Table of contents for 04 September 2020 in Farmer's Weekly

For most industries, 2020 will probably be a particularly bad year with an abrupt fall in performance, but this should be followed by some degree of recovery in the near future. For agriculture, the situation is the exact opposite of this. Widespread and prolonged droughts, animal disease outbreaks and lacklustre commodity prices resulted in two years of negative growth for the farming sector in 2018 and 2019 when it contracted by 1,86% and 9,86% respectively. Then 2020 happened. The world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing entire industries into close-to-zero revenue situations for several months. Through all of this, the one sector that “emerged as a shining light in the economy” was agriculture, which, as a provider of essential goods, was largely exempt from lockdown restrictions. According to…

In a bid to help alleviate hunger in South Africa, which has been further exacerbated by COVID-19, RMB and FNB have donated R3 million from the FirstRand SPIRE fund to assist FoodForward South Africa (FFSA) set up operations in Mpumalanga. FFSA is widely respected for the impactful work it does in redirecting quality, edible surplus food, which would have gone to waste, to vulnerable communities in order to sustainably eliminate hunger by feeding thousands of vulnerable South Africans that go hungry daily. The R3 million committed by RMB and FNB will be utilised towards the initial infrastructure costs of FFSA expanding into Mpumalanga. Once at scale, FFSA would be able to feed approximately 20 000 to 25 000 people per day in this province. “FNB and RMB commend FFSA for…

Agri SA has pledged to support efforts by its provincial affiliates to increase awareness of the devastating effects of rural crime and criminality on farmers. Members of the Northern Cape agriculture sector and the wider community took part in a second protest in Hartswater in mid-August, coordinated by Agri Northern Cape, following the murder of three people on a farm in the district in July. The initial protest action took place on 30 July during the first court appearance of five suspects for the murder of Danie, Breggie and Elzabie Brand on their farm, while the second occurred on 13 August, during the suspects’ second appearance in the local magistrate’s court. The case was remanded until 27 August, when one of the suspects, Kgomotso Mpumlwana, was to have applied for…

A new platform, Africa Fertilizer Watch Dashboard, has been launched to track country-specific measures in 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure that sufficient quantities of appropriate fertilisers reach farmers in time for planting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform was initiated by the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, Development Gateway, AfricaFertilizer.org, International Fertilizer Development Centre, and AFRIQOM. According to a joint statement by these organisations, the goal was to support development partners and other private sector organisations to effectively respond to the pandemic, by ensuring that farmers had access to fertiliser when needed. “Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest fertiliser usage in the world, [which is] insufficient to replace soil nutrients lost every year to crop production. In addition, huge demographic shifts in [the region] could have a major impact…

UNITED STATES Citrus growers in southern Texas in the US suffered extensive losses due to Hurricane Hanna, which hit the state in late July. According to Dale Murden, president of Texas Citrus Mutual, “estimates right now on grapefruit is about 30% crop loss so far”. This amounted to a loss of around US$66 million (about R1,14 billion) he added. NIGERIA The African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council has released a statement, underscoring the need for proper investment in the development of a potato value chain to boost Nigeria’s economy. Lugard Okonobo, senior technical adviser of the council in Nigeria, said recently that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resultant pressure on the continent’s food security, it was vital to mobilise stakeholders to support this initiative. “We are bringing…

The escalating number of poor people in South Africa will drastically increase the numbers of vulnerable needing access to food, according to FoodForward SA, a non-profit food redistribution organisation. Statistics South Africa recently reported that the amount of unemployed people had increased to 7,1 million in the first three months of the year, and projected that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic would result in about 50% of the population being at risk of food insecurity. In addition to the increase in unemployment, the sharp increase in food prices also had a drastic impact on access to food, especially nutritious food. An annual report released by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) in May 2020, highlighted that the year-on-year increase in the average food basket between May…

