Table of contents for 10 August 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

This week we celebrate National Women’s Day in South Africa, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to say to, and about women in agriculture, to commemorate this day. However, I find myself questioning the need for more events and panel discussions aimed specifically at highlighting the role of women in agriculture, and even whether we need a specific women’s day. I find these events to be almost unbearably patronising. But then I have to remind myself that for far too many women in the world, success and sometimes mere survival are made more difficult simply by virtue of the fact that they are not men. So, I contemplated writing about the particular challenges women face in the field of agriculture, and offering some…

PMA Fresh Connections Southern Africa 15 TO 16 AUGUST THE PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION’S FRESH CONNECTIONS SOUTHERN AFRICA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW BRINGS TOGETHER ALL THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN: GROWERS, BUYERS, RETAILERS, SUPERMARKETS AND MARKET AGENTS. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 4 TO 6 SEPTEMBER No-Till Conference, ATKV Drakensville, Bergville. For more information, email Richard Findlay at richardfindlayntc2@gmail.com  or phone 074 104 7081. 20 TO 21 SEPTEMBER AGRI 5 Commodities Workshop and Expo, East London Showgrounds. For more information, email info@atoneworks.co.za . 25 TO 27 SEPTEMBER 56th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa, Somerset West. For more information, visit centeqevents.wixsite.com/aeasa2018 . COURSES & TRAINING 6 TO 11 AUGUST Poultry: Breeding and Nutrition, George. Phone Lily…

There is no doubt that Africans, and especially South Africans, are renowned as meat eaters. Ours is a country where meat has become one of the main features in our celebrations of diverse cultural events. It has also become part of our heritage as South Africans in the form of braais on most weekends when we are watching sport, especially rugby, and when we’re having friends over. But do we produce enough meat, and what would your dinner plate look like without it? Globally, meat production is said to have increased rapidly over the past 50 years, with total production growing four to fivefold since 1961. In 2002, the world first produced more than 200 million tons of meat (beef, pork and chicken). Last year, the world produced a record…

Free State Agriculture (FSA) recently issued a warning about persons posing as members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who claimed that farmers’ stolen property or livestock could be reclaimed in return for payment of a fee. Dr Jane Buys, FSA security and risk analyst, said the organisation had requested the Free State SAPS as early as February this year to advise FSA members not to divulge confidential information to anyone professing to be a police officer before his or her identity had been verified. The CEO of FSA, Gerhard Kriel, nevertheless said the SAPS was doing its best to curb these incidences and had appointed internal auditors to audit police stations. “However, it is exceedingly difficult to catch these people. We call on victims to [keep a record…

The US government will be providing up to US$12 billion (R158,5 billion) to compensate farmers who lost money as a result of the country’s current protectionist trade policies. The resultant ‘trade war’ has led to China as well as the EU and other countries introducing retaliatory measures. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would take several actions to assist farmers. A market facilitation programme will incrementally provide payments to producers of soya bean, sorghum, maize, wheat, cotton, dairy and pigs. This would assist farmers in managing “disrupted markets”, deal with surplus commodities, as well as expand and develop new markets, he said. The USDA would buy surpluses of affected commodities such as fruit, nuts, rice, legumes, beef, pork and milk for distribution to food banks…

A negative perception about agriculture created in rural schools deters further studies in the field, resulting in a lack of young people in the sector. Production manager at Indigo Fruit Farming’s Maradadi Farm near Letsitele in Limpopo, Kate Hlongo, told Farmer’s Weekly that, while there were extensive career possibilities within the sector, most young people were not interested in agriculture. “It starts at school level where the subject is presented in a boring manner that leaves the impression that all there is to farming is ploughing the land. Government must change the way schools present agriculture as a subject,” said Hlongo. She noted that she had had no interest in working on a farm while at school, but was assured a job on Maradadi Farm if she studied agriculture. “The…

