Table of contents for 13 July 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

After reading the report ‘Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in South Africa’, which was published earlier this year by the World Bank, I started wondering whether we have begun taking for granted that growing the agriculture sector would be an effective way to create jobs in Africa. South Africa’s National Development Plan places much faith in the sector to create about one million new jobs by 2030, but the World Bank report, as well as Dr Tinashe Kapuya (see pg 13), argue that agriculture has, in fact, performed rather poorly in terms of job creation in recent years. The report reveals that the number of workers in agriculture declined almost 50% between 2005 and 2010, and while the sector recovered over the following five years by creating another 170 000 jobs,…

51 YEARS AGO Carl Havinga, Farmer’s Weekly editor from 1964 to 1979, writes in this editorial letter about the world’s deteriorating water situation. “All over the world there is serious concern over water. There is plenty of water, but an estimated 97 per cent of it is unfit for use. Another two per cent is frozen in icecaps and glaciers. The remaining one percent is badly distributed. “We continue to squander our water in the most haphazard way. We pollute our rivers, lakes and streams. Countries affected by water pollution are spending millions on cleaning up their streams, rivers and lakes, and pollution control. These control measures include schemes for recycling. “Ohio River water in the United States is used three times. In the Ruhr in West Germany, a co-operative…

AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE BY HAMLET HLOMENDLINI Hamlet Hlomendlini is a senior agricultural economist at Agri SA. Email him at hamlet@agrisa.co.za. Much has been written about the trade war instigated by the US and its impact on the rest of the world, but I would like to highlight the impact it could have on the South African agriculture sector, be it positive or negative. As the trade war between the US and its G7 counterparts escalates, many farmers in the US are becoming worried. US farmers were apparently a key demographic group that overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in the presidential election and ultimately helped him win the US presidency in 2016. This was, in part, against the backdrop of a promise to put US interests first, and a crackdown on what Trump…

Preliminary figures of milk purchases for May showed a 3% increase in volume at about 247 million kilograms compared with the corresponding period in 2017 of approximately 239 million kilograms, according to a Milk South Africa report. Total purchases of raw milk between January and May was about 1,3 billion kilograms, which was 5,14% higher than the corresponding period last year, and 5,91% higher than in 2016, the report said. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Dr Koos Coetzee, economist at the Milk Producers’ Organisation, said the 3% increase was the lowest increase in raw milk purchases since an upward trend began in August 2017. “According to Statistics SA’s producer price index, milk producers are now receiving 8% less for milk than in November 2017,” Coetzee said. It was clear that farmers…

Omnia’s overall revenue received a welcome boost from an increase in the company’s speciality fertiliser business, with the division’s contribution rising from 11% in 2017 to 13% in 2018, Omnia CEO, Adriaan de Lange, said at the recent presentation of the company’s year-end financial results in Johannesburg. This was in line with Omnia’s renewed focus on providing cleaner fertiliser options and precision farming data services to producers, he said. “Speciality fertilisers contribute knowledge and intellectual property to a business, and affect a diverse range of crops. Many farmers are under a lot of pressure with maize and are diversifying into high-value crops such as nuts or citrus,” De Lange said. Omnia also established Axio Teq during the past financial year, which provides precision farming data services to producers. “Providing services…

Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) and Crop One, a US-based vertical farm operator, will be investing US$40 million (about R552 million) in the world’s largest vertical farming facility near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairperson and CEO of Emirates Airline Group, said: “As one of the world’s largest airline catering operations, EKFC constantly looks at innovation and ways to improve our productivity, product and service quality. Introducing the latest technology to our operations, we secure our own supply chain of high-quality and locally sourced fresh vegetables, while significantly reducing our environmental footprint.” When completed, the vertical farm would cover about 462m2 , and have a production output equivalent to about 364ha of farmland. At full production, approximately 2 700kg of herbicide- and…

A large avocado harvest means the industry needs to access more export markets to remain sustainable, according to the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop). Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Subtrop chairperson Athol Currie said avocado harvesting was in full swing in areas such as Limpopo. “We underestimated this year’s harvest. We initially thought [it would be] a 14,5 million-carton harvest, but it is more likely that 18 million cartons will be harvested. This is creating pressure on the market,” he said. Marketers had reportedly requested producers to slow down their harvesting until the bottleneck had been cleared, which had developed in the European market in particular. “All varieties seem to be affected. Not just green skin [varieties]. In the past, [these varieties] were under pressure, especially when there was a…

