Table of contents for 31 August 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

On the rare occasions when I manage to escape the city early enough on a Friday to drive the 450km from my office in Johannesburg to the farm where I grew up in northern KwaZulu-Natal, I usually pass through Ermelo on the town’s severely battered and potholed main road. On weekdays between early morning and dusk, at one of the first intersections as you enter Ermelo from the Bethal side, you may come across an industrious roadside operator who fills the very large potholes that welcome visitors to this town. With his bucket of gravel, he makes quick work of filling the holes in the road while the robot is red. This is done with the hope that grateful drivers will tip him for this service. You may have come…

The uncertainty in the global trade environment caused by the trade dispute between the US and China remains a key focus in agricultural markets. One of the commodities that has dominated the headlines of late is soya bean, following the introduction of retaliatory tariffs by China. This is important because both the US and China are key players in the global soya bean market. According to data from Trade Map, the US was the world’s second largest exporter of soya bean after Brazil in 2017, accounting for 37% of global soya bean exports. The major destination of these exports was China. Hence, the retaliatory tariffs caused much concern within the US farming community. In an article published by the New York Times on 2 August, an Ohio farmer, Christopher Gibbs,…

While South Africa’s sugar industry has expressed gratitude for the recent increase in the dollar-based reference price (DBRP) that triggers duties on sugar imports, sections of the industry remained concerned that the benefits of this would be relatively short-lived. Following its review of the original and long-standing DBRP of US$566/t (R8 250/t), South Africa’s International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) increased the DBRP to US$680/t (R9 911/t) and not to the US$856/t (R12 476/t) level requested by the country’s sugar industry. After ITAC announced its decision, the South African Sugar Association’s (SASA) executive director, Trix Trikam, told Farmer’s Weekly that “while the increase in applicable duty may have some positive impact for a short period of time, it is likely that the value of protection will erode as industry costs of…

Farming was both an art and a science in which the farmer had to creatively and effectively combine a number of disciplines to grow plants and rear animals that would fulfil society’s need for food and fibre, while still realising economic gain on the farm and across the agricultural value chain. This was according to Paul Makhube, senior agricultural economist at FNB, who was speaking at the 2018 Armoedsvlakte Farmers’ Day in Vryburg. Makhube said it was vital that producers took cognisance of economic drivers such as demand demographics to attain financial gain. “Consumers’ disposable income, for instance, should be considered. It is of no use to produce agricultural commodities they can’t afford. Excessively high prices will drive consumers to more affordable alternatives,” Makhube said. The natural environment and water…

Eating crickets can help support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, according to a clinical trial conducted in the US. Valerie Stull, a doctoral graduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said interest in edible insects was gaining traction as a sustainable protein source compared with traditional livestock. Stull, the lead author of the pilot clinical trial published in Scientific Reports, and her team documented the health effects that eating crickets had on the human microbiome. For two weeks, 20 men and women aged 18 to 48 ate either a controlled breakfast or a breakfast containing 25g of powdered cricket meal. Each participant then ate a ‘normal’ diet for a two-week washout period. For the following two weeks, the participants switched meals. Participants reported no significant gastrointestinal changes or side effects…

High-value and high-labour crops such as blueberries, dates and almonds could strengthen South Africa’s economy and assist in achieving the goals set out by the National Development Plan (NDP). Speaking at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Connections Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show in Pretoria, Tommie van Zyl, CEO of ZZ2, said that while there were limited growth opportunities for the fresh produce sector, there was opportunity in serving new markets with superfoods. “We can grow the economy very rapidly if we focus on superfoods. We need at least 7 000ha of blueberries in South Africa to meet the current demand. Almonds and dates also have huge potential.” However, Thabi Nkosi, executive director of research, business development and investments at Afgri, said that since almonds were a longterm investment, farmers…

