Table of contents for 28 June 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

Almost two years have passed since Farmer’s Weekly first published an article exploring the potential to establish a legal farming industry in South Africa for the production of medicinal cannabis. Since then, we have been inundated with requests for more information about this industry. It is not difficult to understand why there is so much interest in growing cannabis. The crop, evaluated on the economic opportunity it represents, can prove highly profitable for farmers. According to New Frontier Data’s (NFD) latest industry study, The Africa Regional Hemp & Cannabis Report: 2019 Industry Outlook, the estimated global market value of combined legal and illicit cannabis markets was about US$344 billon (R5 trillion) in 2018. This is only slightly smaller in value terms than the global beef market, which is expected to…

Big opportunities for cotton in Africa From 28 to 30 May, Cotton South Africa (Cotton SA) hosted a regional workshop in partnership with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) promoting cotton by-products in Eastern and Southern Africa. The two-day workshop, held at the Premier Hotel OR Tambo Johannesburg, was attended by 70 delegates. “The project is aligned with regional and global efforts to support Africa’s economic diversification through value addition,” says Stephen Karingi, director of regional integration and trade at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ENECA). “The importance of the cotton sector to African economies cannot be overemphasised, and it includes the value chain from seed cotton to textiles and other by-products.” The results of the three-year programme, implemented by UNCTAD, show that cotton by-products provide great…

Land reform is one of the most contested, complex and emotive issues South Africans have been living with since 1994. It may be wise for farming businesses to reflect on the role (if any) they have played in the advancement of land reform in this country over the past 25 years. For many years, the private sector, including agribusinesses and farmer organisations, played the blame game, pointing fingers at government for the slow pace of land reform. While blaming government for the misfortunes of land reform policies was not entirely wrong, this was basically all that many established farmers and the private sector did. IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF FARMERS TO RETHINK THEIR APPROACH TO TRANSFORMATION While there might have been a few private sector role players and farming…

Bayer has announced that it intends reducing the environmental impact of its agricultural portfolio by 30% by 2030 through the use of innovation. This was in response to concerns raised about the company’s role in agriculture in the past year following its acquisition of Monsanto, a statement by the company said. Earlier this year a US court awarded US$2,06 billion (R30,4 billion) in damages to a US couple that reportedly contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a result of years of exposure to the active ingredient glyphosate used in the company’s herbicides, the third such award in the US in recent times. According to the statement, Bayer intended to achieve the reduced environmental impact by developing new technologies, scaling down the production and application volumes of its crop protection products, and by…

The frequency of heavy downpours of rain that can lead to flash floods, severe damage and outbreaks of waterborne disease has increased worldwide over the past 50 years. The Global Institute for Water Security at Canada’s University of Saskatchewan found that the number of extreme downpours increased steadily between 1964 and 2013, a period during which global warming also intensified. The frequency of extreme precipitation events increased in parts of Canada, most of Europe, the Midwest and north-eastern regions of the US, northern Australia, western Russia, and parts of China, the researchers found. Regions in South America and Africa were excluded from the study, as records for the study period in these regions were not complete or robust, according to hydro-climatologist Simon Papalexiou of the university’s College of Engineering. He…

Speaking at the Grain Academy graduation ceremony in Bloemfontein recently, Grain SA chairperson Jaco Minnaar said the agriculture sector was highly competitive, and graduates should focus on survival. Minnaar said the competition was not about who had the biggest tractor or the most farms, but who would still be farming in the next 10 years. “In South Africa, we lose about half our farmers every 15 years.” This amounted to 3% or one out of 30 every year. “On average, one of you won’t be farming next year, and five of you won’t be farming in five years’ time,” he said. According to Minnaar, farmers were not only competing with others in the country to produce most effectively, but were also competing with producers in the rest of the world…

The seedless lemon market has received a boost with the launch of LemonGold. This followed in the footsteps of ClemenGold mandarins, marketed by ANB Investments. “Although seedless lemons are not new to the local or international agricultural markets, previous South African offerings were not backed by strong branding,” said Marius du Plessis, CEO of ANB Produce and Marketing at ANB Investments. “Now consumers will be drawn to conveniently seedless lemons by a brand built on the same principles as ClemenGold, promising consistent quality, farmed according to Woolworths’ Farming for the Future standards, and supported by a concerted marketing effort to build recognition and, ultimately, trust.” According to Viresh Ramburan, a director of Citrogold, a variety development and management company, the fruit of LemonGold cultivars was consistently seedless and had good…

