Table of contents for 03 May 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

From halting agricultural imports to bringing agriculture back to schools and the gathering of a great many minds for a land CODESA, these proposals are all contained in the many promises made by political parties as to how they will ensure that agriculture thrives and land is shared fairly should they be voted into power. Ahead of the general election, Farmer’s Weekly compiled a quick guide to what political parties aim to achieve in terms of agricultural development and land reform according to their election manifestos (see article on pages 20 to 24). A record number of 48 political parties will contest the 2019 election. If only politics worked more like a sweet shop, we could pick and choose the perfect national strategy for agriculture and land reform out of…

Regardless of the prevailing tough farming conditions and uncertainty, farming enterprises of all sizes need to consistently maximise profits to remain in business. As a small-scale farmer starting up a commercial farming business, you will be forgiven for thinking government is not doing enough to support your endeavours, and you may also feel as if the weather is sometimes working against you. However, as an upcoming commercial farmer, you have to think like an entrepreneur right from the infancy of your business. Most importantly, you need to carry out proper planning for your farming operation, and top this off with the right attitude and a dose of passion. RIGHT FROM THE START, THINK LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND DO PROPER PLANNING With all these attributes and a bit of luck, you…

Mohair South Africa is working with Textile Exchange, a global non-profit organisation, to develop an international mohair standard, the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS). As part of the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) protocol, it will be a voluntary global standard addressing the welfare of animals and the land on which they graze. According to a Mohair South Africa statement, representatives of Textile Exchange and the wool garment brands, Filippa K, Acne and John Lewis, were recently hosted on a field trip to South Africa to learn about the local mohair supply chain. It was expected that the existing sustainable production goals for mohair, introduced in South Africa in 2009, would be incorporated into the internationally recognised protocol. Mark Shires, vice-president of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association (SAMGA), said the new…

Agriculture has a bright future that is supported by good demand for products from the sector, but medium-sized farmers would have to either grow their farming enterprises or intensify production to remain in business. This was the message from agricultural economist, Prof Johan Willemse, at a recent workshop hosted by Sanlam in Bloemfontein. He said that large commercial farmers and intensive or niche operations were better poised to survive in the future than medium-sized operations. Willemse added that there had been much debate about economies of scale, and he used maize production to illustrate why, with a commodity-based product, a larger operation would be more sustainable. He said that on the global maize market, the cheapest maize would always sell first. The only way to produce cheaper maize, however, was…

ARGENTINA An indefinite strike by transport workers in Tucuman province in support of better freight rates was affecting lemon exports, which last year achieved an income of US$1 billion (about R14 billion). It is the main economic activity in the area, with about 45 000 workers depending on the industry. The Association of Citrus Producers has demanded that the strike be ended and that the security forces guarantee “the right to free movement on routes, access to private property, free trade, industry, and the workers’ physical integrity”. UNITED STATES The World Pork Expo, which was due to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, in the US in June, has been cancelled due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks that continue to spread in Asia. The World Pork Expo is…

Many of the resolutions taken at a recent livestock summit hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development prioritised the wrong aspects for developing the red meat value chain for communal and other smallholder livestock owners. This was according to Craig Carter, production adviser at the KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers’ Organisation. Carter also expressed disappointment that his organisation had not been invited to participate in the summit. He said a number of the resolutions from the livestock summit “flew in the face of conventional wisdom” and, in some cases, had been tried before by the department and had failed. “They want to build new feedlots and abattoirs, or rehabilitate old ones, but the productivity and quality of many communal cattle are not yet suited to sustainably profitable feedlotting…

Among the main risks posed to the farming sector by the poor policing of borders are biosecurity threats such as pests and diseases. There are numerous concerns in this regard. First, the increasing prevalence of animal diseases not previously seen in certain areas is of particular concern. There are various theories for this, including that the changing climate affects weather patterns in certain areas, and that some of the insect vectors carrying these diseases migrate here because the weather conditions are more favourable. Second, many infected animals are moved by their owners either for commercial reasons or because of a nomadic lifestyle, and where borders are softening in the spirit of greater co-operation between nations, this has the unintended side effect of spreading diseases. Third, global trade and the links…