If approved, proposed legislation to allow for land to be expropriated without compensation is a potential threat to the food security of the country. This was the assessment of South Africa’s agriculture sector in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) 2018 Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation (APME) report. The APME report explained that the early involvement of South Africa’s experienced commercial farmers in the development of support programmes aimed at the country’s developing farmers was “key” in this regard. “Private/public partnerships are an efficient tool for engaging the available resources and addressing the current weaknesses in supporting programmes and services from public authorities. In this respect, the latest Parliamentary decision to [potentially] allow for expropriation of white commercial farms, where most of the skill for commercial farming lies,…

Because most soil organisms are microscopic, they don’t get the attention they deserve. Yet a teaspoon of good soil may contain a billion bacteria of thousands of species. The proportion of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, nematodes and other microorganisms varies according to prevailing conditions even if their total biomass remains the same. Soil cultivation reduces the fungi:bacteria ratio. All of these organisms have an important role to play. Think of compost; many of the organisms responsible for breaking down raw organic matter in the soil are the same as those operating in a compost pile. ORGANIC SOILS REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES RAPID GROWTH The speed at which a new compost pile heats up shows just how rapidly soil organisms can increase in the soil. The rise in temperature…

This is the third in a series on motor manufacturers and the bakkies produced by them. All these vehicles are available in South Africa. HISTORY In 1916, the Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company teamed up with the Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Company to build motor cars. In 1918, the company started to assemble and sell British Wolseley cars, and four years later began local manufacture of the Wolseley A9. This was the first passenger car to be produced in Japan. Trucks followed two years later. In 1933, Ishikawajima merged with DAT Automotive Manufacturing and changed its name to Automobile Industries Company. Its products were named after the local Isuzu River. During the Second World War, the heavy industry division of the company split off to become Hino Motors,…

I really enjoyed doing this pairing, so much so, in fact, that I did it twice. This recipe is less of a meal with a side dish than it is two dishes on the same plate, creating a greater challenge. Round one consisted of two wines, both red. They worked well, but I wasn’t absolutely convinced. They went with the beautiful cut of sirloin but were not ideal with the pasta side dish. In round two, we went all-out: a dry white, four beers and five reds, including the two previously tried. The white, unsurprisingly, was a no-go. The best reds were both Shiraz: Alvi’s Drift, which was medium-bodied and fruity, and Groot Constantia, which was deliciously bold and spicy. Both had plenty of fruit and a good, round structure.…

If you are older, you may be concerned about osteoporosis and the possibility of bone fractures. You may be taking calcium pills in the hope that they will protect you from this serious health problem. Your doctor may even have prescribed medication for you. In addition to taking your medication, you may be able to assist the skeleton’s natural healing process by taking certain nutritional supplements. RESORPTION & REBUILDING Skeletal health lies in a natural cycle whereby calcium from broken-down brittle bone is combined with other critical bone-building nutrients such as vitamin D3, magnesium, boron, and most importantly, vitamin K2, to form new bone tissue. Before new bone can be formed, however, cells called osteoclasts must first remove old bone tissue (resorption). Their bone-building counterparts, osteoblasts, then deposit resilient, strong…

“The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa requires that our natural resources be used in a manner that is sustainable and will not rob future generations of the benefits that can be derived from them. In the case of the wildlife of Southern Africa, indeed nearly that of all Africa, 250 out of the 350 years since the arrival of the colonial powers saw the exact opposite of what our Constitution requires. By 1900, three large mammal species had been driven into extinction and every other large mammal of any consequence or use had been reduced to minuscule remnants from which no economic or aesthetic benefit could be further derived. All were on the verge of extinction. TURNING THE TIDE ON WILDLIFE DEPLETION By the end of the 19th…

The recent warning issued by authorities in Kenya of a possible Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic is an urgent reminder that farmers should vaccinate their animals during winter in South Africa, according to animal health company Afrivet. Dr Peter Oberem, CEO of Afrivet, says 250 sheep died in May from RVF on a farm in Jacobsdal in the Free State. “Reported cases so late in the season is worrying. Cases now point to a very good chance of a serious outbreak in summer.” RVF is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. While inactive in cold weather, these mosquitoes have already fed on the blood of infected animals. Thus, in summer, swarms will emerge as active carriers. “If farmers do not take decisive preventative action now in winter, December could…

