Table of contents for 12 October 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

As I am writing this, we are two days away from the Presidential Jobs Summit, which was set to take place on 4 and 5 October as part of an urgent attempt to find answers to South Africa’s overwhelming unemployment crisis. In an article published during the run-up to the summit, the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) stated that over the past decade almost 900 people in South Africa had joined the ranks of the unemployed every single day. Unemployment currently stands at 37%, or 9,6 million people, and the situation is deteriorating rather than improving. According to the CDE, matters are even worse for young people, among whom the unemployment rate is 50%. There are 400 000 fewer people employed in 2018 than there were in 2008, despite…

POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE BY DR JAN VENTER In a recent interview in New York in the US, President Cyril Ramaphosa said farmers were not being killed in his country. Was this a slip of the tongue or not? Whatever your interpretation, Ramaphosa wasn’t exactly reflecting the actual facts there. The “whole country” was, according to reports, “livid”, and accused him of being dishonest about this controversial issue. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko, has since explained that he was simply refuting US President Donald Trump’s previous referral to the large-scale killing of white farmers. According to her, Ramaphosa was commenting in the interview about a tweet Trump had sent. In August, Trump tweeted that he had asked his secretary of state to “closely study the South African land and farm seizures and expropriations…

Karan Beef, South Africa’s largest cattle feedlot and beef-processing company, has been fined R2,7 million by the Competition Commission (CompCom) for engaging in anti-competitive practices while manufacturing beef products for chilled and frozen foods company I & J. A statement issued by the Competition Tribunal said investigations had found that Karan Beef and I & J had concluded an agreement in 2002 according to which Karan Beef would manufacture processed beef products solely for I & J. The statement added that this agreement had then been amended to stipulate that Karan Beef would no longer manufacture, market or produce any products that were the same as the processed beef products that were being manufactured for I & J. The CompCom’s investigation found that these actions amounted to prohibited anti-competitive practices…

Successful land care depended on active citizens and community-led movements that recognised the causes of problems, not just the symptoms. This was according to the land care programme manager at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ramakgwale Mampholo, who spoke at the recent 8th Biennial National Landcare Conference in Bloemfontein. “They need to start to addressing the causes at community level and then seeking support from various players,” he said Mampholo emphasised the need for partnerships that sought to maintain rangelands, soil, arable land and water resources. He called on the private sector, civil society, traditional authorities and educational fraternities to work together to champion land care initiatives. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Mampholo said it was important that people rallied behind land care because they believed in it with…

After a dry start, the South African Rooibos Council has expressed optimism about the 2018/2019 rooibos season. “Due to good rain during the winter, rainfall figures in South Africa’s only tea-producing areas are now back to normal,” said council chairperson Martin Bergh. It was, however, still too early to announce a crop estimate for the 2018/2019 season. According to Bergh, the earliest preliminary estimate for the season would be available in December. Large-scale plantings had been undertaken this year, he said. “However, rooibos is a dryland crop and the success of the plantations will only be determined in December.” In 2017/2018, the total rooibos harvest amounted to 12 500t. Rooibos has gained popularity across the globe as many want to take advantage of its apparent health benefits. However, a major…

Food security is defined as a situation where all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The US Department of Agriculture measures food security in terms of the share of the population that cannot meet the calorie target of 2 100 calories/person/ day, and expresses this as a percentage of the population that is food-insecure. It recently studied food supply and demand in 76 low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Latin America/ Caribbean and Asia. South Africa was excluded from this analysis. In 2018, an estimated 21% of the total population of these countries was food-insecure. More than 782 million people out of a total…

South Africa’s wool industry has performed exceptionally well over the past two years. The market indicator kicked off 25% higher in 2017/2018 than in the previous season. Wool then experienced a steady sideways increase throughout 2017 to close 39% higher than the 2016 season. At the end of the season, the market closed at a record high of R211/kg (clean). Global and local demand for good-quality, long and finer wools has continued to improve, and exceed production. Growing global demand for natural fibres and the current weakening rand will mean more profitable exports. Increasing demand for quality and finer wools, despite tight supplies, also supports high prices. Production is currently on a downward trend, which coincides with the large decline in national sheep numbers as a result of the widespread…

