Table of contents for 15 June 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

A friend I met through our mutual interest in farming recently introduced me to the book Letters to a Young Farmer: On Food, Farming, and Our Future, compiled by the US’s Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. I believe this book should be compulsory reading, not just for young farmers, but for anyone in farming or interested in farming. Since we will be celebrating Youth Day in South Africa this week, I thought this would be a good time to dedicate my weekly column to the young farmers in this country and also write a letter to them. Of course, I do not have the wisdom and experience of working the land, as many of those authors who contributed to the book do, but I’d like to tell you…

AVI Africa 2018 12 TO 14 JUNE AVI AFRICA IS THE LARGEST POULTRY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION IN AFRICA. EXHIBITORS WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR LATEST PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS, AND BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 12 TO 14 JUNE AVI Africa 2018, Emperors Palace. For more information, visit sapoultry.co.za/pdf-avi/avi-invitation.pdf . 19 TO 20 JUNE Manufacturing Indaba, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. For more information, visit manufacturingindaba.co.za/ . 20 TO 21 JUNE Vision 2030 Summit, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. For more information, visit vision2030.co.za/ . 23 TO 27 JUNE IFAMA World Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina. For more information, visit ifama.org/page-18525 . 25 JUNE Africa’s Big 7 Farmers’ Training Day, Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg. For more information, phone 011 783…

Researchers are finding increasing evidence that forests are precious resources which will increasingly be relied on for water, food and energy to meet the needs of a fast-growing global population. Growth and shifts in population, climate changes, as well as innovations in terms of knowledge and technology, will undoubtedly affect forests and the way in which food is produced. It is for this reason that investing in forests is essential to secure a sustainable future for communities around the world. According to the UN, well-managed forests and trees, even in cities, provide habitats, food and protection for many plants and animals, helping to maintain and increase biodiversity. It is estimated that by 2050, more than half of the world’s population will face water stress. The UN suggests that, given that…

The Western Cape and winter crop areas have experienced heavy rain recently and seen dam levels increase, but they still have a long way to go. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Johan van den Berg, manager for specialised crop insurance at Santam, said it could take a considerable amount of time before dam levels in the Western Cape were at acceptable capacity again. A Department of Water and Sanitation weekly report showed that by 28 May, Western Cape dam levels were at 19% of capacity, which was a 2% increase on the previous week and 1% higher year-on-year. The heavy rain that had fallen across the region early in June had not been included in statistics at the time of going to print. According to Van den Berg, the region usually…

The prices achieved for the top lamb, beef and pork carcasses at this year’s Royal Show carcass sale, held in Pietermaritzburg, disappointed many spectators, and even the winning bidder. Wayne Coetzer, general manager, and Kevin Joseph, executive chef, of the five-star The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, have been vying for the Royal Show’s top carcasses for the past four years. Coetzer told Farmer’s Weekly that this was because The Oyster Box believed it was extremely important to support South African farmers, and secure the very best quality ingredients for the hotel’s guests. This year, The Oyster Box bought the Champion Lamb Carcass for R180/kg and the Champion European Genetics Lamb Carcass for R240/kg, compared with the R1 350/kg the hotel paid for the 2017 Champion Lamb Carcass, which was…

Côte d’Ivoire is becoming the breadbasket of West Africa, according to German economic development agency GTAI Germany Trade & Invest. Agriculture and the food industry had been dynamic for years, especially in Abidjan, both in terms of production and processing, supplying other francophone countries in the region such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Togo and Benin, the agency said. The increasing demand for food throughout the French-speaking West African market of 110 million inhabitants, and the generally good economy in Côte d’Ivoire, continued to offer positive prospects for suppliers of agricultural products, plastics, and printing and packaging technology, according to the agency. Côte d’Ivoire has also drawn up a five-year plan to modernise cashew nut production. The country is currently the world leader in cashew exports, with production almost…

The South African political landscape has changed for the better and the local economy has benefitted as a result. However, the new cabinet is still too large and is riddled with “spectacularly inefficient” appointees in key positions. This was according to Nicola Weimar, senior economist at Nedbank, speaking at the recent North West Red Meat Producers’ congress in Klerksdorp. A positive indicator, however, was that ratings agency Moody’s had left South Africa’s credit rating unchanged. “Economic policies nonetheless remain unclear and patchy, with some concerning elements,” she said. Weimar said the leadership changes and a more decisive budget had convinced Moody’s to leave the country’s rating unchanged at investment level. She cautioned that inflation had been “dragged” down by much lower food inflation in 2017, due to a bumper summer…

