Nokwanda Mavundla on 082 562 9014, or visit goatsunlimited.co.za. 20 TO 21 OCTOBER AGRI 5 Commodities Workshop & Expo, East London Showgrounds. Email info@atoneworks.co.za. 25 TO 27 OCTOBER Small Scale Agricultural Business Workshop, Anastasia’s Fresh Farm, Klein Dassenberg. Phone Anastasia Smith on 081 878 1603. COURSES & TRAINING 2 TO 6 OCTOBER Introduction to Small Stock Management, ARC - AP, Irene. For more information, email Makhanyam@arc.agric.za. 7 TO 8 OCTOBER The Building Blocks to Beekeeping, Johannesburg. For more information, email David Fraser at david.frsr73@gmail.com. 9 TO 10 OCTOBER Sheep/Goats: Stockmans & Animal…

While the agricultural sector emerged as an anchor of South Africa’s economy in the second quarter of this year, growing 33,6% quarter-on-quarter, a closer observation shows that things are not all rosy. The decline in agribusiness confidence and persistent dry conditions in the Western Cape could slow the sector’s performance in the short to medium term. After declining by one index point in the second quarter of this year, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index declined further by two index points in the third quarter, to 54 points. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in South Africa’s agribusiness activity, so conditions are still fairly favourable in the third quarter of the year, but is following a declining trend. The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index performance is important, because it typically signals how…

The Merino indicator increased 1,8%, or 316 points, to close at R177,27 (clean) at the latest auction, while the Australian eastern market indicator (EMI) lost 0,1% at the corresponding auction. “Demand for Merino wool remained strong across all micron ranges, with the finer and broader ends benefiting most,” said Louis de Beer, CEO of Cape Wools. “The mid-micron ranges showed smaller gains for long wool. Surprisingly, medium lengths did better,” he said. Buyers competed vigorously for the 8?665 bales on offer, in a market driven by positive consumer sentiment towards Merino wool, along with a weaker rand. According to Pierre de Lange, wool marketing manager at OVK, price percentage increases were as follows: 18,7?micron (μ) and finer gained 2%, 19μ was up 3,5%, both 20μ and 21μ groups were 2,5%…

ViaFauna, an environmental consulting company in Brazil, has developed an electronic roadside animal detection system, called Passa-Bicho, to reduce the number of collisions between vehicles and wildlife. According to biologist and founder of the company, Fernanda Delborgo Abra, the prototype developed with the support of the São Paulo Research Foundation, consists of a pair of motion sensors attached to short poles spaced 100m apart, similar to those used for speed traps in Brazil. The transmitter on one of the poles sends a beam of infrared light to the receiver on the other. Should the beam be interrupted by an animal passing, the sensor transmits a radio signal to the control centre where an electronic message panel is activated. In a simpler version, a revolving light is activated above a ‘animal…

The ENACT project, funded by the EU, was using media reports to track trends and conduct research on wildlife crime. “Wildlife crime is very complex, and there is insufficient data to establish its true extent,” Ciara Aucoin, a researcher at the ENACT project, said at a recent media conference held by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. The project focused on wildlife crime in 10 Southern Africa countries committed between 2000 and 2016. Information collected included crime type, location, date, species involved, state responses, the quantity of smuggled goods (where applicable), and the use of violence during or after the crime. This information had been used to compile the report, ‘Guns, poison and horns: organised wildlife crime in Southern Africa’, which showed that between 2000 and 2016, a…

Old Mutual’s new global food and agricultural value chain investment portfolio will allow local investors to invest in global agriculture, land and the food value chain. According to Chris Potgieter, head of Old Mutual Wealth Private Client Securities, Treasury and Fiduciary, barely 1% of local investment opportunities were in agriculture or food. The new portfolio would thus provide for “local and international investment opportunities, specifically for 10- to 15-year investments”. “The agricultural industry is becoming more relevant as global food security and climate change become important issues,” he said. Potgieter added that investing in the value chain meant that benefits from the value chain could be accrued over time. “We look beyond only input suppliers, and include buyers, retailers, logistic companies and packaging suppliers in the portfolio. Packaging is especially…