Downward pressure on producer prices is creating concern in the potato market, according to Potatoes SA CEO André Jooste. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Jooste said prices were traditionally flat during the middle of the year, with an increase in producer prices expected towards the end of the year. The reason for the downward movement of prices was the larger than normal volumes of potatoes supplied to markets, he added. In 2017, about 245 million 10kg bags were produced, up from 220 million 10kg bags the previous year. “Prices differ from cultivar to cultivar and [between] different classes so one cannot give a general price,” said Jooste. “But in June we were looking at R30/10kg bag for typical Class 1 medium potatoes. This is close to the production prices.” Producers in…

Can government be trusted to be the custodian of all land or not? This was one of the questions asked during a panel discussion on land reform as part of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Thought Leader Series. Representatives from different political parties, including the DA, EFF, COPE, ANC and FF+, attended the session in Bloemfontein recently. Provincial EFF chairperson, Kgotso Morapelo, said the party’s position on land was clear, namely that Section 25 of the Constitution needed to be amended to allow for expropriation without compensation, as the party believed that there were constitutional impediments to land reform. The EFF also said that all land needed to belong to the state. DA Member of Parliament, Annette Steyn, said the DA was not denying that there had been…

Feed sales in South Africa have started to show signs of stabilising after facing several challenges during the past three to four years, achieving a smaller than expected drop in sales for 2017/2018. According to the executive director of the Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association (AFMA), De Wet Boshoff, feed sales for 2017/2018 showed negative growth of only 0,7% compared with the 6,2% drop in sales experienced during 2016/2017, the highest decrease in feed sales AFMA members had ever experienced. The dramatic feed sales loss experienced in 2016/2017 was the direct result of the challenges the livestock and poultry industries had faced. These included the poultry industry having to deal with the “dumping of cheap imports” from the EU (under the EPA free trade agreement), the duty-free quota allowed under the…

Simon Dunshea, a fourth-generation farmer on Twycross Farm, says it is important to move away from traditional stereotypes of employee roles. “We’ve trained a number of women over the years who are now performing critical roles in the business. This is despite the fact that it is traditionally a male-dominated world. We even have female tractor drivers. You don’t necessarily need to be strong; you just need to be careful and conscientious. “These women have a strong work ethic. They’re dedicated, loyal, and willing to learn and show leadership. As they are often the breadwinners, they show a high level of dedication.” Dunshea says that the company is in the process of setting up specific training programmes. “The women who have gone from very junior positions to senior positions did…

Last week, if you recall, I started a short series discussing the skills and behaviour that a market agent and farmer would ideally like to see in each other. I began by looking at an important item on the ‘farmer’s list’: be honest about your produce. FIRST-RATE SELLING SKILLS: A KEY REQUIREMENT This week I’m looking at something that a farmer can quite reasonably expect of an agent: be someone who has the ability to sell. This might sound like stating the obvious, but selling fresh fruit and vegetables on a market has requirements that often set it apart from other forms of selling. For one, the perishable nature of the product introduces an added dimension to the sales mix. Time becomes a crucial component, and decisions have to be…

The Camargue is the largest wetland in France and has been home to Camargue horses and wild black cattle for many centuries. Some suggest that the horses trace back to the prehistoric Solutré horses depicted in cave paintings in Europe. Traditionally, both horses and cattle live in semi-feral, extensively managed herds in the salt marshes of the Rhône River Delta, close to the city of Montpellier. Camargue horses are very hardy, small (only about 13hh to 14hh), stocky and always grey, although they are born black or brown. Their hooves are large and only the working horses that take part in parades and tourist activities are shod. In summer, Camargue horses eat shoots, reeds and indigenous plants like samphire and saltwort, while in winter they survive on dried grass and…

Dear Moses, Thank you for the informative site meeting last week. This is the best way to discuss the many options of your multipurpose venue and to plan the layout to take advantage of the beautiful lakeside site. I’ve improvised on the layout that initially grabbed your attention, and included the facilities you have in mind. The proposed meat outlet, which will serve customers daily, has been included in the reception area at entrance number 2. The ground floor should include toilets and catering facilities. The upstairs area could possibly be converted into a flatlet for a security guard; a small toilet and kitchenette could be included here. The venue can accommodate 180 people. This is certainly a multipurpose building that can be adapted to suit any occasion. Kind regards,…