Wool traded nearly 3% higher at the last sale of May, with the Cape Wools Merino Indicator closing at R207,23 (clean), and the Australian EMI increasing 2,5%. According to Heinrich Victor, operational manager for fibre at OVK, the market again traded at record levels, driven by the strong demand for quality long and fine wool. This was a smaller sale and most of the wool on offer was of medium length and of mostly medium and fine grade. A weaker rand had contributed to the increased returns for producers. With wool deliveries to broker stores tapering off as the season neared a close, wool receipts were predicted to end well below the previous season’s intake. Competition among buyers was fierce, with Standard Wool SA buying most of the bales on…

Government is becoming stricter about groundwater usage in an attempt to keep this resource at sustainable levels. This was according to Julian Conrad, a geohydrologist at Geohydrological and Spatial Solutions International (GEOSS), who spoke at the recent Sandveld Potato Growers’ annual general meeting in Velddrif. The volume of water used needed to be registered, or licensed with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in the absence of a water permit, he said. Conrad said a three-tier system was applied, and no registration was needed if the volume of water used was less than 10m³/day (Schedule 1 users). Farmers who kept livestock or irrigated small areas typically fell in the second category (general authorisation), he added. “Allocations allowed in this category are determined by the water catchment area and…

The bulk of food consumed across the world comprises just a handful of crop and livestock species, which increases the vulnerability of agriculture and food systems to threats such as climate change. This was according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation statement, ahead of a recent multi-stakeholder dialogue on biodiversity at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for Well-Being was launched last year, following the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cancun, Mexico. Countries signing the declaration committed to work within their governments and across all sectors to place greater emphasis on biodiversity through multiple actions. Speaking at the event, FAO director general José Graziano da Silva said biodiversity was essential to safeguard global food security and nutrition,…

Aquaponics, a subset of the aquaculture industry, has grown dramatically in recent years. Most systems are hobby-scale to minor commercial scale projects, and there are few if any large ventures producing both fish and plants on a scale typical of traditional agriculture. However, several producers now send regular shipments of product to retail outlets, including health shops and supermarkets. Much of this is sold under a label that emphasises sustainable growth methods, pesticide-free production, and even organic status. As I have commented in the past, the main focus of aquaponics is on the production of the plants, not the fish. Containments and systems for growing the fish are usually subjugated to the needs of convenience, portability and the plant requirements, rather than those of viable fish production per se. Having…

DISEASES MIGHT SPREAD VIA THE DROPPINGS OF WILD BIRDS Why is biosecurity so important? Why can’t birds simply be medicated when they fall ill? The problem with poultry production is that many avian diseases, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, have no cure. So the best strategy is to prevent these diseases from entering your farm in the first place through a good biosecurity and sanitation programme. The worldwide movement against the use of antibiotics due to rising fears over antimicrobial resistance is also putting pressure on farmers to use more preventative control measures. Even here in South Africa, cases of E. coli resistance have been reported for certain antimicrobials. Antibiotics should be used only as a last resort, and then as prescribed by the veterinarian who identified the…

An exclusive farmers' day is planned for 27 June on Hannes Becker’s farm, Welgelegen, in Tolwe, Limpopo, to demonstrate the Energyneering system to producers keen to farm independently of the national Eskom grid. Limited seats are available, and farmers are encouraged to book as soon as possible; farmers are expected from all corners of South Africa. The event will focus on how to: • own your own power grid; • achieve cost savings worth thousands of rands; • reduce the effects of inflation. Don’t let rising energy costs and grid instability jeopardise your business. See first-hand how solar energy can work on your farm! Limited seats! Reservations: André (Central): 082 474 9087 Nicolaas (Limpopo): 082 599 4815 CP (Mpumalanga): 083 305 1517 Alex (Cape): 082 550 6336.Email: info@energyneering.co.za.…

