Table of contents for 6 October 2023 in Farmer's Weekly

I was recently invited to moderate a panel on the challenges facing women in the organics agroprocessing space. The panel included four incredible women, who all in their own right have faced numerous barriers. The common thread running through their stories, however, was how they turned a bad situation into a successful venture. One of the panellists was Heidene Lawrence, founder and owner of Tubby's Kitchen, which produces a range of teas, chilli pastes and spices that incorporate cannabinoids (CBDs) in the production process. The company is run by Lawrence and her son Dillan, and was started after she discovered the ‘healing properties’ of cannabis. Lawrence suffers from severe epilepsy, and says that the use of CBD has helped her overcome the effects of the condition. Another panellist, Rethabile Maimane,…

The 7th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference opened in South Korea's second-largest city, Busan, on 13 September with a strong call for additional resources to help African countries achieve universal access to energy and transform the continent into the breadbasket of the world. The conference took place at a time when Africa was facing a plethora of challenges. Nearly 600 million people on the continent have no access to electricity. In addition, despite rapid growth across the continent, hunger is still pervasive in some countries, affecting some 283 million people. The RussiaUkraine war has exacerbated this figure. So also has the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. This is why Korea and African nations, under the aegis of KOAFEC, have agreed to deepen their co-operation with…

Challenges facing the sheep industry and ways to overcome these were highlighted during a Nation in Conversation discussion at Nampo Cape, Bredasdorp. Stephen van Huyssteen, former managing director of KLK Landbou, said abattoirs were in trouble because of poor capacity utilisation. “Over the past 12 years, the number of sheep abattoirs in the country declined from 547 to only 226. Periodic drought, for instance, resulted in the number of livestock slaughtered in the Northern Cape falling from just over two million head per year in 2014/15 to roughly one million.” To worsen the situation, abattoirs only made 12% to 14% of the gross value of the consumer price, whereas farmers made roughly 50%, wholesalers 9%, and retailers took the rest. Richard Krige, a producer from Boontjieskraal Landgoed near Caledon and…

Skyrocketing global olive oil prices have been a boon for the local industry, creating optimism for the future. Global olive oil prices topped US$8 900/t (about R168 000/t) in September, driven by the an off-year in the growing cycles and extremely dry weather in much of the Mediterranean. The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service reported that the average price in August was 130% higher than the year before, with prices quickly surpassing the previous record of US$6 242/t (R120 000) set in 1996 and no sign of easing. Concern is also growing globally over supplies in Spain, which typically makes up 45% of global exports, as the country attempts to ration supplies towards the end of the marketing year. In response to high global prices, Turkey has…

A UK research team has released findings from its latest study, which has found air pollution is preventing pollinators from finding flowers due to the degradation of the scent. The team from the Universities of Birmingham, Reading, Surrey and Southern Queensland, together with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said dropping ozone levels substantially changed the size and scent of floral odour plumes given off by flowers, and reduced honeybees’ ability to recognise odours. Some 52% of honeybees recognise an odour at 6m, decreasing to 38% at 12m. At the edge of plumes, which degraded more quickly, 32% of honeybees recognised a flower from 6m away and just a tenth of the insects from 12m away. The study showed evidence that changes in ground-level ozone had many implications for…

Zambia's maize producers face a new challenge with maize lethal necrosis (MLN), a maize dwarfing virus that affects production of the crop and has in recent years been a menace in some African countries. The ministry of agriculture, through its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) department, has instituted strict seed protection inspection measures to determine the type of seed and other food crop varieties exported or imported into the country. It ensures that all seeds and seed plant varieties intended to be grown or sold as maize seed varieties are inspected to detect MLN and stamp it out before it spreads and affects maize crops. Frederick Nalesa, senior technical plant health inspector at the SPS department, said: “We don't want to interrupt our maize growing capacity as a country and that…

KwaZulu-Natal farmer Heiko Gevers's organised, systematic and detailoriented approach to farming has bagged him the 2023 KZN Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year title. The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) recently announced that the Lüneburg timber, maize, soya bean and free range cattle farmer will go on to represent Kwanalu and all KZN farmers in the Toyota SA/Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year Competition 2023. Gevers will compete against top young farmers from the other eight provinces in an effort to secure the sought-after title, as well as a brandnew Toyota Hilux Single Cab bakkie. The competition is open to all farmers under the age of 40 who are full members of their provinces’ agricultural unions. Judges evaluate applicants at provincial level, assessing various aspects of their business, including…