SOUTH AFRICA’S FAVOURITE PASSES & POORTS by Marion Whitehead (MapStudio, R190) Travel journalist Whitehead delights in the passes that opened up travel and trade in South Africa’s interior and make today’s journeys scenic and adventurous. This volume covers more than 80 passes around the country and is a great combination of well-researched historical and geographical background, good mapping and directions and awesome photographs. PRAIRIE FIRES: THE AMERICAN DREAMS OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER by Caroline Fraser (Fleet, R295) Little House on the Prairie was one of South Africa’s earliest TV hits and the books that inspired it, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, have been favourites for young readers since their debut in the 1930s. Fraser shows in this hugely detailed and widely researched biography that the stories represented…

I looked at my diary and groaned: my annual service was due. No, not my bakkie’s – my body’s! I phoned my GP’s Dracula assistant; I’m sure she couldn’t wait for her overdue fix of fresh blood. Arriving at the surgery, I was told to strip and lie down on the examination bed. “Unlike wine, the human body doesn’t improve with age. So, what’s wrong then?” the doctor asked in his usual gruff bedside manner. “Well, doc, I have my bakkie serviced once a year so thought I should have myself serviced too,” I said. Listening to my lungs he said, “You need to repair your exhaust!” Then came the ECG to check if I was firing on all cylinders. The road test was next. “Get on the bicycle and…

“South Africa has a dual agricultural economy of smallholder and large-scale commercial farmers. The smallholder farmers are typically family-based, and face a plethora of problems, including limited production resources and know-how, poor infrastructure, lack of produce transport, and limited access to markets. Within South Africa’s smallholder farming sector there is also a failure to supply consistent quantities and quality of agricultural produce. This is especially a result of these farmers’ lack of understanding of accepted marketing practices, such as grading, packaging and branding. Exacerbating these challenges is government’s dismantling of the country’s agricultural marketing boards in 1996. This action has meant that these smallholder farmers have to compete against larger-scale commercial farmers and agricultural imports, such as sugar from Brazil. South Africa’s smallholder farmers are not ready for such competition…

23 YEARS AGO Ilse Neethling gave up teaching to begin her own broiler chicken farm in the Rûens. According to Neethling, the quality of the end product depends largely on the quality of management. “Mrs Neethling had to adapt to her new role of managing the technical, production, marketing and financial functions of a modern chicken farm. She believes the marketing of quality products, backed by efficient customer service, are the ingredients for a successful operation. “One of the reasons for embarking on this venture was to provide full-time, permanent employment for farmworkers and their families, who normally would have been employed part-time. At present, Mrs Neethling has a full-time staff of about 50 persons who were all trained by herself. “A chicken farm of a size where top management…

FUEL PRICE HIKES HAVE AN IMPACT ON NEARLY ALL FARMING INPUTS The continuing fuel price increases in South Africa have had a devastating effect on subsistence and small-scale farmers, said Preline Swart, a small-scale farmer near Elim in the Southern Cape region. For many of these farmers, the fuel price was the difference between surviving or failing financially, she said. Fuel price hikes had an impact on virtually all agricultural inputs, from fertiliser to herbicides. Many of these farmers did not have the option to diversify their farming concerns to spread their financial risk, and had to absorb the growing cost of production themselves. “I am concerned that we might lose some of our subsistence and small-scale farmers. It is becoming very hard for some of them to carry on…