The South African Breweries (SAB) and AB InBev recently recognised the important partnership it has with producers during a Growers’ Appreciation Day at the SAB barley farm near Caledon. The company had committed to creating 2 600 sustainable jobs in the agricultural sector within the next few years, and planned to incorporate an additional 800 emerging growers into the hops, barley and maize supply chains, according to Ricardo Tadeu, zone president for SAB and AB InBev Africa. “With support and the commitments we’ve made, we really have a strong opportunity to drive this agenda. “[It’s not an] agenda where you simply hand things over, but an agenda where we can share knowledge and create farmers,” Tadeu said. The company expressed a desire to stop importing barley within five years. According…

In the second quarter (Q2) of 2017, the agricultural sector grew 33,6% (up from 22,2% in Q1) and added 0,7 percentage points to total growth, making it the largest contributor to GDP and the only sector with double digit growth figures. This is according to Statistics SA (Stats SA), which, through annualised, and seasonally adjusted figures, says that South Africa’s economy grew 2,5% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2017. This seems very positive. Unfortunately, the method used by Stats SA to compile growth figures tends to overemphasise quarter-to-quarter changes. If we compare the real value of GDP from Q2 in 2016 to Q2 in 2017, a different picture emerges. As the table shows, the economy grew 1% from Q1 in 2016 to Q1 in 2017, and by 1,1% from…

With maize prices on the decline and planting for the new season just around the corner, an increase in both soya bean and sunflower plantings is expected. Soya bean production is expected to reach record levels during the 2016/2017 season at 1,3 million tons, while sunflower seed production is forecast to reach 870?095t. The total domestic supply of soya beans (about 1,39 million tons) is expected to be well above demand (1,19?million tons). The total estimated yield for sunflower seed production is 1,04?million tons, which means that the demand of about 849 400t will be exceeded. SOME ROLE PLAYERS IN THE FEED INDUSTRY ARE OF THE OPINION THAT IMPORTED SOYA MEAL IS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY According to the latest National Agricultural Marketing Council’s supply and demand statistics, the hectares planted…

The creation of stable, secure employment and fair labour practices remain the most effective way to deal with poverty and equality. The South African government has identified employment creation as a key priority, with key sectors expected to play a central role in driving job creation for more inclusive growth. The National Development Plan (NDP) identifies the agricultural sector as having the potential to create nearly one million new jobs by 2030, making it a leading contributor to the overall employment target. While this target may seem ambitious, there can be no doubt about the strategic potential of the agricultural sector to contribute to economic growth and job creation. A recovery in the sector has seen agricultural GDP grow from 22% in the first quarter of 2017 to 33,6% in…

Market agents have a reputation for not readily adapting to change. In some cases, this is justified; in others, not. At a recent ‘open conference’ hosted by the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) in Durbanville, an impressive selection of speakers from various sectors in agriculture delivered some telling presentations. One was Dave Larkan, the managing director of Freshmark Systems, suppliers of the IT software that provides trading statistics on the markets. As I’ve reminded readers in the past, this system is unique in the world and Larkan is probably one of the bestpositioned ‘outsiders’ to offer constructive comment on markets and market agents. His talk included a thoughtprovoking examination of ‘industry disruptors’, such as the Internet and other forms of technology that have contributed significantly to new…

Supposedly named after a region in Hertfordshire, where fox hunting has been popular for hundreds of years, the Pelham bit acts like a double bridle. It is favoured for a more classic style of riding, and showing classes such as working hunter, working riding horse, and show hack, as well as showjumping. It has a mouthpiece, shanks with both purchase and lever arms, a ring for rein attachment at the bottom of the shank, and a curb chain. There is also a bit ring on either side of the mouthpiece. The Pelham is generally used for Irish Sport Horses, warmbloods and Arabians, which all have mouths with short bars. USING BOTH REINS HAS THE EFFECT OF AN EMERGENCY BRAKE What makes it special is that it’s the only single bit…

