Table of contents for 25 March plus 1 April 2016 in Farmer's Weekly

This issue celebrates Farmer’s Weekly’s 105th anniversary, as well as some of the agricultural family businesses that have helped to shape the farming sector in South Africa. These are stories about families who arrived in South Africa with little more than hope, but through their inventiveness and tenacity established businesses that grew into successful farming enterprises. More than a century later, these continue to make valuable contributions to the agriculture sector today. It cannot, however, be ignored that the story of farming in South Africa over the last 105 years is skewed along racial lines. And it is a tragedy of our past that we are not able today to tell the stories of sixth-generation black commercial farming families. But should this stop us from telling these stories at all?…

NTSOANE TUMISHO is a 23-year-old, full-time MSc Agric (pasture science) student at the University of Limpopo, and a part-time small-scale farmer. He farms near Ga-Mphahlele village about 60km from Polokwane. He has mainly Dorper and Pedi sheep, but also keeps broilers and few head of Nguni cattle. “This book will help me with the management of deadly diseases that can affect my livestock,” Ntsoane says. ODIUM MOHALE is a 27-year-old, small-scale farmer from Mashamba village in the Makhado Municipality, Limpopo. He farms vegetables such as tomatoes, beetroot, butternut and onions. Odium, who has a degree in geology, is passionate about farming. He says he relies on research for most of the things he does, and is keen to gain more knowledge about farming and taking care of his produce. Odium…

4 OCTOBER 1911 Foul brood in bees 105 YEARS AGO In our 105th anniversary edition, we look at farming challenges that are as relevant today as they were when Farmer’s Weekly was launched in 1911. This report appeared in our issue of the above date. “We had hoped that the disease called foul brood was not yet in South Africa. Some ten years ago, I moved a resolution at our then Association meeting asking the Government to prohibit the importation of honey and wax, as well as bees and their queens. Having had experience of this foul disease in the Old Country, I was anxious to keep it out of South Africa. The Government later on (some few years ago) passed a law to this effect, and we had hoped…

The mohair market closed 2% easier at the third sale of the summer season, leaving the market indicator at R253,28/kg. Although there was good competition for the 159 498kg on offer from all buyers, the uncertainty over the volatile rand resulted in lower prices in the kid and fine adult sectors, according to Deon Saayman of Mohair South Africa. Compared with the previous sale, prices were: Kid (summer) down 4% with a best price of R372,00/kg paid for a bale of good-style 24-micron kid hair; young goats (summer) unchanged; fine adults down 3%; and strong adults unchanged. “The micron group between 28-micron to 32-micron had a good day but demand is still mainly from the East. Hopefully, interest from Europe will recover towards the second half of the season,” said…

Farmers taking advantage of the remaining stocks of lower-priced, new tractors before the end of the 2015 tax year, increased the February 2016 sales to 731 units. This meant a slight increase of 1,5% on the 720 new tractors sold countrywide in February 2015. However, due to the weaker rand against major international trading currencies, prices of imported agricultural machinery were significantly increasing. Wynn Dedwith, chairperson of the SA Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA), said that equipment prices “are now escalating sharply”, and that it was expected that tractor sales for the 2016 calendar year would be 10% to 15% down on last year. SAAMA reported that year-to-date February 2016 tractor sales of 1 311 units were already 2,2% down on the 1 341 units sold for the year-to-date February 2015.…

Speaking at a media briefing in parliament, Gugile Nkwinti, minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, announced that shale gas exploration was due to commence in the Karoo in March 2017. “One area of real opportunity for SA is the exploitation of shale gas,” he said, according to a press release. “Shale gas regulations were published in the second quarter of 2015/2016. [Shale gas exploration] will lead to excellent prospects for beneficiation and [will] add value to our mineral wealth.” In an email to Farmer’s Weekly, Jonathan Deal, CEO of the Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG), said that the fight was far from over. “We’ll take them through every court in South Africa first. That will take [at least] more than a year.” Regarding the number of farms that will…