While livestock producers have shown great resilience by managing increasing costs with little to no room for sharing these with the consumer, animal disease outbreaks put further pressure on supply and present upside price risks. Recently, millions of broilers and layers have been lost as a result of a novel, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain outbreak, with millions more at risk. These pressures are reflected in the livestock trends where prices are under pressure across almost all but the poultry category. BEEF Class A and Class C carcass prices followed divergent price trends over the past month, with Class A increasing by 1,8% while class C decreased by 0,7% (see Graph 1). Both carcass prices are notably lower in yearly terms, decreasing by 13% for Class A and by…

Retrenchment is a no-fault termination of an employee's services and is governed by Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA). Retrenchment becomes necessary when there are operational requirements from the employer's side to reduce the workforce. Operational requirements are defined as requirements based on economic, technological, structural or similar needs of the employer. The retrenchment process is set out in Sections 189 and 189A of the LRA. It is important that each employer takes note that the retrenchment process must be instituted as soon as it is contemplated. Employers are encouraged to commence with the process well in advance in order to establish whether there are any actions that can be taken to avoid retrenching any employees. REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES Employers must take note that the retrenchment process entails that…

Longevity. Production. Fertility. These are the cornerstones of production at Fair Cape's dairy farms, Welgegund and Three Sisters, near Durbanville in the Western Cape. The most important of these is longevity, according to Johannes Loubser, director of farming operations. Loubser knows what he is talking about. He won the ARC National Master Dairyman of the Year Award in 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2022, as well as the Western Cape's Master Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2012. At the time of writing, the dairy had about 2 500 cows in milk, consisting of approximately 2 120 Holsteins, 210 Ayrshires for their branded programme at Woolworths, and 170 Jerseys to boost milk solids. Fair Cape also has 2 500ha of land under a rotation of wheat, canola and oats, as well…

Capetonian Teresa Ulyate's debut cookbook, Cupcakes & Couscous (Human & Rousseau, R450), aims for recipes that are accessible, nourishing and tasty, from breakfast and lunchbox ideas to braais and celebration food. Sometimes it's the inspired extras that catch your interest, such as creamy tomato soup with cheesy soldiers or butternut and lentil soup with sage leaves and onion crisps. Or there's the “Yes, please!” response to chermoula fish for supper or the grilled miso aubergine on the braai. Three cheers, too, for the gluten-free butternut streusel cake. With Christmas not too far away, a lovely salad shaped like a wreath will fit the bill, and her chapter on event hosting, with sample menus and planning tips, could ease holiday planning tensions. 5 COPIES OF CUPCAKES & COUSCOUS TO GIVE AWAY!…

ARCHIVE The trouble with Niel Fyfer's farm, Harmonie, near Malmesbury, is that it has no irrigation water. This means nitrogen (N) fertiliser cannot be applied to his 4ha of almond trees in the normal way. It is the same on another family farm, Adamsfontein, farmed by his brother, Ben, with about 60ha of wine grapes. Fyfer found he could not apply N to the soil during budding because at this time (August to September) rains are intermittent, and he is never sure if there will be enough precipitation to carry the N to the root zone, where it can be used by the tree. The other important fertilisation time is after the harvest. If N is applied to the soil during the post-harvest period, it remains there until the winter…

The Spanish agricultural union La Unió Llauradora, which is leading the crusade to keep South African citrus out of the EU, has now fixed its sights on Egypt. This comes as Spain recently became the largest global exporter of citrus. Egypt doubled its citrus exports to the EU, going from exporting a total of 86 079t in 2022 to 179 012t in 2023. “If we limit our view to Spain, Egypt went from exporting 8 158t in 2021 (there is no data from last year) to 15 806t this year,” La Unió stated. The union called on the Spanish government “to strengthen our borders in the face of the danger posed by the possible entry of citrus black spot (CBS), a danger that is growing due to the considerable increase…

