Table of contents for 25 October 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

Food safety is the lesser talked-about aspect of food security. Political and media commentary tends to focus more on the availability and affordability aspects of food. But, as South Africa recently learned the hard way, food safety deserves much more attention. One of the worst recorded cases of a food-borne disease outbreak in South Africa was the deadly listeriosis outbreak in 2017 and 2018, which infected more than 1 000 people and killed more than 180. The source of the outbreak was eventually traced to an Enterprise Foods production facility in Polokwane, but by that time most of the damage had been done. Fearful of the outbreak, people chose to avoid pork products completely, despite early reports suggesting that it was only a few processed pork products that were likely…

In discussions of body weight and obesity, milk and other dairy products may be targeted for their apparent high sugar content, leading many to mistakenly believe that dairy should be limited to avoid weight gain. As part of the 2019 International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit, several high-level international speakers addressed the sugar question, discussing the latest science on dairy and sugar in human diets. LACTOSE Milk, plain yoghurt, and other unsweetened dairy products contain the naturally occurring sugar, lactose. Unlike added sugars, which contribute plenty of calories but no nutritional value, lactose is part of a nutrient-dense package, providing an abundant supply of high-quality protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, and vitamins B2 and B12. Furthermore, studies have clearly indicated a differential role for foods that are inherently nutritious…

All of a sudden, it seems as if the DA has lost its way. I am sure that this has come as a shock to many loyal DA supporters as well as to some casual political observers. There were, however, some key signposts along the way. Some say the DA is just as riven by infighting as the ANC. Casualties in this war included Lindiwe Mazibuko, Patricia de Lille and Helen Zille, who is now trying to make a Houdini-like comeback. Early this year, Zille’s second tenure as Western Cape premier came to an end. She then joined the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) as a fellow. She, however, announced that she will be standing for the position of federal chair of the DA. Subsequently, she suspended her participation at…

Agricultural economists from across the country heard they would have a crucial role to play in the future, especially in Africa, amid rapid expected food demand growth. This was during an address by US-based academic Prof Chris Barrett from Cornell University in New York, who delivered the Simon Brand Memorial Address during the 57th conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA). This year’s conference was hosted by the University of the Free State under the theme ‘Growing a Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture’. Barrett emphasised that Africa was on the move. “Three out of nine of the world’s fastest-growing economies are in Africa. Agriculture is at the heart of much of that growth,” he said. While India topped the list with its annual average real percentage GDP growth…

While KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) agriculture sector has been growing by approximately 12% per year, and currently contributes around 4% to the province’s GDP, its growth could be undermined by a variety of specific risks. This was according to a recent article by Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture, who added that agriculture in South Africa’s other provinces was showing single-digit growth. Maree said that KZN’s agriculture sector was “well diversified”, and included sugar cane production, dairy, irrigated and dryland maize, and beef and poultry. More recently there had been a dramatic increase in the production of macadamia nuts and avocados, both of which were grown mainly for export markets. There was also a significant amount of high-potential arable land available for growth, specifically in tribal areas, he…

Over the next three years, China could pass the US to become the number one avocado consumer in the world, according to major retail company Pagoda. Peter Zhu, general manager of Pagoda, told the World Avocado Congress, held recently in Columbia, that demand in China was increasing so fast that retail sales were rising 72% each year. “In 2016, the only avocados selling in Pagoda were green and hard,” he said. “In early April 2017, we started to sell ready-to-eat avocados in all our stores, and by 2018, 89% of the stock in Pagoda stores were ready to eat. Now, in 2019, all 4 000 Pagoda stores only sell ready-to-eat avocados. No more green fruits.” He added that the trend was occurring in most high-end retail and online stores. John…

Should the summer rain arrive in time, South Africa’s groundnut planting for the coming season might amount to double what was planted last year. Grain SA economist Luan van der Walt told Farmer’s Weekly that the commodity organisation had undertaken a groundnut roadshow to production regions in towns such as Setlagole, between Stella and Mahikeng in North West, and Hoopstad and Viljoenskroon in the Free State at the start of October. Information obtained during the roadshow indicated that sufficient seed was available to establish 43 000ha to 45 000ha of groundnuts this season, compared with 20 000ha planted last year. The main reason for the low planting last year was that the rain arrived too late, Van der Walt said. Bothaville groundnut producer Francois Minnaar said rainfall at the right…