Good news for South African coffee drinkers is that coffee prices should remain stable until the fourth quarter. However, prices were expected to increase gradually from the end of the year, according to Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Business, Agriculture. “Good rains in Brazil have resulted in a bumper coffee crop, but the country is building up supplies following the drought that began in 2012,” Maree said. Arabica and Robusta are the two most popular coffee cultivars in the world. Brazil produces Robusta while Arabica is mostly produced in central American countries such as Costa Rica. Kenya and Ethiopia produce mainly Arabica. Maree said that since 2015, the price for Arabica and Robusta had decreased by about 10%, partly because of stronger supply from Brazil. The…

The poisoning of vultures is becoming a bigger problem than rhino poaching, according to Kerri Wolter, founder and CEO of Vulpro, a vulture rehabilitation centre. Earlier this month a poisoning/poaching incident in the Kruger National Park claimed an elephant, 110 white-backed vultures, two lions and two black-backed jackals. “This is only the minimum amount of vultures that died at the scene. The maximum number could be even higher,” said Wolter. The carcass of one poisoned animal could result in the killing of more than 100 vultures. It was a strategy of poachers to kill the vultures who fed on the carcasses of killed animals to delay this natural and visible sign of death, thus allowing the poachers more time to make their escape, she said. According to Wolter, rhino killings…

At the Glenconnor Agricultural Association’s recent information day in the Eastern Cape, leading game rancher, Piet du Toit, warned against investing large sums of money in the game industry. The industry was still growing but growth would increasingly rely on quality and the experience hunters were offered, Du Toit said. He warned farmers that no major investments should be made without guaranteed customers and a ready market. While there were still lucrative investment opportunities available in the industry, these opportunities should be seized only by those willing to do thorough research before buying, and those able to efficiently manage their operations, he said. Maintaining a balance between the various markets, namely, breeding and hunting high-value species, was essential to generate maximum income, according to him. “Wildlife can still beat livestock…

Senninger is a leading designer and manufacturer of patented irrigation products for solid set, nursery, greenhouse and centre pivots. Since 1963, the company has led the way in the development for water- and energy-efficient irrigation systems that can help farmers produce more food more sustainably. In 1978, Senninger introduced Wobbler technology, which combines the rotation of a grooved deflector with wobbling action. This innovative design launched a new generation of sprinklers, providing farmers with the benefits of lower application intensity, excellent distribution uniformity, and substantial coverage at low pressures. Two Senninger products, Mini-Wobblers and Xcel-Wobblers, offer unmatched performance for solid set systems. • Mini-Wobblers Suitable for solid set, nursery and greenhouse irrigation, Mini-Wobblers provide uniform coverage over a large area. They are designed to operate at low pressures and deliver consistently…

Nersa recently announced that it had approved only 9,4% of the 16% consumer electricity cost increase that Eskom had applied for. Eskom has since threatened to discontinue using its diesel generators, while carefully sidestepping the root cause of the energy crisis: the fact that the new Medupi and Kusile power stations are years behind schedule. With the threat of load-shedding once more with us, it seems opportune to talk about saving power. I’ve always stressed that a kilowatt hour not used is a kilowatt hour saved. Between 20% and 30% of energy consumed by buildings is wasted. Some of this may be unavoidable, but a large portion of this can be eliminated with good practice, and without spending much. The heat transfer through a wall, roof or pipe is defined…

Weed management is crucial, as weeds compete with plants for soil moisture, soil nutrients, light and carbon dioxide. NO CHEMICAL IS REGISTERED FOR THE CONTROL OF ROOT ROT Several types of herbicides are available. Contact or scorch herbicides act through the leaves. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and spread throughout the plant by means of translocation. Both are applied to weeds after the weeds and papaya plants have emerged. A pre-emergence or residual herbicide is applied to the soil, where it inhibits germination of weed seeds or is absorbed through the roots and spread by translocation. REMOVING WEEDS Weeds can be removed from under the trees by hand-hoeing. With tramline planting (where a working row area permits tractor movement), weeds can be mown with a rotary cutter, a slasher driven by…

Dogs that have a tendency to escape from their owners’ homes are at a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). And even when a dog has a brief non-sexual interaction with an infected animal (on a walk, for example), it can become infected due to the exchange of bodily fluids. The main STDs are as follows: • Canine brucellosis This is caused by the Brucella canis bacterium and spread via ingestion of diseased matter or via sexual intercourse. It can be devastating to young puppies and often results in mass death in a litter. Some experts believe that vaccinations against the disease are largely ineffective, so it’s important to test for canine brucellosis from time to time, especially if you’re a professional breeder who makes a living from selling…