A massive increase in the minimum wage for farmworkers since 2003 has had a substantial cost implication for labour-intensive agricultural industries such as the potato industry. According to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s (BFAP) Baseline Agricultural Outlook for the period 2018 to 2027, the introduction and phasing in of the proposed national minimum wage in 2018 and 2019 meant that the cost of labour would have increased nearly 400% since 2003. “To ensure the sustainability of agricultural industries, producers have to either increase output (through improved productivity) or cut back on expenses,” the outlook said. BFAP analysed four prototype potato farms across South Africa to illustrate the cost implication of the new national minimum wage in 2018 and 2019 (agriculture was exempted from the full increase for 2018).…

At the recent annual South African Mango Growers’ Association (SAMGA) symposium, Dr Danielle Le Lagadec, Johann du Preez, Jaco Fivaz, and Theuns Botha were awarded the Golden Mango Award for their contributions to the South African mango industry. Botha, of Lapland Farm, developed a chemical measure against mango malformation, a fungal disease, while Le Lagadec was recognised for her research to develop a chemical method to control mango seed weevil. Du Preez, the operational manager of Bavaria Fruit Estate in Hoedspruit, was recognised for his leadership in the development of industry-advancing commercial horticultural practices and disease control measures, while Fivaz, of Mohlatsi Estate in Hoedspruit, was recognised for his pioneering high-density orchards. The Mango Industry Merit Award went to Louwtjie van Vuuren, Mike Amm and Dave Elphick in recognition of…

At the first sale of the new wool selling season, the Merino indicator increased 12,4% and 2 630 points to close at R238,29/kg clean. The Australian EMI gained 3,5%. While the weaker rand was the primary driver of the strong performance, continued demand for South African Merino wool across all lengths and micron categories assisted the price surge, according to Cape Wools. Of the 12,277 bales on offer, 98, 7% was sold. GLOBAL WOOL PRODUCTION IS UNDER PRESSURE McNaughton Farming from Graaff-Reinet received a new record price of R233/kg for a lot of 17,2-micron wool, which was marketed by BKB and bought by Standard Wool. “The local market again outperformed the Australian EMI, which is the world’s leading indicator,” said Heinrich Victor, operational manager of fibre at OVK. “With the…

Prof Eckhardt Kassier, former head of agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University, often used the slogan ‘Get big or get out’ during the 1980s. In a series of meetings sponsored by an international oil company, he carefully explained to farmers all over South Africa the importance of increasing the size of their businesses. He also encouraged them to use the asset value of their farms as security for loans to do so. Unfortunately, for many farmers who followed his advice, ‘getting bigger’ actually meant ‘getting out’. The main reason for that was the sharp increase in interest rates to 25% in February 1985. Even farmers who were lucky enough to be able to repay loans at the prime rate found it difficult to manage high debt levels. This said, Kassier’s advice…

Annual food inflation has stabilised in 2018 from high levels in previous years, and has maintained levels below 4,6% for the first half of the year. Annual consumer food price inflation for June 2018 was 3,1%, and remained unchanged compared with May 2018. During June 2016, annual food inflation was 11%, which declined to 7% in June 2017. Improved weather conditions led to a recovery in agricultural output in 2017 and 2018, thereby offering relief to food cost (see graph). Moreover, as a result of the higher available grain crop, the intensive livestock sector benefitted from reduced feed costs. Larger agricultural output also meant that South Africa imported fewer expensive commodities and processed food. WEATHER CONDITIONS At the end of June 2018, forecasts indicated a more than 50% probability of…

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This week, in our series on what an agent and a farmer expect from each other, I focus on a piece of advice aimed at the farmer: ‘Visit the market and the market agent as frequently as possible.’ This topic is close to my heart because of its importance in a farmer’s marketing strategy. I’ve mentioned it before, and it’s a drum I beat incessantly when training farmers and market agents. I make no apologies for repeating myself because I know how crucial this is. ESTABLISHING A SOUND RELATIONSHIP When you’ve entrusted your produce to another person to sell on your behalf, it’s logical that you should want to be comfortable with what that person is doing. This does not imply that you are ‘playing policeman’. Rather, it’s about establishing…