The drought in large parts of Europe and the Baltic countries has resulted in wheat prices increasing on international markets. According to Luan van der Walt, Grain SA economist, it also had an impact on the local wheat industry. In Germany, for example, the wheat price increased from US$210/t (about R2 800/t) in June to US$247/t (R3 250/t) currently. In Baltic countries, the wheat price increased from US$198/t (R2 600/t) about a month ago to US$216/t (R2 800/t) at the beginning of August. International supply levels, nevertheless, remained high. “For the 2017/2018 season it stands at 273 million tons, while supplies for the 2018/2019 [season] are estimated at 260 million tons, due to the drought in European and Baltic countries,” he said. The local wheat price had benefitted from escalating…

SWITZERLAND Globally, birds consume up to 500 million tons of insects a year. This was according to a study led by Martin Nyffeler of the University of Basel in Switzerland, which highlighted the important role birds play in keeping plant-eating insect populations under control. The research was based on 103 studies that focused on the volume of prey that insect-eating birds consume in seven of the world’s major biomes. UNITED KINGDOM New research indicated that 84% and 37% of sheep farmers in the UK and New Zealand respectively were using ineffective drenches. According to the research, undetected drench resistance could be costing lamb suppliers more than £10 million (about R176,8 million) a year in the UK, while in New Zealand, the average loss was NZ$19 million (R170 million) annually. More…

Smaller milk producers in South Africa may be in for a tough time as prices and demand fluctuate, due to the South African market coming under increasing pressure from cheaper imports, among many other factors. This was the opinion of Dr Koos Coetzee, an economist at the Milk Producer’s Organisation (MPO), who said: “Processors will buy imported milk if they can’t get it cheaper locally, [which means] producers will have to make a profit at export parity [prices].” Economies of scale were also becoming increasingly important, and Coetzee said smaller milk producers would need to combine their production output and sell milk co-operatively to encourage milk processors to buy from them. “The fact is that we are part of the [global economy] and local prices will be based on world…

One of the strongest messages that emerged from the recent Agri Western Cape annual congress held in Rawsonville was that farmers could not afford to wait for government to ensure a better future. Speaking about the role of agriculture in social sustainability, Judith February, senior research associate at the Institute of Security Studies, said: “Everybody would have to temper their expectations and do what they have to do to create a new social order in which there is less inequality and lower unemployment rates. Farmers specifically need to speak with one voice about social issues and become proactive instead of waiting for government to tell them what to do.” She said farmers should not become overwhelmed by the “big picture”, but focus on what they could do to promote social…

While many of the 154 member states of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), including South Africa, are taking significant steps to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock, there is scope for improvement. This was according to a statement issued by the OIE to highlight the results of a recent survey to determine the level of progress made by member states to achieve the goals of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance that was published in 2016. The report had revealed “wide discrepancies” in the progress made in reducing antimicrobial resistance among the countries surveyed. The report looked at surveillance, education, monitoring and regulating consumption and use of antimicrobials in human health, animal health and production, as well as the effect on plants and the environment. The statement…

Multinational chemical company, BASF, is in the process of acquiring a range of businesses from Bayer for about €7,6 billion (R116,6 billion). Competition regulatory authorities around the world required Bayer to divest itself from these businesses to gain approval for the acquisition of Monsanto. A Bayer statement said that in the first stage of the transaction, some of its crop science businesses would be sold to BASF for €5,9 billion (R90,5 billion), including Bayer’s global glufosinate-ammonium business, the LibertyLink technology for herbicide tolerance, and almost all Bayer’s field crop seed businesses. BASF said the company would also be acquiring further Bayer businesses for €1,7 billion (R26,1 billion), including Bayer’s vegetable seed business, seed treatment products, the research and development platform for hybrid wheat, and the digital farming platform, Xarvio.…

As I noted in a previous column (FW, 27 July), a study led by US-based neuroscientist Paul Zak shows that a characteristic shared by all outstanding organisations is the high level of trust among their staff. Moreover, this trust always starts at the top. The converse is true too; lack of trust by and in management, like cold air, sinks quickly throughout the organisation. Managers who build great trust are invariably good listeners, communicate clearly and often, and are inveterate optimists. They always talk about ‘we’, not ‘I’, and share credit generously. They readily admit their errors, take responsibility for failure, and are quick to apologise. And they keep promises and get back to people if they say they will. THE FRUITS OF TRUST Zak and his colleagues found that…