50 YEARS AGO In this editorial letter, Carl Havinga explains the need for agricultural colleges to focus on issues that directly affect farming. “Agriculture demands that the farmer of today should be reasonably familiar with the theoretical and practical aspects of his undertaking. These could be termed ‘direct individual factors’ influencing farming. Then also, there are ‘indirect general factors’, which largely influence agriculture as a whole and with which the farmer should therefore also be reasonably familiar. These include marketing systems, the co-operative movement, and so on. “These factors play a tremendous role in determining or influencing the overall picture of agriculture. Should something therefore not be done to make farmers, especially young farmers, more familiar with these factors? We are thinking specifically of the many young men that graduate…

Mohair prices gained 4% at the final sale of the 2018 summer season, ending at an average of R291,74/kg. Fearing lower production volumes due to the ongoing drought, buyers competed strongly to secure a share of the approximately 123 300kg on offer for the off-season period. The market was also supported by good-quality individual clips and the weaker rand against major international currencies. The highest price of R630/kg was paid for a bale of good-style 23-micron kids’ mohair. Compared with the previous sale, prices were: kids’ mohair (summer) up 4,5%; young goats’ mohair (summer) up 4%, fine adults up 4,5%, and strong adults up 5,6%. A Zegna special sale was held during the same period at which almost 1 500kg were sold at an average price of R814,41/kg. A new…

Dedicated measures to promote the consumption of lamb and mutton in the EU were desperately needed to ensure the future viability of commercial sheep farming in the region. This was according to a statement issued by the EU’s farmers and agricultural co-operatives union, Copa and Cogeca (Copa Cogeca). The statement said that the EU’s sheep market was in a “fragile situation” due to the combination of low local lamb and mutton consumption, as well as low farm-gate prices for these products. Michèle Boudoin, chairperson of Copa Cogeca’s Sheep Meat Working Party, said that while EU sheep production was 6,8% up on 2017 levels, annual per capita consumption of lamb and mutton in the region had declined significantly from 18kg “some time ago” to between 2kg and 2,5kg. Consequently, and in…

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Pennsylvania State University in the US have developed a mobile app called Nuru to help farmers in Africa identify fall armyworm (FAW). “Many African farmers may have heard about FAW, but are seeing it for the first time, and are often unable to recognise it. With the new app, they can hold the phone next to an infested plant and Nuru can immediately confirm whether FAW has caused the damage. It walks them through the process of checking their crops for FAW, reports back on infestation levels and advises on how to fight the pest,” explained Keith Cressman, FAO senior agricultural officer. Nuru uses technologies involving machine learning and artificial intelligence and can be run on a standard Android phone, but can…

Local pineapple growers were facing fluctuating producer prices that were making sustainability difficult. This was according to Pierre Tilney, director of Summerpride Foods, an East London-based pineapple processor. Tilney said that an estimated harvest of about 78 000t of pineapples was expected for processing this year. About 4 000ha was planted to Cayenne pineapples in South Africa, with around 22 commercial growers producing this variety specifically for juicing and juice concentrate. Tilney said about 85% of the production was exported, but price fluctuations meant that only two new growers had entered the processed segment of the industry in the recent past. Elmarie Rabie, a researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, agreed that the overproduction of pineapple varieties for the fresh market had resulted in…

FoodForward SA, which has been sourcing surplus food from manufacturers and retailers since 2009, recently expanded its services to include farmers. “We realised that one third of the food produced in South Africa went to waste before it reached the market, while almost 14 million South Africans go hungry every day. Our Second Harvest programme aims to recover post-harvest surplus while curbing hunger,” said Andy du Plessis, CEO of the non-profit food banking company, FoodForward SA. SUPPLIERS AND BENEFICIARIES ARE DIGITALLY LINKED To take part in the programme, farmers needed to register as a supplier at one of the FoodForward SA offices, he explained. FoodForward SA would then either collect the products with their own cold trucks or the farmers could register on the company’s digital platform, which connects suppliers…

