Table of contents for 16 November 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

It is often said that investors would prefer policy certainty, even if those policies are not particularly friendly to investors, over not knowing in which direction the policy environment is moving. The uncertainty created by vague policies and drawn-out processes to develop new policies causes decision-making regarding investment to remain in limbo. This is why the current process to formulate a new policy directive for land reform, specifically around the expropriation of land without compensation, could potentially hurt the agriculture sector even before any decisions are made. One of the most frequent questions Farmer’s Weekly has been asked by readers this year is ‘what is going to happen with land reform and expropriation?’ At this stage, nobody really knows for certain, but Agbiz has compiled what it deems to be…

While the jury is still out on the land expropriation issue, South Africa now has an opportunity to assess the status of the agriculture sector. It would be foolish to only evaluate agriculture in terms of policy structure. The state of readiness of the current and prospective role players in the industry must also be evaluated. During its elective congress in December 2017, the ANC committed itself to amending the Constitution to accelerate land reform. President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, said that this would be done in a way that does not affect food security. While these words are comforting, they matter only if followed by concrete action. THE UNDERDOG This brings me to a discussion I had with the late professor of sociology Herbert Vilakazi in 2013, when he said…

Last month, Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni tabled the Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament. The MTBPS reports on the efficient management of government expenses and containing government debt. Depressing economic growth coupled with an increase in expenses and debt have led to a weakening exchange rate. However, it is important that South Africans focus on the steps set out in the budget to achieve future economic growth. The MTBPS was an honest reflection of the situation in South Africa. It is commendable that government is clamping down on corruption and inefficiencies, and aims to restore state-owned entities to health. Equally commendable is that Treasury sees the need for clear, consistent policies in order to rebuild confidence in the economy as a prerequisite to unlocking much-needed investment. AGRICULTURE IS…

The South African agriculture sector was well placed to create a significant number of job opportunities, said agricultural economist, Dr Johan Willemse. According to the National Development Plan (NDP), the sector had the potential to create the most jobs of all sectors in South Africa for every R1 million invested, he said. “It is clear from the NDP that investment in the production of agricultural export products such as fruit and nuts were ideally placed for the creation of jobs due to global demand for these commodities.” Although Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni’s allocation of about R4,4 billion to the Land Bank in the recent Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement could go a long way to support new commercial farmers, the bulk of investments in the agriculture sector would ultimately come…

Unprecedented high velocity winds during the middle and end of October have taken a toll on grain crops across the Western Cape. According to Dr Johann Strauss, agronomist at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, wheat crops in the Swartland and Caledon regions, as well as areas between Swellendam and Riversdale, had been damaged. “We suffered yield losses of up to 50% on the Langgewens Research Farm located between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg. The wind was so strong that it literally blew the kernels out of the wheat head,” Strauss said. He added that a yield of between 4t/ha and 5t/ha was expected. The turbulent weather conditions also reached the Overberg and Southern Cape districts. According to Pieter Blom, agronomist at the Sentraal-Suid Koöperasie (SSK), the wheat in the area had…

Citrus growers are being urged to act swiftly to suppress false codling moth (FCM) populations rather than focus on fruit protection after an outbreak has occurred. Dr Sean Moore, an entomologist at Citrus Research International (CRI), said it was strongly recommended that growers initiated FCM control measures early in the 2018/2019 season. “The best approach to FCM control is population suppression, not just fruit protection, which is most effective when pest levels are at their lowest, thus preventing them from increasing. We now have a golden opportunity to effectively suppress FCM populations while they are at a very low level.” Moore recommended several practices to suppress FCM populations. “Immediately after harvesting in an orchard is completed, all fruit remaining in the orchard [hanging and on the orchard ground] must be…

Summer grain producers remain concerned about the possible development of an El Niño event later during the planting season, but this is not the only factor affecting their management planning for 2018/2019. According to Grain SA chairperson, Jaco Minnaar, there was no doubt that grain producers would be monitoring climate developments, but producers would have to evaluate their individual circumstances when making planting decisions, taking into consideration the soil moisture condition on their farms and their personal risk profiles. Manager of specialised crop insurance for Santam Agriculture, Johan van den Berg, indicated in his latest agricultural conditions outlook report that the development of El Niño was still in its “infant phase”. As a result, there had been serious deviation in the rainfall forecast for October, which was generally weaker than…