Hormonal imbalances Some women suffer from acne brought on by a monthly hormone imbalance. If you experience this, consider trying chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus). Vitex can also be used to treat uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumours within the uterine walls that can cause excessive bleeding with clots. Amenorrhoea is a condition in which the menstrual cycle stops suddenly. It may be caused by oestrogen deficiency bought on by too much prolactin in the body. A Vitex supplement can help by modulating prolactin. Vitex can also be combined with other herbs for relief of typical menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep disturbances. Recommended daily doses are: • For PMS: 400mg before breakfast; • For uterine fibroids: 200mg/twice daily; • For acne: 160mg; • For menopause: 160mg to 240mg. As…

The Second Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) is reassessed using a new non-fiction concept that has been highly successful overseas. THE ANGLO-BOER WAR IN 100 OBJECTS by the War Museum of the Boer Republics (Jonathan Ball, R340), edited by military historian, Johan van Zyl, focuses on selected objects as triggers to tell the story of the conflict and context of the war. The boots of a young soldier killed on Spioenkop, an early X-ray showing the bullet in Burgher Viljoen’s foot and Lord Kitchener’s braai grill for use in the field are some of the more unusual objects to have survived. Their stories make for fascinating insights into the period. Two copies of THE ANGLO-BOER WAR IN 100 OBJECTS to give away! We have two English and two Afrikaans copies to…

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: if we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle” – Carl Sagan As a result of its activities in South Africa, British multinational public relations, reputation management and marketing company, Bell Pottinger, was forced to declare bankruptcy on 12 September. The firm previously offered services such as lobbying, speech writing, reputation management, and search engine optimisation (making sure that there are positive search results) to clients including companies, governments and wealthy individuals. In reality, (and in short) it created fake news and a fake reality for the highest bidder. Bell Pottinger has been described as having “the most controversial client list” in the PR industry. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in the UK,…

Food price inflation has dropped to 5,7% year-onyear (y/y) in August, down from 6,8% y/y in July. This was according to Agbiz economist, Wandile Sihlobo. He added that these were the lowest inflation levels in South Africa since November 2015. “The key driver of this deceleration in food inflation is the bigger grain harvest, as well as the recovery on the horticulture side. “Potatoes, for example, are almost down double digits from last year,” he said. ‘WE’VE CAUGHT UP WITH GLOBAL COMMODITY MARKETS, WHICH ARE OVERSTOCKED’ Sihlobo added that Agbiz had seen inflation decelerate almost across the board; however, meat inflation was at 15% y/y. “The key risk that remains is meat, especially with avian influenza continuing to spread and [farmers] restocking their cattle,” he said. According to Sihlobo, some…

Dalum Landbrugsskole (Dalum), based in Denmark, has selected 18 students from KwaZulu-Natal for training in dairy and pig production. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Eric Wanscher, vice-president at the college, said that 18?students had been selected for this year’s 10-month programme, which covered production and management principles. The programme also included internships on commercial farms in Denmark. A total of 300 students had applied this year. The Agribusiness Development Agency, based in KwaZulu-Natal, had selected 28 of these, and Dalum had selected the final 18. Wanscher said that classes were kept small to ensure that students received adequate attention during training. According to him, students approached production differently after completing the training. “Students [had] first waited for government to assist them with subsidies or farms. [After training they] fund production from…

Innovation was called for to ensure long-term livestock production, according to Prof Michiel Scholtz, outgoing president of South Africa’s Animal Science Society (SASAS). Speaking at the 50th SASAS congress in Port Elizabeth, Scholtz said that the agricultural industry was increasingly faced with issues such as the reality of climate change and the ensuing variability of weather patterns. “The demand for protein will increase 60% by 2050, in addition to a change in global human diet patterns,” Scholtz said. In addition, more than 50% of South African households did not have access to affordable food. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), food production could be increased by 10% through improved yields, by 20% through more or alternative land use, and by 70% through new technologies and improved efficiencies of…

