Table of contents for 29 December 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

TRANSFORMATION SHOULD FOCUS ON CAPACITY, NOT LAND TRANSFER Lately, I have been listening to and participating in panel discussions about the issues relating to economic transformation in the country. From an agricultural policy point of view, there’s been plenty of talk about expropriation without compensation and the imposition of land ceilings. This will not bring about transformation in the agricultural sector. South Africans accept the need for economic transformation in the country’s various economic sectors, including agriculture, and that interventions aimed at rectifying the injustices of the past should be explored. It is, however, important that these interventions not result in unintended consequences such as a decline in productivity, or difficulties with regards to implementation. The importance of the agriculture sector to the economy cannot be underestimated, in particular the…

The Fourth Industrial Revolution was having a marked impact on precision farming practices, and would also affect the way in which transactions were conducted in the future. This was according to John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, who was speaking at a recent Agbiz media day held in Pretoria. “Blockchain and bitcoin are real, and while there’s debate about [the viability] of bitcoin, cryptocurrencies are real and will be used in the trade environment in future,” Purchase said. This meant that the sector would need individuals to be trained in using these new technologies, he added. According to Purchase, “trade wars will be the wars of the future”, and organised agriculture would have to get involved in negotiations to open up new markets. “If we don’t have appropriately and adequately trained…

Agri commodities: high stock levels keep prices under pressure In 2017, global agriculture was dominated by reports of bumper crops of maize, wheat and soya bean in the main production areas, which put pressure on commodity prices, despite good demand. In addition, widespread avian influenza outbreaks hampered demand for feed. High levels of global grain and soya bean stockpiles, particularly in China, remained a cause for concern, with China storing about half of the global stock of maize, and mostly relying on South America to supplement supplies. The country also holds about 40% of global wheat stocks and approximately 20% of soya bean. China is also contributing to the worldwide glut of cotton with an estimated 60% of all supplies, as well as large stockpiles of sugar. The large increase…

South African farmers have come to realise that new genetic traits can help increase yield and reduce damage from disease and pest attacks. Their steady adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops from 1998 has clearly proven these benefits. GM food crops are limited to only a few countries, although a further 12 countries are conducting field tests. HI-TECH GENETICS New genetic techniques include removal of deleterious genes by way of the CRISPR/Cas 9 molecular approach. This is quick, precise and effective, and its adoption is gaining traction. It is certainly appropriate that African countries are testing the CRISPR and other new technologies to reduce their crop losses from insect and disease pests; these currently average 40%! A JOINT EFFORT Major US biotechnology players are joining forces to test the efficiency…

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What was your experience of the trading and production environment this past year? The greatest challenge has been the shortage of water. Most farmers had to start drilling boreholes, which is expensive and high risk. The warm weather conditions caused trees to go into rest in a stressed state. Furthermore, the markets didn’t do well due to limited demand. What challenges and opportunities does 2018 hold for the industry? In 2018, farmers will see the effects of the water shortage on their harvest. The impact of the water shortage will be different from farmer to farmer, as there are various factors that contribute to a successful harvest in such difficult times. However, in these challenges lies potential to implement new technologies and strategies to farm in a more eco-friendly and…

‘WE WANTED TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF PRODUCTION’ The Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) Student Angora Stud is accustomed to accolades; it produced, for example, the South African Champion Ram at the 2009 International Mohair Summit in Graaff-Reinet. But it was the National Angora Show in November 2016 at Willowmore that really underscored the esteem with which the stud is held in the mohair industry. At this event, the stud won no fewer than 51 awards, including the trophy for the most points; the Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion Ram and Ewe; the Ram and Ewe with the Best Fleece and Conformation; and the Best Angora on Show (the Supreme Champion Ewe). To top this off, four rams were sold at the conclusion of the…

It has become a tradition in this column for me to produce a wish list in the final issue of the year. As we move from the old year into the new, it’s appropriate that we pause to reflect on what has been and, from that, contemplate what could be in store in the months ahead. In so doing, I have the benefit of my trusty crystal ball, which has proven to be uncannily accurate in the past. Every year, it tells me that market prices will go up and come down. A quick glance at the market prices of the past year confirms this yet again. Here is my wish list for 2018: • The weather I hope that the weather continues to bless us with good rains interspersed with…

