Table of contents for 31 July 2020 in Farmer's Weekly

One of the problems that always emerge when we start debating the role and future of smallholder farming is that there is no clear definition put in place to describe what type of farmer we refer to when we talk about small-scale farmers. Small-scale, smallholder and subsistence farming can refer to anything from a person growing a few stalks of maize in a home garden, to someone producing a crop or running livestock on a small but very much commercial scale, for example, a farmer growing maize on around 10ha or running a livestock herd of 50 animals. We cannot have the same discussion about the person with a small vegetable garden as the one we should be having about the small-scale commercial producer. A recent tweet by Kees Blokland,…

• The headline of the article, ‘Concern about mystery elephant deaths in Namibia’ (FW, 24 July), incorrectly stated that the elephant deaths had occurred in Namibia. These deaths had, in fact, occurred in the Okavango Delta, which is located in Botswana, as indicated in the body of the article. • In the article, ‘Insect farm’s plans for sustainable protein’ (FW, 24 July), the following was published incorrectly: 1. The product was referred to as a sports drink; however, the product is in fact a high-quality protein supplement. 2. It was stated that the company Sustento was established in 2018; the company was in fact established in 2019. 3. It was said that the black soldier fly larvae feed on the substrate for 12 days. While black soldier larvae can feed…

The locusts that emerged in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia towards the end of last year remain a serious challenge for the agriculture sector in these regions. Over half a million hectares across these countries have been affected by locusts that have destroyed crops and pastures. This is leading to rising fears of potential food shortages if the spread of the locusts is not controlled. These swarms of locusts caught the region by surprise as they are not a normal occurrence, with the UN noting that such a large outbreak was last seen 70 years ago. Climatic conditions are, in part, a contributor to the spread of the locusts in this region. Various reports suggest that the locusts thrive in periods after heavy rains (if the…

Tough water restrictions for the new water year are putting serious pressure on many farmers in the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape, with some operating in survival mode, according to Rienette Colesky, CEO of the Gamtoos Irrigation Board. Since the beginning of July, the 132 water users in the Gamtoos Valley, relying exclusively on the Kouga Dam for water, had been able to draw just 20% of their full annual water quotas, with the dam’s water level at 6,92% in the second week of July. Colesky stressed that dairy farmers, in particular, would experience a difficult year. “These farmers are heavily dependent on grazing for their cattle, and as soon as they do not have enough water to irrigate their pastures, they must start purchasing feed.” Adelé Bain, owner…

The good rains reported in the winter rainfall region of the drought-stricken Northern Cape could be an indication that a turning point has been reached in the past seven years’ drought that has ravaged the region. This was according to climatologist Johan van den Berg. He said Springbok, for example, had received 110mm since the start of the rainy season, while about 70mm fell in Garies, and between 40mm and 60mm in the vicinity of Kamieskroon. “Follow-up rain is obviously essential before any claims can be made about the drought being broken. Indications are nevertheless that more rain could be expected in the area at the end of July, and even during summer,” he told Farmer’s Weekly. The western areas of the Northern Cape, including Namaqualand, a small section of…

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the lack of good governance at some fresh produce markets around the country. This was according to Hendrik Eksteen, CEO of Grow Fresh Produce, speaking during a recent webinar hosted by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). According to Eksteen, markets reacted differently to challenges posed by COVID-19. “The Durban market had its ducks in a row with the necessary protocols in place, and dealt with positive COVID-19 cases in a proper manner.” He pointed out that although the Johannesburg market had difficulties when it started with the implementation of COVID-19 protocols, the management caught up quickly. “The Tshwane market, however, made the news for all the wrong reasons.” Farmer’s Weekly previously reported that a case of COVID-19 was reported at the market and resulted in…

South Africa’s farmers and other farm residents have been praised for increasing their alertness and preparedness to deter and repel farm attacks. According to statistics released by TAU SA, during the first half of 2020, the agriculture sector experienced 26 farm murders and 139 farm attacks. “It is clear that effective resistance and the implementation of self-defence techniques led to the death or severe injuring of various attackers. From the accounts of farmers who maintained proper levels of preparedness, attackers were not able to […] catch them off-guard. An awareness of strange or unnatural signs, and immediate access to weapons, prevented the [greater] loss of innocent lives and [of more] serious injuries,” said TAU SA’s deputy general manager, Chris van Zyl. A statement by TAU SA said the organisation recorded…

