Table of contents for 7 December 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

At the end of November, the Twitter feed of South Africans interested in local politics was briefly overrun by the fracas between EFF and DA members of Parliament over DA chief whip John Steenhuisen’s lack of university qualifications. Floyd Shivambu, deputy president of the EFF, and other EFF members and MPs, ridiculed Steenhuisen after a Sunday newspaper reported that Steenhuisen’s highest academic qualification was matric. Former president Jacob Zuma had, at times, also faced similar ridicule for his lack of schooling, and while he has been awarded a few honorary doctorates, Zuma has always acknowledged that he has had little formal education. Now, Zuma may be many things, but he is definitely not unintelligent, and his lack of education didn’t disqualify him from becoming president. There are two things I…

This year’s abnormally hot weather conditions are challenging for planting summer crops, and have a negative impact on standard planting dates and crop yields. The AgriCloud app, launched by the Rain4Africa project, helps farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture principles, as well as determine the best planting and spraying dates for their crops. The app uses information from the South African Weather Service, as well as algorithms developed by the Agricultural Research Council’s Soil, Climate and Water business unit, to help farmers determine the best planting, spraying, harvesting and irrigation dates for their crops for their specific locations. The Soil, Climate and Water business unit focuses on the use of weather and climate information and monitoring for the forecasting of the weather elements that have direct relevance to agricultural planning and the…

Celebrations were in order when Kenya recovered from the 2017 drought. However, food price inflation was at double digits, which resulted in political tension during that country’s general election. While food price inflation eased from double digits in 2017 to 0,5% year-on-year in October following a general recovery in agricultural production, the country is not completely out of the woods. FARMERS UNDER PRESSURE Production of maize, one of the country’s staple foods, recovered 8% year-on-year in the 2018/2019 marketing year to 3,2 million tons, partly contributing to the deceleration of food price inflation. But over the past couple of months, hardly a day passes without stories of declining maize prices adding to the pressure on Kenyan farmers. OTHER MARKETS MAY BE MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN MAIZE EXPORTS While the…

South Africa’s wine grape harvest is set to return to “normal yields” this season, according to Francois Viljoen, manager of Vinpro’s Viticultural Consultation Service. This was largely due to the good rainfall that had been received, following the three-year drought experienced in the region. According to Viljoen, a good harvest would, however, be subject to the current favourable weather conditions continuing and no excessive wind, heat or rainfall being experienced leading up to the 2019 harvest. The wine grape harvest in the Klein Karoo would, however, be significantly lower for a third consecutive year. According to Carel Nel, the owner of Boplaas Wines near Calitzdorp, producers in the Klein Karoo were even worse off than last year. He said that drought conditions had been prevalent since 2015 and the availability…

The decline in Namibian weaner prices can be ascribed to, among other reasons, high supply levels and declining demand. This was according to Harald Marggraff, commodities manager at the Namibia Agricultural Union. He said prices fell from R37,26/kg at the beginning of 2018 to an average of R29,47 at present. Nonetheless, prices fluctuated markedly and weaners could still fetch as much as R37/kg at auction, he said. LOWER DEMAND PUTS PRESSURE ON PRICES “However, it seems that feedlots in South Africa are relatively [overstocked] and that played a major role in the lower prices. The majority of Namibian weaners are exported to South Africa,” Marggraff added. South Africa was Namibia’s main trading partner in terms of livestock, with about half of that country’s annual weaner production being exported to South…

CANADA With the US no longer a reliable trading partner, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada and China were in talks to deepen bilateral trade and work towards an eventual free trade agreement. Trudeau made the comment after meeting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the third annual Canada-China Leaders’ Dialogue. However, according to US officials, under the new North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada and Mexico needed permission from the US to negotiate bilateral trade deals. FINLAND Meat and dairy products are responsible for more than 75% of greenhouse gas emissions emanating from the diets of consumers in the EU. Researchers from the University of Helsinki found that the average EU citizen had a food footprint of 1 070kg of CO2 equivalent a year, when emissions from production,…