Professors Renato Tagiuri and John Davis created the highly regarded three-circle model of the family business in the 1990s. The top circle (see diagram) is the family who controls the business. The left circle is the owners, those who have shares in the business. The right circle represents the people who manage the business. Each group has its own clear, different and often competing interests. The family wants peace and harmony. The owners want fair returns and regular dividends. The directors and managers want good salaries and freedom to direct, manage and grow the business. THREE INTERLINKED GROUPS It all seems quite straightforward. But it isn’t, of course, because the circles always overlap. For example, some family members may not be shareholders and others not managers; some may be shareholders,…

I’m not about to make predictions about the future of fresh produce. The only time I do that is once a year when I stare into my crystal ball. This week I simply want to comment on trends in our industry and what they mean to us. We operate in a highly competitive environment: retailers, market agents, wholesalers and farmers continually seek ways to improve sales or beat their competition. This is what a free market is about and it’s a healthy thing. FADS, AND THE ‘HEALTHY FRUIT’ NARRATIVE One way of improving sales is to latch onto a new fad or trend. In the fresh produce trade, we are constantly bombarded with new products or varieties that are claimed to be the healthiest, tastiest, most convenient, or whatever generous…

Equine osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a common reason for euthanasia in racing and performance horses. Although it is mainly seen in older horses that have worked hard, it can be found in horses as young as three years old, just after they are put into training. It is characterised by damage and loss of the articular cartilage found within joints. The main joints affected by osteoarthritis are the pasterns and fetlocks of all four limbs, the carpus (front knee joint) and the hock and stifle. Damage to articular cartilage can be caused by repeated low-grade trauma, such as trotting on a hard surface or overextension of joints during galloping, or even a single incident such as a kick from another horse. The damage to the cartilage…

Dear Ricardo, To add to your development at the Cradle of Humankind, I have conceptualised a spa to complement the wedding/ conference centre and the 25 tourist cottages. The spa is positioned slightly away from the parking lot and cottages so that those relaxing and having a massage can enjoy some tranquillity. The unit is surrounded by a wall that will dampen sound from the surrounding activities. I have included a pleasant garden and seating for the benefit of clients awaiting their turn. Kind regards, Jonno Jonno Smith is a registered architect. He can be contacted at Hillbilly Homes: tel 036 352 3178, fax 088 036 352 3178, cell 082 412 4459 or email hillbilly@eca.co.za. Please provide details of the proposed development. Visit hillbillyhomes.co.za.…

COALITION COUNTRY by Leon Schreiber (Tafelberg, R280) Political researcher, commentator and scenario planner Schreiber foresees South Africa growing beyond the ANC-dominated rule of the past decade and a half. As his title suggests, he predicts more than the regular alternating of key parties in government, as seen in most Western democracies over the past century. South Africa’s appetite for consensus means that its political future will be defined by a range of coalitions. Rehearsing the possible permutations adds spice to this well-argued book, which is supported by a strong foundation of economic and political statistics. THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES by Elizabeth George (Hodder & Stoughton, R295) Here, the creator of the Inspector Lynley series methodically dissects a well-planned attempt to make justice miscarry in a historic…

If you are a cattle breeder, it’s crucial to evaluate your animals by using a checklist. This does not refer to the breed’s minimum standard selection process; it’s your first duty, after all, to ensure that your product meets the breed standards. Rather, this is your own checklist. The main challenge facing breed societies and stud breeders is to produce a quality product for commercial farmers. So, the question arises: does the breeding animal you buy meet your own minimum standards for meat production? Ask yourself the following: • Why have I chosen to invest in this specific breed or a specific bull of this breed? • What can this purchase offer me? The second question can only be answered once you know why you want to buy this animal.…

World Milk Day was initiated in 2001 by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which actively encourages milk and dairy consumption as part of a daily diet. Milk is celebrated in many countries all over the world, and the number of activities across the globe that celebrate milk is increasing every year. To date, a total of 586 events were recorded on the official World Milk Day website (worldmilkday.org) as part of the 2018 celebrations. To join in with these celebrations, the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) collaborated with Milk SA’s Consumer Education Project (CEP) to promote milk as the sports drink of choice. Sportspeople around the globe are increasingly using milk and dairy products as fuel and for faster recovery from injuries. It is also consumed to help with…

