Table of contents for 21 June 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

It would not be fair to say that the dramatic unravelling of Tongaat Hulett these past weeks was caused solely by the larger crisis facing South Africa’s sugar industry. Fancy and suspicious fingerwork by the company’s auditors, KPMG, lies at the heart of the accounting scandal that saw Tongaat’s share price plummet by almost 80% this year before the company’s listing was suspended by the JSE at the beginning of June at the request of the board (see story on page 17). But to be fair to Tongaat, the company, which is one of the largest sugar producers in South Africa, has been operating under the most trying of circumstances. I recently watched the HBO miniseries Chernobyl, a dramatised version, mixing fact with fiction, of the 1986 nuclear meltdown in…

Massive maize plants! Dear Bill, I have planted maize in my garden and the plants don’t stop growing! They are higher than my house roof and still growing! Why are they so big? I’ve planted maize before but this is a first! I live on the East Rand. Please can you shed some light on this? Kind regards, Estelle Rossouw Dear Estelle, Don’t be alarmed. Some maize varieties have the potential to grow very high. I once visited a land planted to maize with plants 4,3m tall on average! Some plants even reached 5,5m in height. In your case, it was probably fertile soil and good growing conditions, as well as perhaps some shade during the day. Kind regards, Bill Bonnievale wins big at Trophy Wine Show Bonnievale Wines was…

After the general elections, the ANC is a divided political party. The division is between those in control of the party and those in control of government. Unfortunately, both factions are clinging to the heritage of, and indeed need, the acclaimed history of the former liberation movement. Therefore, the ANC and the tripartite alliance (comprising the ruling party, the South African Communist Party [SACP], and the Congress of South African Trade Unions) will not split. Thus, the infighting over control of the ANC will continue. This party, which in Leninist terms is very important as it is the very vehicle of power and patronage, is even more important than government. The party controls government, or is supposed to control government. THE ACE MAGASHULE FACTION IS LOOKING FOR BACKERS TO GIVE…

The share price of chemical and fertiliser manufacturer Omnia Holdings Limited plummeted to its lowest level in a decade after the recent announcement of its intention to undertake a rights offer to its shareholders of R2 billion in a bid to reduce debt. This meant that the company would issue additional shares in an attempt to raise funding, which market analysts in general have described as “disastrous”, as it would dilute the value of shares. Anthony Clark, an independent analyst for the Small Talk Daily website, was quoted as saying that the company had misled investors and the market. This followed Omnia’s announcement in April that it was in discussions with lenders to restructure the company’s debt and was optimistic that “an amicable solution” would be reached without a requirement…

The forecast for total cotton production in South Africa has been adjusted upwards by 30%, or almost 244 650 lint bales, for the 2018/2019 season. This follows the 98% year-on-year increase in the 2017/2018 production year, “mainly due to the more favourable prices of cotton in relation to competitive crops, but also due to renewed interest in cotton production”, said Hennie Bruwer, CEO of Cotton South Africa. He added that no forecast could yet be made for the 2019/2020 production year at this stage, but it was expected that the upward trend would continue. “Although cotton is more drought-tolerant than most other summer crops, the drought did have an effect on dryland yields, as can be seen from the figures for the 2016/2017 production year.” Bruwer said the drought did…

Farmers around the world will now deal directly with Corteva Agriscience (Corteva) and its brands after the company was recently listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This followed the successful completion of Corteva’s separation from international chemical conglomerate DowDuPont. Steve Reno, president of Corteva’s Global Seed Business Platform, said: “Historically, many agricultural companies did not focus on end-consumers’ needs. Our goal is to ensure that as a stand-alone agricultural company, we are going to have a much bigger focus on finding out what end-consumers want, and then we will develop products that will enable farmers to produce [food and fibre] products effectively, efficiently and profitably.” THE COMPANY WILL ‘HAVE FOOD SAFETY FOREMOST IN MIND’ Reno added that in the development of its products, Corteva would “have food safety foremost…

