Table of contents for 25 November 2022 in Farmer's Weekly

The first participants in the Momentum Metropolitan Women in Farming programme recently graduated from the first phase of the programme, which covered training in areas such as mental wellness and analysis, poultry and vegetable farming, as well as soil fertility and plant nutrition. The programme, launched in 2021, is a three-year incubator aimed at enhancing the skills of young black women farmers. At the end of the three years, having qualified as contracted traders, the participants will be invited to become part of the Pietermaritzburg Agri network, where they will be exposed to new market-access opportunities, thereby enabling them to grow their enterprises. -Momentum Metropolitan Holdings…

The rapid increase in the Kruger National Park's (KNP) Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis) population is disturbing, according to Dr Llewellyn Foxcroft, a scientist with the South African National Parks based in the park. One of the most invasive bird species in the world, the Indian mynah was native to southern and south-eastern India and had reached South Africa about 100 years ago, where it had quickly adapted to local conditions, to the peril of indigenous species Foxcroft said He described the birds as omnivorous with strong territorial instincts, adding that since their arrival in the country, they had multiplied into the millions. "Although we don't know the full extent of the mynah invasion in the [KNP], these birds are known for robbing indigenous birds of their nesting sites. "This could,…

The macadamia market has faced many onslaughts over the past two years, including lower demand due to economic pressure on consumers, and logistical constraints as a result of the COV1D-19 pandemic. Speakers at the recent AusMac conference said the average price for nut-in-shell products had fallen to US$3,20/kg (about R57/kg) from the high of US$6,50/kg (R115/kg) reached in 2017. Processors had also started paying according to "the style of crackout of the nuts", with the price difference between each category increasing. At least half of the orchards in South Africa were planted to the Beaumont variety, which was notorious for its lower-quality styles, according to Roelof van Rooyen, director of Marquis Macadamias. He said there was pressure in the market, with much uncertainty about when "the movement of stock will…

The theme of this year's World Food Day (WFD) on 18 October was 'Leave no one behind', and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) used the day as an opportunity to engage with communities to address issues of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza, DALRRD director-general Mooketsa Ramasodi, the executive mayor of Sedibeng District Municipality, Lerato Maloka, and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative for South Africa, Dr Mercy Chikoko, launched a number of initiatives to support agricultural activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality. STREET-GARDEN PARADE Projects and households in Sedibeng and across the three local municipalities (Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal) received agricultural inputs to promote household food production. The minister and the dignitaries participated in…

LIVESTOCK Stress in Animals Animal welfare concerns the physical as well as psychological state of an animal. The way animals are raised and treated affects their welfare on many levels and also has an impact on sustainability, food security, and the economics of farming. Stress is a major cause of disease in cattle and other livestock species, according to Leon Kruger, a lecturer at the University of the Free State's Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences. Consequently, lessening stressors plays a cardinal role in the overall welfare of livestock. It is imprudent, he stresses, for livestock producers to rely solely on vaccinations and veterinary medicines to prevent disease outbreaks in their herds and flocks. Infections like Pasteurellosis and coccidiosis are examples of stress-related diseases. These two diseases pose serious…

CROPS Lettuce Sterkspruit farm, near Lydenburg in Mpumalanga, is situated at the very top of Long Tom Pass, 2150m above sea level. Its position holds significant benefits for owner Jakkie Mellet: it is isolated from other farms, keeping it relatively safe from the potential spread of pests and diseases, and it is often wreathed in mist, which creates a microclimate ideal for the farm's potato seed production. On the other hand, the rocky nature of the land, being on the mountain top, means that only a fraction of the property can be cultivated. Faced with this dilemma, Mellet sought alternative crops that could complement his potato seed operation. Cherries, berries and kiwi fruit were all considered, but only the last was feasible. Then, three years ago, he was approached by…

LIFESTYLE The Hitching Post I'm a divorced, 43-year-old black African man who isn't tall. I studied accounting, but my heart is in farming. I'd love to meet up with a white woman between 35 and 65 who loves farming, fishing, the outdoors and travelling. I'm looking for someone who will respect me and who might be willing to relocate to Zimbabwe. Please send pictures. BORN A FARMER I am a 40-year-young, English-speaking lady looking for friendship that could blossom into something more. I'm down to earth, fun and adventurous. I recently started my own little company and am passionate about what I do. If you're a Caucasian man who has an adventurous spirit and is a lover of life, or if you're an optimist and love the outdoors, travelling, or…