Planters and seeders are not only increasing in size; they are becoming ever more sophisticated. Many now offer section control and variable rate application of both seed and fertiliser, as well as simultaneous application of herbicide. 1 Horsch Maestro 24-row planter The Maestro is equipped with one of the smallest single-grain metering devices on the market. Instead of shooting the seed into the soil, the Maestro places it evenly with absolutely accurate control. This is clearly where the future of modern grain singling is headed. 2 Amazone GreenDrill The Amazone GreenDrill catch crop seed drill plants a cover crop directly into stubble when tilling soil or reseeding grass. It fits on the Catros 3003 compact disc harrow (above), the Cenius mulch cultivator, the KG rotary cultivator and the KE rotary…

South African truck manufacturer FAW has gained a solid reputation in Southern Africa over the past 24 years for the quality and longevity of its Chinese-designed vehicles and the commitment of its dealer network. It has long used Nampo to showcase its range as well as to make direct contact with new and existing customers. The truck company’s stand at the agricultural show featured a wide collection of FAW models, including the soon-to-be-launched long-haul JH6 and the new 8.140 full automatic. These were parked alongside an FAW 33.420FT and an FAW 28.330FL. The models proved even more enticing to showgoers thanks to special Nampo pricing. An FAW 8.140 was sold from the stand on the opening morning. “Nampo is a big deal for us,” says Pieter Janse van Rensburg, FAW…

To make a fast flattie with a ginger and spring onion sauce for four impatient diners, you will need: One large chicken flattie (1,8kg to 2kg) 3 cloves of garlic 1 lemon 30ml extra virgin olive oil A little salt Plenty of freshly ground black pepper UNUSUAL EQUIPMENT 1 or 2 bricks tightly wrapped in foil FOR THE SAUCE 4 large spring onions 6 sprigs of coriander (dhania) 70mm fresh root ginger 45ml light soya sauce Level teaspoon of brown sugar 30ml sunflower or canola oil We begin with the cast-iron skillet. This extraordinary leftover from the 19th century is a profoundly useful piece of kit, with its capacity to retain heat, fry on a hob and roast in an oven. Rather like CorningWare, but potently retro. 1 Preheat the…

Millions of small-scale farmers in developing countries don’t have access to affordable, high-quality feed for their livestock. This, of course, affects production. To alleviate the problem, Single Spark, a Dutch consultancy that targets developing countries, has devised the FeedCalculator app to help farmers formulate their own livestock rations and save on input costs. The app, a relatively small 6,7MB, is available for free at Google Play. After downloading it, you have to sign up for a free account before using the app. There are three easy steps: • Step 1: Select your animal species. • Step 2: Fill in the current prices of the locally available ingredients. • Step 3: Press ‘Calculate’ and get your recipe and shopping list . Currently, the app can formulate rations for broilers, layers and…

“Three fundamental consumer trends will drive change in the coffee market over the following decade: the desire for natural, traceable and sustainable products; the blurring of lines across product categories; and our inability to look up from our smartphones. When it comes to ‘natural, traceable and sustainable’, coffee is unique. Consumers can touch and smell coffee beans, and easily brew their own coffee. Moreover, the path of the coffee bean from farm to cup is simple; compare this level of visibility to a vineyard/brewery/distillery tour. Yet there is one aspect of ‘natural, traceable and sustainable’ in which coffee falls short: coffee pods and capsules. Single-serve is here to stay, but at Rabobank we expect the mainstreaming of bean-to-cup at-home machines to mark the beginning of the end for pods and…

12 MARCH 1993 Pine nut potential 25 YEARS AGO Pine kernels have long been one of the most desirable and expensive nuts. The following Farmer’s Weekly article from 1993 describes how South African entrepreneurs developed a machine for processing them. “Kernels from the Stone or Umbrella Pine (Pinus pinea L.) are a sought-after delicacy worldwide.The low cholesterol, low fat, high protein kernels are popular as a health food as well as being an important ingredient in exclusive foodstuffs such as pesto sauce. “Prices for the imported product have become prohibitively expensive with the inexorable slide of the Rand, and at present the kernels sell at about R140 [R620 today*] per kg in shops. “It was almost by accident that Japie Krige and Paul Joubert, both of Stellenbosch, became involved with…

The devastating hailstorm that hit Mpumalanga on 27 May will have a long-term effect on, among others, the citrus production industry in the Lowveld. The storm moved from Hazyview towards Nelspruit, Karino, Malelane and Komatipoort, and caused considerable damage to orange and macadamia trees, according to Kobus van Niekerk, a macadamia consultant in Karino. He had been working in the area since 1990 and had never experienced a hailstorm of that severity. A farm near Karino, to which Van Niekerk consults, had suffered a complete loss of ripe Valencia oranges earmarked for the export market due to hailstones as big as golf balls. The orange trees had also been severely damaged by the hail, which meant a smaller crop in the next season. The damage to the bark and stems…