To reduce the risk of bushfires as a result of charcoal production in the country, the Namibian Directorate of Forestry recently introduced new measures. According to a government directive, the measures became effective in mid-August and would annually commence from the beginning of August and last until the end of December. Joseph Hailwa, Namibia’s director of forestry, said in the directive that above-average rainfall occurred over most of the country during the 2019/2020 rainy season, resulting in increased combustible fuel-loads in the veld. According to him, such conditions would exacerbate “fire behaviour”, especially during the upcoming dry, hot season. There was always a danger of veld fires on farms where charcoal was produced, and it was against this background that the measures were implemented. Charcoal burning was one of the…

The Marketing Act of 1937 provided for the establishment of marketing schemes for agricultural products and gave wide powers to the various marketing boards to regulate the marketing of specific products. Over the years, marketing schemes were developed for products and the marketing boards became very powerful. Although the boards managed to achieve some price stability, it became clear in the 1970s that the marketing schemes were too rigid. For instance, only butchers were allowed to sell meat, and only within prescribed hours. Wheat, flour and bread prices were controlled and grain producers were allowed to sell their products only to the co-operatives as agents of the marketing boards. The retail landscape in South Africa changed from one with small independent retailers to one where the major retail chains dominated…

After the withdrawal of methyl bromide as a pesticide, research efforts in the production and protection of sweet potato have shifted towards the use of nematode-resistant cultivars as an alternative strategy for managing root-knot nematodes of the Meloidogyne genus. However, successful use of these cultivars demands the accurate identification of Meloidogyne species and races. This, in turn, depends on close collaboration between plant breeders and plant-parasitic nematologists. Plant-parasitic nematodes are a costly burden in crop production. Omnipresent in nature, they are associated with nearly every important agricultural crop and are a significant constraint on global food security. Root-knot and reniform (Rotylenchulus spp) nematodes cause an estimated US$2,6 billion (about R45,2 billion) worth of damage to sweet potato crops worldwide every year. In South Africa, the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp), cyst…

Readers will know that one of my favourite refrains about the fresh produce industry is that change is a constant. We live with it in some or other form every day. This was confirmed once again by the recent news that a new market has opened in the Midrand area between the two major markets of Joburg and Tshwane. As if this were not competition enough, Gauteng is also home to the substantial Springs Fresh Produce Market. PROPERLY THOUGHT THROUGH? The people behind the new market would surely have done their homework and must therefore have good reason for making such a large investment. Building and setting up a market from scratch hardly comes cheap. I would like to know what their produce range looks like. Does it focus on…

Every year on 13 and 14 May, the interdenominational prayer movement Indaba Zosindiso (‘Stories of Salvation’) hosts a festival in the small Eastern Cape town of Tsolo, 42km from Mthatha. The occasion is to commemorate the life of Anglican Saint Elizabeth Paul, and pilgrims from across the country can be seen jostling to enter a tiny rondavel where Paul diligently prayed while evangelising in the region during the 1950s and early 1960s. Pilgrims are attracted to the site not only to honour Paul’s life, but also in the hope of having their lives blessed and their physical ailments healed. Little is known about Elizabeth Paul’s (née Spalding) early life apart from the fact that she was born on 19 December 1906 in Zandukwana, Tsolo, to a Xhosa mother and white…

SASOL BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (Struik Nature, R370) has been helping us identify birds for more than a quarter of a century and this year has reached its fifth edition. Adjustments in scientific naming and fresh observations always lead to some revised names and updated distribution maps, but the two main changes in this volume are plenty of new illustrations and the innovative bird-call barcodes. Using a free Struik Nature app, you can scan a barcode in the book to check the calls of most of the birds featured. The field guide is supplemented by the SASOL CHECKLIST OF BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (Struik Nature, R50) for you to record your sightings. Both are also available in Afrikaans.…

The potential La Niña event forecast for the 2020/2021 summer season presents mixed fortunes for agriculture in Southern and East Africa. A La Niña weather event is associated with below-average rainfall from December to February for parts of East Africa on the one hand, and above-average rainfall for Southern Africa, on the other. In East Africa, maize and grains are planted from February, and drier than normal conditions typically lead to poor harvests. Therefore, in this coming season, there is a high likelihood of yet another year of poor agricultural harvests for countries in this region. MIXED GROWTH FOR GRAIN OUTPUT In the 2019/2020 season, output growth for major grain producing countries in East Africa, such as Kenya and Ethiopia, were largely mixed. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported…