YOU JOINED HORTFIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THEN? My father used to be a farmworker at a fruit tree nursery in Groot Drakenstein, so I basically grew up in the industry, working most of my school holidays on the farm. The experience gave me a passion for agriculture and also a yearning to empower people in the industry. After school, I completed a horticultural diploma at what is now known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), after which I upgraded to a BTech degree. I later obtained a master’s degree in agricultural systems management at Stellenbosch University while lecturing at CPUT. Career-wise, I spent almost 10 years at Kaap Agri and another four-and-a-half years as the CEO of Casidra, which renders…

I had one taste of this delicious Asian-inspired pasta and immediately knew the wine that would go perfectly with it. The flavours in the dish are subtle, yet plentiful. Warm aromatics from the ginger and pak choi’s lovely crunch and herbal character complement the soy and oyster sauces, which bring a round, savoury flavour to the fork. I wanted a white wine, but one with a fuller body and a soft texture, and without any racing acidity. The wonderfully balanced Dalla Cia Chardonnay from Stellenbosch hit the mark. This wine rests for six months on the lees after fermentation and includes a small percentage of barrel-fermented Chardonnay to give it a beautiful creaminess and add a baked bread note to the grapes’ fresh citrus aroma. The winery is owned and…

Tyrosine, also known as l-tyrosine, is a naturally occurring amino acid and a precursor of major neurotransmitters. As an important contributor to mental health, it is used to relieve dopamine-related depression, ADHD, and extreme physical stress. Overwork, a lack of sleep, illness or eating too little protein can increase your need for tyrosine. Tyrosine is also used for attention disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome and sexual dysfunction. Some users report temporary enhancement of memory, focus, stamina, alertness, mental energy and motivation. Research shows that it promotes creative thinking and multitasking. The effects of tyrosine are felt surprisingly fast. USE WITH CAUTION While it is generally safe, tyrosine can have side effects and should not be taken by people with certain medical conditions: • Reported side effects include nausea, headache, fatigue, heartburn…

Taranis, an Israeli agricultural technology company (taranis.ag), was founded in 2015 in a garage by four individuals seeking to develop advanced technologies to increase food production. Four years later, it has 60 employees and supplies a platform to about 19 000 farmers that helps them make decisions on preventing disease and pest infestation. The product is used in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Russia, the US and Ukraine, and on a variety of crops, including wheat, maize, soya bean, cotton and potatoes. Co-founder Ofir Schlam, who was raised on a family farm, believes that more accurate predictive models can prevent many of the world’s multibillion-dollar crop losses caused by weather, fertiliser deficiencies, diseases and insect and weed infestations. The platform uses high-resolution aerial imaging. “We can capture clear images down…

Our daughter and son have arrived for their long-awaited visit from the Emerald Isle. When she married her Irish husband years ago she went to live in Ireland. Our son followed her a few years ago, when his freelance graphic design business took a plunge, along with our economy. He and his wife were also worried about their daughter’s education as well as work opportunities when she finished school. They live in the same town as our daughter and all enjoy their adopted country, apart from its weather. So I just hope the sun will shine for them while they’re here, and the temperatures don’t plummet! Farm activity will no doubt fascinate them, as neighbour Jan is about to reap his last seasonal crop of lucerne and barley, and vaccinate…

The occurrence of kudu rabies in Namibia, which was initially mainly limited to the central region and northern parts the country, has now spread to the southern parts of the country as well. This is according to Dr Rainer Hassel, senior lecturer at the University of Namibia’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He ascribed the spread of the disease to genetic changes in the rabies virus that had been maintained in the Namibian kudu population. “The application of an effective form of oral vaccination has become vitally important to protect the species. We’re at the moment researching the most effective methods to make the oral vaccinations available to kudus,” he said. Research into application methods were due to start soon at the university’s Neudamm campus in Windhoek. Kudus were browsers and…

The finances involved in running a substantial enterprise like a farm can be very difficult to keep track of, particularly as business, by definition, is dynamic. Money is being borrowed, inputs purchased, livestock or crops produced, sales made, staff paid, repairs effected … the list goes on and on. The result is an ever-changing mass of figures that need to be obtained, estimated, calculated and reconciled. Remarkably, however, accountants have managed to reduce all this complexity into three key documents: the balance sheet, the income statement and the cash flow statement. If anyone, even an outsider, wants a bird’s-eye view of your farming operation, they can get it quickly and easily from these three documents. ACCURACY CRUCIAL Of course, these ‘scorecards’ need to be accurate, and there’s the rub. Assumptions…