To make slow-cookedshanks for six blesseddiners, you will need: 6 springbok shanks (or impala orlamb shanks)6 carrots6 sticks of celery3 onions12 cloves of garlic1 or 2 cans of tomatoes1 sachet tomato concentrate1› dry red wineZest of one orange3 tablespoons ground paprika3 teaspoons salt300g plain white flour1,5 tablespoons freshly groundblack pepper1 tablespoon brown sugar4 sprigs fresh rosemary or thymeExtra virgin olive oil on demand Research for this celebratory meal established one incontrovertible fact: nearly all the slow-cooked shank recipes call for a cast-iron pot with a lid. So why not heed that call? This is a superb addition to any kitchen toolkit and is a useful slow cooker. Alternatively, use a standard stainless steel pot. This recipe works best with springbok shanks, but these can be substituted with impala or lamb…

UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT FARMING BY YOURSELF Easter is the most special time in the Christian calendar for me as a farmer. For one thing, the intense heat of summer is over and we’re entering autumn, a particularly beautiful time of the year for farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. Every morning as I go for a run, I can feel the weather starting to change – and see the swallows gathering on the power lines, getting ready to make their annual trek back to the northern hemisphere. This is a peaceful time of the year. Far more importantly, though, this is the time we celebrate the death and resurrection of our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and for yours. It is also a time for…

Not all farms consist solely of flat land filled with maize. Many have hillsides that are difficult to keep free of toxic weeds or impossible to access by vehicle. This is where the Ibex Agribot could come in handy for farmers. The UK-based company has started field trials with a highly mobile agricultural robot that manoeuvres around steep dairy and sheep pastures as it automatically identifies and destroys weeds. CHEAPER AND SAFER THAN SENDING IN WORKERS According to the Ibex website, toxic weeds and those that grow into bushes and threaten to entangle sheep are of particular concern. In high-lying lands with steep gradients that are accessible only by single track mud paths, spraying herbicides to eliminate unwanted weeds can be costly and ineffective, as well as dangerous for workers.…

Despite high demand from Italy, the wool market traded 1,5% lower, and the Merino indicator lost 230 points to close at R151,99 clean. The Australian market was 2,1% down. According to Cape Wools, local trade was unusually subdued because of foreign exchange fluctuations. However, James de Jager, general manager of fibre at CMW, said that in US dollar terms, the market had remained stable with wool fetching good prices.“Demand from overseas’ mills remains upbeat, with a pipeline that is relatively low in stocks,” he added. Meanwhile, retailers were facing increased pressure to procure wool products from producers who adhere to ethical sheep farming standards, following US-based Textile Exchange’s recently released Responsible Wool Standard draft, which proposes a global sheep and wool welfare standard. CMW’s highest price of R130,10 was achieved…

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that despite its unstable government, Somalia exported five million heads of livestock in 2014, while its more politically stable neighbours, Ethiopia and Kenya, only exported 1,9 million and 200 000 respectively. This, the FAO says, is because Somalia privatised the livestock sector, and because external donors, such as the European Union (EU), constructed abattoirs and provided support in animal disease prevention. The livestock sector contributes 40% to Somalia’s GDP.…

Farmers across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are reportedly joining forces to oppose what has been described as an “onslaught” of applications to explore the province for fossil fuel resources. This follows recent applications by various companies to explore approximately three-and-a-half million hectares, across roughly 15 500 farming properties. Leading applicant, Rhino Oil and Gas South Africa (ROGESA), has been holding a series of meetings to obtain public feedback on its plans. Another applicant is the Sungu Sungu Group. The KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) told Farmer’s Weekly that its members feared the potential negative impact that the exploration and eventual mining of fossil fuel resources could have on agricultural investment, human and animal health, and the already scarce freshwater resources. “These applications have been met with inflammatory public participation protests at meetings held…