The 2018 Royal Show, recently held in Pietermaritzburg, was again the ideal event for farmers from around the country to showcase their animals and other products, compete against each other in various competitions, and view the latest agricultural machinery, implements, technologies and inputs. Members of the public who attended the show were able to learn more about what goes into producing the food and fibre they consume. Farmer’s Weekly had a stand at the show, and many old, new and prospective readers stopped by to purchase branded merchandise or meet members of the Farmer’s Weekly team. The magazine co-sponsored the Royal Show farmers’ dinner in the livestock arena, together with Sanlam.…

NEW ZEALAND In an attempt to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis bacteria from the national cattle herd, 150 000 cows will be culled in New Zealand. The Ministry for Primary Industries in that country estimated that about 190 farms would require depopulation. If successful, it would be the first time an infected country had eliminated the bacteria, first identified in New Zealand last year. Although the bacteria were not a threat to food safety, production losses occurred. EUROPEAN UNION All food production is not equal when it comes to environmental impact, according to researchers at Oxford University in the UK and the Swiss agricultural research institute, Agroscope. The environmental impact of nearly 40 000 farms and 1 600 processors and retailers, as well as different types of packaging, were reviewed. It was…

Stock theft remains one of the biggest threats to sustainable red meat production in North West, according to Sakkie van Zyl, North West RPO (NWRPO) chairperson. Speaking at the recent NWRPO congress in Klerksdorp, he said stock theft had increased 22% from 2015/2016 to 2016/2017. “Local producers are also becoming increasingly frustrated by the poor and drawn-out investigations. We nevertheless initiate ongoing engagement with all relevant authorities to address the problem.” BRANDING IS A VITAL TOOL IN THE FIGHT According to Van Zyl, there had been an increase in incidences of livestock being slaughtered on-farm and the meat removed. He ascribed this to increased security measures at livestock sales and when livestock was being transported. The timeous and clear branding of animals had become essential tools in the fight against…

Ongoing drought conditions in parts of the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape are likely to put pressure on livestock farmers in those provinces during the current winter. According to the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), many of these farmers were still struggling to recover from the devastating nationwide drought that ended in 2016. The 2018 Autumn and Winter Climate Advisory of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ national agro-meteorological committee (NAC), reported that veld and livestock were currently in “reasonable condition in the majority of provinces, expect the drought-stricken areas”. The RPO’s CEO, Gerhard Schutte, said that due to the current drought conditions, livestock farmers in parts of the Northern Cape and Western Cape were being forced to further reduce their herd and flock sizes, following the…

It’s easy to become complacent about calling in jackal and simply employ the same methods every time. By varying your tactics and using the available resources, you make the hunt more interesting for yourself as well as increase your chances of success. • Drop and go If you call jackal and they merely bark back at you without coming in, it’s time to adopt a different approach: in this case the ‘drop-and-go’ tactic. A fellow hunter drives you into the territory and drops you off. He then drives on into the wind and stops the truck 600m away. From here, he calls the jackal while you sit tight and light up the area. For safety’s sake, you should both know exactly where the other person is when using this tactic. It’s…

‘THERE’S ALWAYS A DEMAND FOR PASTURE-RAISED EGGS’ Rico Vergotine of Idas Valley in Stellenbosch was an electric gate technician, “who happened to be at the right place at the right time”. In 2010, he was repairing gates at the Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch when he met Angus McIntosh, who runs the Spier Biodynamic Farm. “At that stage, I was bored with my job and needed a new challenge,” recalls Vergotine. “Angus and I started chatting and I asked if he had a job for me on the farm.” McIntosh had nothing to offer him at the time, but noted Vergotine’s enthusiasm. When the position for a maintenance technician became available at Spier, McIntosh prompted him to apply, and he was subsequently employed. The farm was well run, however, and…