The South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers) will be working with government and other industry role players to develop and implement an initiative to ensure that small-scale sugar cane growers are paid preferential prices for their crops. This was according to a statement issued by SA Canegrowers following its recent virtual annual general meeting (AGM). Chairperson, Rex Talmage, told AGM attendees that over half of SA Canegrowers’ approximately 20 200 members were “emerging small-scale black farmers”. This was why the organisation was prioritising programmes focused on supporting and developing them. The statement said that, through annual collections via an industrial levy, over the next five years South Africa’s larger-scale sugar cane growers would collectively be generating R640 million to continue transformation within the sugar cane-growing sector. “The funds will…

Recent media reports indicating that Bheki Ntuli, MEC of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison, intended to employ 110 “volunteers” to specifically help fight crime against the province’s farming community have raised questions from stakeholders. Ntuli reportedly made this announcement during a joint meeting of the KZN Provincial Legislature’s agriculture and community safety portfolio committees. Farmer’s Weekly’s attempts to confirm these reports with the department were unsuccessful at the time of going to print. In their responses to these media reports, leaders of both the KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) and the KZN chapter of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (KZN AFASA) said that they had not been formally made aware of any such programme. Kwanalu’s CEO, Sandy La Marque, said that if this formation of the…

The recent announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the local trade and distribution of liquor would be resumed under Level 2 of the lockdown regulations to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, may have come too late for some of South Africa’s wine grape producers. The industry is believed to have lost more than R7 billion since the introduction of sales restrictions in March. Following the initial nine-week ban on local sales, a five-week ban on exports and a second domestic sales ban, Vinpro estimated that more than 80 wineries and 350 wine grape producers would go out of business over the next 18 months, with a potential loss of more than 21 000 jobs across the value chain. “It might be too little, too late. Many wine businesses have already closed…

Any person living in South Africa needs to have at least R585 per month to afford enough food to meet the minimum required daily energy intake needed to survive. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released its National Poverty Lines 2020 report on 13 August, in which it revised its three cost of living measurements as at April 2020. The first of these was the food poverty line (FPL), also known as the extreme poverty line, which has now been set at R585. The lower-bound poverty line was set at R840/person/month and was referred to as the FPL plus “the amount derived from non-food items” for households spending at FPL levels. The upper-bound poverty line was set at R1 268/person/month. Agricultural economist Dr Kobus Laubscher said these figures were cause for…

Preliminary results of an impact assessment by the Competition Commission of South Africa (CompCom) have indicated that dominance by certain large, vertically integrated forestry value chain companies is resulting in the exclusion, or limited participation, of many smaller-potential or existing stakeholders in the sector. A CompCom statement said that the study was initiated under the new Section 21 (a) of the Competition Act No. 89 of 1998, that enhanced its powers to study and report on the impact of past decisions by South Africa’s competition authorities. Insights gained from these actions could be used to inform future actions or directions within the enforcement and advocacy of the country’s competition legislation. The study found that, among the advantages they had over smaller-scale stakeholders, the few large vertically integrated forestry companies operating…

Virtually every livestock farmer needs to inject his or her animals to administer vaccines and other medication. To be effective, safe and cause as little pain as possible to the animal, an injection must be given properly and with care. The first step is to read the instructions before you carry out the procedure, even if you have used the medication before. Manufacturers sometimes change the way in which the animal needs to be injected. Remember that ‘IM’ stands for ‘intramuscular’ (into the muscle) and ‘subcutaneously’ means the injection is given under the skin. Due to cost and time constraints, it’s almost impossible to use a new needle for every animal. But disposable needles become blunt after being used on eight to 10 animals (or even fewer if the hide…