To make minestrone for four hungry diners, you will need: 4 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil 1 can of tomatoes plus juice 10 to 15 rosa tomatoes 1 tablespoon of tomato concentrate 1 can of white beans 1 large onion 3 cloves of garlic 3 carrots 5 sticks of celery 2 courgettes 3 rashers of bacon 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary Half a cup of macaroni 1,2l of chicken stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley 50g to 100g of freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 Make the chicken stock yourself or buy it from a supermarket or retailer. If you go for the home-made option, make a few litres at a time and freeze the stock that you don’t use. If you buy the…

Farmers regularly come up with smart ideas. If yours works and is truly original, why not patent it? Sure, this seems like a daunting process, but the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission of South Africa (cipc.co.za) is a good starting point and a useful website for anyone wishing to register a patent or research information related to patents in South Africa. The commission promotes education and awareness of company and intellectual property law and compliance with relevant legislation, as well as a whole lot more. To qualify for a ‘utility patent’, the most common type of patent, your ‘invention’ must be a process or method for producing a useful, concrete and tangible result. According to CIPC, patent protection is granted for a limited period of 20 years. In terms of…

Entries are now open for the country’s most prestigious accolade for sustainable restaurants. Launched in 2016, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges the restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We’re looking for an awareness of not just the environment and higher animal welfare standards in farming, but of human health and social justice, too,” says Eat Out editor, Linda Scarborough Entries will be judged on a strict set of criteria in three categories: responsible sourcing, community impact and environmental impact. Scores are allocated for the sourcing of meat, seafood and fresh produce; the design of menus; the impact of the restaurant on its surrounding communities; treatment of staff; use of resources; and efforts to recycle. • Download the entry form at http://www.eatout.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/The-Eat-Out-Woolworths-Sustainability-Award-entry-form.pdf. Entries close on…

I have written before about the poor state of water supply and infrastructure in South Africa, but this week I want to focus on the deteriorating water situation in the Vaal River system. The third largest river in South Africa has its origin in rain and underground water that collects in pans, marshes and streams. As these connect, the river flows west into the Grootdraai Dam near Standerton, Mpumalanga. On its course to the Vaal Dam near Vereeniging, the river is frequently joined by a number of tributaries. Eventually the Vaal River flows into the Orange River. Roughly 60% of economic activity in the country and 45% of South Africa’s population depend on water supply from this system. Water is drawn from the Vaal River system to meet the industrial…

Although the Southern African operations of global diversified wood fibre products company, Sappi, faced a number of challenges during its third quarter ended 30 June 2018, the company’s CEO, Steve Binnie, reported “solid profit” of US$51 million (about R750 million) for the period. This may have been lower than Sappi’s US$58 million (R853 million) profit achieved for the same period last year, but Binnie pointed out that the company had been anticipating this. “The third quarter is seasonally and historically our weakest quarter due to the slowdown in business activity during the Northern Hemisphere summer holiday period, and Sappi’s choice to use this quarter to undertake major annual maintenance shuts,” he said. Sappi Southern Africa’s (SSA) CEO, Alex Thiel, explained that maintenance shutdowns at the Saiccor and Ngodwana mills had…

Francois Wilken, the newly re-elected president of Free State Agriculture (FSA), said he was ready to take the punches being thrown at agriculture as he continued in his role to represent the interests of farmers in the province. The prevailing atmosphere at the start of the recent FSA congress in Bloemfontein was one of uncertainty and concern, as delegates grappled with the current political situation and worries over land expropriation without compensation. Many questions were raised about an alleged list that contained the names of 139 farms reportedly earmarked as expropriation test cases. Wilken said the FSA was not going to stand back and allow agriculture to be a punching bag for all those who wanted to make a point, and added that people in the agriculture sector were labelled…

Tibetan sheep can carry the plague and transmit it to humans, according to Wei Li, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Tibetan sheep account for about a third of China’s sheep population. In the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, one of the region’s highest risk areas for human plague, Himalayan marmots are the primary carriers of the infectious bacterium, Yersinia pestis. It can be transmitted to humans and other animals by parasitic fleas that feed on marmots. Tibetan sheep have also been observed licking dead rodents. The plague can be transmitted from infected sheep to humans during slaughtering, or through consuming undercooked lamb or mutton. Li extracted the genomic DNA from 38 strains of Y. pestis isolated from Tibetan sheep, Himalayan marmots, and humans. Y. pestis isolated from…