We were on the Lebombo Mountains, looking over a spectacular bushveld panorama. The sunset, enhanced by twinkling reflections of light through thousands of sprinklers irrigating the sugar cane, was breathtaking. I was hosting some high-society visitors, and had driven them to a viewpoint for a sundowner. I proudly pointed out the farm’s boundaries and the areas we’d recently cleared for new sugar cane and citrus plantings. Expecting to hear gasps of amazement at the view, there was a strange silence. As I turned to see if there was anything amiss, one of the ladies in the party said, “Peter, you should be ashamed of yourself.” I was dumbstruck. Recognising my discomfort, she quickly continued with a smile: “Don’t take it too personally. But I can’t understand why you take such…

The price of onions has been increasing, and prices are very high at the moment, with low volumes available on the market. The Western Cape is finishing its season, and prices are expected to remain high in the short term. Once supplies from the northern production region start arriving towards the end of June, prices are expected to stabilise. During the second of week of June, the price of cabbage dropped 4,9% week-on-week to R1,85/kg. The price should decline to around R1,70/kg by the end of June. This was expected due to lower domestic demand. The seasonal index for cabbages shows steady volumes, with increasing prices for the next three months. The carrot market is currently very quiet, experiencing low levels of demand coupled with high supply. Prices dropped by…

It is ironic that, while many farmers spend money on weed eradication, the cannabis plant, which is classified as a weed, does not flourish and produce high-quality material when left to grow wild. Medicinal cannabis producers have similar input costs to any sophisticated tunnel farmer, with the added burden of having to wait 18 months for a licence to grow the plant, if they receive one at all. According to Jason Law, managing director of the Cannabis Development Council of the Eastern Cape (CDCEC), labelling a product ‘medicinal’ invites considerable scrutiny, and this is one reason so few licences are granted. “Because we’re dealing with a plant, it makes it even more difficult to regulate, as plants differ from one to the next depending on their growing conditions,” he says.…

Many automatic transmissions do not employ a clutch; instead, they are equipped with a torque converter to couple the engine to the gearbox. This is a fluid coupling to which a stator or reactor has been added, and it works without any input from the driver. THE FLUID COUPLING The operation of a fluid coupling can be visualised by placing two domestic cooling fans face-to-face. If you switch the first one on, the other will slowly start to turn, eventually reaching almost the same speed as the first. This is how a fluid coupling works, although it is vastly more efficient, as both fans have specially designed shapes, and are encased in a sealed housing so that oil can be used as an energy-transferring medium. In an automotive application, the…

While putting the ingredients of this recipe into my shopping cart, I had some doubt whether the combinations would work. However, all the flavours and textures pulled together in the hot pan, resulting in a very tasty meal. The pork brings a softer, more savoury flavour than beef would, and a lighter texture due to a lower fat content. The mince absorbed the salty umami flavour of the light soy, while the earthy green pungency of the asparagus and the sweet basil added a beautiful freshness to the fork. The dry Rosé I started with didn’t work very well, as its fruitiness seemed to dominate the food’s subtlety. However, the Debbie Does Pinot Noir from Mount Rozier, a brand made by Journey’s End Vineyards in Somerset West, was right on…

Every time you donate blood, you lose red blood cells. This stimulates your body to manufacture cells to replace those that were lost. Crucially, these new cells have more flexible cell membranes. The diameter of a red blood cell is often larger than the capillary it needs to flow through. It can only do this if it has a highly flexible cell membrane. A 2002 study showed that young red blood cells are 30% more flexible than older ones. Their increased flexibility means that donating blood improves circulation and reduces the chances of blood clots forming. RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS Donating blood is especially beneficial if you have already had a heart attack, or if you have a family risk of heart disease. It is also an excellent practice if…

Short Wool Champions Long Wool Champions (hoggets) Two- and Four-Tooth Champions…

”Poverty, unemployment and water scarcity are arguably the top developmental issues that threaten social and economic stability in South Africa. Between 2011 and 2018, the unemployment rate grew from 25% to 27% and the percentage of the population living under the poverty line increased from 36% to 40%. In 2018, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) warned that the water deficit in the country could increase to 17% by 2030 due to poorly maintained water infrastructure and the effects of climate change. The DWS added that South Africa had lost 50% of its wetlands due to inadequate management of water resources. Most developmental challenges were meant to be addressed through the National Development Plan (NDP), particularly Chapter 6, when it was adopted in 2012. This chapter envisaged an inclusive…