In 2019, an Australian-made remote weighing system, Optiweigh, was launched on the market. This enables cattle farmers to obtain accurate weight readings at regular intervals without the cost, time and live-weight loss associated with weighing animals manually. The self-powered, portable system uses highly sophisticated algorithms to estimate whole body weight by weighing the front feet of the animal. The measurements are transmitted to farmers in real-time to view on their smartphone or laptop. Dr Danie Odendaal, director of Veterinarian Network and veterinary herd health consultant, thinks that these types of measurements could have numerous practical applications during different stages of production and could help farmers significantly improve production efficiencies. Firstly, the system could assist farmers to identify potential problems, such as diseases or deformities, that might be preventing individual animals…

“South Africa will always be part of my own story now,” says British journalist Damian Barr. For his first novel, YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE (Bloomsbury, R295), Barr portrays predators warped by history following their prey through three generations, and in the process takes the reader through the introduction of concentration camps in the Anglo-Boer War, apartheid and gender stereotyping. He shared five key concepts that sent him on this literary quest. 1. Mothers and sons: Across very different settings, I explored themes that I had dealt with in my autobiographical writing, especially the relationships between mothers and sons. 2. Torture: The concentration camps were run according to cruel rules, but when I first read about the tragic death of Boksburg teen Raymond Buys at Echo Wild Game Rangers training…

– Sasol Birds of Southern Africa – Sasol Checklist of Birds of Southern Africa Thanks to Penguin Random House, three readers will each win a field guide and checklist in the language of their choice. TO ENTER: Email the word BIRDS and your name, physical address and ID number to farmersweekly@caxton.co.za with the subject line ‘Win a Book’. Competition opens on 28 August 2020 and runs until 28 September 2020. Visit farmersweekly.co.za for full competition details and rules. Terms and conditions apply.…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 7 SEPTEMBER MENA Food Security Digi-Conference (online). Email Lara Tan at lara@gmevents.ae. 19 SEPTEMBER Grow to Life Workshop, Soil for Life, Cape Town.Email info@soilforlife.co.za. 29 OCTOBER AgriAllAfrica Agribusiness Conference, CSIR, Pretoria. Email Marianna du Plessis at marianna.duplessis@gmail.com, or phone her on 063 076 9135. 6 TO 7 NOVEMBER Environmental Waste and Landfill Management, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg.Email admin@maphosam.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 7 TO 11 SEPTEMBER Introduction to Pig Production, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone her on 012›672›9153. 14 TO 18 SEPTEMBER Introductory Course to Small-stock Management, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone her on 012 672 9153. 19 SEPTEMBER Cattle Calf Rearing, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985. 21 TO…

With the recent changes that COVID-19 has put on our doorsteps, it has been absolutely amazing to read about how our hands and the soil are our constant source of life. I recently lost my job in the development planning space and I hope to get myself fully immersed in the agricultural space. Of course, I come on board with zero knowledge, but am committed to learning and carving out a livelihood for my family. So, as I go about this new journey, I ask someone to take a chance on me. To guide me, teach me, mentor me and help me get started. At the moment I have managed to secure a small patch of land, which I am renting in Delmas. I need to start from scratch, such…

Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, current data indicates that major agricultural industries in South Africa will have a better year in terms of output than last year. Amid the worst economic depression the country has seen since the dawn of democracy, with most sectors of the economy severely hit socially and economically, the agriculture sector is seen as a beacon of hope. The sector is poised to grow by at least an average of 10% year-on-year in 2020, which will be an impressive improvement if it materialises, compared with the -6,9% year-on-year contraction in 2019. The growth in the agriculture economy will be underpinned by a recovery in all major agriculture industries, but mainly livestock, field crops and horticulture. The recovery of these industries is taking…

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic meant that businesses had to take notice of the resultant need in communities in their areas of service and extend a helping hand. This was according to Theo Rabe, CEO of the agribusiness NWK. “This is exactly what we’ve done since the outbreak of the pandemic. We foresee that with the negative economic conditions and high unemployment rate, the need for food will increase over the next few months, and this will probably last for years. It is a privilege for us as a company to give back to the community, and we will continue to do so within our financial ability,” he said. Rabe told Farmer’s Weekly that corporate social investment was one of the core values of the business. To that effect,…