According to Oxfam researchers, many Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are failing to implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) initiated by the African Union (AU) in 2003. This is designed to accelerate agricultural growth and development in Africa. The Maputo Declaration initiative requires that participating countries allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture, and to achieve at least 6% annual growth in the sector, said Oxfam researcher Professor Nicholas Ngepah. Addressing delegates at the recent SADC conference on agricultural policy and investment plans in Botswana, Gaborone, Ngepah said that while nine SADC countries had signed the CAADP contract, there was no evidence that the general public, private sector bodies and civil society organisations had any knowledge of the programme’s goals and principles. He noted…

Two as-yet-unnamed ZimParks rangers in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, recently shot and killed Claudio Chiarelli (66), a professional hunter, and his son Max (29) after allegedly mistaking them for poachers. ZimParks, a government parastatal that manages the country’s national parks, expressed regret over the shooting, which took place on 13 March. Chairperson Tichafa Mundangepfupfu said in a statement that gun shots had been heard in the Mana Pools area, and this had led to the Chiarellis assisting ZimParks with anti-poaching patrols. Late Sunday afternoon, rangers pursuing the spoor of suspected poachers came across a fresh fireplace in dense vegetation, which they believed had been used by their quarry. “The rangers continued following the spoor of the poachers. They later saw movement in the thicket, heard voices and opened fire,…

Long-term planning is crucial in successful farming, and family farming businesses in particular should make succession planning a priority, according to Prof Johan Willemse, of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State. Addressing farmers at the recent Glenconnor Agricultural Association’s information day in Kirkwood, Eastern Cape, Willemse expressed his alarm at the lack of feedback from the audience when he asked farmers to indicate how many of them had five-year plans for their farming businesses. The audience’s response also indicated that only a few of the farmers who attended the information day habitually held regular family meetings. Willemse explained that family meetings played an important role in determining whether the farming family’s younger generations desired to farm. He added that the greatest challenge was determining…

Two-a-Day’s Dr Mias Pretorius and Daan Brink described to Glenneis Kriel how picking platforms are improving the company’s production. Growers at fruit company Two-a-Day constantly search for methods to improve the livelihoods of their workers. Last year, they identified picking platforms as one such method and subsequently imported these machines from Italy through the company’s subsidiary, Lazy Leopard. The platforms offer several benefits: • Increased efficiency Labourers work far more speedily than when using ladders. Dr Mias Pretorius, technical manager at Two-a-Day, estimates that approximately 75% of a worker’s time is wasted on moving ladders. Trials using platforms for young tree manipulation and hand thinning in Ceres revealed a 300% increase in labour efficiency over ladder usage. “The great benefit of improved labour efficiency is that it reduces costs and in…

‘FROM A FARMER’S VIEWPOINT, SUSTAINABILITY IS THE SAME AS PROFITABILITY’ More than 800 million people in the world do not have enough to eat. Another two billion get enough to eat, but suffer from micronutrient deficiency, or ‘hidden hunger’. This number will increase as food production grows at a slower rate than food demand. In February, a conference on the role of biotechnology in sustainable food production was held by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to Prof Louise Fresco from the Netherlands, the genomes of 80 crop and 140 animal species are already fully sequenced. This means that genetic improvement can be achieved by editing the genome without the introduction of foreign DNA, as is done with genetically modified organisms. Although it will not be possible to…

For the past 21 years, Villa Crop Protection has contributed significantly to South Africa’s agricultural sector through its unique and innovative approach to crop protection. By investing in the development of its product portfolio, Villa is assisting in the continued growth of the country’s agriculture exports. Agriculture is an important industry in SA and other African nations. Nearly 80% of arable land in SA is used for agriculture, amounting to more than 97,6 million hectares. With the sector contributing about 2,5% (US$8,7 billion) to the country’s GDP, Villa is keen to capitalise on this market segment, and has invested in product development to provide a total-solutions approach to crop protection. After growing its turnover by 23% in the 2013/2014 financial year, Villa is confident in its ability to invest its…

The significance of farmers in the production of food cannot be understated. It is through the laborious and often thankless task of farming that society can function and thrive. PANNAR and its staff have dedicated themselves to assisting farmers throughout Africa to succeed, thereby helping to ensure food security and stability. SERVICES AND PRODUCTS PANNAR is dedicated to the continued development and growth of farms in Southern Africa. The company has over 50 years’ experience in regional crop production, and while Africa’s varied conditions may make farming challenging, PANNAR has succeeded in supplying the optimal cultivars for each production region. By offering solid advice and practical solutions, PANNAR has also helped farmers improve crop production and yield, as well as manage risks and other obstacles. PANNAR prides itself on offering…