Jurie Hartley milks 1 200 cows near Meyerton, Gauteng. Until 2005, he and his father, John, fed the animals total mixed rations (TMR). They then decided to convert to pasture instead. With its lower input costs, the economics of this move made sense. ‘I SEE ALMOST EVERY COW CLOSE UP EVERY WEEK’ Cows on pasture yield less milk: an average of 20l twice a day in summer compared with up to 40l twice a day for TMR-fed cows. But a pasture feeding system lengthens a cow’s longevity and extends its lactations, as the animal is not ‘pushed’ as hard, says Hartley Jnr. He points out that the average lactation in a South African dairy herd is about 2,8, whereas the cows in his herd average 6,5 lactations. In order to…

Dear Jonno, We recently purchased a 2ha site in the Barberton area in Mpumalanga, and will be retiring there in approximately three years. In the meantime, we’d like to build a ‘starter home’ for weekends and holidays. There will be a manager living on the plot who will oversee the progress of the building operation. We require an open-plan living area, a kitchen, and two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. We are also thinking of adding an attic area with a further two en suite bedrooms. But this will happen only when we move there permanently. We hope to have the house constructed of wood. Kind regards, Rob and Janet Dear Rob and Janet, Thanks for the request for something most people want: a cost-effective starter home. My sketch shows…

THE LOST BOYS OF BIRD ISLAND by Mark Minnie & Chris Steyn (Tafelberg, R280) Despite the swaggering portrayal of ex-cop Minnie and the derring-do of ex-investigative journalist Steyn, regret and remorse weave their way through this heart-rending account of near-misses and blocked pathways that could have led to the exposure of a paedophile ring involving apartheid government ministers three decades ago. Columnist Marianne Thamm provides a flavour of those paranoid, violent times in her foreword. From time to time, though, you’ll have to remind yourself that this tale strewn with missing children, missing dockets, spiked drinks and suicides is not crime fiction but a historical reconstruction of a side of life in South Africa. SPIN by Nick Clelland & Ryan Coetzee (Penguin, R160) Former DA spinmeisters…

Small-scale poultry producers will be able to meet the local chicken meat demand gap that imports currently fill, says Marthinus Stander, CEO of Country Bird Holdings. Stander spoke to Farmer’s Weekly following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a government economic stimulus and recovery plan, which would see the poultry sector receive trade protection. Ramaphosa said in his announcement that the central element of the economic stimulus and recovery plan was the reprioritisation of spending towards activities that had the greatest impact on economic growth, domestic demand and job creation. This plan would have a particular emphasis on growing township and rural economies, and creating opportunities for women and the youth. Stander said he did not have specific information about how the poultry sector would receive trade protection. “We would, however,…

The Zimbabwe Poultry Association recently announced that the country’s poultry industry had recovered from an avian influenza outbreak that last year shut down Zimbabwe’s largest chicken producer and sent prices of poultry products soaring. The association said broiler meat, day-old chicks and table eggs output had been restored, eight months after the country was officially declared avian influenza-free. Chairperson Solomon Zawe said broiler meat production had returned to an average of 11 600t/ month in the second quarter of this year, which was 4% higher than the first quarter, and 20% higher than the second quarter of 2017. Demand for broiler meat and day-old chicks had increased significantly in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year. “Industry [members] expect the elevated demand to persist into…

Viljoenskroon farmer Cobus van Coller has urged fellow farmers to invest in converting to conservation agriculture (CA) to enable them to “reap a sustainable farming future”. Speaking at the recent Landcare Conference in Bloemfontein, Van Coller described his journey since first starting with CA in 2006, and said that sustainability was at the core of this farming practice. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, he said he had been amazed at the interest shown by developing farmers at the event with regard to caring for natural resources. A big stumbling block to increasing the implementation of CA in South Africa was the lack of experienced mentors to guide new entrants. Van Coller said he had had to learn by trial and error, and had “paid a lot of school fees” as he…

The Vaal River is in a dire state, with raw sewage continuing to spill into the river, which could have serious repercussions for the agriculture sector. According to Phillip Molekoa, head of advocacy at the South African Human Rights Commission, a site inspection of the river was conducted early last month following allegations of up to 150 megalitres of raw sewage spilling into the river every day. “The inspection revealed a prima facie violation of the rights of access to clean water, clean environment and human dignity,” a statement by the commission said. An inquiry was held at Stonehaven on the Vaal at the end of September as part of the investigation. Members of the community and surrounding areas, as well as organisations and other interested parties, had also been…