Sustainable water use, access to water, and transformation were some of the main challenges facing the water sector, according to Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. Speaking at the recent Agri SA Congress in Centurion, Sisulu said her department was in the process of designing a water management plan, to be released shortly, which included protecting the resource and ensuring that everybody had equitable access. “Without proper water governance, South Africa will not be able to deal with climate change,” she said. While 1,5 million hectares were under irrigation, the National Development Plan called for an additional 500ha to come into production. “This requires more water for irrigation. We need to have a way in which we conserve our water and stretch it further. Based on the…

The South African Veterinarian Network (SAVN) has welcomed the rabies inoculation campaign launched in North West. Rabies was endemic to the northern parts of South Africa, and the North West was no exception, said Dr Danie Odendaal, director at the SAVN. He therefore welcomed the recent drive by the provincial government to inoculate as many cats and dogs as possible in the province to prevent the spread of the disease. “Dogs, in particular, need to be inoculated regularly. Infected dogs, jackals and yellow mongooses are notorious for spreading the disease. Indications are that the disease in North West is mainly transmitted by infected black-backed jackal [Canis mesomelas],” he said. Rabies was a vaccine-preventable viral disease that occurred in more than 150 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).…

In South Africa, the welfare of animals is protected by legislation, standards, codes, agreements and monitoring procedures. The Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC) suggests that the following approaches can contribute to ensuring animal welfare: • Breed societies, farmer organisations, feedlots, transporters, auctioneers, sellers and abattoirs should take an active role in the process by setting down and promoting a series of minimum expectations in the form of a Code of Best Practice. This is already in place in most large organisations in South Africa. Problems remain on small-scale, informally run farms or with indigent animal owners. • A legislative framework that underpins all other initiatives. In this respect, South Africa is well advanced, with some legislation dating back more than a century. Unfortunately, police and prosecutors do not always investigate…

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is tasked with consumer protection in the financial services sector. This is an onerous task, given that its responsibilities also include market conduct regulation and supervision. The FSCA aims to protect financial customers by ensuring their fair treatment by financial institutions, as well as providing them with financial education. It also holds those who jeopardise the financial well-being of consumers accountable for their actions. However, this does not take away the responsibility of individuals for managing their own situation. Quite rightly, we make use of experts when doing our financial planning; many farmers have a broker who gives advice and guidance through what can easily become a quagmire. The challenge for the consumer is knowing how to distinguish between good and bad financial advice.…

The mandate of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is to help South Africa maintain food security for all its citizens. In order to carry out this mandate, the ARC works hard at remaining at the forefront of adding value to the agriculture sector and its multitude of industries. SOUTH AFRICA MUST BECOME RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE For over 100 years, the organisation has worked tirelessly to improve agricultural economics and capacity development through conducting research in animal and crops sciences, which are necessary for the development of appropriate agricultural engineering techniques for small- and large-scale producers. The ARC’s research and project findings have been integral to the agricultural community and the nation’s food security. For example, over the past 10 years, the ARC’s efforts at crop improvement have resulted in…

Blueberries Blueberries make a useful addition to a farming enterprise. Many tomato and cucumber farmers, for example, have found that transforming a tunnel from vegetable production to this blue superfood requires minimal input. With the right fertiliser application and management, blueberries can make a lucrative crop. PRODUCTION To make the investment worthwhile, Elzette Schutte, coordinator at the South African Berry Producers’ Association, recommends that a farmer set aside a minimum of 5ha to 10ha. With a wide variety of cultivars available, production is possible in both warmer and cooler areas, and blueberries can be planted in most provinces in South Africa. However, while older varieties suited to cool climates are freely available, newer cultivars and those that can be grown in warmer areas are subject to royalty fees. Schutte notes…

I’m delighted that avocados are currently enjoying excellent demand. I’ve used the word ‘boom’ in the headline with some trepidation, as Nature has a sneaky habit of disrupting the best-laid plans of fruit growers and marketers just when they think all is well! Nonetheless, demand for avocados, and other types of fruit, such as citrus, is extraordinary at the moment. WORLDWIDE DEMAND The consensus among avocado industry role players attending the recent Ninth World Avocado Summit held in Colombia seems to be that the main challenge ahead will be to produce enough fruit to supply the markets. Demand is strong the world over, with China offering a massive market, provided exporters can meet its requirements. New plantings are to be found in the traditional avocado-producing countries, and new suppliers have…