To recap, due to hundreds of complaints that SARS is withholding or delaying refunds, the Office of the Tax Ombudsman (OTO) undertook an investigation under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and in terms of the Tax Administration Act. It found that there was merit to many of the complaints and, in its report, identified various strategies used by SARS to delay refunds. CLOUDING THE ISSUE One such strategy is to call for documents that are unconnected to the query or main file. This ensures that the taxpayer’s submissions do not receive the required attention, and rebates are delayed. The practice was reported by the SA?Institute of Chartered Accountants. A second delaying tactic is to call for verification of banking details, insisting that the taxpayer produce this at the…

Excelsior Wine Estate recently received negative publicity after attempting evictions from farm dwellings. What exactly happened? We verbally informed two sisters, Josina and Miriam Gova, that they had to look for alternative lodgings. They used to live with their mother, Emily, who passed away more than two months before we had this talk. Emily’s right of tenure had already been controversial, as she was never a full-time employee. Her right of tenure was based on her husband, who passed away more than 30?years ago after having worked on the farm. We granted her accommodation because we felt it was the right thing to do. This was long before the Extension of Security of Tenure Act [Esta] came along. ‘THE FACT THAT MANY FARMERS TAKE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES ON THEMSELVES IS OFTEN…

FAST FACTS • According to Dr Gerhard Nortje, excessively high phosphorus levels cause iron deficiencies in soil. • Severe iron deficiencies can cause macadamia tree dieback. • Macadamia trees are very efficient at absorbing phosphorus. Speaking at a recent Fertiliser Association of Southern Africa symposium, Dr Gerhard Nortje, a fertiliser consultant and senior lecturer in environmental and soil science at the University of South Africa, said that the fertilising norms for macadamia tree cultivation set by international growers are not defined narrowly enough for South African growing conditions, and that in order to rectify this, cultivar trials specific to South Africa’s conditions needed to be conducted. Through his years of experience, however, Gerhard has identified certain fertiliser needs for macadamia trees that can be applied in local orchards. Macadamia trees…

Groundnuts fix atmospheric nitrogen with the aid of root bacteria. For this reason, the crop is not dependent on nitrogen fertilisation. (Root nodules that fix nitrogen effectively have a pinkish appearance when dissected.) As with other crops, groundnuts require sufficient potassium for normal growth and development. Having too much potassium, however, can create a calcium deficiency, which produces lower yield and quality. In most cases where the soil potassium level is low, you can add about 10kg/ha. Calcium-deficient soils will result in direct seed loss as well as indirect, often invisible, damage to the seed. Seed produced under such conditions is not suitable for planting. Where less than 100mg/kg calcium is present in the soil, add gypsum at 200kg/ha. Boron deficiency occurs in very sandy soils and can affect quality.…

I n earlier days, when ‘PC’ stood for public convenience and not personal computer, the specific power output (measured in kW/?litre) of most engines was less than half of what it is now. This meant you could get away with adjusting the valve clearances, spark plugcontrast, most modern engines will run rough unless everything is done by the very thick book. This lack of super precision meant that dishonest workshops could increase profits by giving engines a ‘backyard’ tune-up. After changing the oil, the mechanic would take the car for a spin, rev the guts out of it ‘to blow the carbon out’, and then get an assistant to clean the carburettor with thinners to give it that ‘newly adjusted’ look. The rest of the car would be cleaned as…