After producing 850 articles and counting in Farmers Weekly so far, I thought I’d do something other than the usual ‘farm-style’ home; something more contemporary. Here is a sketch layout that has dozens of further permutations. The layout personifies the living-in, living-out lifestyle of today, with all the daytime activity rooms upfront. The perspex roofed-over atrium can double as an open central courtyard area for cold and rainy days. The style has an Asian feel, but could be given one of many more cultural ‘feels’ with thatch, tile or a metal roof that surrounds the central atrium or courtyard. There is another possibility: going double storey over the bedroom and garage areas below. The area above the living room/kitchen area can either be a leisure deck, or used for other…

4 JULY 1986 Performing on-farm embryo transfers 31 YEARS AGO Dr Emile Kotze, a Simmentaler and Bonsmara breeder near Potchefstroom, learnt embryo flushing techniques in Germany. He describes the process in detail. “‘Non-surgical embryo transfer is not particularly difficult but requires high management levels and is a precise procedure where carelessness has no place,’ says Dr Kotze. “On-farm embryo transfers by farmers are still rare in South Africa, but are becoming increasingly popular as farmers master the techniques involved. “Basically the technique involves artificially synchronising heats of donor and recipient cows, superovulating the donor with pregnant mare serum or follicle stimulating hormone, injecting donor and recipients with a hormone to bring on heat, inseminating the donor, flushing out the embryos and transferring them to the recipients. In selecting donors, Dr…

 Deteriorating infrastructure in South Africa is increasingly forcing SA businesses, including agribusinesses, to invest in alternative sources such as solar power and water recycling systems, according to Francois Strydom, CEO of Senwes. He said this had a direct impact on the competitiveness of the local business sector in a global context. ‘SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT, INSTEAD THAN HOLDING GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT’ “Senwes, for instance, had to make a considerable investment in the installation of solar power technology at its headquarters and its silo complex in Hennenman,” Strydom said. Other agribusinesses were following suit as a result of deteriorating infrastructure, which was due to local municipalities not honouring their agreements with Eskom and bulk water suppliers. The situation was further exacerbated by declining local efficiencies, such as incorrect and…

The findings of research published recently by South African forensic scientist, Dr David Klatzow, suggested that firearm ballistics and their use in criminal investigations required rethinking. This was according to the SA Gunowners’ Association (SAGA), which was partly behind commissioning Klatzow to conduct this research. According to a statement issued by SAGA, it had long objected to many provisions in government’s Firearms Control Amendment Bill of 2014, including the requirement that all privately-owned firearms had to be presented to the SA Police Service (SAPS) for ballistic fingerprinting. “With this project, government proposed obtaining at least five spent cartridge cases and the bullets fired from them to keep on record as a comparison with your firearm from which they were discharged,” SAGA’s statement said. SAGA explained that these records could then…

‘EU IMPORTS SHOULD BE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN LOCAL PRODUCTS TO BENEFIT THE POOR’ In 2016, South Africa’s poultry meat imports from the EU did not exceed 10% of the market total, with only 206 620t imported from there. According to Dessislava Choumelova, trade and economics advisor for the EU delegation to South Africa, this did not amount to the ‘dumping’ of bone-in poultry portions by the EU. Choumelova was speaking at a meeting between the EU, Country Bird Holdings (CBH) and Fair Play, about the alleged dumping of EU chicken on the South African market, and the potential demise of the local poultry industry due to imports of bone-in poultry portions from the EU. Choumelova also said that there seemed to be an attack on the EU by Fair Play,…

‘EMERGE FROM THIS FESTIVE SEASON IN A POSITIVE FRAME OF MIND, AND SPREAD THAT OPTIMISM LIBERALLY AROUND YOU’ The organisational chaos in the ANC, the duplicity of its leaders, and the dishonesty and incompetence in government have all lately been getting to me. Add the other woes besetting our country, our continent and our world, and I’ve been slowly but surely sinking into a pit of pessimism and despair. Even though I know this is mainly due to over-exposure to the mass media’s ‘horror stories’, I haven’t been able to help myself. My negativity bias, that strange phenomenon which predisposes us to absorb bad news and overlook good news, has been working overtime. But my mood of despondency is largely behind me. The change was triggered by the vibrancy of…