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 rltsafrica.com . 23 TO 25 JULY Pigs: Artificial Insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com . 23 TO 27 JULY How to Start a Poultry Business, Pretoria. Phone Jan Grobbelaar on 084 567 8975, or email grobbelaarjan5005@gmail.com . 24 TO 26…

GLOBAL INSIGHT BY DR TINASHE KAPUYA Dr Tinashe Kapuya is an agricultural economist. Email him at tinashekapuya@gmail.com. My fellow columnist Wandile Sihlobo and I have both addressed the question of South Africa’s agriculture sector’s potential to create jobs on separate occasions. Although there is very little to separate the content of the articles we have written, as they both cite the same reasons, factors and rationale, Sihlobo and I manage to generate two diametrically opposite views, which invites further analysis of the two arguments. We both point to the declining trend in agricultural employment, as shown by data that goes as far back as 1900. We both admit to the disconnect between the political message and the policy outcome. However, while I looked away from the National Development Plan, Sihlobo…

After more than four years, the US is amending regulations to allow the importation of citrus from anywhere in South Africa. However, Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association, said that until the new regulations were officially published, South Africa would only be able to export citrus to the US from regions free of citrus black spot disease. Growing awareness about the disease’s pathology and pathways, combined with a citrus black spot outbreak in Florida in the US, however, was resulting in the country relaxing phytosanitary regulations for imports designed to protect the industry in that country against the disease. This would mean that the South African industry would soon be able to export citrus to the US from any area in this country. “US [officials] agree that the…

Farmer’s Weekly’s recent investigation into the potential impact of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) proposed lists of alien invasive species (AIS) on the wildlife ranching industry in South Africa elicited divergent responses from role players in the industry. For example, Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) CEO, Adri Kitshoff, said that, despite the red lechwe antelope being indigenous to South Africa, it had been added to the AIS lists by the DEA. “Feedback from some landowners is that it is difficult to obtain translocation permits for [red] lechwe because of the listing, especially when they intend introducing it to farms without previous [red] lechwe herds,” she said. Kitshoff added that WRSA was also concerned that Bermuda/common couch grass (Cynodon dactylon) had been included on the proposed AIS lists, despite it…

UNITED KINGDOM Double the amount of antibiotics is used on farm animals than on people, despite campaigns to reduce agricultural use, according to a new report by UK-based lnforma Agribusiness Intelligence. Used in animal production for growth promotion, and to treat or prevent disease, it also raises the risk of antibiotic residues being transferred to humans and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic micro-organisms. SCOTLAND Researchers in Scotland have produced pigs that can resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) by changing their genetic code. Trials with the genetically engineered pigs found they did not become infected, and the animals showed no signs that the change in their DNA had any other impact on their health or well-being. PRRS costs the pig industry about US$2,5 billion (R33,9 billion) a year in lost…

The South African wheat import tariff will soon be reduced from R437,25/t to R281,74/t. The lower tariff rate has been triggered by an uptick in international wheat prices over the past few weeks, due to dry climatic conditions in parts of Europe and the Black Sea region. “The spring wheat crop is still at early stages of development that require moisture, so unfavourable weather conditions could have a negative impact on growing conditions, which will subsequently affect the yields,” according to Wandile Sihlobo, head of agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz. HIGHER GLOBAL PRICES SPARKED THE MOVE Andries Theron, chairperson of the Winter Cereal Working Group, said the lowering of the tariff should not have a major impact on farmers’ earnings, as the way in which it was calculated took international price…

The looming trade war between the US and China has spilled over to the South African macadamia market, with local exports destined for the Chinese market caught in the crossfire. South Africa is the biggest producer of macadamia nuts in the world and nearly half of the crop is exported to China as nut-in-shell (NIS). In 2015, similar disruptions in the market caused widespread panic in the industry as many buyers defaulted on their contracts. Delays in shipments resulted in a reduction in quality and payments to farmers were reduced and delayed by up to six months. Alex Whyte, marketing manager of Green and Gold Nuts, explained that macadamias were extensively exported to China through “grey channels”, which were used to avoid high import duties. “Due to the ongoing trade…