The drought in South Africa is reaching critical proportions, with the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo the hardest hit, according to Christo van der Rheede, deputy executive director at Agri SA. He said that the time had come for South Africans to join hands to help alleviate the plight of drought-stricken farmers. “We, therefore, again appeal to South Africans to contribute to Agri SA’s drought disaster fund. We have about R50 000 left of the R20 million drought aid donated in 2015,” Van der Rheede said. It was crucial that drought aid was distributed as cost-effectively as possible, and Agri SA was consequently looking into the possibility of sourcing feed in locations as close as possible to the drought-stricken areas, he said. “We are, for example, investigating…

South Africa’s approximately 20 000 small-scale timber growers are now one major step closer to having access to globally recognised certification for their sustainably grown forestry products. This is after the international organisation, Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), recently announced its endorsement of the South African Forestry Accreditation Scheme (SAFAS) that has been in development for over four years. A statement issued by SAFAS explained that this local initiative had been motivated by the need for an alternative to the longstanding and internationally used Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. “While these [FSC] standards are internationally recognised and generic, they are also expensive and not well suited to small-scale timber growers, which means that only large organisations tend to certify their plantations,” said Craig Norris, SAFAS governing body member…

“Goat farming [offers] a massive business opportunity that we as a country have not taken advantage of,” KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Themba Mthembu, told delegates at the third Goat Agribusiness Conference held in Durban recently. Mthembu said goat farming was a game changer and that pilot projects were underway in five districts in KwaZulu-Natal to research, understand and test issues affecting small-scale goat farmers, especially those in female-headed households. “We want to consolidate knowledge [about goats]. The objective is to create small businesses and commercialise goat production, support food security, create and strengthen the value chain around goats, and create a centre of excellence for goat research for South African goat farmers,” he said. Mthembu undertook to create a complete support package for KwaZulu-Natal’s goat farmers, which…

Many sheep farmers don’t realise that flies can cause serious financial loss. If left untreated, maggot infestation from flies can result in fever and infection, leading to a lack of appetite. This in turn will cause the animal’s body condition to deteriorate. The wool will also become matted, greatly reducing its value. Severe infestation can lead to severe blood loss, tissue damage, and even death. The main culprits of fly strike are bluebottle, blackbottle, and greenbottle flies. These lay their eggs in moist and dirty areas, such as decaying flesh, open wounds and manure. Over two to three weeks, the eggs hatch maggots, which then pupate into adult flies. To avoid a major infestation, you need to make sure that manure heaps do not stay wet, as these can quickly…

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops on the same land. The aim is to achieve the highest yield off that land by maximising the potential of the resources present at a given time. Some farmers also use intercropping to improve the amount of organic material in the rows to reduce soil temperature and retain soil moisture through live mulching. Intercropping in a commercial enterprise also provides livestock feed, particularly during the dry season. COMPETING FOR LIGhT AND wATER There are different forms of intercropping (see panel below). In all cases, however, when two or more crops are planted together they compete for light, water and nutrients. This means they could have a negative effect on each other. Successful intercropping depends on maintaining a good balance between…

Any reader who has travelled through Bathurst in the Eastern Cape will surely have noticed the ‘Big Pineapple’ dominating the skyline outside the town. At just over 16m tall, the structure – half artwork, half building – is certainly impressive. What’s more, you can go inside and climb winding stairs to the top, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. A small shop in the interior offers souvenirs, and the walls are bedecked with interesting information about pineapples. This proud symbol of the local pineapple industry stands, sentinel-like, on the grounds of the Agricultural Research Council’s research farm. South Africa has two pineapple-growing regions: the Eastern Cape, centred around Bathurst, and the Hluhluwe region in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Each specialises in growing a different variety…

HIT THE ROAD by Sean Fraser (Map Studio, R300) This selection of 17 prime routes around South Africa takes in key heritage, entertainment and leisure sights, and is ideal if you’re not familiar with the area. A practical A4-sized publication, it enables you to see clearly where you should be heading. But as a paperback it’s light and easy to use en route. Compiled by the vastly experienced Map Studio team led by award-winning writer Fraser, it’s a great gift for visitors, and yourself. If you run a B&B, having it available for guests to consult gives a sense of added value and expertise to your establishment. ‘A BOOK IS A GIFT YOU CAN OPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN’ – GARRISON KEILLOR (1942-) THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER…