South Africa was a self-sufficient wheat producer between the 1970s until deregulation in 1997, when the country became exposed to international market forces. Since then, the area under production has declined from one million hectares to 500 000ha and the country has become a net importer of wheat. This is according to Andries Theron, chairperson of Grain SA’ s winter grain committee. “South Africa has had to import up to 50% of local demand over the past few years and I foresee that imports might hit 60% this year, due to the drought in the Western Cape. Being reliant on other countries for so much wheat is a huge threat to food security,” he says. The industry has made strides in production efficiency, with average production increasing from 1t/ha to…

Robert Patson of Happy Land Farm in Kyalami, Gauteng, says farming with chickens wasn’t on his to-do list. “It was never the idea, but after seeing the documentary Food, Inc., I couldn’t sleep for days.” Patson, a truck and bakkie salesman for Isuzu, believes the way chickens are farmed is unethical, and that poultry meat can be produced in a way that makes it more nutritious. After attending a poultry production course at the Agricultural Research Council, and hours of researching free-range methods on YouTube, he began a part-time free-range operation on a piece of rented land. BEGINNINGS During the early stages of his research, he wanted to learn from others who were producing free-range chickens, but says the local farmers turned him down. In the end, a commercial free-range…

ALMOST ALL OF THE MILK IS SOLD AS ‘PREMIUM’ Sometimes, it’s good to take a look at how other countries do things. As in the case of Russia’s EkoNiva-APK Company, the exercise can be eye-opening. Five livestock enterprises are engaged in milk production here. The total herd is about 105 000 head, 52 000 of which are dairy cows, all top-quality breeding stock. Over the past few years, EkoNiva has launched 16 high-tech, free-stall dairy facilities, including a robotic dairy. This has involved reconstructing existing dairy farms. The operations are managed with Dairy Plan software, which provides total control of the dairy herd. Use is made of all types of milking parlours: herring-bone, parallel, rotary and now, robotic systems, plus cooling, holding and packaging equipment. EkoNiva’s operations are based on…

To feed four diners, you will need: 600g of chicken loins (mini breast fillets) 200g of strong Cheddar 1 big red chilli 1 or 2 limes, depending on size and juice yield 1 English cucumber 1 ripe avocado 1 onion 4 spring onions 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves A big pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 loaf of artisanal sourdough bread 1 Peel and depip the avo, then dice the flesh. Dice the cucumber. Peel and finely chop the onion, measuring two tablespoons. Wash and finely chop the coriander and reserve one tablespoon; save a few sprigs to garnish each plate when serving. Collect one teaspoon of zest from the lime plus one tablespoon of the juice. Chop the…

Yanmar’s new 2-Series tractors are scheduled to go on sale in October this year. The tractors are equipped with Yanmar’s innovative information and communications technology (ICT), which utilises precision positioning data and robot technology that greatly improves farm management efficiency. A tablet allows you to operate two tractors simultaneously. That is, you can have an unmanned tractor working alongside you. All information on the tablet is represented by icons, making it possible for you to easily perform tasks such as gauging the work area, creating driving routes, and tracking where the machine has driven during operations. The autonomous tractor is equipped with numerous sensors and safety lights, and you can perform emergency stops if needed from the control tablet. According to Yanmar (yanmar.com), automatic planting systems have exceptional accuracy, resulting…

ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON US POULTRY MAY BE REINTRODUCED IN SOUTH AFRICA I have previously written about US tariffs instigating a number of retaliatory measures from some of its major trade partners, thereby bringing the entire global trading system to the brink of a global trade war. I have also argued that the agriculture sector, particularly in the developing world, was likely to become collateral damage of the tit-for-tat measures being initiated by China, Canada and the EU. While the reciprocal measures of trading partners have become something of a public spectacle, there have been negotiations behind the scenes. The US has entered into discussions with Canada, Mexico and the EU to negotiate tariff exemptions and other related bilateral concessions. For example, in terms of steel tariffs, the US granted country…