Well-known South African journalist and travel writer Lawrence Green (1900-72) once owned a yacht, the yawl Amelia, which he kept moored at Table Bay Docks. One day, while inspecting his boat, he was annoyed to see that a rat had gnawed a sail, badly damaging it. Green set a trap, baiting it with tomato. (Apparently, rats find this difficult to resist.) When Green returned to his yacht the next day, he found the rat dead, lying stiff beside the trap. But the bait was uneaten and the trap unsprung. Puzzled, he went to visit the port authority, which in turn sent a rat-catcher named Jimmy to help him. He was precisely the kind of individual who fascinated Green, who went on to interview him and add yet another tale to…

absa While the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Food Price Index stayed relatively stable in October, global grain and oilseed prices rose on the back of higher wheat and maize prices. The increases in the latter were supported by uncertainty about the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as expectations of reduced production in the Northern Hemisphere. MAIZE The Chicago Board of Trade's (CBOT) maize price continued on its downward trajectory in early November, falling 0,3% month-on-month (see Graph 1). This was the result of pressure from a stronger US dollar, concerns about the state of the global economy, and the impressive progress made with the US harvest. In Argentina, drought conditions are weighing on maize production, as a smaller area than usual has been planted to the…

The water-use-licence application process in South Africa is complicated and often confusing. In this article, Johan Enslin and SJ Jansen van Rensburg, directors of Integrated Water Use License Application Management (IWULA), explain what farmers need to do to apply for such licences, and how IWULA can help. WHERE IT ALL STARTS A farmer will usually approach IWULA for assistance with applying for a water-use licence. We start by collecting background information in order to identify the farm's type of water-use activities as they pertain to Section 21 of the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998). At the same time, we determine the application components required so that we can work out a budget for the applicant. We also conduct a regulatory assessment of the farmer's water uses and advise…

Last week, I discussed the principles of spacing (see FW, 18 November). However, there are more considerations that need to be taken into account. Since the Boer pumpkin era, there have been changes in the structure of modern varieties. Whereas most varieties used to be strongly indeterminate in their growth habit, modern varieties have many growth types. Some have a highly determinate growth habit and establish the first fruit very close to the crown. The plant then continues to grow with internodes (on the stems) close together and produces female flowers while doing so. The problem, though, is that the plant usually brings the first fruit to maturity and aborts subsequent fruit. Many modern varieties are a compromise between the two types and produce the first fruit sufficiently far down…

If you're considering taking out insurance on your horse, your first step is to establish exactly why you need insurance. In order to be insured, a horse needs a veterinary soundness certificate. Its passport must also be updated to show that it has received all its relevant vaccinations. This means an initial capital outlay for veterinary costs. It's a good idea to consider insurance in the following circumstances: • Pregnancy If you have paid a lot of money for a stallion service, it may be worth insuring the mare's pregnancy. The stallion owner's promise of a "live foal guarantee" means that the stallion will be available for another service, at no charge, should the mare not produce a live foal. However, circumstances change and there is no guarantee that your…

ACROSS 3. A critically endangered large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina) endemic to India (7) 9. Search for edible wild plants (6) 10. Unit of electrical current (6) 11. Asian plantain yielding Manila hemp (5) 12. Requesting (6) 13. Pieces of plants taken for propagation (8) 14. Cook over a fire (5) 16. Butcher-bird (6) 17. Consequence (6) 21. Unruly fistfight (5) 23. The flora and fauna of an area (5) 26. Flower part resembling a leaf (5) 27. Tomato (4,5) 28. Coating of concreted sugar (5) 29. Woody climbing plant of tropical forests (5) 31. Evil spirit (5) 32. Poultry bird, the male of which has a long, fleshy snood on its beak (6) 36. (Land) able to be used for crops (6) 38. Oily liquid that rises to the top…

TO PLACE AN UPCOMING AUCTION EVENT in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact Rene Moonsamy on 010 971 3771 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on 010 971 3770 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za. TO LIST AUCTION RESULTS in this section, email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za Niekerksrust Production Sale HIGHEST: (RAM) R18 000 Viljoenskroon - The Niekerksrust Production Sale was held on the farm Niekerksrust on 6 October. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold by Jan van Biljon of Viljoenskroon to Willie Dreyer of Heilbron for R18 000. Rams achieved an average price of Rll 864. The sale was held by BKB Kroonstad, with Jan Mostert as the auctioneer. - Staff reporter Amulet Production Sale HIGHEST: (RAM) R19 000 Sannieshof- The Amulet Production Sale was…

FARMER'S DIARY 23 November (online) The Agricultural Research Council's (ARC) National Beef Performers Awards recognise the innovation and excellence demonstrated by South African beef cattle producers who keep the national herd in top form. The awards will showcase outstanding performance in seven categories, measuring a range of reproductive and breeding values. As always, Farmer's Weekly will be sponsoring the ARC Elite Cow category, which promotes the top beef cows in the country. Visit arc.agric.za/Documents/BannerPdfs/ARC_Beef7%20Performers_FP_SF_1022.pdf. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 24 TO 25 NOVEMBER Drones and Unmanned Aviation Conference 2022, Emperors Palace. Email info@bussynet.co.za. COURSES AND TRAINING 5 TO 9 DECEMBER Academy Poultry Module, George. Email Rothman Livestock and Training, Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 7 TO 9 DECEMBER Basic Goat Production, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Email karabo@mathema.co.za. 9 DECEMBER Calf Rearing, Gauteng. Email Rothman Livestock…