To make the magnificent sauce for four diners, you will need: 1 onion 3 cloves of garlic One tiny red chilli with pips 2 cans of tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato concentrate 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons dried tarragon 3 tablespoons capers 200ml white wine 50ml red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil PLUS Either 4 chicken breasts or 400g angel hair pasta 1 Begin with the sauce. Drain, then chop the canned tomatoes. Crush, peel and finely mince the garlic. Peel and very thinly slice the onion. Drain the capers. Select a heavy-based frying pan and bring the butter and olive oil mixture up to medium heat. Add the sliced onions and minced garlic, and sweat these gently until the onions are soft…

Jonno Smith is a registered architect. He can be contacted at Hillbilly Homes: tel 036 352 3178, fax 088 036 352 3178, cell 082 412 4459 or email hillbilly@eca.co.za. Please provide details of the proposed development. Visit hillbillyhomes.co.za. Dear Jonno, My wife and I are scaling down our involvement in our farm, and our son and his family are moving into the main homestead. The time has now come for us to build a dream home on the farm. We would like it sited some distance away on an open area that offers a lovely view. We’re looking for an ecofriendly home that will enable us to go off the grid and blend into the environment. The basic design of the house should consist of a rectangle with two bedrooms,…

SA novelist, Jassy Mackenzie, writes internationally acclaimed thrillers and romantic and erotic fiction, and has been shortlisted for awards such as the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. BAD SEEDS (Umuzi, R220) is her fifth thriller to feature PI, Jade de Jong, and interweaves a hunt for rogue employees at a nuclear research centre, with African wild potato seeds, and much more. She spoke briefly about her book and her interests. • Space, horses and nature I’ve lived in the Kyalami area for nearly 20 years and love the space, the sense of community and cycling without hectic traffic. It’s a conservancy area with birds such as grass owls and we can hear the jackal call at night. I live on a 2ha smallholding with my partner. I keep two horses while he…

British company, Trace-in-Metal, was formed in 2012 to address the theft of valuable lead from heritage buildings in the UK. The company subsequently developed a system whereby the lead on existing structures was infused with microdot markers. These can survive the high temperatures used in recycling, thus providing traceability and enabling police to arrest shady scrap metal dealers. FROM STOLEN LEAD TO STOLEN SHEEP Trace-in-Metal has now developed a similar livestock tracing system, TecTracer, as part of the North Yorkshire police’s Operation Bo Peep. With this system, microdot markers are added to paint, which can be applied to the sheep. The coded microdots become entangled in the fleece and are virtually impossible to remove, yet are easy to recover and read. This enables the police to identify stolen livestock and…

You made Coastal Clean-up Day a success Douw Steyn, sustainability director for Plastics SA, has extended his thanks to South Africans who helped make the September International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) a resounding success, despite the bad weather. Our sincere thanks to everyone who was involved in this year’s activities and helped to make a difference in their environment. Without the help of every volunteer, we would not have been able to collect the large amount of litter that we did. We are busy writing a success story that shows what can be accomplished through teamwork and a commitment to save the environment for future generations. The annual event has become the largest global volunteer effort for ocean health. South Africa participated for the 21st time this year. STOP LITTERING THROUGH…

There is no silver bullet for eradicating the pathogenic fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which occurs worldwide. This was according to Dr Bill Underwood, researcher in plant pathology at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Speaking at the recent Grain?SA (GSA) Sclerotinia information day near Bothaville, Underwood said the fungus could cause diseases such as white mould, root rot, stem rot and head rot in oilseeds, and other crops. “In the US, soya beans, sunflower, canola and edible dry beans are severely affected by Sclerotinia,” he said. According to Underwood, these diseases were caused by the presence of Sclerotinia pathogens in the soil. The pathogens germinated in the soil to form small mushrooms. The mushrooms eventually thrust through the soil and released spores that settled on the plants. The spores caused lesions…