It’s 1917, and a young farmer, WH Rood, has settled with his wife and three-year-old son in the Crocodile River Valley on the outskirts of Nelspruit. Their son falls ill with malaria. With no doctors in town, Rood is referred to Grace Hall, the wife of HL Hall. The couple have lived in the area since 1888 and own Riverside Farm (due to become Mataffin Farm in 1923). Using a speaking tube from the Nelspruit railway station, Rood manages to contact Lanion, one of Grace’s sons, who tells him that the Hall family has just received news that his brother has been killed in action at Bullecourt in France. He suggests that Rood write a note to Grace, describing his child’s symptoms, but says he is not sure whether his…

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE DECISION TO BREAK AWAY FROM SUBTROP AND FORM AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT INDUSTRY BODY? THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY LED TO THE NEED FOR A FULL-TIME TEAM The macadamia industry in South Africa has grown rapidly over the past few years. This has brought about a need for a full-time team focusing specifically on macadamias to address potential challenges and explore opportunities, especially in research, market development and stakeholder communication. An evolution committee was established to guide the South African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) breakaway from Subtrop and decide on its key objectives. The most important resolution to come out of the committee was to ensure that SAMAC was an independent organisation that could mitigate risk in the orchards and markets, and explore new opportunities to increase…

To make 12 yeast scones, you will need: FOR THE SCONES 300g flour 7g instant yeast 50g sugar 100g salted butter, cubed 200ml milk 100g gooseberries 1 lightly beaten egg, to brush FOR THE GLACé ICING 225g icing sugar A few drops of vanilla extract 2-3 tbsps boiling water 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. Sprinkle flour on a flat baking tray and set aside until needed. Mix the flour, yeast and sugar in a large mixing bowl and add the butter cubes. Use your fingertips to lightly rub the butter until it’s well mixed with the flour, and the end-result resembles crumbs. Rub lightly and fast. 2 Make a well in the centre of the flour. Add the milk and mix lightly with a knife. Mix until the dough…

SHORTCUT YOUR STARTUP by Courtney & Carter Reum (Rider, R320) Startups are often seen as the key to reviving sluggish economies, yet all too many fail. One reason for this, according to the authors, is that they don’t follow the rules. With their discussion of venture capital and how to deal with investors to “speed up entrepreneurial success”, the Reums seem to have a medium-sized business in mind rather than a small or micro-enterprise that is simply hoping for a bank loan. Nonetheless, their tips on professional preparation and presentation are sound, and their views on flexible approaches to funding will chime with anyone who is pondering whether to try crowd-funding. Here is a different point of view, related at a brisk and invigorating canter, that could usefully…

“Rural migration, in particular out-migration, can have profound effects on rural development, poverty, and food security and nutrition, affecting agricultural production, rural households and the broader rural economy. The impact of migration is felt both in migrants’ areas of origin and in their areas of destination. Understanding this impact is important from an economic development perspective, not least because the implications of migration are often the subject of much heated debate. Negative perceptions of migration often result in policies that either explicitly or implicitly attempt to hinder or reduce migration. However, these policies risk restricting labour allocation in countries and markets that need it most. NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE EFFECTS The impact of migration is conveyed through three main channels. Firstly, the very fact that a person has left has an…

38 YEARS AGO If poorly packaged or exposed to excess sun, the humble potato can become highly toxic, causing chronic enteritis or even death. The humble potato is a potential killer, because it contains certain alkaloids which, in their concentrated form, are deadly poisonous. Although these alkaloids do not pose any threat to human health in correctly handled potatoes, certain methods of handling and presentation for marketing can and do promote the development of these toxins. All members of the potato family produce these alkaloids or toxins, according to Mr Theuns Duvenhage, formerly of the National Potato Work Team. Included in the potato family are tobacco, tomatoes, chillies, eggplant, gooseberries, nightshade and stinkblaar. Not only are the tubers and fruits of these plants to a greater or lesser degree poisonous,…

BABOONS COULD PLUNDER ORCHARDS AND KILL SMALLSTOCK Uncontained fires recently destroyed 91 000ha of land in the Outeniqua/De Vlugt region of the Garden Route. According to Lauren Howard, Working on Fire spokesperson, the fire damage was four times greater than that caused by the Knysna/Bitou fires in 2017. An investigation into the cause of the fire was under way. While it was mostly plantations that had been affected, Weeber Truter, member of the Harold Agricultural Association, said the fires had also had an impact on other sectors, with producers suffering grazing losses as well as damage to wire fences and water infrastructure. This damage was estimated to amount to several hundred thousand rand. Truter added that baboon management would become a major concern for the farming community. “A large part…

