Table of contents for 6 July 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

For some farmers, this might be easier said than done, but to make a living from farming in the future you will either have to go big or be unique. By becoming suppliers of raw commodities, rather than being producers of food, those farmers in the high-volume, low-value industries such as grain, sugar, dairy and beef have had to watch their share of the profit earned in the agricultural value chain diminish. Earning potential has also grown extremely volatile as the prices of commodities are exposed to the vagaries of international supply and demand. We are seeing this now in the local sugar industry where producers have started engaging in protest action to demand greater protection from cheap sugar imports that forced local sugar prices to below break-even levels (see…

THERE MAY BE LIMITED COMPETITION FOR MAIZE EXPORTS THIS YEAR FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES It pays to keep a close eye on Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector because of its potential impact on regional demand. The latest report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that Zimbabwe’s 2017/2018 maize production could reach 1,2 million tons. This is 20% higher than the May estimate, albeit 46% lower than last season’s bumper crop. The upward revision comes on the back of relatively better yields in some parts of the country. The annual decline is largely due to a reduction in area planted. Maize planting for 2017/2018 is estimated at 1,2 million hectares, 36% lower than the previous season, due to unfavourable weather conditions. The season started with good rainfall in October last year,…

Parliament’s Rural Development and Land Reform Portfolio Committee has initiated a forensic investigation into the R1 billion land claim deal for MalaMala Game Reserve, nearly five years after it was concluded. This is South Africa’s largest land reform deal to date and cost taxpayers R1,1 billion. The claim was finalised and the land returned to the Nwandlamharhi Communal Property Association (CPA) in 2013/2014. Both the Land Claims Court and High Court ruled that the price asked for the property was excessive and not in the best interests of South Africans. However, the claim was concluded before the case reached the Constitutional Court. DA member of Parliament Ken Robertson explained that a multi-party report presented to the portfolio committee detailed how the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) had…

Large amounts of microbial proteins efficiently produced by bacteria could replace some of the crops now grown to feed livestock, an international research team has reported. Livestock are the world’s largest users of land resources, with pasture and land for the production of feed representing almost 80% of the planet’s total agricultural land. These crops are one of the most important contributors to global pollution. As such, researchers from Australia, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands investigated microbial proteins as an alternative for animal feed. Benjamin Bodirsky, a scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, and his team analysed the long-term effects that incorporating microbial proteins into the diets of livestock could have on land use and greenhouse gas emissions. Using an advanced computer model to generate…

The Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Senzeni Zokwana, emphasised the importance of young people taking agriculture to the next level during a recent address at Elsenburg Agricultural College near Stellenbosch. Speaking about the impact of climate change, Zokwana said climate-smart methods and technologies would help enhance the resilience of agricultural and food production systems. “When we speak of climate-smart methods and smart agriculture, we are essentially referring to the ‘takeover’ by technology, as part of the fourth industrial revolution in agriculture. Young people will play a critical role in this, as it is they who are fascinated by the use of modern technology to run businesses and production processes.” He added that the country needed a new generation of farmers to take over from ageing…

A unanimous decision was taken at the recent congress of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association in Graaff-Reinet that all mohair farms would be audited by Mohair South Africa before the end of the following mohair selling season. Farmers who did not meet the standards of the audit would not receive sustainability status, which would result in buyers not buying their mohair clips at auction. Brokers would also be compelled to separate lots that qualified from those that did not. The audit would initially focus on the 10 points contained in the industry’s production standards and were considered crucial for clips to qualify for sale on the global market. Growers could eventually also expect spot checks from independent assessors. Some of the main aspects to be assessed included: • Shearing…

The Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVASA) has highlighted the importance of biosecurity and vaccination in its latest disease report. According to Dr Gareth Bath, chairperson of the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC), the recent Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak near Kimberley “makes it risky to leave sheep, goats and cattle unvaccinated, since the disease is carried [between animals] by mosquitoes”. Moreover, unpredictable weather meant it was difficult to determine whether next year’s summer rain would result in large-scale RVF outbreaks, which made it even more important to vaccinate animals timeously. “Waiting until an outbreak occurs before vaccinating will lead to large-scale losses, since the preparation of these vaccines is a long and time-consuming process,” Bath said. RuVASA also highlighted farmers’ role in the war against brucellosis, which had…