The area planted to wheat in the Free State could have increased significantly by the time the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) releases its preliminary area estimate for winter crops at the end of July. Agricultural economist Prof Johan Willemse told Farmer’s Weekly he believed there could be tens of thousands of additional wheat hectares added to the intentions-to-plant data for the province. Farmers who had fallow land on their farms that they were unable to plant to maize due to late rain, were now making plans to establish wheat due to good soil moisture levels, he said. “I’ve heard that all the dryland wheat seed has been sold out,” Willemse said. On 24 April, the CEC said in its intentions-to-plant forecast for winter crops for 2019 that early indications were…

Grain SA scientist Hendrik Smith recently reposted a table showing that ‘grass-fed’ beef has more positive properties than ‘grain-fed’ beef. To his credit, he afterwards posted a statement by Dr Heinz Meissner that refuted most of the claims. Unfortunately, as so often in the past, the initial post claimed that intensive beef farming was bad for the environment and the consumer. It has to be remembered that grass-fed beef cattle also consume grain, and grain-fed beef consume grass and other roughage. Calves are weaned on natural pastures, sold to feedlots and fed for four months before slaughter. Cows on pasture receive additional feed to enable them to survive and provide milk for their calves. This consists of maize meal, sugar by-products, salt, phosphate, microelements and vitamins, amongst others. Feedlot operators…

A variable rate irrigation (VRI) system implemented on a centre pivot at one of RCL Foods’ sugar cane farms in Malelane, Mpumalanga, has resulted in greater efficiency and considerable savings. While still in its trial phase, the project is showing promising results, with a 30% reduction in input costs. Although an established technology in agriculture that delivers proven benefits, VRI is not widely used in South Africa. Hennie Greyling, cane operations manager at RCL Foods’ sugar and milling division in Malelane, explains that with an increasing focus on saving water and improving the profitability of sugar production, the company decided to explore VRI, as Canadian farmers had had much success with it. “The technology has never been widely implemented in South Africa because water availability had never really been a…

The carrot is an erect, biennial plant, 30cm to 100cm high, that is grown for its edible root. The colour of the roots varies from white, yellow and orange-yellow to light purple, deep red and deep violet. The stem consists of a small, plate-like ‘crown’. Leaves, produced from the first season, have long petioles (the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem). Flowers and seeds are produced in the second year. Carrots come in four main types, based on root shape and storage capability. • Chantenay This variety has very strong foliage. Its roots are broad in the shoulder, relatively short and blunt-tipped. It has a strong, pale-coloured core and stores well. It is used mainly for processing. • Nantes The leaves of this variety are sparse and weakly attached…

‘Less is more’ is a well-known phrase, especially in advertising. Copywriters and art directors learnt long ago that for an advertisement to be effective, it has to be uncluttered. This principle applies to farmers keen to establish their own brands and packaging designs. When you walk through a market, you’ll see what I mean. There are some eye-catching and memorable brands and packaging designs, usually simple, bold and colourful. Others are too complex and cluttered, and as a result fail to deliver a clear message. Potential customers are left confused, and hence indifferent. GET EXPERT HELP I admit it: hiring a professional to create a logo and packaging design is a relatively expensive business. Nonetheless, if you can afford it, I would strongly recommend this option. If not, then at…

Making lasting memories The pocket-sized DJI OSMO ACTION CAMERA has a variety of features that will help you capture your most adventurous moments in superb image and video quality. At only 124g, it is ideal for travelling and easy handling. Despite its size, it’s particularly hardy, and can withstand being submerged in water or being dropped from a height of up to 1,5m. It also features exceptional electronic image stabilisation, which compensates for camera shake and captures images while in action. The camera features a 1/2.3 12MP CMOS sensor, while an Ambarella H2 image processor ensures excellent image quality. It also features a dual LCD display, which is ideal for vloggers and live streaming, a shutter speed of 1/8000-12s, and high-quality video with 8x slow motion. You can also record…