A new study by Stellenbosch University has shown that molecular biology techniques could help identify the fungal species responsible for core rot in apples. Core rot, a major post-harvest disease caused by specific fungal species, is a huge constraint in apple production. Farmers and exporters suffer significant losses due to the disease, with consignments that have 20% or more decayed apples being rejected by importers at export destinations, according to Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins of the Fruit and Postharvest Pathology Research Programme at the Department of Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University. “Currently, the identification of fungal species that cause core rot is labour-intensive and requires trained personnel and laboratory facilities,” Meitz-Hopkins said. By contrast, molecular methods would enable targeted control strategies. The study sought to identify the Alternaria and Penicillium species…

VKB Group, which operates across large parts of Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, has reported a consolidated net profit of R534 million before tax and incentive discounts. This is up 334% from R123 million the year before. Managing director, Koos Janse van Rensburg, also announced that an incentive discount of R260 million had been awarded to clients, and a R40 million dividend was declared. The group declared a zero dividend in the 2016/2017 financial year. Janse van Rensburg ascribed the improvement in profits in large part to the performance of the group’s poultry business, Grain Field Chickens. According to the annual report, Grain Field Chickens had gone from a loss before tax of nearly R100 million in 2016/2017 to a profit before tax of over R200 million in 2017/2018.…

In South Africa, as in most countries, individuals are taxed on a sliding scale. In other words, the more you earn, the more income tax you pay. The poor pay little or no tax. The ‘semiwealthy’ normally carry the greatest tax burden. And the really wealthy have the means to operate outside of the tax net, to a large degree. The semi-wealthy include most farmers and small- to middle-tier businesses, who are trapped in the system. But, because of the way they are structured, there are several tax shelters within South Africa’s existing rules. Here are a few: • The income tax threshold This is R75 750 if one is younger than 65. Past that, the tax threshold (the amount above which tax becomes payable) rises to R117 300. For a…

Managing grazing rotation means managing the ‘salad bowl effect’. In a restaurant buffet, a salad bowl is topped up whenever it reaches a certain level. As a result, the lower portion of the salad is never touched. Something similar happens when cattle graze, particularly in summer when there is enough fodder. Cows graze the grass down to a certain height and are then moved on to the next camp. When they return to the first camp, they graze the grass to the same level as before, then move on to newer grasses in the camp. This means that much of the pasture is never consumed. To utilise all the grazing, Jurie Hartley places a group of heifers or dry cows in the camp after the producing cows have been moved…

Most people know East London’s fresh produce market simply as ‘East London Market’. But because it serves the greater Buffalo City Metropolitan area, the correct name is Buffalo City Fresh Produce Market (BCFPM). In 2011, the newly formed Institute of Market Agents of South Africa’s Project Rebirth task team identified the market for urgent upgrading and repairs. And, indeed, in those days, the BCFPM was not a pretty sight. FUNCTIONAL AND WELL-ORGANISED My recent visit to the newly upgraded and refurbished BCFPM was a revelation. As the recipient of funding from the Project Rebirth initiative, now under the stewardship of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the market is not only highly functional but a pleasure for all who work and visit there. Attractive signs along the main roads…

To make roasted boerewors with broccoli for four diners, you will need: FOR THE SAUCE 1 can of tomatoes 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 cloves of garlic 1 dash of red Tabasco FOR THE WORS AND BROCOLLI 400g brocolli 700g boerewors ½ cup of cottage cheese 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic 2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup of chopped basil Salt and freshly ground black pepper on demand Red Tabasco 1 Preheat the oven to 230°C. Start with the tomato sauce by bringing a heavy-based frying pan up to medium heat on the hob. Add the olive oil. Crush, peel and thinly slice the garlic. Add this to the hot oil and stir-fry for…