Faced with the complexity of data-based technology, most farmers have a single question on their minds: where do I start? It is no easy task to select which tech solutions are applicable to your operation. A good start is to speak to an independent technology integration adviser; this will give you access to a knowledge base and ensure that the selected solutions are viable for you. An adviser is likely to suggest that you consider all the data available. Each farm has to be managed differently, but all farmers have the same basic requirements in their quest to harvest a healthy crop. Farming involves managing risk and adjusting variables. To know the effect of a change is almost impossible if you cannot see longterm trends or compare the changes with…

TOBACCO WARS by Johann van Loggerenberg (Tafelberg, R310) Exposing the shenanigans of Big Tobacco, cigarette smugglers and the state capture crew, Van Loggerenberg tells of how he led a South African Revenue Services (SARS) team to expose these ‘dirty tricks’. The book’s thriller style makes you wonder if you’ve strayed into the draft of a film script. Some sections certainly fall into the ‘You couldn’t make it up’ category, emphasising how such accounts can sometimes be stranger than fiction. The bottom line, though, is that Van Loggerenberg and SARS ultimately wanted the tobacco industry to make good on at least R8 billion in missing taxes. Reflect on the homes, infrastructure or hospital staff that could pay for. FIELD GUIDE TO INSECTS OF SOUTH AFRICA by Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths &…

“Before 1993, South Africa’s agriculture sector enjoyed relatively high government protection and support. Protection came in the form of quantitative import restrictions, a single marketing channel through control boards, and a multitude of tariffs on products. The first winds of change came in 1994, when the country signed the Marrakesh Agreement and agreed to remove quantitative controls over imports and to lower tariffs. South Africa’s general tariff was reduced from 23% in 1990 to 6,97% in 1997, and tariffs on agricultural products fell to 5,31% in 1997. The country also simplified its tariff book, with the number of tariff lines decreasing from 13 609 pre-1993 to 6 420 in 2000. The second phase of reforms took place after the promulgation of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act of 1996, which…

The conflict between humans and animals in Namibia was on the increase and was becoming more intense, according to Piet Gouws, outgoing chairperson of the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO). He was speaking at the recent 2019 Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) congress in Windhoek. Gouws said livestock production was not only impacted upon by predators, but also by the influx of elephants, zebra and even hartebeest. While predation resulted in significant animal losses, the inflow of game resulted in serious damage to infrastructure and the depletion of grazing. This compromised the economic survival of producers. It did not only affect individual producers, but regional economies as well as the national economy. ‘THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT THERE ARE WORKABLE SOLUTIONS’ “The frustration is that there are workable solutions to the problem,…

Steady increases in the oil price and a weakening rand meant that road transport of agricultural products in South Africa had become less efficient, according to Theo Boshoff, manager of legal intelligence at Agbiz. There were also socio-economic considerations at play. Trucks moving bulk products competed for space on roads with passenger vehicles, creating a safety issue and putting pressure on South Africa’s road infrastructure. Speaking to Farmers’ Weekly, Boshoff said that the disbanding of the marketing boards, removal of subsidies on rail infrastructure, and subsidies for new motorways and roads to provide transport linkages throughout the country had also resulted in the weakening of rail transport. As the movement of agricultural products became the responsibility of individual companies in the mid-1990s, the vast majority of bulk agricultural products were…

SPAIN The Asociación Interprofesional de Limón y Pomelo recently released its updated grapefruit production estimate for the 2019/2020 season, which indicated a crop forecast in Spain of 60 740t. This was 26% down year-on-year due to poor weather conditions. The drop in production would support prices, with supply outweighing demand on the European market. AUSTRALIA Scientists are on the lookout for energetic flies with plenty of body hair, as these could pollinate crops and help expand fruit, vegetable and nut production. Pollination is vital to the success of many fruit, nut and vegetable crops, and pollination-dependent crops in Australia are worth almost $6 billion (about R91 billion) a year. As part of a $5,7 million (R87 million) research effort involving leading scientists, fly pollination test sites have been set up…