In line with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ definition of integrated pest management (IPM) systems, CropLife SA and the South African Bioproduct Organisation (SABO) recently agreed on a collaboration to promote the principles of IPM locally. According to Rob Bell, CEO of CropLife SA, the objective was to ultimately contribute to sustainable agriculture in South Africa. “IPM is grounded on ecosystems and bionetworks with the goal of sustaining ecosystem functions. It endorses the growth of healthy crops with the minimum disruption of agroecosystems,” he told Farmer's Weekly. The FAO defined IPM as the “careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically…

NEW ZEALAND Mainland Poultry, New Zealand's largest egg producer, could be for sale soon, said the company in a statement. According to a spokesperson, it has engaged corporate advisers to access options as they explored a potential sale. The company was struggling after a fire destroyed a large part of its factory, which drastically reduced egg production. A spokesperson from the Egg Producers’ Federation said New Zealand suffered an egg shortage last year, and in May this year it had about 3,5 million egg-laying hens, but needed about 3,8 million to ensure a constant supply of eggs. BRITAIN A UK farmer has used an industrial drone to sow oil-seed rape crops. According to a statement released by Autospray Systems, Howden Farm in Yorkshire is believed to be the first to…

This year's Nampo Cape, recently held from 13 to 16 September near Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, attracted 34 500 people. This is 2 500 more than last year and the most people that ever visited the event in the four years it has been presented. Nampo Cape was also visited by more than 11 000 people on the Thursday, making this the most people to ever visit the event on one day. Toit Wessels, Grain SA's assistant manager of marketing, said that another 2 000 to 3 000 people might have visited the event if it was not for the cold and particularly windy weather. “We had minimal damage, but the wind was so bad on the Friday that we had to shut some of our bigger tents for…

Research by Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, a senior researcher in entomology at the Agricultural Research CouncilSmall Grain Institute in Bethlehem, has shown that the Russian wheat aphid (RWA) has developed increased levels of resistance to insecticides. She renewed her call on wheat and barley producers to take cognisance of the levels of the resistance and adapt production practices accordingly. The RWA (Diuraphis noxia) remained a serious pest in South Africa since it was first detected in 1978, despite all the management practices implemented since then. “This calls for very careful management of the pest by the wheat and barley production value chain. The development of insecticide resistance is a major limiting factor. It is vital that producers regularly scout wheat fields for aphids,” she said. The RWA is a wingless, pale…

A dear friend and business partner recently lost his vibrant and highly efficient wife. With no signs of ill health beforehand, she suffered traumatic heart failure and was gone in an instant. It was a hammer blow, but a month later and still grieving deeply, the wheels of life for him and his children are moving forward as before. It's thanks to the preparations they made to deal with succession in the family. I know it's morbid, but it's a question we all need to ask ourselves. How well will your family and business successors cope after your death? Will your wife and children be able to handle the immediate tasks of winding up your estate? Will they be capable of handling the household and family tasks you previously managed…

Focus on propagating plants for traditional medicine FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE Traditional medicine, also known as indigenous medicine, holds great importance for individuals, communities and societies around the world. It is often deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage and identity of a community or nation. It reflects the accumulated knowledge, practices and beliefs of generations, contributing to a sense of cultural continuity and pride. Moreover, in many rural and economically disadvantaged areas, traditional medicine may be the primary or only form of healthcare available. It is often more accessible and affordable than modern medical services, and often complements modern medical practices. Many people use traditional remedies alongside conventional medicine to address a wide range of health issues, including chronic conditions, pain management and mental health. Traditional medicine relies on a vast…

EASTERN CAPE 3 OCTOBER CGOC Bonsmara Production Sale, Oudefontein, Burgersdorp. On offer: 25 SP bulls and 150 female animals. Phone André van Zyl on 084 587 7660. FREE STATE 19 OCTOBER National Boer Goat Sale, Bloemfontein Showgrounds. On offer: 85 rams and 108 ewes. Phone Wynand Erasmus on 079 523 5026. GAUTENG 7 OCTOBER Collen Boerdery Meatmaster Production Sale, Fire and Wine Arena, Pretoria. On offer: 40 rams and 180 ewes. Phone Stafford Collen on 079 621 5594, or Bertie Aucamp on 082 772 8821. 21 OCTOBER Sterkfontein Meatmasters and Dirk Steenkamp Meatmasters Production Sale, Fire and Wine Arena, Pretoria. On offer: 80 to 90 Meatmaster ewes or ewes with lambs, six Meatmaster rams, 40 Dorper ewes and two to four Dorper rams. Phone Willem van der Berg on 083…