IF SOIL CONTAINS UNDECOMPOSED ORGANIC MATTER, APPLY NITROGEN ACCORDINGLY I often come across a farmer who thinks his land might have a nitrogen deficiency, but then rules this out as he has fertilised with nitrogen at the usual rate and no leaching rain has fallen. Invariably, though, a look at the soil reveals undecomposed crop residue. This is a ready food source for soil organisms, which then grow in number, in turn absorbing large quantities of nitrogen. A hectare of soil can easily contain 2t of bacteria. The carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of bacteria is 5:1. This means that 200kg of nitrogen is tied up in each ton of bacteria, the equivalent of 15 bags of LAN. Simultaneously, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa and other organisms that feed on both bacteria and plant…

When looking through this recipe the first time, I wondered if the soya and ginger would be too much for an unwooded white wine, and if the garlic would be too pungent. To help me decide, I assembled a line-up for the taste-off. The dish is delicious, juicy and soft, with a nutty, earthy character from the garlic, and the sauce is slightly sweet and very fragrant, thanks to the ginger, onion and soya. The unwooded Chardonnay was overshadowed by the soya, yet the wooded Chardonnay was too rich and didn’t go with the sweet ginger. Step up Chenin Blanc, historically known as Steen and used in many white blends. It’s the grape that may just be our flag bearer on the world stage in the future. The one I…

A large body of research has shown that poor nutrition is a leading cause of cancer; in contrast, the right nutrients can inhibit cancerous cells from multiplying. Diet is therefore one of the strongest weapons in our arsenal for preventing cancer. Nutrient-rich plant foods typically contain phytochemicals, which have anti-cancer properties. Researchers have recently learnt that cancer cells originate from stem cells, and some phytochemicals target and kill cancer stem cells. Others reverse the mechanical flaws in our bodies which cancer cells thrive on. A GOOD SUPPLEMENT Vitamin D3 deficiency is commonly associated with the development of cancer, but not all of us can rely on time spent in the sun to manufacture vitamin D. Regular intake of vitamin D3 in the form of the supplement cholecalciferol is required. Very…

A recent article in The Guardian newspaper spoke about agriculture being collateral damage in an impending trade war between the US and the rest of the world, particularly Canada, Mexico and the EU. The steel and aluminium tariffs that were initially targeting China are now having unintended consequences for the rest of the US’s trade partners. What is ironic is that the US and China seem to have worked out a deal that irons out whatever differences originally instigated the imposition of tariffs. With US-China trade relations now seemingly settling into a calm yet uneasy tension, it is the rest of the world that has to bear the brunt of an initiative by the Trump administration which seeks to press the reset button on global trade. The US has an…

It is not yet clear what the full commercial fallout will be for the mohair industry, following video footage of questionable animal-handling practices being widely circulated in the media, according to Riaan Marais, communications manager for Mohair South Africa. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Marais said it was important to note that isolated incidents had been shown as the norm in the footage, which was taken by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “We can’t deny that the conduct of some individuals shown in the footage was unacceptable. We immediately launched an investigation into the allegation made by PETA, and have been in contact with the shearing contractors and the NSPCA to lend assistance in the investigations. The two farmers that have been suspended from mohair…

Tongaat Hulett has recorded a 5,2% overall decline in revenue to R16,98 billion (2017: R17,91 billion), while operating profit declined 16,1% to R1,958 billion (2017: R2,333 billion), and headline earnings dropped 37,2% to R617 million (2017: R982 million) for the financial year ended 31 March 2018. CEO Peter Staude said that over the 12 months ending 31 March 2018 the group’s sugar operations had been adversely affected by the combination of “the dynamics of sugar imports into the South African market, low international prices, and the impact of stronger local currencies on export realisations”. The company’s sugar operations in South Africa, including downstream activities, posted R86 million in operating profit (2017: R390 million) from 513 000t of sugar produced (2017: 353 000t). This increase was attributed to improved rainfall in…

The winter cold and frost may limit many disease outbreaks generally induced by high summer rainfall and high temperatures, according to the latest Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RUVASA) report. Wireworm and roundworm infestations were of particular concern, as they had been reported in all provinces in April. External parasites were also a problem, with African redwater and Asiatic redwater outbreaks reported in all provinces except the Northern Cape. Anaplasmosis had also been reported in all provinces, and had resulted in some mortalities, the report said. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Dr Pieter Vervoort, chairperson of the National Animal Health Forum, said low winter temperatures would reduce both tick and internal parasites numbers. “However, caution is still needed. South African winters tend to be getting warmer, which means new outbreaks…