A representative of Bayer Southern Africa has said that the latest rejection of the company’s applications to have its triple-stacked genetically modified (GM) maize seed approved for commercial release in South Africa was “unfortunate and disappointing”. Earlier rejections of the application by South Africa’s Executive Council for Genetically Modified Organisms (Executive Council) and by the Appeal Board for Genetically Modified Organisms were recently upheld by Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza. The glyphosate-, pest- and drought-tolerant MON87460 x MON89034 x NK603 maize seed was originally developed by Monsanto International. Monsanto has subsequently been wholly acquired by Bayer. A decision document issued by the Executive Council cited a number of reasons why it, and later both the appeal board and Didiza, had rejected Bayer Southern Africa’s application.…

Agri SA remained firmly opposed to land expropriation without compensation (EWC) and the amendment of the Constitution to allow for EWC, said Ernest Pringle, chairperson of the Centre of Excellence for Land at Agri SA. Pringle, speaking at the recent Agri SA Congress held in Centurion, said that EWC was “unwarranted and foolish”, and had already resulted in “tremendous outflows of capital”. He added that Agri SA was committed to land reform within the rule of law, and said that land reform had to be implemented in accordance with free market principles. He said the cost of land reform could not be “borne by individuals or farmers”, and that Agri SA would continue to demand full market value for properties. If government had “minimised corruption and wastage”, it “could have…

Increasing international pressure is being brought to bear on governments and industry to act on climate change. Recently, huge media interest in 16-year-old Greta Thunberg’s protests against international apathy about environmental affairs has clearly fixed climate change in the minds of consumers. The bulk of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide is produced by the transport and manufacturing industries. Luckily for them, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) published a report, ‘Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues and options’, in December 2006. This alleged that livestock produce 18% of total GHGs, more than the quantity produced by the transport sector. TARGETING LIVESTOCK TAKES THE HEAT AWAY FROM THE REAL ISSUE: FOSSIL FUELS The report was good news for the transport and other industries, as it shifted the focus…

Tell us briefly about your existing company, In Transformation Initiative. It was started six years ago to facilitate change in conflict-ridden countries and is based on the South African transition model. Over the past couple of years, our interest in South Africa has been renewed due to talks about expropriation without compensation and the country’s economic slump. In Transformation Initiative is in the business of solving difficult questions, so we make it our job to help find solutions to the volatile situation in which South Africa finds itself. It is quite pleasing to be involved in the development of solutions on the home front. Where did the idea of an agricultural development agency originate? Since September last year, In Transformation Initiative has initiated consultations with an extensive list of agricultural…

Broiler production Chicken farming is the only type of animal production that can provide an income in the short as well as the long term. It can also be carried out nearly anywhere in South Africa, whether in a backyard, on a small to medium-size farm, or as a multimillion-rand enterprise. So says Jan Grobbelaar, the training director at Dumela Poultry Solutions. Notwithstanding this flexibility, he advises that the prospective farmer start with at least 5 000 chickens for a broiler business. This would require a farm of around 3ha in size. “The location of the farm is paramount, as it will greatly reduce or increase costs in terms of transport to the abattoir, market and input suppliers. The farm should also preferably be far enough from any other chicken…

PRODUCTION Producing exotic mushrooms require a space of 400m² to 500m² in a controlled indoor environment to make the investment worthwhile. Each fungus species has its own climatic requirement. Oyster mushrooms, for example, need 80% to 90% relative humidity with a temperature of between 18°C and 21°C, and 12 hours of daylight. Fresh air should be fanned into the growing area to expel CO2 as it builds up. Fungi spawn to start mushroom farming is readily available on order. Farmers are advised to use fresh spawn to ensure viability and vigour of the fungus. Oyster mushrooms have a turnaround of four to five weeks to first harvest, while shiitake mushrooms may take up to 100 days before the first fruit body can be harvested. The former provides four flushes, or…

Stihl is internationally renowned for its superior quality, durable handheld power tools. One of the latest focus areas for the company has been the development of products tough enough for the extreme working conditions of emerging markets such as Africa. This has resulted in the release of the 230 range, also known as the farmers’ range, as each of these rugged tools has been designed with the farming environment in mind. All are robust, easy to operate and powerful. Importantly, they are simple to maintain, with spares being interchangeable amongst all units in the range. This means that even in remote, rural locations, the tools can be serviced without trouble or delay, and by one person. FS 235 BRUSHCUTTER For tackling dense undergrowth, thick grass, weeds and other overgrown vegetation,…