Now that the Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture’s report has been submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa, it could assist in the resolution of uncertainties surrounding agricultural and land reform policies and biosecurity measures. The report will be tabled in Cabinet before being publicly released. Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, said that clarifying agricultural and land reform policies and improving biosecurity measures could boost the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index, which fell to 44 points in the second quarter of the year, from 46 in the first quarter. This was below the neutral 50-point mark, which implied that the sector was still downbeat about business conditions in South Africa. Sihlobo said that the deterioration in the second quarter had been underpinned by a decline in…

Many breeds of cattle, sheep, indigenous goats and horses will be exhibited at the 2019 Mpumalanga Show to be held at Mbombela Stadium from 29 August to 1 September. The animals will complement the agriculture, forestry, wildlife and tourism exhibits at what the organisers promise will be an even bigger and better show than before. The 16 cattle breeds on display will include the lesser known Grey and Ankole breeds, while there will be seven sheep breeds, 10 horse breeds, including the Appaloosa and American Paint Horse, and a variety of indigenous veld goat types. A statement from the Indigenous Veld Goat Society explained that the hardy and highly fertile goats came with interesting names such as the Xhosa Lob Ear, the Northern Cape Speckled and the Kunene. The show…

UNITED STATES Laboratory-grown insect meat could be a superior green alternative for high-volume, nutritious food production, according to researchers at Tufts University in Massachusetts in the US. In a report published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, the researchers said the meat from laboratory-grown insects that fed on plants could be genetically modified for maximum growth, nutrition and flavour. GERMANY Researchers at the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg, Germany, said they had found new cancer-causing pathogens in cow’s milk products, but more research was required. The previously unknown pathogens, called bovine milk and meat factors (BMMF), could cause inflammation that could form the basis for a malignant degeneration of cells in the breast and colon. “Serum antibodies against BMMF were detected in 350 individuals, healthy people and…

Fresh outbreaks of banana bunchy top disease have been reported in the South Coast region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), 20km from the infection zone where it was first detected in 2015. Research is being carried out to establish the correct management strategies for the disease, which poses a threat to banana plantations in the region, and could potentially result in yield losses of up to 100% should it spread. There is currently no known cure for the disease, according to Dr Elize Jooste, a senior researcher at the Agriculture Research Council’s (ARC’s) Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops. THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED BY THE BANANA APHID Banana and plantains were a staple food in developing tropical and subtropical regions, where they were cultivated commercially and as a subsistence crop. “Banana bunchy…

The majority of cattle farmers in the Koopmansfontein area in the Northern Cape can now confidently assure prospective buyers that their herds have been verified as brucellosis-free. Cattle farmer AJ Ford told Farmer’s Weekly that he and other members of the Koopmansfontein Farmers’ Association had embarked on a project to verify the status of the cattle in their area about two years ago. He estimated that about 6 000 head of cattle had been tested and verified as brucellosis-free during that period. “The big thing was buyer security for our area, and with all the diseases that are going around, we thought this was really important,” he said. Ford added that the farmers had partnered with a local vet, Dr Josef van Heerden, as well as state veterinary officials, to…

The first flush of winter cold usually provokes a flurry of activity in the warm water fish sector when system operators suddenly realise that cold can be a killer. In the past few weeks, I’ve come across several farmers, mainly those with aquaponics systems, who were unprepared for winter and whose water temperatures declined to below 14ºC. This can be lethal to the stock. THE COLD FACTS Whilst many tilapia species can survive winter cold to some extent, an examination of the facts clearly shows the following: • Larger fish of over 1kg are more cold-tolerant than smaller fish; • Cold-tolerance is enhanced in brackish water; • Temperatures must decline slowly, at not more than 2ºC a week, to be tolerated. Mozambique tilapia in the wild, at the extremity of…

ALIEN CLEARING MAKES MORE WATER AVAILABLE TO FARMERS WHAT DOES THE BREEDE RIVER WATER STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE ENTAIL, AND WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL? Dr Klaudia Schachtschneider (KS): Many retailers were concerned that water risks, such as scarcity and quality, would have lasting impacts on their fruit supplies. As a result, the water stewardship initiative was started in 2013 to look at water-use efficiency at farm level, extending to collective efforts to tackle water risks beyond the farm fence. Alien plant invasions are one such problem, as they grow throughout the landscape, using more water than the indigenous vegetation. To get rid of them, everyone needs to participate; otherwise, the leftover trees reseed, perpetuating the problem. It was agreed by a number of private, government and NGO partners that an alien-clearing…