Grain producers in South Africa’s summer grain production regions have been advised to immediately institute measures to prevent the invasion of gerbils in grain lands. According to Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, director of the Griffon Poison Information Centre, the centre had been inundated with reports of gerbil invasions in the summer grain production areas. Vast areas of grazing had in the past been destroyed by gerbils. Gerbils (of the Gerbilliscus and Desmodillus genera) are found in South Africa’s grasslands, savannah, Karoo and fynbos biomes, according to Verdoorn. “The animals start digging out seed just after planting, but the most damage is caused when seeds are germinating. This is probably due to the seed being soft and more palatable than when newly planted,” he said. These small rodents, with relatively short tails…

Minister of Police Bheki Cele’s request to Parliament for a six-month amnesty period for firearm owners whose licences have expired, has been referred to the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Police, where it will be discussed on 16 August. Farmer’s Weekly had previously reported that it was estimated that there were about 300 000 firearms with expired licences in South Africa. According to a Constitutional Court ruling handed down earlier this year, owners of firearms with expired licences were, in fact, in possession of illegal firearms. As the Constitutional Court had not indicated the course of action firearm owners needed to take in this regard, the door had been left open for possible prosecutions. With regard to the proposed amnesty period, Fred Camphor, CEO of the South African Hunters’ and Game…

Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela and various senior officials in the provincial government, including the director general of the Free State, Kopung Ralikontsane; the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Benny Malakoane; and the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Oupa Khoabane, recently met with farmers at Glen College of Agriculture near Bloemfontein. Neels de Villiers, a farmer near Senekal and provincial chairperson of the Animal Health Forum, implored the delegation to help control the spread of brucellosis in the province by intervening with regard to budget allocations to fight the disease. “The Free State has the smallest population, but the most livestock in the country [at] about 23% [of national livestock numbers].” He was also one of numerous attendees who raised the issue of crime, and stock…

Producers who raise dairy calves can drastically reduce the mortality rate by controlling the spread of Cryptosporidium parvum parasites that cause cryptosporidiosis. Speaking at a recent milk producer training day in Lichtenburg in the North West, Dr Chris van Dijk, CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation, said the parasites affected the small intestine and caused severe, yellow putty-like diarrhoea in calves, often leading to mortalities. “If you see severe diarrhoea in calves that are between five and 15 days old, you must consider testing for Cryptosporidium,” said Van Dijk. The disease could take on an aerosol form, but was usually spread through faecal-oral transmission from person to person, or person to animal. It can also be a water- and milk-borne disease. There was no specific treatment, but supportive care such…

A record 37 406ha of genetically modified (GM) soya bean was planted in South Africa in 2017, which represents a 315% increase on the 9 000ha planted in 2016, according to International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications’ (ISAAA) 2017/2018 annual global review of biotechnology crops’ commercialisation. ISAAA is an international nonprofit organisation that provides information about the benefits of GM crops to various stakeholders, particularly resource-poor farmers in developing countries. Prof Jennifer Thomson, vice-chairperson of the ISAAA board, presented the findings of the review at the first annual Hans Lombard Memorial information session on the status of GM crops, held in Pretoria recently. “This increase was mainly due to growing feed and food requirements. Soya bean for human consumption is also expected to increase to 25 000t, [up…

Neighbourhood Farms, founded by television chef Justin Bonello and Erik Haraldsen, aims to breathe new life into food gardens across the country. “Our aim is to create an open-source system that can be shared from where we are in the South Peninsula [in Cape Town] with the rest of the country, so we will all be eating more healthily, take better care of the planet, and get to know each other better,” Bonello said. The company’s first project was started at Kommetjie Primary School in March this year and had since been expanded to 10 other schools in the South Peninsula. This non-profit social enterprise, in partnership with the Permaculture Research Centre, was in the process of developing a food garden at False Bay Hospital, which would include a training…