Makes four servings Some oil 6 chicken breasts, skinned, deboned, and cut in strips 500ml (2 cups) boiling water 1 chicken stock cube 75ml (5 Tbsp) golden syrup 1ml dried parsley 15ml (1 Tbsp) cornflour 1ml salt 7,5ml (1½ tsp) cinnamon Pinch of cayenne pepper Pinch of turmeric 5ml (1 tsp) cumin powder 16 whole dried dates, halved 1. Heat the oil and fry the chicken strips until golden brown. Transfer all the chicken strips to a saucepan. 2. Combine the boiling water, chicken stock cube, golden syrup and parsley well. 3. Mix the cornflour with the salt, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, turmeric and cumin in a separate bowl. Add some of the chicken stock mixture and mix into a smooth paste. 4. Add the paste to the rest of the…

Rectal palpation in artificial insemination (AI) may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a remarkable new device called Eye Breed. Designed in France, Eye Breed was launched in September at an international livestock exhibition in Rennes, where it won several awards for innovation. THE INSIDE STORY Eye Breed comprises an insemination device with an integrated camera, and a suction pump attached to the waist with a strap. This enables the user to view live footage on a mobile phone, via an app, of the cow’s reproductive tract while insemination takes place. The suction pump ensures that the device establishes permanent contact with the cervix during the insemination procedure. Once the inseminating device has made contact, the suction pump keeps it attached to the cervix. The operator can…

If you were given R3 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend the money? I guess I would start by finding a BEE partner and leverage this to turn the R3 million into R10 million. I would then invest this in a major local farming business or agribusiness that has both industry dominance and export market access. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? Some years back, I worked for a guy in London who often used the quote (credited to Woody Allen) that 80% of success depends on just showing up. I think this comes pretty close to the truth. If you were given carte…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 29 OCTOBER AFMA Symposium, Diamond Auditorium, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria.Visit afmasymposium.co.za. 6 NOVEMBER Subtrop Marketing Symposium, Ingweyama Conference and Sport Resort, White River. Email Lizette de Wet at lizette@subtrop.co.za, or phone her on 015 306 3676. 10 TO 13 NOVEMBER International Symposium on Moringa, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria. Email Laila Smith at laila.smith@wits.ac.za, or phone her on 011 717 6705. 26 TO 27 NOVEMBER African Agri Investment Indaba, Cape Town International Convention Centre.Visit agri-indaba.com. 26 TO 27 NOVEMBER Management and Treatment of Domestic and Industrial Wastewater, International Convention Centre, East London.Email dev@gptc.co.za. 28 TO 29 NOVEMBER 4.0 Industrial Revolution Agri Tech Conference 2019, The Lanzerac, Stellenbosch. Email Empire Training and Conferences at ryan@empiretraining.co.za, or phone 073›946 9796. COURSES & TRAINING 28 OCTOBER TO 1…

It has become fashionable in conferences to say “let’s make agriculture sexy in order to attract the youth”. I get where the sentiment comes from; after all, Africa’s farmers have an average age of 60. Here in South Africa, the average is 62. But I have two difficulties with supporting this statement. First, I don’t believe that agriculture is necessarily supposed to be made sexy for young people to want to join the sector; it needs to be valuable. In other words, if agriculture can provide a greater reward than other sectors of the economy, young people might want to join in. FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE OPPORTUNITIES THE SECTOR OFFERS IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Second, while I haven’t done my homework to assess if young people are really uninterested…

South African winemakers and a number of European buyers have said they were working to address grievances raised by farmworkers on Western Cape wine farms. This was in response to these farmworkers and their labour unions calling for consumers in Sweden, Norway and Finland to avoid buying allegedly unethically produced South African wines until workers on Western Cape wine farms were no longer subject to alleged human rights abuses. Media reports quoted the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agriculture and Allied Workers’ Union (CSAAWU) and its members as describing working conditions on Western Cape wine farms as “inhumane”. The media reports also stated that a memorandum handed by CSAAWU and its members to the consulates of Sweden, Norway and Finland alleged that international wine-buying and marketing companies, Systembolaget of Sweden, Alko of Finland…