To make Irish stew with milk stout for six diners, you will need: 1kg beef chuck 180g streaky bacon 500ml Castle Milk Stout Canola or sunflower oil on demand 2 onions (300g) 4 cloves of garlic 4 potatoes (700g) 2 carrots 4 celery stalks 1 large parsnip or 1 large sweet potato (350g) 240ml beef stock 30ml dark soy sauce 60ml tomato concentrate 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 teaspoon dried thyme Half-a-teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 2 bay leaves 45g plain flour This Irish stew deviates a little from standard Irish stew. First, there’s the Castle Milk Stout, which is a uniquely South African alternative to imported, Irish, beer-related products such as Guinness. Next, a parsnip is a lovely thing, but not so easy to obtain; a sweet potato…

The African Snakebite Institute (africansnakebiteinstitute.com) is one of the leading providers of ‘snake awareness’ and venomous snake-handling courses. It also has a free app for Android and Apple devices. The home page has icons for snake and scorpion profiles. The species are listed alphabetically, giving you a wealth of information and high-quality photographs. SHARING INFORMATION Once you’ve selected a species, click on the top right-hand corner of the app and open the information in PDF format. You can then save and share it with friends or family, or you can even print it. Thanks to GPS, a ‘removals’ icon provides you with contact details of all the snake handlers in the area who can be called to remove a snake (or, indeed, bees). I never knew there were so many…

Advances over the past 50 years have seen pork production move from mainly outdoor lots to modern, intensive, indoor-confinement facilities. While these changes have brought about the desired increases in production, welfare concerns have intensified and issues related to animal diseases and comfort have increased. In addition, genetic improvement, combined with advanced feeding systems, has helped to produce pigs that in some countries are now 50kg to 60kg heavier at slaughter, but considerably leaner and faster-growing, than those of 50 years ago. The advances in breeding that have been underpinned by sequencing of the pig genome are merely the first building blocks of future change. Genomic selection and possible genome editing, as well as the rise in consumer demand for protein alternatives such as plant-based products, will be just some…

Trading in the shares of one of South Africa’s largest sugar producers, Tongaat Hulett, was suspended on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and London Stock Exchange on 10 June. This was at the request of the company to allow a new management team to assess the extent of financial misreporting by the company. Tongaat Hulett said in a statement that due to the delay in the publishing of the company’s financial statements and the “continuing review into past financial practices”, the board requested that the JSE suspend the listing of the company’s securities with immediate effect. The company would aim to publish the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019 by the end of October. The listing would be reinstated at that point, or, “possibly, at…

Free State Agriculture (FSA) said the restructuring of the organisation, which had affected three positions, including that of the CEO, had been necessary due to financial challenges. The president of FSA, Francois Wilken, confirmed that it had been decided to terminate the position of the CEO, Gerhard Kriel, at the end of May. The restructuring also meant that the organisation would now no longer have a permanent media officer, and this service would be contracted out. In addition, another post had been reduced to a half-day position. “The whole restructure was [done] to generate savings in our budget. Agriculture is under pressure out there and we’re dependent on the contributions of our members. Johann van Graan, manager of finance and administration, who has been with FSA for 20 years, will…

Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service in the US are investigating the use of a naturally occurring amino acid, L-glutamine, as a replacement for antibiotics to help piglets cope with stress and avoid illness. A federal regulation introduced in 2017 restricts antibiotic use, due to concerns that microbial resistance to medically important antibiotics could jeopardise their effectiveness in fighting human infection. Initial laboratory studies in 2017 showed that glutaminefed piglets gained just as much weight as antibiotic-treated ones, among other health benefits. However, the researchers wanted to replicate those results on a larger scale that more closely mimicked commercial production conditions. In the larger-scale trials, groups of piglets were transported to a nursery barn located 12 hours from where they were weaned. This simulated the kind of stress they would…