Candide is a community-driven app built by gardeners for gardeners. It’s for horticulturists, hobbyist gardeners, small-space urban gardeners, garden-to-table enthusiasts, and even those who just want to keep a pot plant alive. It “encourages us all to reconnect with our gardens, and share the joy of gardening”, say the developers. “We believe that gardening is the root of happiness, and cultivates wellbeing for the mind and soul.” The new app is available for both Android and iPhone users. Once you’ve downloaded it, you simply click the ‘Follow’ button to be introduced to the Candide app community in South Africa. INSTAGRAM-STYLE LAYOUT The Candide layout looks very similar to Instagram and works in the same way, allowing you to follow other users. All of these accounts will appear in your newsfeed…

Farmer’s Weekly journalist Siyanda Sishuba was recently awarded the AfricaBio Best Article in Agri-Biotechnology by the Agricultural Writers SA. Sishuba’s winning article, ‘New maize hybrid varieties approved for commercial use’ (FW, 19 October) discussed the development of hybrid maize varieties by the Agricultural Research Council that improved yield and pest tolerance. “I’d like to extend my gratitude to the Farmer’s Weekly team for all their help and support, as well as to AfricaBio and Agri Writers SA,” Sishuba said.…

In this last column for 2018, I will look at trends in the current political environment that will have an important impact in 2019. The first is the general election. It is almost impossible to underestimate the importance of this election. Much of what President Cyril Ramaphosa does is determined by this fact. For example, the recent cabinet reshuffle, which was almost a non-event, was part of the waiting game Ramaphosa must play. He needs to keep his enemies (Bathabile Dlamini and Nomvula Mokonyane) close until the power of their faction (the Zuma group) can be broken after the election. It is an election that the Ramaphosa faction in the ANC must win. RAMAPHOSA WANTS TO DO LAND REFORM FAIRLY SO THAT SOUTH AFRICA CAN MOVE ON We have just…

Assessment of the damage caused by the veld fire near Trompsburg last month had not been completed at the time of going to print. Nevertheless, indications were that between 20 000ha and 30 000ha were destroyed by the fire, according to Malcolm Procter, deputy director of forest and veld fire in the Free State. He said about 700 sheep and 15 cattle also succumbed to the flames, which seemed to have originated at a pole holding up an Eskom power line in the district. Procter added that veld fires in the province typically started in early May and usually lasted until the end of November. However, veld fires that broke out as late as December had become more commonplace during the past few years. During the past five years, there…

Bollywood film star, Amitabh Bachchan, has settled the debt of farmers in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, amounting to US$560 000 (about R7,8 million). The agriculture and allied sectors in India contribute about 18% to that country’s GDP, and more than 50% of the population are involved in these sectors. Farmers in India have suffered many challenges in recent years, ranging from monsoon-related crop damage to increasing fuel costs, and a lack of adequate support from government. These factors have forced many rural workers into debt and extreme poverty. According to the most recent data released by the Indian government, almost 11 800 farmers across India committed suicide in 2013, which is equivalent to 44 deaths a day. Bachchan wrote in a recent blog post that he had…

The local table grape industry is back on a growth curve after the drought and the industry is optimistic about the coming season. However, there are many challenges that dampen the prospects of a good harvest. According to Francois Rossouw, managing director at Mooigezicht Estates near De Doorns, the harvest was promising, but it had been a challenging season. “Last year, we packed 62 million cartons and this year’s estimate is about 70 million cartons.” He also said that while the new national minimum wage had been expected, the implementation thereof would still affect agriculture. The bill was signed into law on 23 November. “In areas facing a desperate drought situation, such as the Southern Cape and Beaufort West regions, the new minimum wage will definitely not ease the problem…