‘TRANSFER TITLE DEEDS TO BENEFICIARIES’ For most black South Africans involved in commercial forestry, securing tenure of their land in areas under traditional authority where tenure is precarious, is of greater importance than obtaining additional land. This was one of the aspects that Forestry South Africa (FSA) highlighted in its written submission to Parliament’s Joint Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) on whether to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation. According to FSA’s submission, there were more than 20 000 small-scale black timber growers in South Africa, in addition to medium- and large-scale black-owned forestry enterprises, with a combined value of approximately R17 billion. “The forestry and forest products industry contributed R48 billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product in 2017 and employed 158 000…

A TAXPAYER MUST BE NOTIFIED OF AN AUDIT AND KEPT INFORMED OF THE PROCESS In a matter heard before the Port Elizabeth Income Tax Court earlier this year, a taxpayer’s appeal was upheld. The taxpayer (the appellant), who had been the CEO of a company, had received a significant amount of money from his former employer. SARS assessed his tax as if the lump sum were normal income. The appellant, however, maintained that the money was not normal income, and should have been assessed as a retirement or retrenchment benefit, which would have meant less tax. His objection was disallowed and the case went to court. In its document setting out its case for the court, SARS said that an audit had produced findings that adversely affected the appellant and…

Internationally, poultry producers are operating in an environment of plentiful feed supplies at relatively low prices. Global production is expected to continue growing in 2018, mainly due to expected expansion in the US, Brazil, India and the EU. At the same time, poultry meat is expected to face increased competition as production of other meats such as pork and beef is also expanding (the latter for the third consecutive year). The high number of supplies will have to compete for a share of the consumer’s wallet, but poultry might benefit as it is a cheaper source of animal protein. South Africa’s poultry imports for 2017 were 523 481t, down only 0,8% from 2016. This was despite trade bans on EU countries affected by avian influenza. Brazil was the main country…

According to Aggrey Mahanjana, the state’s land reform process is characterised by structural weaknesses as it is a politically, rather than economically, driven process. Economic failures are therefore clear to see, and he stresses that the only way to change this trend is through selecting capable beneficiaries and rewarding success with title deeds. “It’s extremely important to identify who must be allocated a farm,” he says. “If the ANC doesn’t get this right, they will be missing the point. Those guys who have shown they can do it must get title deeds. Those who can’t [do it], need post-settlement support. If they still can’t do it, take those farms and give them to people who can do it.” Mahanjana’s own experience on Carnarvon Estates has shown just how important access…

SA Mutton Merino Champions Contacts: Faan Greyling 082 782 7674 | George and Hugh Smith 045 952 906 | Piet Strydom 045 942 1022 Merino Stud Champions Contacts: Jannie and Herman de Villiers 082 417 9543 | Hansie and Johan Sauer 087 802 8330 Frans and Kosie Slabbert 079 366 8524 | Niel van Pletzen 082 301 9061…

NEW HOLLAND HAS ENTERED THE COMPETITIVE CLASS 6 COMBINE CATEGORY Rostselmash, based in Rostov-on-Don in Russia, exhibited two combines at Nampo 2018. These will be distributed by Feeler Africa, based in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The ACROS 595 is a conventional straw-walker powered by a six-cylinder 8,9-litre 248kW Cummins engine. One of its many features is Jam Control, which relieves blockages. The TORUM is a powerful rotor-type harvester claimed to be suitable for up to 2 000ha. Its Advanced Rotor System’s (ARS) threshing method has three innovative features: an inclined beater chamber, a revolving concave rotor, and a stepless rotor drive. The rotor uses 360° rotation, with no dead zones to cause clogging. It has three sections that can be individually adjusted to suit the crop, effectively threshing the crop three…

As explained previously, this series is designed to help farmers decide which brand of bakkie to purchase. However, that final decision will be influenced by how trustworthy a farmer’s local dealer is. FOTON In May, Foton bakkies were still listed in South Africa; now they are gone. Motus, the distributor, will honour warranties and continue to offer sales support. JAC This company, established in 1964, initially made trucks under the brand name Jianghui. In the early 2000s, it began manufacturing MPVs and SUVs, and has since expanded its range to include small city cars. JAC sells only one bakkie model in South Africa: the T6 2.8T double cab. It is powered by a 2,7-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that develops 88kW at 3 600 rpm and 250N.m at 1 800 rpm.…