Only about 25% of animals sold or slaughtered in the commercial red meat industry are brand-marked or tattooed. This was according to Johan van der Colff, chairperson of the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), who spoke during the organisation’s annual congress held in Kimberley recently. Van der Colff, who was re-elected as chairperson, said he was concerned about the growing trend of animals not being marked. “If animals are stolen, they cannot be recovered as there’s no way to identify them.” He added that many farmers who did have registered brand marks were simply failing to mark their animals. “It’s worrying, and the entire industry, [including] commercial and emerging farmers, will have to work together to address this.” Other issues discussed included South Africa’ post-election political and economic…

AGCO Africa and Drakensberg Agricultural Services (DAS) have taken the uMmsinga Farming Project in KwaZulu-Natal under their wing, and will be investing in hi-tech agricultural solutions for the project’s farming activities. AGCO Africa is an international manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, while DAS is a Massey Ferguson dealer in the region. According to a statement by AGCO Africa, the uMmsinga Farming Project was initiated in the Umzinyathi District in KwaZulu-Natal by Dr Bahle Zondo, founder of the Bahle Zondo Foundation, to create more employment opportunities in the area. In August 2018, he brought together three informal co-operatives on communal land with sites varying from 2ha to 50ha, following calls for the foundation to fund more job opportunities. To date, the project had received R2 million in funding from the…

Mohair SA (MSA) and Cape Wools are working on a memorandum of understanding that will outline ways in which the two organisations can pool resources and skills and work together, according to Rothner Bekker, MSA chairperson. Speaking at the 76th annual congress of the South African Mohair Growers’ Association (SAMGA) in Graaff-Reinet, he said the two bodies had many potential synergies, but these were not being used to their full advantage. “We need to stop duplicating tasks, focus on common goals, and pool resources where possible. That would save us money and time and make us both more efficient.” Responding to a request from the Willowmore branch of SAMGA to explain the agreement between MSA and Cape Wools and how it would benefit mohair farmers, Bekker said both bodies represented…

Farmer Brown’s farm and farming equipment are in a family trust. Its terms are flexible enough to accommodate his family’s needs. The main farming operation is housed in a private company, also trust-owned, which is directed by the family members. Each receives a salary and fringe benefits for his or her services. Brown Jnr, who is studying at university, carries out research work for the farm company. Each piece of research and the associated costs is given a reference number and filed, so that any queries regarding Brown Jnr’s salary can easily be answered. Farmer Brown and Brown Jnr each has a ‘classic’ sedan as a company vehicle. The company pays for all maintenance on the cars, a pre-tax expense. Being solid, reliable cars, they are less prone to expensive…

• Nervus terminalis: senses pheromones, triggering mating. • Olfactory nerve: smell. • Optic nerve: vision. • Oculomotor, trochlear, and abducent nerves: eye movement, pupil size, and lens focus. • Trigeminal nerve: sensation to the head and face, and motor function of the chewing muscles. The information it sends to the brain includes temperature, pressure, proprioception and pain. This nerve runs along the face, and branches off into three other nerves, including the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular nerves. Any pressure or pain related to the dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve causes behavioural problems such as head shaking and tossing, bit chewing, difficulty bridling/haltering, sensitivity to the head/poll area, and tense jaw muscles. • Facial, glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves: control tongue, swallowing and facial muscles. • Vestibular nerve: hearing and balance, and…

Mike Kruger has produced a variety of forestry, fruit, lawn and ornamental plant seedlings under intensive conditions in KwaZulu-Natal’s Cramond area since the 1980s. During this time, he has learnt that irrigating his crops with contaminant-free water is an absolute necessity. Untreated irrigation water can carry pathogens that move easily from plant to plant within the densely populated growing area with its hundreds of thousands of seedlings. Some pathogens negatively affect the health of the plants; others can contaminate the produce. Untreated irrigation water can also introduce undesirable algae and slime into the growing area, and even become a conduit for damage-causing nematodes among the plants. Top Crop Nursery draws irrigation water from the Umgeni River, 400m from the nursery. “Over the years, the quality of water from the river…