South Africa accounted for approximately 0,5%, or 3,4 million tons, of global dairy production in 2017, according to the latest International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Situation Report, launched during the recent World Dairy Summit in South Korea. Global production of cow’s milk increased 2,2% in 2017 to a total of 767 million tons. The EU accounted for the largest volume, with 165 million tons, or nearly 24% of total production. The US accounted for just less than 100 million tons, or 14% of global volume, while India produced more than 80 million tons, or 12% of global volume. According to the CEO of the South African Milk Processers’ Organisation (Sampro), Alwyn Kraamwinkel, who was also serving a second term on the board of the IDF, South African dairy producers…

A new vaccine is being tested by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the Pirbright Institute in the UK for its efficacy in combating the infectious bronchitis virus in millions of chickens around the world. The virus is highly contagious, and every year the global poultry industry suffers major economic losses as a result. Infected chickens suffer weight loss, decreased egg production and impaired egg quality. They are also left vulnerable to other diseases. Current vaccines protect against some strains of the virus, but not others. Experts say these failures are possibly linked to differences in the spike protein that allows the virus to attach to and enter cells in the different strains of the virus, according to Prof Lonneke Vervelde, who led the study at Edinburgh University’s Roslin…

Some producers in the summer grain production region had earnestly begun planting for the next season, while others were still awaiting sufficient rain. A survey conducted by Grain SA showed that producers in the eastern parts of the summer grain production region, including Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, had started planting at the end of October and the beginning of November. ‘MORNING TEMPERATURES ARE STILL COOL’ However, producers in the western parts were still busy preparing the soil for the 2018/2019 production season. The optimum planting period for North West and the western and central Free State was mid-November. However, producers were still awaiting sufficient rain. It was also still very dry in the Northern Cape. Petru Fourie, Grain SA economist, said: “Morning and night temperatures are still relatively cool, and producers…

On average, the many companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) give little action to the incorporation of biodiversity considerations directly into their business strategies and activities. This was according to the results of a 2018 study conducted by the National Biodiversity and Business Network (NBBN) that is led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). The study reportedly used publically available information on the companies to determine whether they had a biodiversity policy, whether they had a biodiversity action plan, how effective any such action plan was, and whether they publically disclosed their biodiversity risks and performance. Constant Hoogstad, the EWT’s senior manager for industry partnerships, said that “biodiversity produces a wide variety of goods and services on which businesses depend”. These included crop pollination, water filtration, flood attenuation,…

The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) recently announced the newly elected members to its board for 2019. Greytown farmer Andy Buchan was re-elected for his fourth consecutive term as president, while Jozini farmer Phenias Gumede and Hluhluwe farmer Peter-John Hassard were elected vice-presidents. The other members are Newcastle farmer Christopher Hadebe; Greytown farmer Andy Mason; Pietermaritzburg risk and mitigation fire management specialist Bobby Hoole; and Dr Kathy Hurly, the corporate executive of the South African Cane Growers’ Association.…

Aquaculture in the desert sounds like a non-starter due to the lack of available water. However, many places in Southern Africa have abundant groundwater that could be used for aquaculture and irrigation. The Kalahari-Karoo multilayered aquifer stretches from eastern Namibia to southern Botswana and into western South Africa. In many places, it is between 75m and 400m deep; in others, it is close to the surface. If tapped into, this water could be made available for both aquaculture and irrigating large projects in this dry region. GROUNDWATER FROM MINES In mines that penetrate deep into this aquifer, high-volume pumping is used to prevent flooding. In Botswana, a permitting condition of breaching the aquifer is that the water must be used sustainably and to the benefit of the environment. Passing such…

Cotton has been used as a fibre for more than 7 000 years. Unlike fossil-based fibres, it is sustainable, renewable, biodegradable and carbon neutral. “It can be used without depleting or damaging the environment, making it an excellent choice as an environmentally friendly fibre throughout its entire product life cycle,” says Arno Janse van Vuuren, agribusiness NWK’s manager of agricultural management. UNLIKE FOSSIL-BASED FIBRES, COTTON IS SUSTAINABLE, RENEWABLE AND BIODEGRADABLE NWK recently conducted a survey to determine the potential for cotton production and expansion in the company’s service area, which includes Lichtenburg and Mahikeng in North West. The main production regions in the province include Stella, Delareyville and Schweizer-Reneke, which together produced 17 832 lint bales (200kg each) of the provincial crop of 23 299 bales in the past season.…

To make this dinner for four, you will need: 8 chicken thighs 2 medium onions 2 large carrots 4 sweet potatoes 1 medium butternut 4 beetroot 2 small potatoes Extra-virgin olive oil Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons of fresh basil and mint 1 or 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Select a medium-sized glass or ceramic oven dish. Arrange the eight chicken thighs in it, skin side up. If you are happy to lose some flavour, discard the skin. Lightly drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over the thighs, then season with a light sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper. Complete the seasoning with a couple of crystals of coarse salt over each thigh. 2 Peel and quarter the…