Dear Jonno, I am a young engineer living in Limbe, Cameroon, and would like you to design a family home for me. The site is about 1 500m2 and I would like a ground-floor house, built with local materials where possible. I need three bedrooms and a spare bedroom, which could be added later. The house has ocean views. I would like a family wing, separate from the living area. I need a family living room, where I will install a library and games room. The visitors’ room should be separate from the family wing. I also want a sitting room that is separate from the family room, where I can receive my guests. The bedrooms should face the ocean, and share a bathroom. However, the main bedroom must be…

On a cairn of stones on the farm Laetitia near Molteno, a simple inscription on a heart-shaped granite stone reads: “Here the brave Montmorency fell, 23 Feb 1900.” At the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War, few people would have imagined that the life of the celebrated Captain Jim de Montmorency would end so soon and so abruptly. After all, as a lieutenant in the 21st Lancers, De Montmorency had not only earned the Victoria Cross in Sudan in 1898, but had been honoured with the British Medal and the Khedive’s Medal with clasp. Much was therefore expected of him when he was dispatched on special service to South Africa in late 1899 as a newly promoted captain. In less than five months, however, he would be dead and buried south…

If you’re searching for somewhere new to explore this holiday or are just wanting to offer passing guests suggestions, grab a copy of Jacques Marais’ updated and expanded second edition of MORE THINGS TO DO IN MOER & GONE PLACES (MapStudio, R290). Marais is a professional photographer who can write like a dream (see his blog at jacquesmarais.co.za) and who loves the ‘moer and gone’ feeling of getting far away from it all, preferably off grid. He does indulge in a little luxury and 4x4 trails, but, as his stunning pictures show, the place and the space are always paramount. This is probably South Africa’s best photographed practical travel guide, and is guaranteed to get you going places.…

Agribusiness Africa Conference 18 TO 19 JULY THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE, HOSTED BY FARMER’S WEEKLY, IS ‘PARTNERSHIPS FOR EQUITABLE TRADE’. TOPICS INCLUDE: FAIRNESS IN THE AGRI SUPPLY CHAIN, AFRICA’S CHALLENGES AMIDST THE DYNAMICS OF GLOBAL AGRI TRADE, AND THE COST-PRICE SQUEEZE FACING THE MEDIUM-SIZED FAMILY FARM. A MUST FOR ALL AGRI ROLE PLAYERS! CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 25 TO 27 SEPTEMBER 56th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), Somerset West. For more information, visit centeqevents.wixsite.com/aeasa2018 . COURSES & TRAINING 9 TO 11 JULY Sheep and Goats: Artificial Insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com . 23 TO 25 JULY Cattle: Artificial Insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit…

POPULISM DOES NOT REALLY WANT THE SITUATION TO CHANGE, IT WANTS IT TO WORSEN A dangerous phenomenon has reared its ugly head in South Africa’s politics: populism. This is the vehicle by which parties such as the EFF, Black First Land First and factions of the ANC are mobilising people in rural communities to act illegally. We’ve seen numerous small towns all over the country almost destroyed. We’ve seen land invasions, and those insidious farm murders. Of course, everyone denies responsibility and nothing can be proven. Populism can be defined as an ideology that pits a ‘virtuous and homogeneous people’ against a set of elites and dangerous ‘others’, who are depicted as depriving (or attempting to deprive) the sovereign people of their rights, values, prosperity, identity and voice. In the…

The Agbiz and Industrial Development Corporation Agribusiness Confidence Index dropped four points to 54 index points in the second quarter of 2018, according to an Agbiz report. However, results above 50 points showed that the sector was still optimistic, the report added. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Wandile Sihlobo, head of agribusiness research at Agbiz, said that many factors had influenced confidence levels, but that the drought in the Western Cape had played a central role in the decline of jobs and agricultural output. “Recent showers haven’t been sufficient to improve subsoil moisture. [However, there] may be a good wheat crop compared with last year. We estimate that wheat production could reach 1,65 million tons this year, up from 1,52 million tons last year. The horticulture industry will take at least…