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH – PREDATORS PLUS INSECTICIDES – IS THE ANSWER Having already addressed bollworms, this week we discuss the control of aphid, cutworm and leaf miner in lettuce crops. A number of newer crop chemicals are available that will control these pests without harming their natural predators. They also present no potential hazard to humans. • Cutworms These are often overlooked because they are not always obvious. Never assume that cutworms are not present; take precautions by spraying the area with a suitable insecticide before or just after planting. • aphids The main culprit in lettuce is the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae). Fortunately, it is fairly easy to control with a number of systemic insecticides, some of which are predator-friendly. Predators include hoverfly larvae, ladybirds, lacewing and minute wasps. The…

In 1902, McCormick and Deering merged to form the International Harvester Company. The two firms retained their individual dealers and created two separate tractor lines. McCormick dealerships sold the Mogul line and Deering agents handled the Titans. In 1912, International’s first lightweight tractor, the Mogul 12-25, was introduced. The first Titans were the Type D and their horizontal engines featured two parallel cylinders. The Titan 10-20 was built from 1916 to 1922. These tractors proved to be highly popular and large numbers were shipped to countries around the world. International Harvester progressed from there towards the revolutionary Farmall, a tractor that dominated the market in many countries, including South Africa, for almost half a century. For more information on the equipment mentioned in this report, email farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Equipment.…

COCONUT FIBRE IS USED IN VEHICLE SEATS The motor industry constantly seeks new materials to produce parts that are cheaper to manufacture, lighter or longer-lasting than those made of older materials. Plant materials, plastics and ceramics have been investigated; many are suitable but expensive, and can only be used in specialised applications. The latest cast-iron and steel alloys also offer hope for lighter parts. Ideally, a new material should conform to the following criteria: • Its production process must waste as little energy as possible, and be recyclable without major energy input; • The process of making parts from it must be easier and cheaper than before; • It must be lighter than the material it replaces, to help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emission. • It must have a…

In the previous issue of Farmer’s Weekly (18 March 2016), Dr Mac described the correct way to apply a tail bandage. This week, I want to discuss leg wraps. As with tail bandages, you can do irreparable harm if you do not apply them properly. To begin with, you could damage the horse’s tendons and weaken the leg. Unfortunately, leg wraps seem to be applied the wrong way more often than the correct way. The best leg wrap is a combination of cotton pads and soft-wrapped (stretchable) bandage or suitable cloth. Together, they protect and support the horse’s leg during transport. However, they are also the most likely to cause injury if not applied correctly. Two common mistakes are made when applying a leg wrap: • Not having enough cotton…

To make six generous servings of Apple Tarte Tatin, you will need: 8 big, non-floury apples 90g butter 140g brown sugar 250g puff pastry It’s hard to accept that something that looks so good and tastes so marvellous can be so simple to prepare. To begin with, you can use ready-made pastry from the supermarket freezer; it works like a charm. Start with the apples. Cut off the base so that each fruit has a flat bottom. Peel, then cut, each apple into quarters, removing the pips and apple core. Chill in the fridge for 24 hours to partially dehydrate the fruit. And it was the morning of the second day, and lo! The apple was already light brown and ready to go. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Once again,…

Older people (those over 60) may not be able to synthesise protein and build muscles from regular protein-containing foods as efficiently as in their youth. As a result, they develop sarcopenia. With this condition, the larger muscles in the body become smaller and weaker and do not support the body as well. One’s balance is usually not as good as it used to be, which can lead to falls and fractures. Taking a good quality whey protein powder and doing appropriate resistance training may help reduce muscle wasting. Even walking rapidly while keeping a good posture will help. CONCENTRATED Whey protein powder is high in leucine, an amino acid that signals genes in your muscles to build protein. Choose a whey protein powder in a concentrated rather than an isolated…