Ostrich producers in the Klein Karoo are expecting a challenging production year due to the prolonged drought in the region, as well as the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Joey Potgieter, chairperson of Agri Klein Karoo, told Farmer’s Weekly that the region was entering its sixth year of drought. “In the valley [stretching from Montagu to Uniondale] there is currently no production of any crops whatsoever. This creates a big problem for ostrich producers as there is no lucerne [available], which is a big component of the rations for ostriches. Feed has to be transported from far [afield], which puts great financial pressure on producers.” In addition, the prices of ostrich products had halved overnight, adding to the woes of cash-strapped farmers. According to Potgieter, about 70% to 75%…

Scientists tracking forest and crop fires in France said this year they had not seen any exceptional increase in the surface area affected by wildfires, ascribing it to “good fortune” due to the absence of fire-fuelling wind. “But if the drought persists and there is a lot of wind, the situation could quickly get worse,” said Eric Martin, a researcher of climatology, hydrology and meteorology at France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. According to Reuters, crop and forest fires were a ritual of summer in France, but a warming climate meant that the risk had increased, and the danger zone has expanded from southern France to the north. Studies showed that the moisture level in vegetation, a precursor to wildfires, had been dropping in recent years due…

Agri SA has strongly condemned unlawful tampering with and interference with all Eskom infrastructure on farms, according to Nicol Jansen, chairperson of Agri SA’s Centre of Excellence for Economics and Trade. This followed the court case in which a Free State farmer was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for interfering with an Eskom electricity meter allocated to his farm. Willem Christiaan Venter (63) of Petrusburg faced four counts of malicious damage to property in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, of which he was found guilty. Following a plea-bargain agreement, he was ordered by the Petrusburg Magistrate’s Court to pay Eskom back the R750 000 that was lost through his actions. The five-year prison term was suspended for five years on condition that he was not found guilty of any…

With trade starting to recover and consumers “coming out of hiding” after the lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy shows signs of a V-shaped recovery, according to Dr Roelof Botha, economic adviser at the Optimum Group. He was one of the speakers at the recent Canning Fruit Producers’ Association and Hortgro’s virtual technical information day. According to Botha, one of the clearest indicators of V-shaped economic recovery was the increase in the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). Botha explained that if the index was above the 50-point mark, it meant the economy was growing. “The PMI of all of our trading partners are rapidly moving back to the 50 level, and South Africa’s PMI is also well on its way to 50.” He told delegates that the current economic…

Despite the decline in global cotton prices and demand in the 2019/2020 season, cotton consumption is forecast to increase 5%. This was according to the latest report released by Cotton South Africa (Cotton SA), which said that consumption was expected to reach 23,9 million tons, while global cotton production was projected to decrease 5% to 24,8 million tons in the 2020/2021 season. According to the report, the decline in production was due to a global decrease of two million hectares in the area planted to the crop. Hennie Bruwer, CEO of Cotton SA, said the seventh estimate for the 2019/2020 production year indicated a local cotton crop of just over 137 160 lint bales, which was 1,4% higher than last month’s estimate, due to expectations of improved yields for dryland…

NCT Forestry Co-operative (NCT) recently presented its 2020 Tree Farmer of the Year awards during the company’s virtual annual general meeting. Bhekuyisa Shange of the Manguzi area in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) won the small grower category. A statement by NCT said that, in addition to owning a cattle herd, Shange had initially begun growing timber commercially on a small scale. “Realising that there is strength in numbers, Shange recruited other subsistence farmers and formed an association to farm timber on a commercial basis. With technical and silviculture advice from NCT, he follows sound management practices and accesses markets through the co-operative,” the statement said. Fourth-generation timber farmer in KZN’s Baynesfield area, Ben Seele, won the commercial grower category. According to the statement, Seele managed a timber farm that had been diversified…

When holding a disciplinary hearing, an employer has to follow the correct procedure and be able to provide proof of this. South Africa’s labour market is highly regulated, which makes it crucial for employers to comply with labour law. Moreover, clear rules and procedures in the workplace help create order and an environment conducive to growth. An employer has a considerable number of rights in the workplace. These include the right to: • Establish a fixed standard in terms of quality and quantity; • Implement rules in the workplace; and • Apply discipline when the rules are broken. A disciplinary code is an essential part of this process. When workplace rules are not followed, the employer can then apply progressive discipline in the form of warnings. In a case of…