Stock theft is an ongoing scourge in South Africa, and the problem is by no means limited to commercial farmers. In fact, small-scale farmers are “even more severely affected by livestock theft than commercial farmers, based on the economies of scale”, says Red Meat Producers’ Organisation vice-chairperson, Willie Clack. “If you own 10 cattle and one is stolen, you lose 10% of your herd. If you have 100 cattle and one is stolen, you lose 1% of the herd.” AN AFFORDABLE, PRACTICAL SOLUTION Philip Lötter, a former sheep farmer in the Western Cape, suffered ongoing livestock theft on his farm. In 1999, he collaborated with Stellenbosch company Etse Electronics to develop a livestock anti-theft system. Initially called Celmax, it is now known as FarmRanger. A FarmRanger collar is attached with…

The world has a drug problem and it’s big business, involving a huge variety of substances. Most are addictive, offering the user an escape from reality, and can be fatal if overdosed. Users come from all walks of life, from experimenting teenagers to jaded executives, rich to poor. Drug addiction has become endemic and is responsible for ever-growing crime, according to some experts. Despite this, the Constitutional Court recently ruled that the use of cannabis in the privacy of one’s own home is now permitted. Dealers have been prohibited from selling it, so how it’s acquired is still to be decided. Growing it in one’s garden seems to be the only option. The legal reprieve for its possession and private use mystifies me. Will taking away the prohibition make cannabis…

Aldam Stockman’s School 17 TO 19 OCTOBER THE THREE-DAY ALDAM STOCKMAN’S SCHOOL, HELD ANNUALLY NEAR WINBURG IN THE FREE STATE, WILL FOCUS ON REPRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES THIS YEAR. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 9 TO 10 OCTOBER Agri SA Annual Congress 2018, Menlyn, Pretoria. For more information, email Thea Liebenberg at thea@agrisa.co.za . 9 TO 12 OCTOBER Second African Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Johannesburg. For more information, visit africacacongress.org . 10 TO 11 OCTOBER Undercover Farming Conference Western Cape, Allée Bleue Estate, Groot Drakenstein. For more information, email iga@sai.co.za . 15 TO 17 OCTOBER Second International Conference for Food Safety and Security, Pretoria. For more information, visit fsas2018.co.za . 8 TO 10 NOVEMBER Agriculture & Forestry Expo, White…

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa tabled government’s economic stimulus and recovery plan. The plan entails a range of measures covering a number of sectors and will be implemented immediately. This is aimed at igniting economic activity, restoring investor confidence, preventing further job losses and creating new jobs. From an agricultural perspective, here are the key points the president made: • “Agriculture has massive potential for job creation in the immediate and long term. • The interventions we have identified will include a package of support measures for black commercial farmers so as to increase their entry into food value chains through access to infrastructure such as abattoirs and feedlots. • Blended finance will be mobilised from the Land Bank, Industrial Development Corporation and commercial banks. • The Land Bank is…

An outbreak of parasite infestations and tick-borne diseases was reported in most provinces during September, according to a monthly disease report by the National Animal Health Forum. Incidences of internal parasite outbreaks such as roundworm, wireworm and coccidiosis had been reported in many provinces. Despite the good rainfall that was received across many winter rainfall areas, infestations of brown stomach worm could become a problem following the severe drought, the report said. Farmers were advised to use the five-point assessment method to identify diseases and parasites in their small-stock, and to contact the local veterinarian for further information. “As temperatures rise, be aware of early outbreaks of wireworm infestations. For worm eggs to hatch, humidity, temperatures above 15°C and oxygen are needed. Check animals for bottle jaw and anaemia [as…

FNB has agreed to put a six-month hold on the forced auctioning of farms in the western Free State region. This was announced during a community meeting held by the Bultfontein Farmers’ Association in the town late last month. The meeting was called after several farms had in recent months come under the hammer in forced sales by commercial banks. One of the concerns highlighted by a farmer from the district, Christo Snyman, during his address to the meeting was that property values in the region had fallen significantly. As the farms sold at these auctions had fetched prices far below the market value according to which banks extended loans to these farmers, it had left them destitute and indebted. The head of the inland region of FNB Business Banking,…

Manufacturers and exporters of agricultural products to the EU will need to adhere to proposed new legislation requiring that the quality and labelling of products are standardised across all member states. The European Parliament recently voted in favour of drafting appropriate legislation after having received numerous complaints that while sold under the same brands across the EU, a number of food products differed in quality and varied in terms of labelling. “Studies have shown that food and other products marketed in some central and eastern EU countries, although safe, can be of a lower quality than the same products in the same packaging in western Europe. This varies from less meat in meat products, to less cocoa in chocolate, no oranges in orange juice, and syrup or artificial sweeteners instead…