Few farmers today can function optimally without the Internet. But with many farms far off the beaten track, connectivity remains a challenge. If you’re having problems in this regard, consider Afrihost (afrihost.com). An acquaintance of mine who needs reliable connectivity and fast upload/download speeds swears by it. His signal is relayed from a cell phone tower about 5km away, and he receives a download speed of around 26Mbps, which is very good indeed. ROUTER For Internet connectivity, you need a Wi-Fi router, an all-band cellular antenna, and an extension cable for the aerial. These can be ordered from Afrihost, or any other Internet service provider (ISP). You can register with Afrihost online. Open its webpage (Afrihost.com) and choose ‘Mobile’, then select ‘Month-to-month mobile data’. One of Afrihost’s best features is…

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, is the oldest customs union in the world. In this column, I will discuss some of the fundamental issues that have threatened its viability and integrity. Two key issues lie at the heart of the current SACU crisis. COLONIAL ROOTS First, SACU was fundamentally a colonial institution that served colonial interests. The modern era of post-colonial African states has forced the regional institution, and others like it, to re-invent itself as a paragon of trade and economic integration. SOME PARTNERS HAVE LOBBIED FOR THE DEMOCRATISATION OF THE INSTITUTION The problem, however, is that the process of reinvention has not gone far enough to shake off the characteristics that defined its existence in the first place.…

Companies that manufacture animal feed and other foodstuffs should conduct regular food fraud vulnerability assessments to identify those foodstuffs or ingredients that are vulnerable to adulteration, and implement measures to mitigate such risks. This was according to Dr Adriaan du Toit, principal consultant at Advance Management Consulting, speaking at a recent Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association symposium in Pretoria. He said food fraud could be defined as “the deliberate and intentional substitution, addition, tampering or misrepresentation of food, ingredients or packaging, or false, misleading statements made about a product for economic gain”. “Origin verification, in particular, will become important in future,” Du Toit said. In terms of the Consumer Protection Act of 2008, the first accused in a food fraud case would be the producer, then the importer (local or foreign),…

A survey by Grain SA has revealed that cotton production is expected to increase during the 2018/2019 summer grain production season. According to Petru Fourie, agricultural economist at Grain SA, the improved profit margins of cotton compared with the declining profitability of maize, for example, was an incentive for farmers to plant alternative crops. “Indications are that production of both dryland and irrigated cotton is set to increase in Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West, among others,” she said. Willem Groothof, executive committee representative in Limpopo for Grain SA, said hectares earmarked for crops such as maize, sunflower, soya bean and sorghum were expected to be planted to cotton. Irrigated production along the Limpopo River and Marble Hall was also likely to rise. If it rained early enough in…

A growing middle class and large-scale urban migration have created strong demand for diverse agricultural products across sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in increased imports from the US over the past decade. This was according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report entitled, ‘Southern Africa: A promising region for US agricultural exports’. US agricultural exports to Southern Africa totalled R9 billion in 2017, accounting for only 4% of the US’s R205 billion in total exports, according to the FAS. “US agricultural exports to Southern Africa have fluctuated between R5 billion and R11 billion over the past 10 years. This fluctuation was primarily the result of drought-related variations in local maize production and competition from other wheat suppliers,” the report said. According to the report, South Africa and…

IRELAND Irish researchers have found scientific evidence that milk from grass-fed cows is superior to that from grain-fed animals. The director of the country’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Gerry Boyle, said at a recent grass-fed dairy conference in Naas, Ireland: “The results support previous findings that milk and dairy products produced from grass-fed cows have significantly greater concentrations of fat, protein and other beneficial nutrients, and are superior in appearance and flavour.” UNITED KINGDOM Trained sniffer dogs have successfully identified children infected with malaria in endemic malaria areas in West Africa by simply sniffing socks they had worn. Public health entomologist at Durham University in the UK, Steve Lindsay, said people who had contracted malaria parasites generated distinct odours on their skin. The study found that dogs could be…

South Africa’s wine industry is riding a “new wave of optimism” after enduring tough times since 2009, according to Rico Basson, CEO of Vinpro. Basson was speaking at the recent Kaap Agri In2Agri seminar in Paarl. Basson said that 2019 would be a very interesting year for the South African wine industry, and he predicted that the average cellar price of wine would increase 19%. “Where we had a price floor of R4,40 per litre, we are now at a level of between R6 and R6,50. This means a 30% adjustment in price.” ‘THE AVERAGE WINE PRICE WILL INCREASE 19%’ He urged farmers not to be too concerned about the forecast of a large global harvest for 2018. “There is no reason to worry. The projection is in line with…