With the number of listeriosis cases reportedly having declined markedly in recent months, the Department of Health (DoH) no longer conducts testing for this pathogen in imported meat products. This was according to DoH spokesperson Foster Mohale, who told Farmer’s Weekly that the source of the listeriosis outbreak, which began in January 2017, “was unequivocally identified as [originating in] processed meat produced at the [Enterprise Foods] Polokwane facility”. “Whole genome sequencing was used to identify the source of the outbreak,” he said. A recent report published by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said 1 038 confirmed listeriosis cases had been reported across South Africa between 1 January 2017 and 22 May 2018. Of these victims, 208 had died as a result of the disease. “The number of new…

Potato production in the Western Cape during the current season will largely depend on climatic conditions, according to Jan van Zyl, chairperson of the Sandveld Potato Producers’ Association. It was evident from input purchases at the start of the year that the majority of farmers had planned for a normal year, but the area planted to potatoes in regions dependent on water from the Berg River and Olifants River was already 20% lower than usual due to water shortages, he said. Previously, water restrictions had only affected farmers dependent on state water resources. However, new restrictions had also affected borehole water usage, he said. “Everybody’s water supply has now been more than halved. Sandveld potato farmers have invested vast sums of money over the past 14 years to ensure groundwater…

It is crucial to pay partners and employees appropriately for the positions they hold and the duties they carry out. Unfair remuneration can destroy relationships, especially in a family business. Here are three true stories to illustrate the point; only the names and places have been changed. CASE 1: NO DIVIDENDS In a small town is a thriving, integrated beef and meat processing business. The founder died recently but did a great job of succession planning, and his son James was prepared to take over the business. The founder’s wife is well cared for; the rest of the estate was divided equally between James and his two siblings. I met James at a family business seminar recently, where he strongly disagreed with the presenter about remuneration practices in family businesses.…

Two ventilation systems are used in egg and boiler production: natural ventilation (open-sided houses), and mechanical ventilation (environmentally controlled houses). The main difference is the way in which the environment is controlled. In a naturally ventilated house, the inside environment is controlled using natural wind and airflow; in a mechanically ventilated house, electric fans are employed. NATURAL VENTILATION In a naturally ventilated poultry house, the key is to maximise the wind; the building should therefore be constructed so that it uses the natural wind to create airflow. This means it should be oriented so that the open sides face the direction of the prevailing wind. The precise angle is not that critical, as effective ventilation occurs up to 30° either side of the wind direction. (The house should also be…

In September this year, the latest recipient of the Shiny Red Apple Award will be announced at the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa’s annual general meeting, to be held in East London. The annual Shiny Red Apple goes to a person, business or market that has excelled at promoting communication between role players in the fresh produce markets sector. The recipient receives a large, shiny, red ‘apple’ trophy which is both unusual and attractive. He or she returns it at the next AGM but is given a handsome certificate to keep. GALA DINNER There have been five recipients since the award’s inception in 2013, and the winner is announced by the institute’s president at the prestigious gala dinner held as part of the AGM. Communication is not simply…

Dear Jonno, I plan to buy a farm in the Karoo and need your help to adapt the existing farmhouse. This is a sturdy, thatched stone house, but very little sunlight enters it, making it dark and cold in winter. I have attached a photo that shows the north side, as well as a simple sketch of what I think could be done to alleviate this problem. My first idea is to raise the roof on the veranda and get light in that way. However, I also don’t want the sun blazing in during summer. Kind regards, Clas Dear Clas, Thanks for the very detailed layout of the house and your ideas to let light in. With those 350mm-thick, rock-built walls, both outside and internally, I can imagine just how…

MANAGE YOUR MONEY LIKE A F*CKING GROWNUP by Sam Beckbessinger (Jonathan Ball, R190) The best financial advice you could give a young person starting a career is this no-nonsense handbook whose punchy, in-your-face tone lives up to its title. In fact, anyone at any stage in his or her career who tends to treat money as out of sight, out of mind – and ends up out of pocket – can benefit from this wake-up call. Cape Town-based Beckbessinger reminds us of many home truths. For example, we may have to choose between taking on a ton of debt and so effectively becoming an indentured wage-slave for the bank, or working for our freedom. Another example: buying a house isn’t likely to make your fortune, but is a…