SCOTLAND A simple blood test could in future be used to predict the lifelong health and productivity of dairy cows, according to researchers at the Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College. In their research, they have found that testing female calves for molecules in the blood, called microRNAs, can help predict their likelihood of developing disease as mature cows. AUSTRALIA Australia’s consumer watchdog has warned dairy processors not to mislead farmers about milk prices, following reports of processors blaming their private-label milk contracts with supermarkets for low farm-gate prices. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said farmers were paid the same price irrespective of whether their milk went into private-label or branded products. These findings were based on detailed evidence provided by supermarkets and processors. RUSSIA Specialists at aviation and…

More than 30 million hectares of land in South Africa are considered to be severely or very severely degraded, according to Hein Lindemann, scientific manager for natural resource inventory and assessments at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. During his presentation at the recent Landcare Conference in Bloemfontein, he shared statistics from the Land Degradation Assessment in Dryland Areas project for South Africa. The study revealed that out of more than 120 million hectares surveyed, nearly 19% were deemed severely degraded and just over 6% very severely degraded. Moderate degradation was recorded across a further 30%, or more than 37 million hectares, of the land. Approximately 10 million hectares of South Arica’s land area were not assessed, with the balance listed in the low or very low degradation category.…

Announcing the details of an economic stimulus plan to boost South Africa’s economy recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed much emphasis on agriculture. “Agriculture has massive potential for job creation in the immediate and long term. A significant portion of the funding will go towards export-oriented crops that are highly labour-intensive,” he said. According to Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, the particular crops could only be speculated on, but they would largely be fruit and vegetables. “Although this might not help in a big way, it will increase our exports, which does bode well for the country’s current account,” he said. Sihlobo agreed with Ramaphosa that agriculture had good potential for job creation, saying highly labour-intensive crops would create jobs. “It will improve household disposable income,…

To inject livestock, particularly larger species such as cattle, you need to have a strong, well-built handling facility such as a cattle crush. This should prevent the animal from turning around or jumping out before or during treatment. The sides of the crush should be made of strong steel beams or gum poles and be least 1,6m high. If the crush is too wide, attach old car tyres along the inside of the barrier to narrow the area where the animal stands. Also, fit strong gates or sliding poles to secure the animal in the confined area when treating it. It is a good idea to use a neck clamp; this will secure the animal and prevent it from jumping when the injection is administered. To inject your animals correctly,…

Schoonbee Landgoed has instituted an internship programme to provide the youth with opportunities to acquire work experience and skills in the various departments of the farm. Internships are offered for a year, initially at the minimum wage and later for more, depending on candidates’ progress. The farm hosts a total of 17 interns from a number of South African universities. They meet weekly with the senior manager, and transparent feedback is provided, crucial information shared, projects assigned, clear deliverables set and evaluations done. The internships offer two benefits to the company: they challenge the existing systems by bringing in new perspectives, and they allow Schoonbee Landgoed to scout for potential employees. “We have the opportunity to closely evaluate the skills of these students and graduates’ work ethic as interns, and…

Merino Sheep…

How fitting it was to test this recipe and decide on the pairing on Heritage Day! I got questioning glances and some resistance as I placed the wors in the oven and not on the smoky braai outside. But the unbelievers soon changed their tune when the dish was served with the bounty of the Heritage braai. This pairing is quite open-ended. The flavour, quality and intensity of the boerewors play a major role. I used my favourite boerewors from a small family butchery, as it has delicious spice with plenty of crushed coriander. This, with the garlic cottage cheese, the hint of Tabasco on the bittersweet broccoli and the tomato gravy, called for a medium-bodied dry red. Rietvallei Wine Estate in the Robertson area produces a range called John…

Fatty acids for nerve health Research conducted at Queen Mary University of London suggests that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil is the best source) can protect nerves from injury and help them regenerate. The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, focused on peripheral nerve cells, which transmit signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. These nerves can regenerate if injured, but, despite advances in surgical techniques, patients usually recover well only when the injury is minor. The researchers first looked at isolated mouse nerve cells, and simulated the type of damage caused by accident or injury. Both types of damage killed a significant number of nerve cells, but enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids in cells gave them significant protection and reduced cell death.…