Grain SA has welcomed the decision taken by the South African Wheat Forum with regard to the changes to the wheat grading system. Jannie de Villiers, the CEO of Grain SA, said that although the objective was to implement the grading system in 2019, the forum would first have to submit the application to amend the system to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The implementation of the new grading system thus depended on the approval of Senzeni Zokwana, the minister of DAFF, as well as the publication thereof in the Government Gazette. De Villiers said the new grading system would help support sustainable wheat production in South Africa. Farmer’s Weekly had previously reported that South Africa imported most of its wheat from eastern European countries such as…

The sixth and penultimate winter sale of the mohair season saw the price of a relatively small offering of just over 70 400kg gaining 1,5% to close at R290,47/kg, despite a stronger rand. Although the sale clearance was only 86%, nearly all unsold lots changed hands after the sale. The offering consisted of some good individual clips, with a highest price of R484,10/kg achieved by Frans Retief of Driehoeksfontein Boerdery near Murraysburg for an EGTtested, good-style winter kids’ bale of 25 microns and 88% clean yield, according to Mohair South Africa. Compared with the previous sale, prices were: kids’ mohair (winter) up 3%; young goats’ mohair (winter) up 3%; and fine adults’ mohair up 1,5%. Strong adults’ mohair remained unchanged. “The drastic fluctuation of the currency, up to 3% within…

The movement towards freer trade internationally started just after the Second World War. Currently, trade reform takes place under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in three categories: tariff protection, domestic support and export promotion. In 1996, the general belief was that participating countries would phase out domestic support or subsidies by 2006; from then on, everyone would enjoy a level playing field. But while considerable progress was made on tariff reduction and some progress was made on export subsidies, very little real progress was achieved on domestic support. Developing countries gradually became disillusioned with the WTO process as it resulted in increased exports from developed to developing countries, but no increase in exports from developing countries. Recently, Brexit and US President Donald Trump’s actions further limited progress…

A happy, motivated employee is usually an efficient employee who contributes directly to a business’s profitability and sustainability. Here are some guidelines on how to ensure satisfied employees and a more productive work environment. THE WORKPLACE CULTURE Every business is unique. It is therefore important to employ an employee who will not only peform the job satisfactorily but also fit into the workplace culture. An employer should always use a written employment contract when employing someone rather than a verbal agreement, as this is the basis of the relationship between the employer and the employee and states the terms and conditions as agreed upon. It is also a good idea to include a probation period in the employment contract to assess if the employee’s performance meets the employer’s required standard.…

• Mixed intercropping: two or more crops are planted in a mix without a distinct row arrangement. • Row intercropping: two or more crops are planted in distinct rows. • Relay intercropping: two or more crops are grown at the same time as part of the life cycle of each. The second crop is sown after the first crop is well established, but before it reaches its harvesting stage. • Strip intercropping: two or more crops are grown at the same time in separate strips wide enough apart to cultivate independently.…

Risotto is all about contradictions and balance. Cooked perfectly, the rice is soft with a slightly firm centre, creamy yet with acidity from the wine. It’s light and delicate, yet full-flavoured. The Gorgonzola from Piedmont in northern Italy adds a palette of flavour and texture, saltiness, subtle sweetness, creaminess and distinctive nutty pungency. The wine needs similar complexity and balance, plenty of character with acidity to cut through the creaminess, and some sweetness to offset the cheese. Viognier is a white grape from the Rhône region of France. In South Africa, it makes bold and sometimes opulent wines. Idiom Wine Estate in Somerset West produces a beautiful version with white peach, apricot and sweet melon, and a floral hint and some spiciness from older barrels. Saronsberg Viognier spends 11 months…

Even when the temperature is high, many people don’t drink enough water to make up for fluids lost through perspiration. Thirst is an instinctive reaction after exercise, especially when the weather is hot. But sitting in an air-conditioned office all day tends to suppress this natural instinct. Drinking enough uncontaminated water is vital for every system in the body, and substituting water with endless cups of tea and coffee do not make up for it. When you exercise and perspire, you naturally crave the taste of cool, fresh water. But when you do not move much, the taste of water is not always appealing. A practical tip to help you drink more water is to pour a small amount of unsweetened fruit juice into a tall glass and top it…