As described in the previous issue (FW, 14 June), Philemon Ngala, a senior scientist at the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, conducted a study on a 150ha farm on the Great Fish River that produced sheep and cattle under extensive farming conditions with supplementation during the drier parts of the year. ‘IMPROVING SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES CAN MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS’ Nearly 80% of the land consists of irrigated maize, lucerne and rye grass lands. These crops support the animal production component of the farm and generate extra income. Ngala found that even though enteric fermentation was the main contributor to the farm’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it was second to the emissions produced by feed. This was due to a number of factors: the wide range of emission sources associated with…

The natural partner for this South Africanised Irish stew is of course a chilled Caste Milk Stout. The molasses, caramel and coffee notes in the glass play neatly off the same flavours in the dish, and the balance of sweetness and bitterness in each sip match the balance of savoury and sweet in the rich stew. However, if you would rather enjoy a glass of wine with this delicious winter warmer meal, the perfect partner is a medium-bodied, soft red. A good Pinotage was my choice here, as Pinotage wines have subtle coffee notes and a hint of sweetness on the nose. They also have a ripeness of fruit on the palate that adds a perception of sweetness even if the wine is absolutely dry, mirroring similar characteristics in the…

Donating blood is a proven, effortless way to dramatically lower heart attack risk. The American Journal of Epidemiology published the first evidence of this in 1998. Researchers studied a group of men aged between 42 and 60 for nine years, during which 153 of them donated blood at least once every two years. Over this entire nine-year period, only one man in the group suffered a heart attack: a 0,7% occurrence rate. The researchers then compared these results with a group of 2 529 men who never donated blood. In this group, 316 men had heart attacks: a rate of 12,5%. The men who did not donate blood were therefore 17,8 times more likely to have a heart attack than the donors were. Blood is a mixture of fluid (serum)…

9 AUGUST Calf Rearing THIS COURSE OFFERS DELEGATES PRACTICAL KNOW-HOW AND SOLUTIONS TO CALF REARING. BETTER PREPARATION OF THE COW BEFORE CALVING CAN DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE SURVIVAL CHANCES OF HER CALF. INOCULATIONS AND TREATMENT PROCESSES ARE THEREFORE COVERED IN DETAIL. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 27 TO 28 JUNE Cannabis Conference, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park. Email Connie@vukanicomms.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 24 TO 27 JUNE Broiler and Layer Management, Pretoria. Visit agriskills.net, or email admin@agriskills.net. 24 TO 28 JUNE Hydroponics, Buhle Farmers’ Academy, Mpumalanga.Visit buhle.org.za. 25 TO 27 JUNE Foundations for Farming, Rustfontein Farm, Bronkhorstspruit. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774, or email neill@foundationsforfarming.org. 1 JULY Beef Cattle Production, Brits.Visit bommereaipela.co.za. 8 TO 12…

We are currently witnessing the effects of climate change in the domestic agriculture sector. At the beginning of June, Statistics South Africa presented a gloomier picture of the South African agricultural economy, indicating that the sector contracted 13,2% on a quarter-on-quarter, seasonally adjusted, annualised rate. As tempting as it was for some among us to attribute this contraction to a decline in agricultural investment on the back of policy uncertainty, this was not the case. The key driver of the contraction in the domestic agricultural economy was the erratic weather conditions experienced during the summer season. This subsequently led to a reduction in summer crop plantings, and also expectations of poor yields. CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLICY UNCERTAINTY IS WEIGHING ON JOBS IN THE AGRI SECTOR This was in line with…

Livestock producers in North West need to inoculate cattle, sheep and goats in the province against Rift Valley fever (RVF), especially those in the drier parts of the province. This was according to Sakkie van Zyl, North West Red Meat Producers’ Organisation chairperson. He told Farmer’s Weekly that a considerable number of farmers had apparently not inoculated their livestock in 2018. “According to the drop in demand for RVF inoculants, it seems as if farmers [neglected to vaccinate] their animals last year. This could possibly be ascribed to the drought, which inhibited the development of mosquitoes,” he said. ‘ON-FARM BIOSECURITY SYSTEMS ARE ESSENTIAL’ The disease, which was transmitted by mosquitoes, could cause spontaneous abortions and even death in livestock. Vaccination with a registered vaccine was thus essential to prevent the…