Data from a census recently released by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture would empower government and agricultural role players, specifically farmers, by helping them make better informed decisions. This was according to Alan Winde, minister of Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape, speaking during a media briefing in Somerset West. “[Such] decisions will help reduce risks, create jobs and grow the economy,” he said. Dr Mike Wallace, specialist scientist at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, added that the data had been particularly valuable in helping the department monitor the impact of the drought, as well as water use and management. According to the Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy’s (BFAP) analysis of the census data, employment in the sector had declined from about 195 400 since the previous…

The recent Afrisoils programme, launched by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aims to increase soil productivity in 47 African countries by 30%, and reduce soil degradation by 25% in the next 10 years. Afrisoils is investigating a variety of soil interventions focusing on practices that will increase soil organic and carbon matter through crop residues and compost. It is also focusing on the use of crop rotation and diversification to retain nitrogen; using natural fertilisers; soil conservation and erosion control measures such as hedgerows, contour lines and terracing; rehabilitating degraded soils; curbing deforestation; and building farmers’ capacity to adopt sustainable soil management practices. According to the FAO, less than half of Africa’s land is suitable for agriculture, and of this, only 16% is of high quality. About 65%…

Global grain production is expected to contract to a three-year low this season, while international carry-over stocks are expected to decline for a second successive year, resulting in a four-season low. This was according to a statement issued at the conclusion of the International Grain Council’s (IGC) annual conference in London recently. Global trade was, however, expected to rise to a new high for the sixth year in a row, with strong gains in maize shipments cited as the leading driver, the statement said. The council was expecting global soya bean production to start recovering in 2018/2019, due to an increase in hectares planted and improved production in South America. “Coupled with record uptake, carry-overs were likely to show little change,” the statement said. According to Argentina’s undersecretary for agricultural…

The poultry industry will benefit from low feed costs, as well as higher broiler and egg prices, according to a recent Absa Agri Trends report. “Grain prices remain low due to high stock levels, and prices are expected to trade [flat], which continue to keep feed prices low,” the report said. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Marthinus Stander, CEO of Country Bird, said it could be assumed that the industry would benefit from lower feed prices for at least the next year. “The exchange rate [of the rand against the dollar] influences price to a large extent, but we have enough maize locally, so we don’t have to import, and we’re expecting another good maize crop,” he said. According to the Absa Agri Trends report, strike action by truck drivers in…

The mohair industry would have to continuously update and review its sustainable production guidelines to ensure that it remained relevant in a changing consumer market. FARMERS EXPRESSED DEEP GRATITUDE FOR MAIZE DONATIONS This was the opinion of the outgoing president of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association, Andries Greeff, who was speaking at the recent congress in Graaff-Reinet. “We are all aware of the PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] video that highlighted procedures such as dipping and tattooing, but Angora goat farmers are obviously against cruelty to our animals. The flocks are our livelihood and their welfare is important to us,” he said. However, marketing issues were not the only problem facing the industry. “The severe drought, in which much of the production areas received only 50%…

Further outbreaks of the macadamia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei) on farms in Mpumalanga have raised concerns about possible tree die-back and reduced yields. The coccid has been found on two farms in the Lowveld, one in the Barberton Valley area and another near White River. Although it was initially thought the Barberton infestation had been contained, it had spread to the White River area within a month, presumably through infested plant material. Originating in Australia, the coccid has had a major detrimental effect there as well as on macadamia plantations in Hawaii. Dense infestations cause leaf die-back and flower drop, with subsequent reductions in nut set. This was the first time the coccid has been observed in South Africa, according to Dr Schalk Schoeman, senior researcher at the Agricultural Research…

The Federation of South African Flyfishers (FOSAF) and the Trout SA organisation have again taken the Department of Environmental Affairs to task for failing to follow due process in its efforts to have rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown (Salmo trutta) trout listed as alien and invasive species (AIS) in South Africa. In the latest development in this long debate between the DEA and South Africa’s trout value chain, FOSAF chairperson, Ilan Lax, wrote to Dr Guy Preston, the DEA’s deputy director general of environmental programmes, to argue that the DEA was continuing to act in bad faith in its procedures to have trout listed as AIS. In his letter to Preston, Lax stated that the DEA’s Draft 2018 Lists and Regulations wherein trout were listed as AIS had been published…