“The biggest benefit of FarmTrack is having peace of mind that your orchards have been sprayed properly and no rows were missed,” says Jacques Visser of Crispy Farming in Ceres. Visser is a mentor at the BBBEE agribusiness established in 2004 by the DuToit Group, which produces and distributes fresh produce locally and internationally. Crispy Farming grows apples, pears and nectarines on 229ha. PRECISION SPRAYING “Last year, we had a problem with false codling moth (FCM), which led to major financial losses. For us to have access to foreign markets and accreditation from overseas customers, we have to spray chemicals registered for use against FCM sparingly,” explains Visser. In September 2019, Crispy Farming fitted FarmTrack tracking devices to 14 tractors as a management tool to record that orchards were sprayed…

It has been a shock. The last global upheaval on this scale was the Second World War, and even during that tragic period, large numbers of people were unaffected. But not this time round! The COVID-19 pandemic is set to affect almost every person on Earth, either directly or indirectly, and bring about significant behavioural changes. In fact, some of these are already upon us. If we as farmers are to survive, we will have to adapt swiftly. If you are a cut flower producer, your local and export markets disappeared overnight. If your product is fibre, the decline in disposable income of millions of households around the world will depress the sale of clothing and other fabrics. Wool prices are already down from pre-pandemic levels and the price of…

Many years ago, people started observing that sweet thorn (Vachellia karroo) was gradually migrating out of its known habitats in a westerly direction in the Eastern Cape. A simultaneous westerly spread of kudu into areas where they were previously unknown was attributed largely to this phenomenon. THE ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists suspect that global warming, and particularly warmer temperatures, have triggered and accommodated this westerly expansion of V. karroo. The saplings and seedlings of this species are vulnerable to cold nights and are killed off at what is known as the critical elimination temperature. Several nights in succession of temperatures at this level will kill the saplings and seedlings, whereas just one or two nights of these low temperatures will enable a percentage of the plants to survive. With…

The fresh-produce sector is notoriously deficient in tailor-made training for market agents. At present, agents have to complete the Agricultural Produce Agents’ Council (APAC) online course to be legally entitled to work on a market, but I question whether this is enough. A large part of any salesperson’s expertise comes from hands-on experience and learning from older colleagues, and the APAC course takes that experience a step further. Unfortunately, it fails to address many important issues that confront salespeople. NOT A PRIORITY My years in the sector showed me that training and upskilling are not priorities for most market agency managers. There are exceptions, but they are scarce. One of the problems, of course, is that training costs money. But even when presented with incentives, few agencies really make the…

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council has announced a nationwide lockdown, resulting in many events in the Farmer’s Diary being cancelled or postponed. Farmer’s Weekly will continue to keep readers updated with regard to cancelled or postponed events as the information becomes available to the editorial team. All readers are encouraged to contact event organisers before planning to attend events listed in the diary, to confirm that the event is still going ahead. CANCELLED EVENTS 24 JULY TO 2 AUGUST The Royal Show, Pietermaritzburg.Visit royalshow.co.za. 11 TO 14 AUGUST (Previously postponed) Nampo Harvest Day, Bothaville.Visit grainsa.co.za/pages/nampo. 18 TO 20 AUGUST South African Sugar Technologists Association Congress, Durban ICC. Visit sasta.co.za/annual-congress/ notices. 28 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER IDF World Dairy Summit, Cape Town. Visit…

The South African economy is in deep trouble. According to Investec, the June 2020 Supplementary Budget Review showed that this decade is expected to begin with a massive plunge in the health of government finances, with a fiscal deficit of -14,6% of GDP, and gross debt as a percentage of GDP of 81,8% projected for this fiscal year. Not all of this is can be attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mismanagement, corruption, policy uncertainty, the Zuma factor, Eskom, the 2008 global financial implosion, and according to some factions in the ANC, the EFF, Black First Land First, and certain trade unions, something called “white monopoly capital” torpedoed our economy long before the national lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic gave it the final shove. Now according to…