After four years of hard work, a South African company recently achieved relevant permissions from the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) to begin offering clients the likes of crop spraying and seeding using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Agridoc, the recently formed agricultural division of DC Geomatics (DCG), had reportedly already begun commercially spraying crops from 27 September this year. This was according to DCG’s group CEO, Nico van Rooyen, who also explained that achieving this approval from the CAA was a joint venture between DCG and PACSys, the sole Southern African agricultural drone distributor for China-headquartered UAV manufacturer, DJI. PACSys supplied the DJI Agras UAVs that were now approved for commercial operations in South Africa. “PACSys and DJI…

Challenging trading conditions caused a sharp decline in headline earnings per share for agribusiness investment company Zeder. However, it may return as much as R4,75 billion to shareholders after its planned disposal of Pioneer Foods. Zeder said in a statement that headline earnings per share in its six months to end-August had decreased 63% to 3,6c, mainly due to the weaker performance of most of the company’s investments following continued challenging trading conditions experienced by the agri, food and related business sectors. The company had investments in Pioneer Foods, Quantum Foods, Kaap Agri, Zaad, Capespan and Agrivision Africa. Norman Celliers, CEO of Zeder, noted, however, that the negative market sentiment towards Zeder, and the sector it operated in “due to the prevailing challenging macro-conditions”, had resulted in continued subdued valuations…

Wellington Country Women’s Agricultural Association’s (CWAA) ‘Box for a Farmers’ Wife’ project was initially aimed at the wives of drought-stricken farmers in the Western Cape, but has since blossomed into a countrywide project of empathy and support. This was according to Juanita Loubser, chairperson of the branch. She said the purpose of the project was to show support to these women, who were experiencing the effects of the drought alongside their husbands and families. “At first we earmarked the farmers’ wives in the CWAA’s circle around Paarl. As the message spread, we were inundated by so much goodwill and offers to provide care boxes from all over South Africa that we now are able to extend the project to, among others, the Eastern Cape, the Southern Cape region and the…

Domaine Des Dieux Chardonnay 2015 from the Hemel en Aarde Ridge near Hermanus received the Vertex Award at this year’s Veritas Awards, held recently at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The wine was one of 1 491 entries. DISTELL TRIUMPHED IN THE BRANDY CATEGORY Spier was the most successful producer with nine double gold medals and seven gold, followed by Simonsig Estate (four double gold, three gold) and Nederburg (three double gold, six gold). A record number of 29 wineries each received one double gold award and several gold medals. In the fortified wine category, KWV was awarded with five double gold medals. Nuy Cellar, with four double gold and six gold, was a close second, while De Krans, Du Toitskloof Wines, Orange River Cellars and Slanghoek Wine Cellar…

Many communal farming areas have fallow maize lands that have not been used for years. This is not only a waste of space; it leads to the loss of valuable topsoil, which can silt up village dams. In many cases, communities do not replant their lands because the conditions are too dry for maize. At the same time, they believe that maize is the only grain of value as food for people and fodder for animals. But there is an alternative: sorghum. Sheep feedlot trials in Australia have shown that young lambs on high-sorghum diets do as well as those given expensive maize and lucerne rations. Sorghum can also be used as a feed crop for pigs, chickens, goats and cattle. And one of sorghum’s great advantages is that it…

IT RESULTS IN LESS SURFACE MOISTURE BUT MORE BENEFICIAL SUBSOIL MOISTURE Bob Holloway’s farm is in a low-rainfall area of Western Kansas in the US. He depends on the Ogallala Aquifer for his irrigation water, but the water table is dropping by 30cm to 46cm a year. With less water available, most farmers in the area have been forced to reduce production. Holloway, for example, is growing half-circles of wheat and maize on his 48ha centre pivot-irrigated lands. In addition, he has to contend with hot, dry, windy conditions, which increase wind drift and evaporative loss. “These vary from year to year,” he says. “There can be some wet years, but traditionally it’s a hot, dry climate. In summer, the temperature averages between 32°C and 37°C, and occasionally reaches 40°C.…

Essential tremor Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder that causes the hands, head, trunk, voice or legs to shake rhythmically. It is sometimes confused with Parkinson’s disease. ET is the most common trembling disorder. Everyone has at least a small degree of tremor, but the movements usually cannot be seen or felt because they are so small. Noticeable tremors are classified as ET. The condition is most common among people older than 65, but can appear at any age. The cause of ET is unknown. One theory suggests that it occurs when the cerebellum, which controls muscle coordination, does not communicate correctly with other parts of the brain. In most people, the condition seems to be passed from parent to child. If one of your parents has ET, there…