How did you experience the trading and production environment this past year in terms of your business in particular, and SA agriculture in general? South Africa is not the easiest place to farm; it’s a challenging environment. Climate change is our biggest threat, and the drought has severely affected production. Some of my vineyards yielded only 50% of their normal harvest. The wine business is also a difficult industry to be in. We’re commoditising wine and not growing its perceived value. We have to deal with the perception in the export market that South Africa produces ‘cheap and cheerful’ wine, when in fact our wines are as expensive to produce, if not more so, than in other parts of the world. What challenges and opportunities does 2018 hold for the…

What were the greatest challenges for you as a maize producer in 2017? It was the fact that I had to get my 2016/2017 maize crop in the ground with only one tractor. It took me weeks to get seeds planted. One of the other major challenges facing us new era farmers is the fact that we can’t get ownership and title deeds for the land we farm. Lack of funding, farm attacks, stock theft and political instability are also some problems that South Africa’s farming community has to deal with. What were your highlights in 2017? The fact that I was honoured as Grain SA’s 2017 New Era Farmer of the Year. I never in my life thought I would receive such an accolade. Another highlight was to increase…

How was 2017 for your sugar cane agribusiness? Our area experienced good rainfall in 2017, so Milford Estate’s sugar cane production was good. The benefits of this were dampened by various factors during the year, however. These included a drop in domestic demand for sugar, and the impact of South Africa’s decision to import sugar due to decreased local production levels as a result of low rainfall in the country’s sugar cane-growing areas. The imports lowered the price per ton paid to farmers for their sugar cane. This had a negative impact on Milford Estate’s turnover. How did South Africa’s sugar cane industry fare in 2017? I suspect it did not perform well. The drought, the drop in domestic demand for sugar, and the price regulatory system, together with many…

Central Limousin Champions Santa Gertrudis Champions Central Simmentaler Champions Contacts: Eandro Lottering: +264 81 419 9299 | Makumua Hengari: +264 81 225 5486 Contacts: René Krafft: +264 81 149 2535 | Bertus and Dewald Walters: +264 81 127 0300 | Sydney Martin: +264 81 129 7772…

Braised beef short ribs with port To make braised short ribs with port, leeks and carrots for six cracker-pulling diners in paper hats, you will need: 3kg beef short ribs (on the bone for better flavour) 2 tablespoons of butter 1ℓ of beef or chicken stock 250ml dry red wine 250ml red port 1kg young carrots 1 large leek 3 tablespoons each of chopped chives and parsley 1 large onion 2 cloves 2 bay leaves Canola, sunflower or peanut oil 1 teaspoon Maizena (optional) 2 tablespoons of tomato concentrate Salt and freshly ground black pepper on demand Rice or ultra-thin pasta 1 Begin by rubbing salt and black pepper over the ribs, then let them rest for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C, and on the hob heat up…

 This is the time we remember that our Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift of all, His only Son, who will “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). MAY YOU KNOW THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, THIS CHRISTMAS I believe that this Christmas we should make an extra effort to give gifts that have more meaning. We’re living in uncertain times and people need love and reassurance more than anything else. When your children return home from university, boarding school, or perhaps from work in another country, give them the gift of time. Sit down, too, and work out how all your staff can get an opportunity to rest and spend time with their families. Yes, we know that a farmer’s day is never done,…

PLANET OKAVANGO by Hannes Lochner (HPH Publishing, R980) If you ever needed to know the difference between a lucky snap of a wildlife moment and true photographic artistry, take a glimpse at this breathtaking collection of wildlife portraits from an international award-winning photographer. Lochner gives a masterclass in the use of light and shadow, composition, focus, blur, and depth of field. He also shares brief anecdotes on what went on behind the lens to achieve some of these magnificent photographs. At 220 pages and measuring 29cm by 38cm, this is a really special gift. KGALAGADI SELF-DRIVE: ROUTES, ROADS & RATINGS by Ingrid van den Berg & Jaco Powell (HPH Publishing, R490) The beautiful photographs in this compendium make you long to visit the Kgalagadi, or reinforce…