An old-timer once said to me, “I’m a farmer of grass before being a farmer of livestock.” I thought he meant that he produced grass as fodder on croplands, but years later I realised that he was referring to the grass that grew naturally in the camps on his farm. As a farmer, he said, you can easily “chase grass away from your farm”. In extensive or free-range livestock farming, the veld plays an integral role in your profitability. If the grass is in a bad state, you will be forced to spend a lot of money on buying animal feed to keep your livestock productive. Moreover, very thin or starving animals have weak immune systems. This affects their ability to produce healthy offspring or good-quality meat, milk and wool.…

How have sales grown since the Cape Town Market was privatised in 2003? We’ve been fortunate. Sales have kept up with inflation, growing by 18,5% over the past two years. A steady increase in support has occurred since privatisation, allowing us to start saving for the much-needed upgrade of infrastructure. The Cape Town Market is the largest private fresh produce market in the country and the third-biggest overall, after the Johannesburg and Pretoria fresh produce markets. Farmers from as far as Limpopo and Namibia supply the Cape Town Market daily. Fresh markets have been criticised for not carrying the best interests of farmers. What are you doing to address this perception? The Cape Town Market is quite clear about the role played by all its stakeholders. Farmers are the Cape…

MINIMISE TILLAGE; YOU WILL CUT COSTS AND PRESERVE HUMUS When the soil contains sufficient organic material, farming becomes far easier and less risky. In contrast, in a chemically based system, the interaction between the minerals becomes critical and complex, and a farmer needs a great deal of experience and knowledge to get good results. A high content of organic material provides a buffer that makes mineral imbalance less critical. To some extent, the soil becomes self-regulating. The beneficial organisms predominate and suppress the harmful organisms or pathogens, such as eelworm. The relationship between soil organisms, humus and plant health is greatly underrated. After six years of agricultural education and 40 years of practical vegetable farming, the benefits of this relationship eluded me until I started breeding plants on my own…

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C. Lightly season the fish with salt and black pepper. Thinly slice the peeled onion. Mince the garlic and grate the fresh ginger. Depip and coarsely chop the olives. Fry the onions and garlic on the hob until soft and golden, stirring from time to time to avoid adhesion. Remove and reserve for later in the proceedings. 2 Select a shallow glass roasting dish and arrange the hake in the middle of the dish. Lightly drizzle with olive oil. Spread the olives on top, and sprinkle with the grated ginger and a little extra olive oil. Cook for six to eight minutes in the oven before adding the onion and garlic mixture to the dish. Reserve under cover. 3 While all this is going on,…

Gareth Patterson is now as well known for his investigations into Knysna’s forest elephants as he is for his earlier work rewilding lions in Botswana. The latter is captured in his new book BORN TO BE FREE (Jacana, R145). Written simply for young readers, it is one that adults will also want to read. Patterson tells the story of females Rafiki and Furaha and their brother Batian, orphaned lion cubs cared for in Kenya by George Adamson before he was murdered. Patterson transported them out of danger to Botswana, then worked with them until they could be freed as adults. 1. Luck I started writing this book 25 years ago when I was looking after Rafiki and her siblings. I thought the manuscript had been lost, but last year I…

Agronote is a straightforward, easy-to-use farm manager app for keeping track of your farming expenses. It allows you to create income and expense records that can be adjusted and accessed, producing a cash flow overview of your enterprise and the relevant income and expenditure categories. The app is available for Android and can be downloaded from Google Play. CUSTOMISE TO SUIT YOUR FARMING NEEDS Agronote offers considerable flexibility. As might be expected, there is a long list of categories for income and expenditure items, such as seeds, fertiliser and hay. The list can be customised to suit your needs by adding or removing categories. Expenses can be divided by month, year or per category. You can even add more than one farm, each with a description, location and specific notes.…

14 MAY 1980 The cost of food 38 YEARS AGO Lionel Mundell, Farmer’s Weekly editor from 1979 to 1987, tackles the age-old question on the percentage the farmer receives of what consumers pay for farm-produced products. “Not long ago, maize farmers were accused of inefficiency. So, in less than a decade, they doubled the average yield a hectare. Now they are berated for over-producing, and the Housewives’ League believes farmers should regard the surplus as a bonus and be grateful for whatever price they receive. “How must the export (surplus) loss be absorbed? By the farmer alone? Be careful, ladies, this could land us in a situation of one day having to import maize at the mercy of world prices plus exorbitant transport costs. Our present surplus, in such a…