The word ‘discipline’ is often associated with a well-run market. This, of course, is not the discipline associated with meting out punishment, but organisational discipline. And in the market, this involves good management, sales and cleanliness. Readers who know markets will understand that those three qualities are fundamental to a properly functioning market. IT STARTS AT THE TOP Good management covers the entire spectrum of a business: financials, marketing, stock, employees, training, suppliers, customers and more. In a market, there is the additional challenge of having perishable products. One of the many requirements for a successful market is to have disciplined staff. They must know their jobs, responsibilities and work parameters. Good discipline, of course, starts with senior management, who must set the example and then ensure it filters through…

VERWOERD: MY JOURNEY THROUGH FAMILY BETRAYALS by Wilhelm Verwoerd (Tafelberg, R290) How do you cope when you find yourself born on the wrong side of history? For Wilhelm Verwoerd, this meant eventually publicly speaking out against his grandfather’s apartheid policies and racist legacy. He had already spent several formative years overseas, as extracts from his diary show here, but in denouncing his grandfather, he effectively excommunicated himself from his family. In the quarter-century since, he spent time working for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and later leading community reconciliation workshops in Northern Ireland. This made him realise how hard he needed to work to process his own horror at having Verwoerd blood in his veins, and, he believed, on his hands. A surprise comment in a meeting with Nelson Mandela…

24 JULY Profitable Boer Goat Production THIS COURSE COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF BOER GOAT PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT. IT FOCUSES ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BOER GOAT, THE ECONOMICS OF LIVESTOCK FARMING, GOAT HEALTH, FEEDING AND NUTRITION, AND MARKETING. 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. 30 TO 31 JULY PMA Fresh Connections Conference and Trade Show, Cape Town. Visit pma.com/events/ fresh-connections-southern-africa. COURSES & TRAINING 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. Email Thembeka Ntsipane at info@bommereaipela.co.za. 8 TO 12 JULY Beef Farming Management and Production, George.Visit…

When the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) came into force on 30 May, it caught most people by surprise. However, the required number of countries to ratify the agreement, namely 22, was reached on 29 April. What confuses many is that the agreement is being implemented before it has been concluded. But the process is a bit more nuanced, with the implementation taking place incrementally. This means that there are several protocols, including tariff schedules, rules of origin, and service sector commitments, that are still outstanding. The African Union and the ministers of trade in the various countries are set to finalise work on these aspects by the 7 July deadline, which is the Extraordinary Heads of State and Government Summit. The operational phase of AfCFTA will be the…

It is expected that most South African farmers, apart from those in severely drought-stricken areas, will have enough feed for their animals this winter. This is according to Vlok Ferreira, national technical manager for ruminant feed at RCL Foods, who added that “some farmers have lower numbers of livestock after the drought, which also helps”. Many farmers had also established adequate reserves of hay and stover, he said. “Some farmers plant crops for winter pasture, and yields will depend on ground moisture levels and when it was planted.” However, certain areas in the Northern Cape, Karoo and Western Cape were already experiencing a shortage of pasture. Francois van de Vyver, national technical manager for ruminants at Nutrifeeds, said the challenge remained to maintain animals’ body condition, and farmers were thus…

While nationwide sales of new tractors and combine harvesters have taken a knock this year, demand for used agricultural machinery is strong. Ongoing drought conditions and South Africa’s struggling economy, coupled with uncertainty about land reform, are said to be putting pressure on farmers’ abilities to purchase new tractors and combine harvesters. Butch Pike, owner of Butch Pike Sales, which specialises in agricultural machinery and implements, told Farmer’s Weekly that he had experienced and heard of increased sales in pre-owned combine harvesters and tractors. He added that the demand for used combine harvesters was mostly from larger-scale farming operations, while demand for used tractors was typically from smaller-scale farmers. “The most popular used combine harvesters are those priced from around R800 000 to R1,3 million each. These machines can cost…