South Africa’s negative economic growth of 3,2% in the first quarter of 2019 was not foreseen, according to Dr Kobus Laubscher, independent agricultural economist. Although the agriculture sector traditionally did not perform particularly well in the first quarter of the year, it contracted 13,2% quarter-on-quarter in the first three months and contributed to overall negative economic growth of 3,2% during this period. “We expected a negative growth rate, but not as high as this. This underscores the fact that the South African economy needs intervention. The country cannot afford to carry on with a ‘business as usual’ mindset,” he said. Policy uncertainty, irresponsible political rhetoric, and the fact that the country was technically “put on hold” during the period leading up to the general election added to the negative growth,…

South Africa is faced with an uncertain energy future, according to Aurecon renewable energy expert Paul Nel, who addressed delegates at the recent Hortgro Symposium in Somerset West. Nel said that Eskom was set to continue with load-shedding. “We have a technically bankrupt utility and a maintenance backlog longer than Father Christmas’s [wish] list. There are also expensive and extensive delays on two new power stations that were supposed to be the ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ for Eskom,” he said. Nel said that Eskom’s current debt stood at R450 billion, which made up 15% of South Africa’s total sovereign debt. This amount was expected to increase to about R600 billion before a turnaround strategy could be finalised. He added that more government bailouts for Eskom could be expected in the future, along…

UNITED STATES Climate change is already reducing the yields of the world’s top 10 crops: barley, cassava, maize, oil palm, canola, rice, sorghum, soya bean, sugar cane and wheat. A study by the University of Minnesota in the US, in collaboration with the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, found that the impact of climate change on global food production was mostly negative in Europe, Southern Africa and Australia. NEW ZEALAND The New Zealand horticulture sector’s output rose to a record NZ$9,2 billion (R88 billion) in 2018, up NZ$400 million (R3,8 billion) from the previous year. This increase was driven by strong export growth, which rose to NZ$5,5 billion (R52,9 billion), up from NZ$5,1 billion (R49 billion) in 2017. Horticultural exports, such as…

It was to be hoped that South Africa’s canola producers were committed to ensuring healthy bee populations and the proactive use of bee-friendly insecticides registered for canola, said Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, CropLife South Africa’s operations and stewardship manager. This followed an announcement by Grain SA that the organisation had drafted a best practice and guideline document in this regard. However, it remained the responsibility of beekeepers to obtain permission from farmers to place beehives on canola lands, Verdoorn said. He added that in South Africa all pesticides were regulated by the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act No. 36 of 1947, and that anyone accidentally or deliberately killing bees with a pesticide would be contravening the Act. Registration holders of insecticides had to undertake extensive research and…

The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union’s (Kwanalu) annual report has revealed that during 2018 the number of attacks and murders on farms in the province were at their lowest in 16 years. According to information collected by Kwanalu’s security desk and verified by relevant sources, one murder and 24 farm attacks took place on commercial farms. Kwanalu CEO, Sandy La Marque, attributed this improvement to farmers taking ownership of their safety and uniting to combat farm murders and attacks. “Kwanalu has a good working relationship at provincial level; we’ve actively lobbied our farmers to ensure that they have strong local associations and work together to combat attacks on farmers,” said La Marque. “We’ve also seen a nearly 100% success rate in arrests and convictions in murder cases, due to the good co-operation…

Weak economic conditions and a lack of government funds will continue to hamper land reform in South Africa. Speaking at the Mpumalanga Agriculture congress held in White River recently, Prof Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau for Economic Research, said the state would not deliver on land reform and the process would continue to be drawn out. “We won’t get anywhere with government alone. Farmers must therefore not wait to start implementing land reform initiatives in their communities. Clarity around land reform is not going to come any time soon and it won’t help to wait for incentives and certainty. It will be in everyone’s interest [if farmers implement land reform initiatives] and will create stability and social cohesion.” He said that 82% of agricultural businesses were in a financial…