The south and south-eastern regions of Namibia were still suffering from the continuing drought, and isolated cases of livestock deaths had been reported. This was according to Sakkie Coetzee, CEO of the Namibia Agricultural Union. Conditions were especially dire in the Bethanie and Aus districts, as well as in the region south of Karasburg. “Drought relief is flowing in from the rest of the country. The grain producers in the northern districts of Namibia have, for instance, collected 30t of maize to be sold in order to help their fellow farmers,” Coetzee said. Despite this, many producers had already reduced their herds dramatically. Meanwhile, agricultural conditions in the rest of Namibia looked promising, with ample hay and animal feed being donated to farmers in the drought-stricken areas. Livestock producers in…

The fact that government departments often worked in isolation was a common theme during a joint strategic planning session recently hosted by the Free State Department of Agriculture. During his opening address, MEC, Oupa Khoabane, said that this was the first time such a session had been convened, and proved that government could not simply “deal away” certain issues, such as dumping unsustainable projects on communities. ‘GENERALLY, COMMERCIAL FARMERS HAVE NO MORE FAITH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’ “When we leave here, we must have identified our focus areas and agreed on our method of working and protocols to follow in engaging other sectors,” he said. Khoabane also said that the session was important “as it [would] determine what we do for the next financial year in fulfilment of the…

Beef producers who attend this year’s Aldam Stockman’s School at the Aldam Estate in the Free State will learn about how to become involved in more than one aspect of the value chain. “It’s time that local beef producers move away from meat as a commodity, and sell it as a high-value product,” Michael Bradfield, the school’s convener, told Farmer’s Weekly. The topic for this year’s school was ‘Participation in the red meat value chain through improved management practices’. The course will run from 18 to 20 October. Attendees will hear from local and international industry leaders such as Jason Strong, managing director of Australia’s AACo, which owns over 500 000 cattle, including 50 000 Wagyu. AACo is exportfocused and owns businesses across the value chain, including abattoirs, feedlots and…

Plant extracts, or biologicals, have become increasingly popular. They appeal to consumers’ sensory preferences, and many have been shown to have health benefits. They are available as ingredients in off-theshelf skincare products, vitamin supplements, and food products. POPULAR EXTRACTS • Dog rose hips These are the seeds of the dog rose species, Rosa canina, and contain vitamins C, A, D and E, malic and citric acids, pectins, essential oils, and antioxidants. The plant is endemic to Europe. • Rooibos Aspalathus linearis contains the antioxidant aspalathin, which is unique to the species, and phenolic acids, which have anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. • Honeybush Cyclopia herba is caffeine-free, contains phenolic acids, and has been used in Asia to treat diabetes and reduce high blood pressure. It contains antioxidants and protects against UV…

Avast amount of legislation regulates labour relations in South Africa. It is crucial that an employer follows the correct procedures, especially when dismissing an employee. A disciplinary code should include clear rules and procedures for the workplace. When an employee fails to follow these, the employer can apply progressive discipline (warnings) or, in cases of severe misconduct, proceed directly to a disciplinary hearing. WHY HOLD A HEARING IN THE FIRST PLACE? A disciplinary hearing must be held to ensure that fair procedure, as stipulated in legislation, is followed, and that there is substantive reason for the employee to be dismissed. It is also of the utmost importance that an employee be given the opportunity to present his or her case and call witnesses. Under no circumstances may an employee be…

IN BLOEMFONTEIN This once-in-a-lifetime prize will allow you to have the wedding of your dreams, without the price tag. The prize includes a wedding reception at the beautiful Warm Karoo, a romantic, honeymoon getaway at a Thornybush lodge, and custom-made wedding bands from the design team at Preez Designers. The bride will be spoilt for choice at Rêve Bridal when choosing her dream wedding dress, while your spectacular day will be planned by a professional planner from Trunk Events, and captured by RS Photography. Two runner-up couples will be spoiled by The Cavern, which will provide each couple with a weekend getaway that includes all meals and guided hikes. The main prize is valued at R130 525. The two runners-up prizes are valued at R6 000 each. MAIN PRIZE INCLUDES:…