One reader stands a chance to win a Davey’s FireFighter single-stage pump valued at R10 899! Davey’s FireFighter single-stage pump is a rugged, economical unit that provides unsurpassed performance in a variety of daily applications, making it perfect for farming and domestic use. The single-stage pump can be used for firefighting, tanker-to-tanker water transfer, high-head general water transfer, sheep jetting, irrigation and boom spraying.Through its unique design, the single-stage Firefighter boasts performances of over 500 litres per minute at an astounding 70m head, making this one of the hardest-working firefighters in Southern Africa. For more information, or to locate your nearest Davey Master Dealer, email info@daveysa.co.za. TO ENTER: SMS the word FIRE, your name, physical address and ID number to 48404. Each SMS costs R1,50. Free SMSes do not apply.…

The Merino ram sale season started off with mixed results in mid-January, before most farmers received any substantial rain. Thereafter, demand and prices increased, with most sales showing a significant increase in average prices from last year. The wool market surged as a result of the plummeting rand and has been trading at about R155/kg (clean), more than 40% higher than a year ago. However, widespread drought conditions over large parts of the country have had a negative impact on farmers due to escalating feed costs.…

This is a month of birthday celebrations. First it was Wifey Dear’s, and now it’s Farmer’s Weekly’s 105th anniversary. My witty remark to my dearest that she didn’t look a day over a hundred failed to impress her, though. At Wifey Dear’s birthday braai, I mentioned the fact that Farmer’s Weekly’s was also celebrating a significant anniversary and that the magazine is in fact the oldest in South Africa. My comment sparked a discussion among the guests, a couple of whom were octogenarians, about some of the articles and writers in Farmer’s Weekly down the years. I was delighted to see that the magazine was obviously highly regarded by everyone. This issue, with its trip down memory lane, proves to younger farmers, and to us oldies too, that Farmer’s Weekly…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 14 APRIL Pasture Management Symposium, Farm Inn, Pretoria. Email info@grassSA.co.za or visit www.grasssa.co.za. 21 APRIL Free State Agriculture – Young Farmer Conference and Young Farmer of the Year, Bloemfontein. Visit www.vrystaatlandbou.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 30 MARCH Basic Conservation Agriculture, Meadowdale. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774 or email neill@ foundationsforfarming.org. 4 TO 8 APRIL Introduction to Poultry Production, Pretoria. Phone Jan Grobbelaar on 084 567 8975 or email jan@reveal.co.za. 12 TO 14 APRIL Embryo Transfer in Cattle, Krugersdorp. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208 or visit www.rltsafrica.com. 12 APRIL 1-Day Practical Home Gardening (including vegetable growing and compost-making), Beula Park, Meadowdale. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774 or email neill@foundationsforfarming.org. 18 TO 22 APRIL Veld Management (accredited), Pretoria Botanical Gardens. Email info@alut.co.za or…

Textile Exchange (TE), a US-based non-profit organisation founded in 2002, is developing a Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which would allow wool buyers to select wool sources based on the treatment of sheep on farms. This follows a recent video depicting the inhumane treatment of sheep on an Argentinian farm. A draft document will be open for public comment for two months, after which the document will be accessible for an additional 30 days for open stakeholder reviews. Following this, final revisions will be made. The RWS purports to protect animal welfare, recognise the best existing practices, ensure traceability, and provide consumers with trustworthy information to enable them to make responsible choices. Working alongside all textile supply chain sectors of the $1,7 trillion (R27 trillion) textile industry, TE attempts to mitigate…

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) world agricultural heritage list names the globally important agricultural heritage systems, and recognises traditional farming systems. The initiative was launched in 2002, and includes 36 areas in 16 countries. Japan’s ministry of agriculture wants to create a version of the list, specific to Japan, to encourage a culture of farming, and to promote regional development. Hiroshi Moriyama, Japan’s minister of agriculture, said that listing Japan in the database will promote better public appreciation for the role of agriculture in Japan’s heritage, and will benefit the tourism sector, as tourists have shown great interest in Japanese farming villages. The Japanese Times reported that eight areas in Japan are registered on the FAO’s list.…

The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation (DWS) has a “bizarre fixation” on water use by South Africa’s commercial forestry operations, and this was leading to unreasonable demands from the department. This was the view of industry organisation, Forestry South Africa (FSA), in response to the DWS’s draft regulations requiring commercial foresters to apply for government authorisation to change the genus of tree species being grown. In its draft regulations on Afforestation Genus Exchanges in Terms of the National Water Act No. 36 of 1998, the DWS proposed that a genus exchange would not be allowed to increase the existing lawful water use of a commercial forestry property. “These [draft] regulations allow only for an exchange in the authorised genus of an equal area or a reduced area of the…