Differing demands from four different generations of consumers have complicated marketing efforts for fresh produce. Producers and retailers need to keep up with the latest trends if they want to remain sustainable. Speakers at the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Connections Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show in Pretoria, highlighted the nuances of millennials and Generation Z, and said that the way in which food was grown, marketed and presented in restaurants were becoming increasingly important. These generations wanted food that was ethically produced, by companies that cared for their communities. They wanted a seamless, on-demand experience when buying food and to eat in restaurants that provided food that looked good on photographs posted on social media app Instagram. “Gen Z is entering the workforce and they have never had…

China’s growing demand for South African wool was supporting growth in the local industry, said Dr Tracy Davids, manager of commodity markets at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). Speaking at the launch of BFAP’s Baseline Agricultural Outlook for 2018 to 2027 in Pretoria, Davids said that the growth of demand in China also supported global wool prices. South Africa was the third largest exporter of wool (by value) in the world in 2017, and the second largest exporter to China, Davids said. According to the BFAP outlook, more than 90% of the wool produced in South Africa was exported, with the South African market share to China increasing over the past decade from 4% in 2007, to 10,4% of the total value of imports into China in…

Consider a farm, recently bought. The new owner would have paid transfer duty on it, while the seller paid capital gains tax. In an estate situation, the inheritor of the farm would have suffered estate duty and capital gains tax. If, within a short time span, such farms were expropriated, it might be possible for the owners to institute action for unjustified enrichment on the part of the state. However, there are certain requirements. These are: • That the state has been enriched. This is easy to show. • That the claimant has been deprived. Easy again. • That there’s no reason in law for the enrichment. Problem. The new law would be the reason. It would have to be struck down for the claim to succeed. So, citing the…

Land degradation is set to have a major impact on global food demand if its rate is not urgently attended to. Recent statistics indicate that 33% of high-potential soils in the world have been lost over the past 40 years. It is therefore crucial to utilise agricultural land more sustainably to ensure long-term productivity. South Africa is not exempt from this global phenomenon, as many of the country’s land users, particularly emerging farmers, have inadequate knowledge of the causes and prevention of erosion. It is against this background that Sannaspos farm near Bloemfontein was used as a demonstration site for implementing certain soil conservation techniques to reduce physical land degradation. SOIL’S PRODUCTION CAPABILITY REDUCED Soil degradation can be defined as a change in the soil’s health status resulting in a…

Minestrone is one of those Italian staples that we all should know how to make, and this version is very tasty indeed. As with all tomato-rich dishes, acidity comes into play, but what works well in this instance is the creamy texture of the beans and the richness of the stock, which balance and round out the acid. I lean towards a light red, one that is fruity, juicy and (although I hate using the term) easy-drinking, because if you find that a particular wine is difficult to drink, it simply cannot be a good wine for you. South African Merlots meet these requirements with ease. They are often more medium-bodied, particularly those good-value ones that have plenty of soft, red fruit and round tannins. The Flagstone Poetry Merlot is…

Most people only think about their cholesterol level when their doctor is worried. If your count is between three and five, you are safe, but a reading of 5,2 and above indicates a risk for heart problems and strokes. While there are certain families who must be on medication as their bodies manufacture too much cholesterol, there is a lot the rest of us can do to lower it by adjusting the way we eat. Health writer Hazel Courteney recommends eating foods that are high in soluble fibre, such as oats and oat bran; freshly ground linseed; and fruit rich in pectin, such as apples and grapefruit. Munching raw carrots is good and also helps for constipation. Gradually add more high-fibre pulses like beans and lentils to your meals. These…