With fewer than 7 000 cheetahs remaining worldwide, the breeding of cheetahs in captivity forms an invaluable part of the conservation of the species. The Cheetah Breeders’ Society of Southern Africa recently introduced a comprehensive set of protocols to the industry at a meeting held near Orkney. According to Kobus van der Westhuizen, chairperson of the society, the South African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) was the most numerous subspecies native to Southern Africa. In 2007, the total population of cheetahs in the region was estimated at 4 190 individuals. The South African cheetah is a medium-sized cat and males are slightly taller than females, and have slightly bigger heads with wider incisors and longer mandibles. “Cheetahs are a highly endangered species. They face culling by landowners, being slaughtered for their…

The forecast of a possible La Niña weather event later in the year have raised concerns in regions already suffering dry conditions. The US Climate Prediction Center has estimated that the chance of La Niña conditions developing during the Northern Hemisphere autumn was between 50% and 55%, with a 50% chance it would persist into early 2021. La Niña conditions, characterised by cooler-than-normal surface water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, were last observed in 2017/2018, according to Reuters. Persistent dry conditions associated with La Niña were most likely to occur in Argentina and southern Brazil, along with the Southern Plains of the US. In early 2018, Argentina harvested its worst soya bean crop in nine years, and Brazilian maize output was also well below initial estimates. US wheat yields were…

The South African agricultural industry has had to endure various logistical constraints in recent times, with the most significant being a diesel shortage. This was particularly important as the country’s lockdown restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic were being eased and economic activity resumed. According to Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, the maize-harvesting process had been delayed as a result, as well as the delivery of maize to silos and mills, along with distribution of maize meal to retail stores. “The trucking of especially export citrus and other fruit to the various ports has also been hampered by insufficient diesel supplies.” He explained that a number of factors had led to the diesel supply shortage, ranging from the closing down of most refineries during the initial lockdown period, to…

The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) has indicated that it expects a 16% decline in the 2020 crop at just over 49 500t of nut-in-shell, compared with the 2019 crop of just over 59 000t. In its second quarterly crop forecast survey, SAMAC attributed the decrease largely to the lingering after-effects of the drought in certain production areas. “Although rainfall during the past season was average, water tables have not yet been replenished to before 2016 levels. Adding to this, many production regions experienced high temperatures during flowering, which might have impacted the sensitive flowers leading to abortion in heat-stressed trees,” SAMAC said in a statement. In addition, there were also incidences of dry flower disease detected in some macadamia orchards, according to Alex Whyte, general manager of Green…

Bush encroachment poses a serious problem for rangelands in Namibia, severely reducing carrying capacity and the value of farmland, as well as the value derived from it. This was according to Klaus Schade, an independent economist based in Windhoek. In a paper commissioned by the Namibian Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project, it was estimated that more than 30 million hectares of Namibian land were affected by bush encroachment, he said. “This amounts to an estimated loss of at least R700 million per annum, as calculated in 2004. Adjusted for inflation, this would amount to R1,6 billion in 2019.” The Namibian economy could, however, benefit from the utilisation of biomass derived from the harvesting of the encroaching plant material. According to Schade, the production of charcoal and bush-based animal feed…

The 2019/2020 wool season drew to a close on a positive note with production up almost 5%, despite the challenges faced by the industry during the past few months. This was according to Deon Saayman, general manager of Cape Wools SA, who said production for the 2019/2020 season was estimated at 46,6 million kilograms. Saayman said that due to strong involvement from various industry organisations such as Agri SA and interaction with government, after a short halt, normal activities within the wool industry were able to resume during Level 5 of the national lockdown. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc across all sectors globally, but China has been the first market to emerge with some positive signs, with wool processing being able to resume, albeit not at full capacity.” Saayman…

Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, Gerhard Grobler, of Smitsfield farm in Lothair, Mpumalanga, started farming intensively about 10 years ago. His great-grandfather started out as a sheep herder and systematically bought pieces of land in the area. When Grobler began farming, he was breeding Bonsmara cattle, but about three years ago, he started introducing Beefmaster genetics into his herd after realising his farming operation was better suited to a crossbred herd. His beef herd now consists of 60% Bonsmara cattle and 40% Beefmaster-Bonsmara crossbred animals. Grobler farms on 1 800ha, but only 600ha is cultivated land. He also has 80ha planted to weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). The rest of the farm is used for natural grazing. The area has sandy loam soil, receives an average of 650mm of…

Whenever animals die after being sick for a short time or are suddenly found dead, clostridial diseases should be suspected. Factors that can lead to these diseases include: • Changes from poor to good food. Animals placed on lush green pastures after the winter or are suddenly fed rich feeds, such as maize, are at risk. • Lack of care with procedures such as castration, tail docking, wound cleaning and treatment. • Helping animals to lamb or calve. • Stress. Any abnormal situation, such as sheep lambing in small camps, is dangerous. • Animals eating carcasses or old bones, or drinking water, or eating feed contaminated by dead animals are at risk. To determine the disease involved, arrange for a necropsy to be done. This may involve laboratory testing to…

THE MURDER OF AHMED TIMOL: MY SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH by Imtiaz A. Cajee (Jacana, R250) Cajee’s reasons for bringing out a second, updated version of his 2005 book, Ahmed Timol: Quest for Justice, are both tragic and triumphant. Timol, Cajee’s uncle, was the first detainee to die at the hands of security police at the then John Vorster Square station. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in 1996 brought little closure to the family’s grief. Determined that history should not judge him as “the nephew who wrote the unfinished story”, Cajee continued with his quest. In 2017, the inquest was reopened, and it was found that Timol had been murdered by the police. Cajee is now seeking justice for other activists who died in detention, and prosecution…

Where will the next pandemic come from? Apart from contagions like COVID-19, neglected zoonotic diseases such as anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis kill at least two million people every year, mostly in developing countries. According to a study by the UN, over 60% of diseases affecting humans originated from animals. Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans are also known as zoonoses. These transmissions can occur in various ways, including through contact with sick animals, or the consumption of infected animals. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences conducted research focusing on how pigs contributed to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. The organisation classified pigs as intermediate hosts for the generation of pandemic influenza virus. It is therefore critical that farmers take note of such…

If Africa is serious about transforming its agriculture sector, multi-stakeholder platforms need to be set up that will assist in introducing agricultural technology that is country-specific to ensure economic growth. This was according to Ibrahim Gourouza, chief operating officer of Grow Africa South Africa, speaking during a recent webinar hosted by the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP). Gourouza said various interventions had been tried to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Africa, such as access to information and technology, affordable finance solutions, quality equipment and training, quality inputs, markets, and infrastructure challenges. “It is globally agreed that in order to grow agriculture in Africa, we need a strong coalition of public and private intervention. Systems [need to be developed] such as policy reform, agriculture development funds, interconnected…

CHINA The slowing down of meat imports to China, due to measures to prevent COVID-19 contamination, would provide further support for prices already buoyed by a severe shortage of pork, analysts said. Purchases of pork and other meat categories soared this year after domestic production fell 30% following an outbreak of African swine fever that devastated China’s pig herd, with the anti-contamination measures threatening to reduce imports. IRAN Exports of agricultural commodities from Iran accounted for 14% of the country’s overall non-petroleum exports in the past fiscal year, ending in March. About seven million tons of these products valued at over US$5,82 billion (about R96 billion) were exported, for a 2,34% increase in tonnage, but an 8,93% decline in value year-on-year, the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture said. In-shell pistachio nuts…

The estimate for South Africa’s avocado exports has been adjusted down 11,6% from 18,5 million 4kg cartons to 16 million 4kg cartons, due to smaller fruit sizes as a result of a hot, dry summer. In 2019, a total of 14,1 million cartons were exported. This was according to Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), who said that in addition, lower volumes of certain varieties were exported due to the closure of the food-service and hospitality sectors in many countries, as part of lockdown regulations to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. As restaurants were slowly re-opening, Donkin said there had been some positive impact on demand, but supply levels were still not at pre-lockdown levels. PICKING HAS BEEN REDUCED DUE TO THE LOWER DEMAND “Every export…