Having recently returned from rural Zambia, where I saw a number of small-scale, village-level tilapia projects, I can only assume that funding and development agencies have learnt little over the past 30 years. I did not see a single farm that was any improvement on the failed projects of the 1960s. Most were operating at the level of poorly managed wild fisheries, and the contrast with Asian fish farms was dramatic and depressing. SIZE MATTERS The first problem is pond size. Ponds of 100m² to 300m² are excavated and expected to produce significant quantities of tilapia. This is simply not going to happen. A pond must have a surface area of at least 1 250m² to be productive. A smaller one will suffer wide fluctuations in temperature and water quality,…

Apples have been grown in Poland since the 12th century, and today form an integral part of its economy. Indeed, apples account for more than 80% of the fruit production in that country. Poland is the biggest apple-growing country in the EU, and is home to nearly a third of all apple orchards in the union. According to the latest statistics from the Polish Orchard Society, apple production reached 4,15 million tons in the 2016/2017 season. Apples are produced mainly in the Grójec region in the Masovia province, which is about 40km south of Warsaw. Apples are also grown, to a lesser degree, in the Sandomierz region, explains Bartłomiej Brodzik, CEO of apple-producing and exporting business, Apple Factory, based in Grójec. WORKING TOGETHER The Apple Factory is certified by GLOBALGAP…

A big problem with a small farming operation is that it is usually cash-strapped and therefore cannot afford mechanisation. This makes it difficult to compete against larger farms. However, there is a solution to this problem: hire a contractor to carry out the initial mechanical work and then use no-till farming. In this way, you can dispense with heavy machinery, leaving perhaps a small tractor. NUTRIENTS AND MANURE Before hiring the contractor, arrange for a thorough soil analysis. This is important as some nutrient elements may have to be incorporated during the one-step land preparation. ORGANIC MATTER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN NO-TILL FARMING The phosphorus content of the soil is likely to be on the low side, as this element moves extremely slowly, if at all, in the soil. Increase…

Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, based in Tokyo, is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, once the largest industrial group in Japan. In October 2016, Nissan, also a Japanese firm, acquired a 34% share in Mitsubishi, resulting in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation broke away from the car division some time ago and is now owned by the German group, Daimler. THE BEGINNING Mitsubishi originated in 1857, when the shogunate (rulers of Japan) asked Dutch engineers to build a shipyard at Nagasaki. Completed in 1861, this was placed under government control. Company founder Yataro Iwasaki leased the facilities in 1884 and entered the shipbuilding industry. Three years later, he renamed the company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The company entered motor manufacturing in 1917, hand-building 22 seven-seater cars based…

This cheesy chicken dish is perfect for a weekend lunch and the salsa-like salad topping takes it to the next level. I wanted to find a wine that would reflect this, and that would also go perfectly with the chicken, the mature cheese and the onion, as well as the coriander and lime in the salad. The magic of this dish and the pairing is dependent on getting a little bit of everything on each forkful. The wine I chose is a lightly wooded Chardonnay with fresh citrus flavours and crisp acidity. However, the salad will taste too sharp if the wine is too zippy. The wood in lighter whites should be textural rather than adding much flavour, and De Wetshof, with its five distinct Chardonnays, understands this better than…

A common sign of magnesium deficiency is involuntary muscle tightness and cramping. This not only tenses up the muscle but triggers the ‘flight or fight’ response, which releases the stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol. Magnesium can help your muscles relax and end this vicious cycle. It may also help relieve restless leg syndrome. Other indications of magnesium deficiency are fatigue, mood swings, confusion, weakness and tremors, muscle twitching and an irregular heartbeat, which can be related to heart attacks. (Some doctors put heart attack patients on a magnesium drip in hospital.) If you experience anxiety, you may also experience depression, as these two disorders often go hand in hand. Magnesium can be used to relieve both by raising the level of the mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin. Magnesium also helps to stabilise…