Dear Prof McCrindle, My vet says I should vaccinate my dog against leptospirosis. What is that? Kind regards, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, Your vet is right; it's important to vaccinate. It is safer for both your dog and your family to vaccinate dogs annually against leptospirosis. It causes chronic kidney failure and hepatitis in dogs and is a zoonosis, that is, it can affect both people and animals. The vaccine must be injected into puppies twice at three-to-four week intervals, then annually. It's usually included in the so-called ‘five-in-one’ dog vaccine. However, check with your vet and insist the vaccine being used includes Lepto. Leptospira is a bacterial spirochaete and there are six serotypes known to affect dogs: Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Canicola and Copenhageni. These zoonotic pathogens were recently reclassified as…

As readers will know, South Africa hosted the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August. Aside from the mandatory photographs and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, did South Africa actually benefit from the conference? In a word, yes. In a mirror image of the formal government engagements, South Africa chaired the BRICS Business Council in 2023. This provided us with a platform to engage the private sector bodies of other BRICS countries. The Agribusiness Working Group, under the expert guidance of my colleague Wandile Sihlobo, provided the politicians with a clear statement of intent. The private sector wants to see real, tangible economic benefits from BRICS, and all five countries who are currently members, share this sentiment. TRADITIONAL TRADING PARTNERS Outside of the African continent, South Africa's free trade agreements are with its…

I receive many calls asking which medications should be used to treat livestock for various illnesses. Seemingly, many farmers confuse the different types or classes of medications and what role they play in ensuring a functional farming enterprise. Generally, many farmers are reactive rather than proactive when it comes to animal health issues. This means that instead of attempting to prevent an illness, they wait for sickness to strike and then while in a panic, seek advice on how to treat it. This reactive farming strategy is usually costly because some livestock diseases, such as enterotoxaemia or pulpy kidney, that primarily affect younger goats and sheep, are largely untreatable. CONTAGIOUS Another concern is that some initially preventable diseases are highly contagious and once they've entered in your herd or flock,…

The price crash in the macadamia nut industry has alerted farmers to the need for greater on-farm efficiencies to weather the downturn. The industry is expected to recover but is unlikely to reach the record-high prices of 2018. Cutting unnecessary costs and evaluating the performance of every step in the production process is a necessary step towards streamlining an industry. While this process has been forced on the macadamia industry in a bid to survive tight margins, it does place it in a better position for the future. Mark Hassenkamp, director of RedSun Hortitech, adds that the disruption in the industry has provided an opportunity to pause and reflect. “What got us here won't take us to the future and it's essential to zoom out for a panoramic view of…

Marina Auer has packed quite a lot of variety into her medical career so far, including working as a GP and 2IC in surgical procedures. Now her first novel, Double Edged (Kwela, R350), has been published – a clever, cross-cutting thriller set against the hospital world where she works and KwaZulu-Natal where she lives. As Marina says of her hero, “Erin Taylor would not be in a romcom!” Here are her five key words: 1. Urge: I always enjoyed creative writing at school and as I completed my medical studies, the urge returned. I tried a Michael Crichtontype techno thriller but knew I needed to do better, and this book is quite different. My next is different again – more of a mystery suspense. 2. Antidote: I wanted to write…

A farm in Yorkshire, UK, has been the first to complete its planting of crops using drones, when a few years ago this procedure was still in the testing stage. The company that manufactured the drone together with the farm managers said everything went according to plan, and now the wait begins for the harvest. For a research project, titled ‘Seed plant drone for reforestation’, a custom-built quadcopter was used to dispense seeds for reforestation. A quadcopter is a multirotor aerial vehicle that can fly on its own. According to the research, most people do not know the difference between a quadcopter and a drone. “Especially, in commercial markets, [quadcopters] may be treated as drones, which may lead to controversial disputes and misconceptions. In this research, the built quadcopter will…