Over the course of several weeks, Farmer’s Weekly ran a competition that saw one lucky couple win a country wedding worth R130 000. Two runner-up couples each won a weekend getaway at The Cavern in the Drakensberg. Entrants were asked to submit a short letter, explaining why they believed they deserved to win. These were the winning responses: GRAND PRIZE: RAPULA AND KEITUMETSE “We first met after I lost my father in 2011. Rapula came to help transport my family after the funeral. It was love at first sight. We started dating after a year. We have been together for five years now, and have two sons. I am a full-time cashier at a Sasol garage. Rapula is recently unemployed, and is now a stay-at-home dad, while he works on…

Nurseries throughout the Western Cape are currently experiencing nectarine and peach rootstock shortages. This could result in nurseries being unable to meet all their orders for the 2018 planting season, according to industry body, Hortgro. Hortgro said in a statement that there were a number of reasons for the current shortage. “A poor rooting percentage of clonal rootstocks, high demand for almond trees and a shortage of Kakamas pips from SAPO’s [South African Plant Improvement Organisation] mother block source are partially to blame.” Poor weather conditions also had an impact on production, the statement said. “Along with operational problems, the stress conditions caused by the drought and water shortages further contributed to the current situation.” According to Hortgro, these issues were currently being investigated to prevent a similar situation in…

 While South Africa’s approximately 20 000 small-scale foresters stood to benefit from their enterprises in the coming year, they remained in need of various forms of ongoing support for this to be achieved. According to NCT Forestry (NCT), a timber marketing cooperative that has around 600 small-scale members, these particular foresters were becoming increasingly aware of how their resources could be applied to create financial independence. ‘FORESTERS ARE GETTING OLDER WITH FEWER YOUNGER PEOPLE TAKING UP THE REINS TO CONTINUE FARMING’ Rob Thompson, manager of NCT’s member services department, said that the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which was likely to be implemented during the course of 2018, would be of great assistance to SA’s small-scale foresters. “PEFC adopts a landscape certification approach, meaning that small growers…

JANUARY FIRST ROOIBOS DAY On 16 January, Clanwilliam, considered the Rooibos capital of the world by some, hosted South Africa’s first National Rooibos Day. About 1 246 tea lovers attended and sipped their way into setting a world record for the largest gathering of people drinking cups of Rooibos tea. ARSON IN THE WESTERN CAPE The Western Cape, which is still battling drought, also had to battle severe wildfires in January. According to information received by investigators, some of the fires that had broken out in the region had been started deliberately. Since the beginning of the fire season in December 2016, 1 000 Western Cape firefighters had battled 96 fires, according to Lauren Howard, spokesperson for Working on Fire. LIONS FOR MEDICINE Much like rhino horn and donkey hides,…

GOATS REMAIN A LARGELY UNDER-UTILISED RESOURCE The principal aim of the Meat Industry Trust (MIT) bursary fund is to encourage study in key areas of the red meat industry, and thus contribute to its improvement. This objective has largely been achieved, according to Dr Vuyelwa Penxa, chairperson of the SA Qualifications Authority. Penxa studied MIT bursary recipients between 2014 and 2017. Among her findings are the following: • The University of Pretoria has had the most bursary recipients (12). It is followed by the University of Fort Hare with six, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with one. • An analysis of the subjects studied in the industry reveals that some fields require more attention. These include the environment, reproduction, nutrition, and economics and marketing. In addition, no research has been…

A frequent debate in aquaculture concerns the respective merits of round and rectangular tanks. To understand the pros and cons of each, we need to go back in history. Ancient Egyptian engravings depict what appear to be tilapia grown in earth ponds adjacent to the Nile. The earliest indisputable signs of fish farming, though, is archaeological evidence that the ancient Romans reared trout for food. They used circular brick tanks and fresh, flowing water, and some of the foundations of these structures still exist today. In the early 20th century, circular tanks for salmonid rearing became commonplace. The idea was to replicate the aquatic environment of trout: rapidly flowing, cool, clear streams. The need to remove the solid waste in these tanks soon became evident. Initially, a central drain was…