I grew up on a farm in the Queenstown district of the Eastern Cape, where my father, Benjamin ‘Popeye’ Brody, had a cattle operation. In addition to his main herd, he had built up a small herd of Nguni, having been impressed by their resilience under demanding conditions, their longevity and their resistance to tick-borne diseases. Many of his neighbours, however, were critical of the Nguni’s relatively small frame and its propensity to put on too much fat before reaching an ideal slaughter weight. In the mid-1980s, when I was in high school, we experienced a very long drought in our area. While my father spent a large sum on feeding his main herd with expensive bagged feed, he more or less left the Ngunis to graze on the depleted…

Jarren Hurwitz, who owns and runs Hurwitz Farming with his brother, Simeon, did not grow up on a farm. He and Simeon were city folk, he explains, with no farming background and little knowledge of agriculture. Despite this, they launched their farming operation in 2010. When they started on the farm, which is near Davel in Mpumalanga, the property was not in a productive state, according to Hurwitz. However, over the years, they have built a successful commercial operation that has expanded to include several divisions. AT THE DEEP END “It was a baptism by fire. We threw ourselves in at the deep end,” recalls Hurwitz, adding that when they took over the farm it had infrastructure for a small feedlot and very few animals. These included a handful of…

To make 15 pumpkin churros with chilli-chocolate dip, you will need: FOR THE CHURROS: 15ml sugar 120g butter 250 ml water A pinch of salt 150g cake flour 60ml cooked, mashed pumpkin 2 eggs, beaten Canola oil for frying FOR THE CHILLI CHOCOLATE: 2 bars of 70% dark chocolate 125ml whipping cream 1/2 tsp chilli powder FOR THE CINNAMON AND SUGAR COATING: 200g caster sugar 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 Combine the ingredients for the cinnamon sugar coating and set aside. 2 Now for the churros. Bring the sugar, butter, water and salt to a boil on medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the flour and mashed pumpkin for about one minute or until the mixture forms a ball. Cool slightly until the dough is warm…

Dear Jonno, I would like you to design rustic, yet functional, accommodation units as well as a main lodge for the hunters who visit my property. I intend using stone, and would like reed ceilings. The roofs can be flat or pitched. I was thinking of semidetached units, with three on either side of the main lodge. The latter will consist of a kitchen and a dining and lounge area, with a bar on the front stoep. Building costs should be kept as low as possible, and I would like the units to use solar power. Regards, Brendon Dear Brendon, I’ve designed many similar hunter/ tourist facilities, and each request is different. In your case, as the hunting season is limited, the facility can also accommodate out-of-hunting season tourists. With…

PEOPLE’S WAR by Anthea Jeffery (Jonathan Ball, R260) Jeffery has revised her detailed 2009 analysis of the political violence that tore apart much of South Africa in the decade between 1984 and 1994, abridging some sections but adding a new chapter, ‘The second stage of the revolution’. Instead of tracing the rising levels of political attacks and murders, People’s War focuses on macro policy and the drive to implement what Jeffery flags as the Leninist-inspired National Democratic Revolution. Ultimately, she unpacks how government policy has played out since Ramaphosa took over from Zuma in 2017 and questions whether it has shifted direction as business believes it has or will. Thought-provoking and pulling few punches. CHRISTO WIESE: RISK & RICHES by TJ Strydom (Tafelberg, R290) Wiese is…

If you want to spread a rumour around our small community, you have several options. The first is to go to the village pub and pick on a group of rowdy drinkers. Fabricate a story of marital infidelity and watch the blabber-mouthed imbibers go into a frenzy of speculation. Be sure not to mention names or sources, however, or the skinner will bounce back on you like a well-aimed punch. Rather claim that you simply can’t believe it and put it down to malicious gossip. That will add credibility to the rumour and guarantee that the entire pub will be discussing it before closing time. André’s hairdressing salon is another convenient venue for rumour-mongering. The heat of the hair dryers seems to stimulate the clients’ brainwaves. Ladies are more discreet…