Maria Magagula was one of the early beneficiaries of government’s land-reform initiatives. She is the secretary of the Mswati Communal Property Association (CPA), which was registered in 1998 in Mpumalanga. The CPA consists of 130 families who elected to use the grants they received via the Settlement and Land Acquisition Grant, a land reform programme since abandoned and replaced by a succession of new programmes, to collectively buy a 1 418ha farm about 30km from eManzana (Badplaas). Most households in the CPA previously took part in small-scale farming within irrigation schemes established under KaNgwane, a former homeland. STRIVING FOR GENDER BALANCE Maria, who has served on the leadership of the CPA for 11 years, is the only woman on a nine-member managing committee. She is outspoken about the challenges that…

"The technical support I received from Netafim when introducing drip irrigation on my farm was amazing. The company helped me during research and installation and is still assisting me with maintenance and scheduling. Drip irrigation is new to most grain farmers, so it’s important to have the right team at your side.” This is according to Johan van Dyk, a farmer in the Standerton district, who recently installed Netafim drip irrigation on his maize, soya bean and other crops. TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW Etienne Erasmus, managing director of Netafim South Africa, says that its staff form one of the pillars of the company’s success. “Our employees’ expertise, together with years of accumulated knowledge as the leader in precision irrigation solutions, enables us to optimise the operation of our products.” Erasmus says that…

If you are receiving treatment (including dietary changes and corrective supplements) for a thyroid condition such as Hashimoto’s disease, you may still be struggling with low energy levels, adrenal fatigue, and low blood pressure. In this case, there is a strong chance you are depleted of thiamine (vitamin B1), whose main functions are to change carbohydrates into energy and help with the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach to digest protein and fat. Given that most people with Hashimoto’s have a low level of stomach acid, optimal levels of thiamine are vital. CHANGING YOUR DIET Most good dietary sources of thiamine (fortified grains, beef liver, pork, eggs, legumes, peas, nuts and seeds) are omitted from the grain-free healing diets often recommended for people with autoimmune thyroid disease. If tolerated,…

THE TERRORIST ALBUM by Jacob Dlamini (Harvard, R375) Award-winning South African journalist and historian Dlamini had access to a key working tool of apartheid security, and has woven a revealing tale around it. These albums of mugshots of thousands of potential terrorists were distributed to police stations across the country. Today, although only three albums survive, Dlamini has researched the stories behind a selection of these photographs, from the historical and political context to questions such as how much use this ‘tool’ was if some of the subjects could not recognise themselves. Fascinating insights. POVERTY PROOF FOR ENTREPRENEURS by Douglas Kruger (Penguin, R170) You’re an unusual business owner if you’re not facing at least some financial stress at the moment. Kruger’s Poverty Proof: 50 Ways to…

Many licensing departments have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a backlog in vehicle licences and professional driving and temporary permits, including roadworthy certificates. According to Timeslive.co.za, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula has gazetted an amendment to the lockdown regulations to allow road users until next year to renew their expired licences. Licence cards expiring as of 26 March will be valid until January 2021. ONLINE LICENSING PORTALS There are a number of online portals where vehicle licences can be renewed: • PayCity (paycity.co.za) This covers Cape Town, Durban and the Northern Cape. If you live in one of these areas, you can use the portal to pay your municipal account, pay fines, renew vehicle licences and purchase prepaid utilities. PayCity charges a service fee of R99, including delivery of…

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? I would buy a 3 500ha farm for R6 000/ha and stock it with 770 weaners at R7 000/head. The total cost would be R26 390 000. I’d use the balance for production costs to sell the weaners onto the free-range beef market. What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you? I want to mention three people: Prof Jan Bonsma, who taught me to not just look at a situation, but make sure I really understand it; Hendrik van Zyl, who told me that if I didn’t grow my farming business, I would wake…