Efforts to develop Africa’s smallholder farmers in the post-lockdown era of the COVID-19 pandemic must be significantly differentiated from largely unsuccessful pre-lockdown efforts. This was according to Ishmael Sunga, CEO of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions, speaking during an Agri All Africa webinar held recently. Sunga said in the case of Africa’s smallholder farmers, the ‘building back better’ concept had to acknowledge that many of these farmers were already “in a bad place” before the various national lockdowns. “[These] efforts must not amplify an already dangerous and volatile situation. For example, why are smallholder farmers not part of the building back better conversations being held [around] the world right now, such as at the UN?” He explained that before the COVID-19-related lockdowns, Africa’s smallholder farmers had often lacked…

The sixth production estimate for South Africa’s 2019/2020 cotton production season has been reduced 3% from the previous estimate to just over 135 300 lint bales, while the local textile industry is also currently under pressure. According to Hennie Bruwer, CEO of Cotton South Africa (Cotton SA), the lower estimates were based on lower yields in some production areas, seed availability, restructuring of ginning capacity, and unfavourable growing conditions at the beginning of the planting season. “The strict lockdown regulations [to contain the COVID-19 pandemic] will result in lower domestic cotton consumption for the year, while most of the crop will be exported. “It will be the second consecutive year that the country will be a net exporter of cotton lint,” he added. Helena Claassens, cluster intelligence officer at Cotton…

In South Africa, groundnuts are produced mainly for local consumption as peanuts and for the manufacturing of peanut butter, with some volume allocated towards niche export markets. The value of the industry is estimated to be around R2,5 billion. Production of the crop, however, is at a crossroads, according to producer Lourens de Kock from Setlagole in North West. Between 8 000ha and 10 000ha of irrigated groundnut production were in the recent past lost to other longterm crops such as pecan nuts and olives, as well as seasonal crops, including lucerne and cotton. The number of hectares earmarked for dryland production has also decreased markedly, mainly due to severe, multi-year drought or delayed rainfall in the summer grain-producing regions. AN INDUSTRY IN DECLINE South African farmers planted nearly 100…

At this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, few people wear gloves any more, as sanitation ‘stations’ are in place at most businesses and retail outlets. At large supermarkets, an assistant at the entrance usually sprays customers’ hands. Spraying is highly effective at preventing infection, re-infection and cross-infection. The only problem is that, to cut costs, the spray used is sometimes methylated spirits, as it has the required percentage of alcohol to kill pathogens. This presents two problems: the distinctive smell of ‘meths’ and, more seriously, the possibility of absorbing toxins. ETHANOL AND METHANOL While methylated spirits offers adequate protection against germs and viruses acquired by touch, it contains ethanol and methanol, toxins that can penetrate the skin, get into the bloodstream, and possibly have a negative effect on one’s vision.…

Recent research on broiler chicks’ distress call behaviour may herald a useful new management tool for producers. The study, entitled ‘Spectral entropy of early-life distress calls’ and published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, was conducted by a team of animal welfare and behavioural scientists from a number of universities across the UK. ANALYSIS OF CALLS The researchers collected and analysed automated recordings in 12 typical flocks of 25 000 chicks, and went on to demonstrate that these calls or chirps could be clearly picked up above other noises in the environment such as regular calling and farm machinery. They suggest that distress calling may be an ‘iceberg indicator’, where a single measure captures a range of welfare information at once. “On their first day in a barn,…

If you were given R30 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend it? Without a doubt, I would choose to invest in the production and supply of game meat to the commercial market. I have absolute confidence in game meat as a unique, healthy protein to feed our country. There are massive opportunities for growth of the commercial game meat market in South Africa. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? I learned many good lessons from my parents, for example that respect can never be demanded; it must be earned. It’s a two-way street. If you were given carte blanche to effect one major change…