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP 'The demise of the company would undo years of work under the Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan' - Chairperson of the South African Cane Growers' Association, Andrew Russell, lamenting the turmoil currently being experienced at Tongaat Hulett's South African operations (pg 16). '[…] inputs have been liberally applied […] because the margins didn't reauire diligence' - Owner of MacAvo Consulting in Australia, Chris Searle, expressing concern about the high level of inputs applied to macadamia orchards in Australia in pursuit of profits (pg 23). 'Fresh produce markets are an extension of producers' marketing strategy' - Chairperson of Agri SA's Commodity Chamber, Niel Joubert, welcoming a court order compelling the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to upgrade the Tshwane Market's facilities (pg 21). 'Thousands of hectares of valuable…

The time is fast approaching for Season 2 of Massey Ferguson's Master Mechanic, to be released on 18 November on the MF Master Mechanic YouTube channel and Facebook, supported by all major social media channels. All episodes will be released at once for viewers to binge-watch. Master Mechanic provides a unique glimpse into the technicians' world of fixing tractors, who not only swing spanners and travel to amazing and different places but use their intellect in conjunction with world-leading technology. "The life of a technician has changed in recent times with the advent of computers and being connected to the Internet," says Dr Dominik Reus, managing, director of AGCO Africa. Six technicians will compete in three teams of two (red, black and grey) for a R100 000 grand prize. The…

Although very popular in many countries, the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an underrated vegetable in South Africa. In the US South, its popularity supersedes that of the potato. There they refer to the sweet potato simply as 'potato', while the common potato is called 'white potato', distinguishing it from its yellow-fleshed cousin. Although they are both share the name 'potato', these two vegetables are very different and should be marketed to consumers as such. One marked difference is that the leaves of the sweet potato plant are edible; they are prepared in the same way as spinach. China currently produces more than 60% of the world's sweet potato crop, followed by Malawi. I. batatas is a tuberous-rooted perennial of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), which is a weed in…

This test was devised to go beyond evaluating the consumption (fuel in the case of three vehicles, energy for the fourth) of four new saloons, driven on the same route under identical conditions. Beyond the question of which is the most economical from A to B, additional questions we wanted answered were: is the modern, downsized turbopetrol as efficient as claimed? Is diesel technology in decline? Does a hybrid really provide the best of both worlds with its dual-energy drivetrain? And is a pure electric vehicle (EV) viable despite the hefty outlay? We set out a real-world route that mimicked the rolling road dynamometer test designed to ascertain claimed/ combined consumption figures. Under laboratory conditions, this test consists of an urban cycle of 4km, driving at an average speed of…

Dear Jonno, With one of your earlier designs in Farmer's Weekly, the client wanted to build in phases, and we'd like to do the same. We need a simpleto-construct farmhouse on our property, with one bedroom and an open-plan living room area to start with. As our family grows, another two en-suite bedrooms can be added. The roof over the first phase must have regular tiling and the main structure should be of concrete blockwork. The interior should be open-beamed. Our site is in Limpopo and is on a level piece of land. Kind regards, Dirk and Maria Dear Dirk and Maria, It's so good to know that you will be staying in our beautiful country and not emigrat ing, as so many people are doing these days. As requested,…

Eastern Cape EAST LONDON • Farm 5 (233ha) sold by Sylvia Boy to DMMY Projects for R6 million. • Farm 474 (78ha) sold by Lynette Wilhelm to Rosslen Wilhelm for R2,4 million. GRAAFF-REINET • Geveltje Nommer Twee (1 038ha) sold by Kosie Wolfaardt Boerdery to LTS Ventures for R4,5 million. GQEBERHA • Kuyga (2,3ha) sold by Bluewater Bay 908 (Pty) Ltd to Gritcon Investments for R22 million. JOUBERTINA • Weikloof (37ha) sold by Smuts & Kie Tsitsikamma Trust to Lee Buckle for R300 000. KARIEGA • Kruisrivier (21ha) sold by Albert Harbron to ME Meyer Vervoer for R1,5 million. Gauteng JOHANNESBURG • Zesfontein (95ha) sold by Randall Partners to Stacey Randall for R1,5 million. • Eendracht (5ha) sold by Quelo Property to Petrus Botha for R800 000. PRETORIA • Vrisgewaag…