Avast amount of legislation regulates the labour environment in South Africa, and restrictive labour regulations have been identified as one of the most problematic factors for doing business in the country. A huge variety of personal and/or work-related issues can have an effect on an employee’s behaviour, which in turn influences the working relationship. Negative behaviour includes poor timekeeping, absenteeism, negligence, unsatisfactory work performance, disorderly behaviour, abusive behaviour, misuse of the employer’s property, breach of confidentiality and trust, and alcohol- and drug-related issues. An employee can be dismissed on three accounts: misconduct, incapacity (poor work performance or medical disability), and operational requirements (economical, technological or structural reasons). When dismissing an employee on any of the aforementioned grounds, it is paramount to follow the correct procedure for the type of dismissal,…

Gene editing technology has been around for several years, but an inability to pinpoint exact genes and their functions, and change them for specific outcomes, has made it a laborious process. However, the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology has not only made quick identification and editing possible, but has provided a solution to the problem scientists have faced in providing affordable technology that will enhance agriculture. Part of the problem is that it is still highly controversial. WHAT IS GENE EDITING? The term ‘genome’ generally refers to the entire sequence of DNA of an organism. The genome includes genes, which are sequences of DNA with specific functions involved in the production of the proteins needed to carry out many biological roles. It also includes regions of DNA that promote or…

For a number of years prior to 2016, egg production in South Africa increased by an average of 1,8% a year. Then, in the one-year period of July 2016 to June 2017, production declined 2,7%, from 409 000 cases/week to 398 000 cases/week. After Minister of Agriculture Senzeni Zokwana officially announced at the end of June 2017 that South Africa was suffering an outbreak of avian influenza, egg production dropped by 15,3% in the space of four months to 337 000 cases/week in October 2017. During the same four-month period, prices increased from R14,58/dozen to R16,38/dozen, a rise of 12,3%. The impact on prices became even more pronounced as the year progressed, jumping by 23,8% between June and December to a record R18,05/dozen in December 2017. The high prices were…

Flowers offer an excellent opportunity for environmentally controlled farming. Roses, mini roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, gysophili, gerberas, asters, alstromeria, cymbidium and ferns all sell readily in the Far East between October and mid-April. Prices for cut flowers such as mini roses and alstromeria are substantially higher during this period when dull skies and high heating costs limit Northern Hemisphere production. Markets also exist for a range of vegetables, including peppers, courgettes and cherry tomatoes, but profits may be lower.…

Adding value to fresh produce takes many forms. The most common method is supplying pre-packs, but there are other options. Adding value could be as simple as having a printed strip around a bunch of spring onions, placing a brand sticker on a fruit, or fitting an attractive ‘sleeve’ over a bunch of celery. There are many possibilities. STANDING OUT AS A CONVENIENCE PRODUCT The number of ‘convenience products’ on shelves continues to grow worldwide, and this is true within a host of product categories. While fresh produce might be only a relatively small portion of the overall retail sector, it’s still substantial. What’s more, it’s there to stay. Urban lifestyles, along with new consumer habits, are encouraging farmers and retailers to continually seek new ways to attract business. And…

Cowboy Dressage is an international riding discipline. Unlike Western dressage, it is not affiliated with the South African Equestrian Federation’s discipline associations and clubs. It’s also unusual in other ways: membership is free and based on the old-fashioned ‘handshake’ all farmers once used in the US and South Africa to clinch a deal. The ‘handshake’ is now electronic, and you can become a member online through the official association in South Africa, the Cowboy Dressage World South Africa. HORSES PERFORM COMPLICATED TESTS WITH AIDS FROM THE RIDER THE AIM Dressage and Western riding have their origins in classical riding, but have become different disciplines in the modern world. Cowboy Dressage integrates the best of both of these riding styles. It was initiated accidentally in 1993, when Eitan Beth-Halachmy entered the…

Dear Jan and Michelle, Thank you for your request for a farmhouse that can comfortably accommodate visitors. I’m afraid, however, that using your existing farm shed for the basic structure of your home will have complications. The 4m height of the steel stanchions and the low 15º pitch of the roof would create a very high floor-to-ceiling interior, as the inner walls would need to be built up to the underside of the pitched roof. In addition, the existing concrete floor slab is unlikely to be underlaid with a waterproof membrane. Several other costly corrections would also need to be made. I therefore suggest that you build from scratch, based on a 12m x 25m floor plan. To meet fire control by-law requirements, the area over the garage should be…