Philipstown Merino Day…

We have a herbalist living amongst us: Gardener William, who learnt his profession from a long-demised traditional healer. Proficient in treating ailments, William has his work cut out: his house is filled with patients after hours queuing amongst the bottles of potions only he knows the origin of. A brilliant diagnostician, he seems to have a cure for every ailment. Nonetheless, he is not a trained doctor. So when neighbour Jan arrived for morning coffee on my stoep, sneezing all over me and complaining that he couldn’t get rid of his headache, tight chest and runny nose, I suggested he visit the doctor. “All he’ll do is prescribe antibiotics and a week in bed. I haven’t got the time for that,” he lamented. “Then your only option is herbalist William,”…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 4 TO 6 SEPTEMBER No-Till Conference, ATKV Drakensville, Bergville. For more information, email Richard Findlay at richardfindlayntc2@gmail.com . 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 . 9 TO 12 OCTOBER Second African Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Johannesburg. For more information, visit africacacongress.org . COURSES & TRAINING 27 TO 29 AUGUST Cattle Artificial Insemination Course, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com . 31 AUGUST Pregnancy Awareness Course, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Rothman on 078…

The Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) has questioned a statement by Themba Mthembu, MEC for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD), which suggested that there had been a rise in human rights abuses on farms due to the heated land debate in South Africa. In a KZN DARD statement, Mthembu said he was “shocked” after visiting Aussicht Farm in the Kranskop area, belonging to commercial farmer Carl Gathmann. “During his visit [Mthembu] found graves that have been bulldozed by [Gathmann], some still visibly open while others could not be seen,” it said. “We left everything today to come to this area because we have realised that a number of graves have been desecrated very badly. It is claimed that there are more than 50 graves here,…

There was likely to be increased competition between beef cattle feedlots and so-called grass-fed beef, according to Joseph Kau, senior agricultural economist at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Kau was speaking at the recent Armoedsvlakte Farmers’ Day in Vryburg. “South Africa’s communal farmers are well placed to exploit the increasing demand for grass-fed beef since communal cattle are raised with the minimum use of chemicals [and supplements],” he said. He explained that the local beef cattle industry was of strategic importance to the country, with the gross value of the sector at R13 billion in 2006, compared with a value of R30,6 billion in 2016. This was an increase of 135%. He also said that the interest in grass-fed beef had increased exponentially during the past 20 years, with a…

UNITED STATES Late blight could become a thing of the past with new technology developed by scientists at the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Researchers have streamlined the process of inserting multiple genes, which are resistant to late blight, into crop plants. The technology is also expected to speed up the process for developing new varieties of potatoes, rice, citrus and other crops better equipped to tolerate heat and drought, produce higher yields and resist many diseases and pests. UNITED KINGDOM According to researchers, heatwaves like those experienced during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer season this year, are likely to increase in intensity in the future. Florian Sévellec, a researcher for the National Centre for Scientific Research with the Laboratory for Ocean Physics and Remote Sensing at the universities of Brest…

Growth in population, income and GDP mean different things for different world economies, said Prof Patrick Westhoff from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), which is based at the University of Missouri in the US. Speaking at the launch of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s (BFAP) agricultural outlook for 2018 to 2027 in Pretoria, Westhoff said per capita income in advanced, emerging and developing economies was projected to increase over the outlook period, with China leading the growth trend. In terms of the impact that an increase in per capita income would have on food consumption, Westhoff said that rising incomes would not have an effect on total food consumption in advanced economies, but only on the consumption of speciality foods. “In emerging markets, increased income…

South African wheat producers will not be able to compete with international producers, particularly from the Northern Hemisphere, without adequate tariff protection. A sample analysis, by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), of prototype wheat farms across the globe reflected an average yield of 5,1t/ha, whereas production in the Western Cape, which accounted for over 60% of the area under production in South Africa, had a five-year average of 3t/ha, which dropped to 1,8t/ha in 2017 because of the drought. WHEAT PRICES WILL LIKELY DECLINE IN 2018 According to the BFAP’s Baseline Agricultural Outlook for 2018 to 2027, average production costs across the sample that covered 18 regions in eight countries, amounted to US$88/t (about R1 276/t), whereas South Africa’s costs ranged between US$113/t (R1 638/t) and US$144/t…