The FairPlay Movement (FairPlay) and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (Coca-Cola SA) have agreed to bury the hatchet over the importation of cheap sugar to South Africa. After recent “extensive discussions” on the matter, the two entities released a joint statement indicating that they had agreed to work together to ensure the survival of South Africa’s beleaguered sugar industry. This followed reports of the import of large volumes of sugar at prices that were reportedly often below the South African industry’s cost of production. Coca-Cola SA spokesperson Tshidi Ramogase said that while the details of how the entities would work together had not yet been established, a key focus would be supporting South Africa’s small-scale sugar cane growers. “The intention is to work with the sugar industry and any other interested…

A new grain and wild grass aphid was recently detected for the first time in South Africa by Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, a senior researcher of entomology at the Agricultural Research Council’s Small Grains Institute. The Sipha maydis aphid was found in a wheat land in the Western Cape’s Swartland region in July. According to Jankielsohn, the aphid has a wide host range that includes wild grasses and grain crops. As the aphid’s distribution rate can increase under dry conditions and temperatures of 20°C, it could cause damage during early spring when temperatures are on the increase. “It is therefore important to pay attention to the possible colonisation of new areas by it. Extension agents, producers, consultants and researchers should be on the lookout for this aphid in order to put…

Experience has taught me that the more comfortable you are on a hunt, the better the results. And it all starts with working with a good team. Everyone in the team needs to know exactly what’s expected of him or her. One person will be the caller and call placer; another will be in charge of setting up the bakkie at the stand; a third will be the scanner/shooter. The roles can be switched every now and again, if you like, but all must be clear about their ‘job descriptions’. This is particularly important if you use the ‘drop-and-go’ technique, where two hunters are dropped off with their kits. TRUST AND FOCUS Communication between the two must be excellent because of the need for safety at night, and good communication…

I find it difficult not to despair when I think of the state of some of our markets. Note that I say some, not all. It’s a topic I’ve addressed frequently in this column, but I remain baffled by the lack of positive action on this issue. Logic tells us that when there’s a problem, be it mechanical, operational or any other, it makes sense to attend to it before it becomes worse. These market owners know full well about the problems in their establishments. Over the years they have received numerous reports from managers and others detailing the things that need attention. Some have even spent precious funds on so-called ‘consultants’ merely to confirm what everybody has been saying for years. COLD ROOM WOES Here is a case in…

Horse owners have always hosed down the legs of horses with sprains and strains. Those who live near the sea have found that swimming in salt water has helped injured racehorses recover from injury more quickly. Due to the benefits of salt water treatment, new technology has resulted in the development of equine spa therapy. EQUINE SPA HYDROTHERAPY IS MOST USEFUL FOR ACUTE INJURIES TO THE TENDONS An equine spa is a metal unit with doors at both ends and a rubberised floor. Horses are led into the unit, the doors are closed and the unit is sealed. The spa is then slowly filled with cold water that is swirled around the horse’s legs until the water reaches just above the knees and hocks. This takes three to five minutes.…

A dish like this one, with mild flavours but complex character, makes for a fun meal. The variety of flavours in the roasted vegetables gives the opportunity to open more than one wine. Among those that I chose, the two standouts were a Chenin Blanc and a dry Rosé, both from the Babylonstoren wine estate in Paarl. The estate is well known for its remarkable gardens, including the fresh produce gardens that supply its fabulous restaurant. The Chenin Blanc is unwooded, dry and crisp with notes of pineapple, pears and other fresh tropical fruits, which went particularly well with the chicken, carrots and the two types of potatoes in the mix. The riper fruit of the Rosé paired well with the earthier vegetables, beetroot in particular, softening and almost sweetening…

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two primary compounds that occur in hemp or cannabis plants. THC induces euphoria but can trigger paranoia, and is the substance that causes the ‘high’ in marijuana. CBD is the opposite: it is calming and non-psychoactive, which means it will not get the user ‘high’. This is the cannabis substance that appears in dietary and natural supplements. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes CBD as non-toxic, non-addictive and non-intoxicating. Abundant evidence indicates that it has extraordinary healing properties. It is mostly known for its anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory and anti-convulsive benefits, but a recent WHO study suggests it may be useful for treating a wide range of conditions and illnesses: pain, cancer, nausea, inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory bowel, and cardiovascular diseases. CBD acts…