A conservation farming information day showcasing agro-industrial technologies for no-till farming systems will be hosted by the Argentinian government on Holmdene Farm near Standerton on 10 September. According to Hendrik Jordaan, an agro-industrial consultant based in Argentina, the purpose of the farmers’ day was to show that the technology used in conservation and sustainable methods could be more advanced than conventional methods. Among the technologies on display would be microbiological soil treatments, no-till planters, and grain storage and handling methods. Jordaan said that Argentina had made significant advances in agricultural production, and no-till farming trials had been run in that country as far back as 1977. Currently, 92% of crops in Argentina were planted using conservation agriculture systems. “Today, Argentina is an established centre for no-till technology, practices and equipment,…

The Mohair Trust will consider making its stabilisation fund available to assist South Africa’s mohair farmers, who are currently reeling from the effects of adverse weather conditions, according to Davey Herold, chairperson of the trust. This followed a resolution introduced by Arthur Rudman on behalf of the Glenconnor mohair growers’ branch in the Eastern Cape during the recent South African Mohair Growers’ Association congress in Graaff-Reinet. Rudman asked the Mohair Trust to consider extending loans to farmers based on 50% of an applicant’s mohair production value over the past three years. The assistance needed to be made available to drought-stressed farmers as a short-term production loan at 6% interest a year, to be reviewed every 24 months if required. He said he envisaged that mohair brokers would be responsible for…

Guava producers’ short-term prospects are gloomy, as the industry is trapped at the bottom of a downward cycle. This was the message from Wiehahn Victor, CEO of the Guava Producers’ Association (GPA), who was speaking at a recent guava information day held at Le Bac Estate, outside Wellington. Although the price of guavas destined for the canning and fresh market had been adjusted upwards, the price of juice-grade guavas was low. According to Poena Malherbe, guava farmer and GPA chairperson, the price of juice-grade guavas had dropped from R1 500/t to R1 200/t. Juice prices needed to increase by at least 50% to R1 800/t for production to remain sustainable. Victor added that these lower prices placed pressure on the viability of guava production for farmers, as the juice market…

Following the recent release by Statistics South Africa of the first-quarter GDP numbers for South Africa, it is clear that the agriculture sector is under severe pressure. While this is in line with the rest of the economy, it is disconcerting given that the country is, to a large degree, reliant on the agricultural community for not only its contribution to economic welfare, but also the daily interaction we have in terms of food and sustenance. The prolonged drought and increased financial pressure that farmers have experienced over the past few years have contributed to the decline in output. As with many households and other businesses, farmers are under financial pressure. According to research conducted by Agbiz, South African farming debt rose by an average rate of 2%/year over the…

Food contamination by aflatoxins, which can cause cancer, is a serious concern for scientists and regulators worldwide. Aflatoxins are most commonly encountered in plants grown or foods stored in parts of Asia, Africa and the US. This is because the toxins originate in two species of fungus that favour a hot and humid climate. In February 2018, however, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported concerns about “the elevated aflatoxin levels observed by some food commodities originating from European countries”. This led to calls for EFSA to conduct its first full risk assessment of aflatoxins in more than a decade. Fortunately, new technology is making it easier to combat the scourge of aflatoxins. Some food companies check for aflatoxins by testing samples of their products. Unfortunately, this approach is not…

There’s real joy to be experienced in the production of this meal. It is quick and simple enough for the outright beginner, yet the unexpected presence of asparagus will convince your guests that your cooking is in the five-star league. To make this meal for four diners, you will need: 500g fresh asparagus Half cup fresh basil leaves 6 spring onions 2 carrots 4 cloves of garlic 5ml sesame oil 15ml to 30ml canola or sunflower oil 500g freshly minced pork fillet (this can be replaced with chicken) 60ml light soy sauce Red Tabasco Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Yes, you can cook this meal on a skottel braai, but if you intend to become a regular stir-fryer, buy a wok. Woks demand high heat and rapid…

Fieldmargin is an easy-to-use farm mapping and notebook app that lets you see what’s happening on your farm at a glance. It’s available for download for both iPhones and Android phones. COMPREHENSIVE You can use the app to create a digital version of your farm, with all the boundaries and lands. Notes pertaining to each land can then be recorded and saved, and you can share these with other people who have access to the app, if you wish. “Overall, I think Fieldmargin is a fantastic app,” says Liam Highcock, who sets up precision agriculture systems for macadamia plantations. “It has a very easy-to-use interface that brings together all aspects of my business. Most importantly, my clients enjoy using it as well.” NEW FEATURE TO DETERMINE CROP HEALTH A recently…