Owners of firearms for which licences have expired have been advised to hand these in at the nearest police station. There is, however, no clarity about whether these owners will be prosecuted or not. This follows the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) recently overturning a 2017 North Gauteng High Court ruling that had declared sections 24 and 28 of the Firearms Control Act unconstitutional. The South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association (SA Hunters) brought the case before the court, disputing the validity of these sections, which deal with the termination and renewal of firearm licences. According to SA Hunters, it was not stipulated how owners whose licences had expired had to proceed to reapply for a licence, or which procedures had to be followed to destroy the firearms without being prosecuted.…

Unconfirmed reports that the proposed legislation to allow for expropriation of land without compensation was having a widespread negative impact on the prices and sale of farms and smallholdings in South Africa, have been disputed by experts. Chris van Zyl, assistant general manager of TAU SA, said that while his organisation had been made aware of some farmers experiencing difficulties in selling their properties, “to what extent this could be regarded as a national tendency cannot be determined”. According to Christo Weilbach, acting president of the National Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa, it seemed that leasing agricultural land had become a viable option, given the current levels of uncertainty that could possibly affect the property market. However, Johann Bornman, chairperson of Agri Development Solutions, said: “People I have…

AUSTRALIA Reducing the flock size of twin-bearing ewes during lambing will improve lamb survival numbers, according to ongoing research in Australia. Lamb deaths are estimated to cost the country’s sheep industry about A$1 billion [R10,12 billion] a year. A national lambing density project launched in 2016 has been investigating the effects of flock size and stocking rate on the survival of multiple-birth lambs between birth and marking, and has shown that improved lamb marking rates can be achieved by reducing mob size at lambing. SEYCHELLES Seychelles is receiving help from experts on neighbouring island, Reunion, for the threat of Varroa mites. They will assist with plans to stop the mite reaching Seychelles, and by showing beekeepers and authorities how to detect Varroa and eradicate an incursion. “Seychelles is one of…

The breakdown in relations between Senzeni Zokwana, minister of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), and Mike Mlengana, the department’s director general, has been attributed by some to the forthcoming Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP) 2020. This follows Zokwana’s recent recalling of Mlengana’s powers of authority due to his decision to suspend and investigate the head of fisheries, deputy director general Siphokazi Ndudane. Zokwana’s spokesperson, Khaye Nkwanyana, said the minister had written to President Cyril Rampahosa to ask him to intervene in the matter. Mlengana earlier told Farmer’s Weekly that, apart from the“fisheries issue”, he enjoyed a good working relationship with Zokwana when it came to running the department’s agriculture and forestry portfolios. Although the removal of the minister’s powers could, in effect, amount to a technical suspension,…

Angora goat breeders needed to follow the example of South African Merino breeders to obtain and make available the necessary data to achieve genetic progress on commercial farms, according to Chris Louw, chairperson of BKB. Addressing the recent congress of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association in Graaff-Reinet, Louw said that while the mohair industry was small compared with the wool industry, South Africa was the world’s leading producer of mohair. It was therefore crucial for breeders to stay at the cutting edge of development in animal genetics, which would help the industry move forward in a challenging environment. “While we all have to work together, it is also necessary for us to challenge the norms that have evolved over a long time. We simply cannot afford not to continuously…

The Mauritian government has allocated R2 million to launching a research and development programme to establish macadamia nut farming on the island. Farmers who have abandoned their sugar farms due to the industry’s waning profitability have been encouraged to take up macadamia farming instead. Since 2009, when the EU abolished quotas for its own sugar beet growers, countries such as Mauritius that exported raw sugar cane to refiners in the EU have seen a steady drop in sugar prices. Now the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in Mauritius is encouraging macadamia farming as an alternative crop for diversification, to boost the agriculture sector of the country, and contribute to the GDP, according to the minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mahen Seeruttun. He said in a statement that the…

According to Statistics SA (Stats SA), the agriculture sector shrank 24,2% in the first quarter of 2018 after growth of 37,5% in the last quarter of 2017. Commentators struggled to explain this decrease. Some even referred to the size of the current summer grain crop, which clearly cannot form part of agriculture’s gross value in the first quarter of 2018! Stats SA compares the size of the GDP in a quarter with the size in the previous quarter. The percentage change, after adjusting for seasonal differences, is then converted to an annual rate. This results in higher values, both positive and negative, than a value comparison of the same quarter the previous year. The quarter-to-quarter and year-on-year growth factors for South African agriculture are shown in the table. The figures…