How did you experience the trading and production environment for the table grape industry this past year? The production environment was excellent for all regions in South Africa. The projections ranged from 60 million to 63 million cartons, while the actual harvest at the end of the season was 67 million cartons. The trading environment, on the other hand, was a challenge. From week six onwards, prices started to plummet. So much so, that it was almost better to market our export-quality grapes locally. This was due to exceptionally high yields in other countries such as Chile, Peru and India, where production overlaps that of South Africa. What challenges does 2018 hold for the table grape industry? The biggest challenge is the persistent drought in the Western Cape. All three…

How did your grains, cotton and pecan nut production fare in 2017? The maize price placed us under pressure and we couldn’t reach margins. We’ll plant silage maize in the coming season, as silage currently fetches better margins than commercial maize. Knowing the market and the various options helps to mitigate risks. Pecan nuts were the golden link in the chain this year. Pecan production was good and because it’s exported, the rand/dollar exchange rate helped us. We planted more hectares to cotton than usual this year and were able to hedge in foreign markets. One could get up to R9 500/t for good-quality cotton. What challenges does 2018 hold for these markets? Hail is a major risk for the pecan industry; one storm can destroy an entire year’s crop.…

What were the main challenges for you as a livestock producer in 2017? There was an outbreak of rabies among livestock in the area near Lykso in North West, where we farm. The challenge for us was to keep our farm, Driehoek, free of the disease. This meant additional input costs because we had to include rabies vaccinations in our animal health programme. Fortunately, we didn’t lose any of our animals to the disease. What were your highlights of 2017? It was a particular honour for our business to be included in the 2017 National Gazelles Top 40. This is a national SME growth accelerator. Winning the 2017 ARC National Small Scale Commercial Beef Producer of the Year award was another highlight. This validated our hard work and dedication to…

USE LEAF COLOUR AND PLANT VIGOUR AS A GUIDE TO APPLYING NITROGEN I am often asked which fertiliser should be applied to a particular crop. However, more important than which fertiliser to apply is to determine which nutrients are lacking in the soil. Conducting a soil analysis is therefore crucial, and an element such as nitrogen should be added as necessary to suit the crop and conditions. FERTILISATION Fertiliser can either be applied in rows or broadcast. Broadcasting is better in the long run as it provides a uniform distribution. However, you can still obtain good results with row placement, where less fertiliser is applied per hectare. Whichever method you use, you should prevent the fertiliser from coming into contact with the seed. For faster germination, soak the seed overnight…

In days gone by, tyre rotation used to be optional. Today, it is almost essential. Tyre wear changes the diameter of a tyre slightly, and a modern car may misbehave unless all four wheels have almost exactly the same diameter. THE CASE FOR NON-ROTATION If you decide not to rotate, you need buy only two tyres at a time. But inevitably, one set of wheels will then have less traction than the other, a problem that shows up on a wet surface. If the car is a front-wheel drive, the front tyres will wear out faster, and the car will tend to break away at the front on a wet road. Most drivers will reduce the throttle opening, which is the correct thing to do. If the car is a…

Here, courtesy of nutritionist Jonny Bowden (The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth), are some more basic, affordable foods we should eat regularly to stay healthy. • Sardines High in Omega 3 fatty acids that counter inflammation and fight depression, sardines also contain first-class protein and other good things, such as iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper and some B vitamins. If the taste puts you off, spread mustard on buttered bread before adding the sardines. Afterwards, munch some parsley, as the chlorophyll reduces the fishy odour, and suck a peppermint. • Crunchy pumpkin seeds Surprisingly, these are the most nutritious part of a pumpkin. They are high in protein, and contain magnesium, zinc and plenty of tryptophan, a natural chemical that promotes sleep. They also have a high fibre content. Roast them over…

People rely heavily on Google for any queries they may have about a business, product and service in their area. Certainly, I cannot remember the last time I used a telephone directory, never mind the Yellow Pages! Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool supplied by Google for businesses to help them manage their online presence across the search engine. To use GMB, you need a Google email account. If you don't already have one, simply register for a free email account. Google processes more than five billion searches every day, of which one in every five searches is related to location. When a person searches for a specific business name, product or service, Google produces a list of relevant information, including website address and location. If your business…