Simmentaler Champions Kalahari Red Champions Boer Goat Champions Contacts: Kobus Erasmus: 083 246 3132 | Dolf Theunissen: 082 452 9879 Josef Kleynhans: 072 073 9803 | André Pienaar and Ben Vorster: 083 778 5045 | Pieter Smith: 078 429 7619…

Young green vegetation that can be grazed safely once it has matured may cause rapid death in sheep and goats in spring. Freshgrowing shoots of lucerne and kikuyu are the main problem, as goats or sheep will crawl through a fence to get at them when the veld is dry and dusty, and the hay is old and unpalatable. Other plants often responsible for poisoning include Cynodon spp. (couch grass or kweek), especially regrowth on burnt patches, and newly planted oats, wheat, sorghum and maize. Mature Namaqua daisies, as well as the pods of certain Acacia species, can also be a problem. Unfortunately, sudden deaths usually occur in the largest, fattest sheep and goats as they tend to consume the most green shoots. In acute cases, sheep and goats can…

Leaf miners are insect larvae that tunnel into leaves, leaving distinctive serpentine markings on the surface. Most larvae encountered on tomatoes in South Africa are those of flies (of the order Diptera) and moths/butterflies (of the order Lepidoptera). This week I’ll discuss the flies. The two most common Diptera species here are Liriomyza trifolii (American serpentine leaf miner) in warmer areas, and L. huidobrensis (pea leaf miner) in cooler areas. The former appears earlier than L. huidobrensis, which is a slightly larger fly. Both species are dark in colour, with a conspicuous yellow dot on the back. They have a wide range of host plants and are likely to be present wherever crops are grown. An adult female punctures a leaf with her ovipositor to lay eggs and feed on…

New Holland has been working on clean energy solutions for more than a decade through its Clean Energy Leader strategy. It was the first manufacturer to offer 100% compatibility with biodiesel back in 2006. In 2009, it developed the world’s first hydrogen tractor concept, the NH2, proving the feasibility of this zeroemission technology for the future, the key element of the company’s Energy Independent Farm concept, launched at the same time. In 2012, New Holland created its first propanefuelled tractor prototype and is now developing the T6 Propane Power tractor. In 2013, the company presented the T6 Methane Power tractor prototype.…

It was once thought that, rather than understanding the meaning of words, a dog merely reacted to its owner’s tone of voice. More recent studies, however, have found that dogs use the same part of the brain as humans do when deciphering the meaning of words. This is in contrast to their wild cousins, such as wolves, which don’t seem to have the same intellectual capabilities. This does not mean that repetition and reinforcement are unnecessary in dog training; quite the contrary! It simply means that dogs have thought patterns and emotions remarkably similar to those of humans, and training should involve the same basic methods that we use to socialise children. As I’ve often said, we need to be aware of our tone of voice and body language when…

Beware of excess Excess can be a form of greed, and we need to ask ourselves a question: “How much is enough?” Often, while sitting on an aeroplane watching fellow passengers come on board, I see some people carrying excess baggage. Perspiring profusely, they desperately try to find somewhere to stow it and I ask myself: “Do they really need all of this?” Often, we can do ourselves a lot of unnecessary damage by having an excess of something. And that includes eating or drinking more than is necessary or desirable. BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND APPRECIATE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU I’ve come across farmers who planted more crops than they could harvest. That’s sad to see when there’s so much hunger and poverty around. I’m not…

111 STEPS TO MASTERING MONEY by Lungile Dingaan (Sula Books, R285) The author, an East London-based architect, seeks to help South Africans master money instead of being mastered by it. As a result, his book is more of a self-help guide to our relationship with money than a demystification of financial terms. Some of his views are controversial; few of us should be dabbling in cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, for example, but Dingaan certainly gets the reader thinking, which makes this a good source for discussion points at stokvels or women’s or men’s support groups. THE LIE OF THE LAND by Amanda Craig (Little, Brown, R315) When Lottie, an architect, and Quentin, a freelance writer, both lose their high-flying positions in London, they move to England’s rural west. With their…