It’s about a quarter of a century since engineer Heinrich van den Berg used his retrenchment package to launch his career as a photographer. Since then, he has become a byword for thoughtful wildlife photography compiled into spectacular books with incisive text. His latest, MOODS OF NATURE (HPH, R790), will be on many wish lists this festive season. 1. Being inspired by parents My parents were enthusiastic photographers, so as a child, I was keen to take part in the family hobby: photographing wildlife on our holidays. 2. Learning from an expert In 1998, I was fortunate enough to win the opportunity to shadow a professional photographer. That helped me add news and sports photography techniques to broaden the appeal of my wildlife work. 3. Having malaria I had a…

Free State 6 DECEMBER • Grasveld Meatmaster auction, Kroonstad. On offer: 10 rams, 100 in-lamb ewes, 60 ewe lambs (majority in-lamb). Phone Gerhard van Geest on 082 550 1990. KwaZulu-Natal 1 DECEMBER • Complete dispersal sale (Nguni), Mooi River sales yard. On offer: 220 Ngunis, including cows with calves, heifers, open heifers, in-calf cows and bulls. Phone Collin Borgen on 083 776 4956. Mpumalanga 5 DECEMBER • Long yearling and breeding cows sale, Grassfields Farm, Wakkerstroom. On offer: 500 long yearling bull calves, 75 long yearling heifer calves and 45 Grassfields in-calf cows (to calve between February and April). Phone Rustin Shawe on 083 235 3998 or Sakkie Fourie on 082 802 2125.…

Farmers in the US have nowhere to store their grain harvests and fewer markets to sell to, due to the current trade war between the US and China, as well as other countries. According to a report on Channel News Asia, many US farmers were simply ploughing their crops into their lands, or were storing harvested grains in anticipation of better prices in 2019, when it was expected that supply volumes would decline. “It’s one of the results of a US trade war with China that has sharply hurt export demand and swamped storage facilities with excess grain,” the report said. US farmers had planted about 36 million hectares of soya bean this year, the second largest crop in US history, on expectations of rising demand in China and hoping…

Sugar cane grower and processor, Tongaat Hulett, has revived a plan to develop 4 000ha of land into irrigated fields for about 200 out-growers in Zimbabwe’s south-eastern Lowveld. The US$40 million (R560 million) Kilimanjaro Project was first mooted in 2014, but had stalled due to the adverse economic environment in that country. “The company has determined that favourable conditions now exist, on the back of secure bulk irrigation water, to accelerate implementation of the [project]. The project entails the development of 4 000ha of virgin land into irrigated fields, which will supply sugar cane to the Tongaat Hulett sugar mills,” company secretary Bigboy Shava said. Tongaat operated two mills in Hippo Valley and Triangle, which processed 4,8 million tons of sugar cane a year to produce 140 000t of refined…

Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation and a Limpopo-based farmer, has set in motion plans to create a new agriculture organisation intended to serve the interests of family farmers in South Africa. De Jager said representatives of some 18 organisations, as well as individual farmers, met in Pretoria recently to discuss the establishment of “a next-generation civil society organisation”. He said that the meeting explored the need for a new national farmers’ organisation, which would “focus on the needs and interests of family farmers”. A representative committee had been appointed to investigate the feasibility of such an organisation and to design a launch plan. This would include finding a name, a logo and developing the necessary structures. De Jager said it was hoped that the new…

South Africans’ appetite for whole turkeys increases as the festive season approaches, but declines rapidly when the season ends, according to industry data. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly on condition of anonymity, an industry expert said: “People have tried to produce turkeys locally since the 1970s, but have never succeeded. There just isn’t enough demand.” Data from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) indicated that in 2017, there were no imports of whole frozen turkeys until July, when 23t were imported. Imports came to an end in November, with 145t of whole turkeys imported. No further imports were registered after the festive season. While the SARS data showed a fairly constant volume of turkey meat being imported, with over 2 000t arriving in South Africa every month, this consisted mostly of…