A new book by Dr Philip Myburgh, researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Infruitec Nietvoorbij, provides farmers with all the information they need on wine grape irrigation. The book, Handbook for Irrigation of Wine Grapes, includes articles, projects and reports. “It is not a coffee table book, but meant to be used as a toolkit to help farmers improve their water-use efficiency, with topics ranging from the calibration of soil moisture meters to the application of water through various irrigation systems,” Myburgh said at the launch of the book on a wine farm near Simondium. Lucinda Heyns, technology transfer co-ordinator at the Institute for Grape and Wine Science, said the book, sponsored by Netafim and Villa-Monash, could not have come at a better time. “Many wine grape farmers have been…

Volatile markets, bad weather patterns linked to climate change, and rising input costs have put increasing pressure on livestock farmers. For this reason, some farmers in South Africa and abroad have stopped breeding animals and moved to agribusiness. That is, they buy young livestock from other farmers (letting these farmers carry the risks of breeding), then round off the animals for sale. Let’s say you have a small-scale livestock operation with 100 wool-producing ewes. These could cost R1 800 each to buy, a total of R180 000. If you’re successful and can breed at a weaning rate of 75%, the ewes will produce 75 lambs. Each could be worth about R1 000 at four to five months old when they weigh about 25kg. If you sell them all, you’d therefore…

Many dairy producers struggle with calf mortality and slow growth. Dr Chris van Dijk, veterinarian and CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation, (MPO) and Kenneth Botha, feed specialist and technical director at Barnlab Feed, stress that good calf cage hygiene and a colostrum programme are essential for addressing this problem and raising a healthy herd. CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM Speaking at an MPO training day in Lichtenburg, North West, Van Dijk explained that incorrect hygiene and management practices were the main cause of Cryptosporidium parvum infection. The tiny, two- to six-micron coccidian protozoa organism infects mainly the small intestine and leads to diarrhoea. It damages the gut villi, leading to poor absorption of nutrients. “This is often lethal in newborn calves, or puts their growth at risk, which in turn affects their…

It is ironic that Volkswagen (VW), the company that the Allies could not give away after the Second World War, is currently the world’s largest motor manufacturer. The headquarters of the VW group is in Wolfsburg, Germany. The group is indirectly majority-owned by the Porsche family whose major representative is Ferdinand Piëch, a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche. The company was founded in 1937 in Berlin by the German Labour Front because Adolf Hitler wanted a cheap car that workers could afford. He asked Ferdinand Porsche to design a suitable car and the latter came up with the brilliant Beetle design. The Porsche design office built a prototype and Mercedes-Benz built 20 more for test purposes. The car was released for production in 1938, but only a limited number were made…

Dear Nandi, Thank you for the invitation to view your property and the proposal you have in mind. As the building will be adjacent to your two-storey home on a rocky 30° slope, my sketch required some pre-planning. You have said that the building must accommodate meetings dealing with social upliftment, and the layout lends itself to just that. The bedroom can accommodate a guest speaker when required. The raised dining area is built over a solid granite outcrop. It can also host speakers and be fitted with a video screen at the rear. Also featured is the rock archway you requested. The style you preferred is that of a rondavel. Lunch and teatime intervals can also be enjoyed in the conversation firepit, with views of the distant mountains. The…

AN ELEPHANT IN MY KITCHEN by Françoise Malby-Anthony & Katja Willemse (Picador Africa, R290) After the sudden death of conservationist Lawrence Anthony, Malby-Anthony was left alone to sustain his legacy and run Thula Thula, the game reserve they had co-founded in KwaZulu-Natal, with rescue animals first forming the core of their elephant herd. Poaching threats have become ever more violent and persistent. Yet, Malby-Anthony has worked hard and inspired volunteers to join her in bringing to reality the dream she shared with Lawrence, creating a centre at the reserve to rescue and rehabilitate the orphans left behind when their mothers were poached or grievously injured in snares. Her experiences show just how much we still have to absorb about human communication with other creatures on our planet, and…