24 TO 28 JUNE Hydroponics DELEGATES WILL BE TAUGHT ABOUT HOW TO RAISE PLANTS IN TUNNELS, FERTIGATION, DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL, AND HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AS WELL AS HOW TO MARKET VEGETABLES. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 5 TO 8 MAY SETAC Africa Biennial Conference, Cape Town International Convention Centre.Visit saf2019.setac.org. 14 TO 16 MAY Power Gen Africa, Cape Town International Convention Centre.Visit powergenafrica.com. 21 TO 23 MAY Southern African Manufacturing Expo, Nasrec, Johannesburg.Visit localmanufacturingexpo.co.za. 29 TO 30 MAY Agripreneurs Conference, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.Visit agripreneurs-conference.com. 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za. 6 TO 9 JUNE Cannabis Expo, Sibaya, Durban.Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du…

In June 2017, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) commissioned a study to assess the impact of various measures of agricultural support of trading partners on South Africa’s food and agribusiness sector. The resulting report was released earlier this year. According to the study, South Africa is a small producer on the world market, accounting for 1% of global agricultural production. Brazil, the US and EU are among the major global producers that are also net exporters. China is a major producer, but most of its agricultural production is consumed domestically. China has the highest levels of agricultural support, especially for the milk, maize, wheat, soya bean and cotton industries, and also offers the second-highest support, after the US, for refined sugar. The US has the second-highest support…

The Office of the Presidency and the chairperson of the Expert Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, Dr Vuyo Mahlati, are disputing reports that two of the panel’s members refused to sign the panel’s final report, which is due to be handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 24 April for his consideration. This emerged after the draft report was leaked to the media and Agri SA president, Dan Kriek, released a statement in which he said that he and “at least one other member” of the 10-member panel had “refused to sign off on the report” due to issues such as the treatment of expropriation without compensation. Kriek said that Agri SA had published its own minority report on what the organisation supported and rejected in the panel’s report,…

It was hoped that the proposed new Fertilizer Bill would streamline the registration of fertiliser products, enabling them to get to market sooner, according to Jonathan Mudzunga, registrar at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Mudzunga recently addressed members of the fertiliser industry and associated businesses at the 59th annual congress of the Fertiliser Association of Southern Africa near Stellenbosch. According to the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act of 1947, it was mandatory to register all fertiliser sold in South Africa, and fertilisers needed to be deemed effective and safe for the environment. However, Mudzunga said DAFF was aware of some illegal agreements, according to which customised-mixed fertilisers were exempt from registration. “The reality is that there is no exemption from registration under the…

The maximum residue level (MRL) for the fungicide imazalil on fruit exported to the EU is expected to be revised upwards, following mounting pressure from fruit growers inside and outside the region. The EU previously indicated that the MRL for imazalil would be changed to 0,01mg/kg over the next two years, thus excluding its use on fruit destined for, or produced in, the EU. This would have resulted in the loss of millions of rand in fruit and ultimately meant that South Africa would have had to find alternative markets for its produce. Paul Hardman, industry affairs manager at the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, said the approach taken by the commission appointed to investigate imazalil usage was more positive. “The commission has worked on a new MRL proposal…

Following US President Donald Trump’s threat to close the US-Mexican border, analysts have started to quantify the impact an actual shutdown would have on the US and Mexican economies. The US exports nearly US$19 billion (about R264 billion) in farm goods to Mexico annually, much of which are perishable. “[A shutdown for even one] day could ruin a large percentage of a farm’s harvest,” said Will Rodger, a spokesperson for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of the US Dairy Export Council, said US farmers had good relationships with their buying partners in Mexico. With Mexico being an important driver of demand for many commodities in the US, tampering with these trade ties could have great ramifications for many agricultural producers, he said. “Closing the US…