Land reform would take many years to complete because government did not have enough money to purchase land for the programme’s beneficiaries. This was according to Ernest Pringle, chairperson of Agri SA’s land reform committee, speaking at the Glenconnor Agricultural Association’s information day in Kirkwood, Eastern Cape. He said land ownership, or the lack thereof, was the primary obstacle in helping develop subsistence farmers into commercial farmers, adding that the process had failed in 80% of cases. He said Agri SA believed that land reform beneficiaries must be given ownership of the land they were allocated, or remain dependent on government. While government’s support systems were haphazard, it couldn’t actively promote public, private or business partnerships, and this contributed to the failure of land reform. He said Agri SA would…

Identifying genetic codes and genes (sequencing) enables better understanding of genetic systems. It speeds up the process of following targeted beneficial genes in selecting for advanced plant performance. The groundnut is the latest example. Modern groundnuts (peanuts) originated from wild species in South America. These wild groundnuts were grown by native Indo-Americans before colonists arrived in the 16th century and distributed seeds in North America and Asia. Two of the 79 ancient wild species crossed in nature 7 000 years ago to form a new species hybrid that became the origin of cultivated groundnuts. Today, some 25 million hectares of groundnuts are grown globally, yielding 42 million tons. Low yield and risk of aflatoxins have presented practical problems which are now being addressed through new genetic knowledge. Sequencing the order…

REMEMBER, THE SARS VERSION OF EVENTS CARRIES MORE WEIGHT Two issues stand out for me in a highly lucid judgement relating to reassessments issued by the Durban Tax Court in January (see case numbers IT 12951 and VAT 885 of 2016). Briefly, a company disputed the findings of a SARS audit (and subsequent reassessment) of its 2005 and 2006 returns. The ‘problems’ identified related to overseas travel and casual wages, among others. I was pleasantly surprised to see the judge had ruled that these were valid deductions despite the fact that the taxpayer had produced little documentary evidence to support his submissions, especially those relating to the casual wages paid. The taxpayer’s word was accepted by the court. The judge examined the standard of proof required and held that the…

I’ve heard rumblings from on high that it should be compulsory for bigger farmers to allocate, say, 20% of their produce to a black-owned market agency. This is despite the fact that the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) and others continually promote transformation in the sector. The solid business relationship needed between farmer and market agent takes time to develop, but it’s not race-based. Many white farmers deal quite happily with black salespeople. Unfortunately, those who express dismay at the lack of transformation within the market agency sector never see this lucrative interaction. Some white-owned agencies have good BEE ratings, others do not. Among the latter are smaller businesses, many family-owned, which don’t need to qualify for a BEE rating. THE NEED FOR NETWORKING A quick count, meanwhile, gave me…

Dear Jonno We intend building a comfortable two-bedroom home, with a third room for crafts and other activities, and would like to utilise as many locally available on-site materials as possible. These include a gumtree plantation close at hand, and plenty of rock and river sand. What would the implications be if my son had to build this house? He has completed a woodwork course. My husband and I have a home in Montagu, where he would live while building the house. We would be grateful for any advice or suggestions you can offer. Regards Margaret Dear Margaret I’m also passionate about using and recycling what is locally available. I refer you to the letter from John and Sue in my column in Farmer’s Weekly of 8 + 15 January…

‘IT IS WHAT YOU READ WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO THAT DETERMINES WHAT YOU WILL BE WHEN YOU CAN’T HELP IT’ – OSCAR WILDE (1854-1898) Writer and journalist Antjie Krog is as renowned for her poetry as she is for her searing reporting on the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. But with the softback publication of her FYNBOS FAIRIES (Umuzi, R160), illustrated with funky contemporary attitude by Fiona Moodie, the focus is on a lighter side of her writing and what delights her. 1. FARM LIFE I was brought up on a farm near Kroonstad and played in the veld a lot, getting to know the flowers and the trees around me. 2. STARTING OVER When I moved to the Western Cape, I was delighted by…