Ficksburg last month hosted its 51st annual Cherry Festival. Chairperson of the Ficksburg Cherry Festival, Johan du Toit, said the festival was a major contributor to the economy of the town and surrounding towns in the eastern Free State. It also played an important role in marketing the cherry industry, with some 15% of exhibitors at the festival offering cherries or cherry-based products for sale, he added. Many of the exhibitors were locals who had been involved in the festival almost since its inception. Charlie Barrett of Charlie’s Cherry Products, based just outside Ficksburg, first started making cherry-based liqueurs over 30 years ago as a means of supplementing his farming activities. Although he still farms livestock, Barrett does not believe this would be sustainable without his operation’s cherry component. He…

In days gone by, some very clever people devised elaborate schemes to try and avoid tax. Some of them worked, but only for a while. The laws changed to close the loopholes. In addition, the benefits were not as lucrative as promised. In short, complex tax-saving schemes are not as popular as they used to be, and the simple tax planning strategies have remained. Nonetheless, to many people, they still seem complicated. “Why are tax plans beneficial in the first place?” they ask. The answer, of course, is to save money. But it should always be remembered that tax saving is secondary. Creating wealth is the ultimate goal. Here are some simple steps that will help you create wealth every day: • Be productive Many people are less efficient than they…

The main production region for bananas in South Africa is around Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, where 42% of the country’s banana crops are grown. Other important production areas are Kiepersol, also in Mpumalanga, which produces 19% of the total national crop, and KwaZulu-Natal’s north and south coastal regions, which produce 5% and 22% respectively. Farms around Tzaneen and Levubu in Limpopo are responsible for 12% of the national production. GROWING IMPORTS Since 2000, banana imports have increased immensely (see table) and local producers have been under pressure to compete with countries such as Mozambique due to droughts and high electricity and labour costs. Some South African producers have responded to this challenge through geographical diversification, either expanding their businesses or relocating to Mozambique, where production costs are lower. There has also…

• Vaccinate kids against pulpy kidney before weaning. If possible, use Multivax P, which covers a number of serious diseases. • Deworm the kids just before weaning. • Do not castrate at weaning. When castrating, make sure the animal is protected against tetanus, either through its mother’s vaccination or its own vaccination (included in Multivax P). • Ensure that kids know how to feed on forage before weaning. • Continue to feed them during weaning. Only wean when there is adequate forage for the kids to eat. • Provide fresh, clean water and adequate shelter. • Never wean in cold or wet weather. • Change only one factor at a time. For example, don’t wean and sell the kid on the same day. This is highly stressful on the animal.…

During the days of empire, the British were masters of divide and rule among local populations. This policy was no different on the 19th-century Eastern Frontier, where the Khoikhoi became an integral part of the British military machine that fought the Xhosa for 100 years. The Khoikhoi in the Cape Mounted Rifles (CMR) gained early fame as bush fighters. But during the Eighth Frontier War (1850 to 1853), many who were fighting on behalf of the British in the Kat River Valley north of Fort Beaufort rebelled against the Crown. This unexpected revolt led to a showdown at the British-built Fort Armstrong in February 1851. WAR IN THE VALLEY The central reason for the Kat River Valley becoming a theatre of war was the expulsion in the 1820s of Xhosa…

As TV’s food shows move into the provenance of ingredients, and as décor shows insist on indoor-outdoor flow, interest in gardening is flourishing. The best starter pack you could give a novice gardener is a selection of books from the HOME GARDENER range (Struik Lifestyle, R150 each), all well illustrated and packed with helpful how-to guidance. Eastern Cape garden guru, columnist and nurseryman Allan Haschick has fine-tuned these overseas publications by some of the world’s top names in gardening to make them relevant to South African conditions. Thanks to the publishers, we’re giving away one hamper of four titles to inspire a new or reluctant gardener. – Garden Design & Planning; Small Gardens; Container Gardens; and Pruning.…