The European Parliament’s agriculture committee recently voted in favour of proposals to amend the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A statement by Copa and Cogeca (Copa-Cogeca), which represents EU farmers and their co-operatives, said the committee’s adoption of the proposals should help to reduce the administrative burden of farmers and agricultural co-operatives, and should not endanger the communality of the European agricultural policy. A statement issued by the agriculture committee said one of the key outcomes of the vote was to support a reduction in the frequency that EU farmers had to report to the EU Parliament on their adherence to food safety, food production ethics and environmental protection regulations, reducing it from every year to every two years. Copa-Cogeca’s statement also supported the agriculture committee’s decision to ask the…

In examining our local tilapia culture sector, it is interesting, and a little depressing, to see at what scale this fish is produced elsewhere in the world. Leaving Africa as a continent out of the picture for the moment, consider two countries that one does not normally associate with tilapia culture: Honduras and Mexico. Both have had fledgling tilapia industries for some time. Originally, much of this constituted the efforts by well-meaning NGOs to assist with food security. These former projects comprised mostly small rural ponds using outdated systems and run by unskilled management. And most (not all) failed to some extent to become sustainable. Then along came Regal Springs, a Florida-based innovation company with tilapia expertise acquired through 30 years’ experience in the Far East. Using vertical integration, the…

Gene editing attracted negative attention this year after it was found that twins whose genes were edited to become HIV resistant could possibly have had their brains inadvertently altered to have superior mental capabilities. This has strengthened fears over a biotechnology race between China and the US. Some scientists have argued that since the long-term effect of gene editing is unknown, such experiments should not be conducted. Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, a researcher working with the African Centre for Biodiversity, notes that these technologies are still in development and the ramifications cannot be entirely predicted. She adds that the disruption of the genome via genetic engineering can have long-term effects on the intricate balance of the global expression of genes, leading to unexpected, abnormal levels of constituents in the plant, including…

Lydia Leicester and Letitia Swart moved from Pretoria to a 5ha property near Vredenburg on the West Coast two years ago. “The ‘seed’ to do microgreens and baby leaves was actually planted years ago, so we decided to try it out when we moved here,” says Leicester. “We haven’t got any background in farming, but we do have a passion and always loved gardening. We did courses and read as widely as possible. One also gets to know one’s plants, and there’s a lot of common sense involved.” Urban Legend Hydroponics was officially launched on 1 May 2018. “We started from scratch,” explains Swart. “Apart from erecting the tunnel, the two of us did everything. We imported the hydroponic systems and put them together ourselves. We’d tested this system beforehand…

The popular ‘plug and play’ design of John Deere displays and GPS receivers makes them more susceptible to theft than some other systems on the market. Until now, they could only be mechanically locked. To increase the level of protection, John Deere has introduced a built-in PIN code lock, similar to that used on smartphones, for both components. The PIN code for the display and the receiver are entered via the John Deere display. If the user forgets the code, he/she can continue working for a limited period of up to 72 hours. After this, a ‘master unlock code’ is required. This can be generated easily in the StellarSupport online portal via the farmer’s MyJohnDeere login, which grants access to any John Deere component previously registered on that StellarSupport account.…

To make this meal for four diners, you will need: FOR THE STIR-FRY: 300g fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta 200g filleted chicken thighs 3 cloves of garlic 30mm fresh root ginger 3 baby pak choi or 1,5 cups of broccoli florets 3 to 4 tablespoons of canola, sunflower or peanut oil 1 egg FOR THE SAUCE: 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 teaspoons of light soy sauce 2 tablespoons of water 3 teaspoons of rice vinegar or plain white vinegar 3 teaspoons of brown sugar This meal is best cooked over a high flame in a wok. A skottel is a fair substitute, while a large, heavy-based frying pan is a workable fallback. With stir-frying, the emphasis is on short cooking times, vigorous stirring and brutally high…

A SPECIAL FOREST Francois du Randt Hluhluwe-based Dr Francois du Randt combines a medical career with an in-depth knowledge of the plants around him. This has now blossomed into THE SAND FOREST OF MAPUTALAND (SANBI, R785; sanbi.org/pretoria/sanbibookshop), a fascinating account, in words and photographs, of a remarkable area in northern KwaZulu-Natal that forms one of South Africa’s centres of ecological endemism. 1. The lure: I’ve been based in the Hluhluwe area on and off since 1986. This area fascinated me so much that I kept returning, and now live on a game farm overlooking the edge of the sand forest. 2. Adventure: I really got hooked when I started looking for patches of sand forest around Phinda and in the Lebombo valleys. It was an adventure discovering trees in unexpected…