The Department of Labour has issued legislation specific to employment conditions in the agriculture sector. In terms of South Africa’s Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the minister of labour can issue sectoral determinations to provide for conditions of employment in a specific sector. In 2006, the minister issued a sectoral determination for farmworkers (Sectoral Determination 13), which has since been amended on various occasions. Farmworkers include staff employed in farming activities, as well as domestic workers who work in a house on a farm. Although the BCEA and Sectoral Determination 13 determine the conditions of employment that an employee is entitled to, there are no provisions within this legislation that regulate an employee’s rights to any benefits or the employer’s responsibility to pay any benefits. Yet benefits can play…

“I couldn’t fold my arms and wait for the government to do things for me,” says Aggrey Mahanjana, the managing director of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo). “If I did, I’d have been counted among the failed land reform beneficiaries.” Since taking control of the 5 000ha Carnarvon Estates land reform farm near Sterkstroom in the Eastern Cape, Mahanjana has personally invested no less than R18 million on a property for which he has no title deed. The government purchased Carnarvon Estates from the the Halse family in 2006 as part of its Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme. It was then given to the 23 farmworkers who had previously been employed there. The initiative began to flounder, however, and when the land redistribution programme became the…

Indigenous Veld Goats are prized by breeders for their long legs and striking colour variations, which include dapples, speckles and marbling. According to Erik de Witt, they are hardy and fertile, and adapt to the veld without causing damage. They also have excellent mothering ability. They will use their horns, for example, to defend their young if necessary. The IVG Breed Society describes the Northern Cape Speckled Goat as a large-framed, well-muscled type with strong legs, medium to long in length. Their coats are generally white with red-brown or black spots. These can vary in size, and spots can be concentrated to the extent that they form an almost solid pattern. The Eastern Cape Xhosa Lob Ear is also a large-framed, robust and well-muscled type, with strong, medium-to-long legs. It…

In my recent articles, I have referred to old documents to show how fresh produce markets have in some respects not changed much over the past 70 years. At the same time, on what might seem a contradictory tack, I have often referred to the many changes currently taking place in the fresh produce business. To make a list of all these changes would fill this magazine, but there is one that warrants special attention because of its increasing urgency: food safety. A HOT TOPIC Food safety is a much-discussed issue in all sectors of the food business. It has rightly become an important part of the requirements for fresh produce markets and will increasingly be at the forefront of the debate on infrastructure and service requirements. I don’t know…

This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a midweek dinner and such a delicious way to bring out the best in humble hake. The fish itself is light and delicate in flavour, while the grated ginger and black olives take it to new heights, along with the onion and garlic topping rounding it off superbly. The courgettes were a challenge for me as they really are not my favourite vegetable, but they worked well with the fish, adding different textures and herbal notes to the plate. CHENIN BLANC TO THE RESCUE The wine should be a Wednesday wine to match the dish: fresh and crisp, yet with sufficient depth. This was too much to ask of the dry Rosé and zippy whites I tried, but not for a lightly…

We often read that oxalates, a natural compound found in certain foods, are undesirable or even toxic. However, when eaten in small quantities, they are completely safe for most people. Oxalates can become problematic if they over-accumulate in the body, mainly in the kidneys. If the oxalate level in the urine becomes too high, and there is also an overly high concentration of calcium, calcium oxalate kidney stones can form. Citrus juices contain citrate, which may help reduce kidney stones by binding with the calcium. Even if you do not eat oxalate-containing foods, you would still have oxalates in your body, as they are produced in a variety of ways. In fact, only 20% to 40% of the oxalates in the blood actually come from the food we eat. If…

‘A BOOK WORTH READING IS WORTH BUYING’ – JOHN RUSKIN (1819-1900) ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL by Sarah Vaughan (Simon & Schuster, R250) Hidden secrets can destroy careers, lives and souls, which is something Sophie struggles to stop when her politician husband James is outed in a tabloid newspaper. The fight is not made easier when the matter goes to court and James is prosecuted by Sophie’s one-time university friend. This is a contemporary cautionary tale with an unexpected final flourish. and plenty of novels, up to and including Harry Potter, all spice up this chronological reflection on how books have contributed to change in the world. Each entry shows the visual beauty of the book in question, with a concise summary of content, cause and effect.…