The International Farm Management Association (IFMA) will be presenting its 22nd congress (IFMA22) in Tasmania, Australia, from 3 to 8 March 2019 under the theme ‘Growing Agriculture at 41 Degrees South’. Head of the University of the Free State’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Dr Frikkie Maré, has served as the IFMA Council member for the Southern African region since 2013. He was urging local agriculture role players to start putting plans in place to attend the congress next year. Although Tasmania was slightly further south than South Africa, farmers there, as well as in South America, were operating in the same climatic region as South Africa and therefore faced similar challenges. According to Maré, the presentations at the IFMA congress would be geared at providing information that could be implemented…

The river catchments of Southern Africa are usually considered to include the Cunene River and Okavango systems and all those south of them, as well as the Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa and Shire rivers in the central/eastern region. Within this area are found no fewer than 245 indigenous freshwater fish species. Why are so few of these used in aquaculture? It is a sad fact that most of Southern Africa’s staple crops and livestock breeds come from somewhere else. Maize originates from what is now Mexico; wheat comes from the Middle East; and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) comes from north-east Africa. With the exception of the Nguni and Ankole cattle breeds, domesticated livestock in the region have been bred or developed from imported stock. Freshwater fish that feature prominently in local aquaculture…

After a gruelling 80km gravel road to Koenie Kotzé’s farm in the Niekerkshoop district, it’s a relief to reach the homestead, where he has especially kraaled his Savanna goats for Farmer’s Weekly’s visit. This part of the Northern Cape, with its sparse vegetation, koppies and earthy colours, has a beauty of its own, and the Savannas stand out like white flowers against the stark background. The lively disposition of the Savannas is beautiful to behold. Even the adult animals climb into the feed troughs, stand upright against the kraal fences and climb on top of one other. Despite this, the animals are not wild and have an even temperament. Kotzé’s career as a breeder started in the 1980s when he became stud manager of the DSU Cilliers and Sons Savanna…

Monosem won the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business and Commerce’s trophy for the best display of agricultural equipment at the Royal Show this year. Among the equipment on display were the following: 1 NXM planter unit A live demonstration is always an effective way to attract visitors and hold their interest. The working Monosem NXM planter unit showed accurate spacing and singulation, even with irregularly-sized seed. The Mueller Isobus kit attached to the unit demonstrated how calibration could be carried out on the move. 2 Twin-row planter Research has shown that planting in a diamond seed pattern maximises the space between each plant and reduces competition for nutrients. On Monosem planters, independent row units driven by a shared hexagon shaft ensure that the Sync-Row diamond pattern remains consistent with every pass.…

To make this meal for four, you will need: 250g to 300g of penne pasta 60ml of vodka 60g of butter 2 tablespoons of tomato concentrate 75ml of heavy cream 1 tablespoon of parsley 1 thick slice of smoked ham 400g of well-aged sirloin steak 1 Let’s begin with the sauce. Cut the ham into 5mm cubes. Melt the butter in a saucepan over moderate heat and then add the cubed ham, the tomato concentrate, parsley, a little salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stirring from time to time, allow this to cook for 10 minutes. At this point, pour in the cream and vodka and continue cooking and stirring until the alcohol has evaporated. Ensure that you use heavy cream for this, as it is less likely to curdle.…

I am a 48-year-old single Christian lady with no children. I am a non-smoker, 1,63m tall and slim with brown hair and green eyes. I enjoy spending time in nature, love animals, and enjoy photography, walking and spending quality time with my friends. Gentlemen between the ages of 48 and 52 with similar values are welcome to write. Please enclose a recent photo. Gem, Port Elizabeth I am a brown-haired Aries lady who loves the outdoors, camping, sport and fishing. I am friendly, intelligent and bilingual. I am also a non-smoker who loves children. I seek a gentleman between 58 and 68 who is looking for a decent, single woman with whom to be good friends. Finding Friend I seek a companion, partner or friend with whom to share these…

Winter is the best time to visit the Kruger National Park (KNP). During the dry months, the grassveld and bush thin out and animals congregate around the watering holes. To further enhance your enjoyment, a 120MB ‘FieldApp’ is now available from the KNP for download for Android and iPhone users. The app is intended to help visitors identify animals, birds and plant life, thereby creating biodiversity awareness. FREE OR AFFORDABLE PAID VERSION The free version shows 180 out of the 526 species found in the KNP, as well as some of their basic features. The full version of the app costs R99. To upgrade to this, simply press the yellow ‘+’ button on the screen. This version has detailed information on each species, with the common names in all South…