Farmer's Weekly 24 June 2022

David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme, recently spoke to news outlet CBN about the global food crisis. According to him, the world is currently facing the worst food crisis since World War II. While many countries have taken to blaming the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the situation, Beasley notes that this was already a problem before Russia invaded Ukraine, with fertiliser prices, for example, having skyrocketed by between 300% and 400% over the past 18 to 24 months. Unfavourable weather in the US and other key production regions has exacerbated the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Flooding in China near the end of last year resulted in that country buying up supplies of wheat. Meanwhile, other countries, such as India, have banned exports after heat and drought led to a…

“South Africa’s economy is in a mess, to say the least, and this is solely and exclusively the fault of policymakers. Yet it is not beyond redemption. The overall remedy lies in simply utilising empirical evidence in the form of studies that demonstrate the close and proven correlation between economic freedom (free markets) and high economic growth, which in turn translates to increased GDP per capita, high employment levels, better education and increased lifespans: all the positive social indicators that collectively amount to a good, contented and prosperous life. The Human Freedom Index (published by the Cato Institute), the Index of Economic Freedom (Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal), the International Property Rights Index (initiated by economist Hernando de Soto and involving the Property Rights Alliance) and Economic Freedom…

21 to 24 July, Globe at Suncoast, Durban The Cannabis Expo is the global marketplace for education and innovative products and businesses serving the cannabis industry and its medicinal, agricultural, financial and lifestyle aspects. The cannabis industry is exploding, and The Cannabis Expo provides the perfect platform for international and local medical health professionals, agricultural providers and lifestyle brands to engage with industry experts and the public around this versatile plant. Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 21 TO 22 JULY Precision Farming and Technology, Protea Hotel, Sea Point, Cape Town. Visit mathematraining.co.za/upcoming-events-bookings. COURSES AND TRAINING 22 TO 24 JUNE Basic Sheep Production Course, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Phone AgriSkills Transfer on 012 460 9585, or email Admin@agriskills.net. 19 JULY Wilderness Trails Skills, Makuleke Concession. Email Lizaan Viljoen at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za, or phone 013 752 2532. 20 JULY Calf Rearing, Gauteng. Email…

At a recent function at the Nambiti Private Game Reserve in Ladysmith, KwaZulu- Natal, Charl van der Merwe was named Pannar Seed’s Salesperson of the Year for the 2021 season. He represents Pannar in Bloemfontein and the surrounding areas. The runner-up award went to Stephan le Roux, who is the Pannar sales representative in Potchefstroom, Vereeniging and the surrounding areas. Riaan Janse van Vuuren, sales representative for the Hopetown and Dougles areas, was recognised for his outstanding perfromance. “We congratulate Charl. He achieved this award by applying his experience, technical knowledge, passion for Pannar and his ability to market the company’s wide range of crops and cultivars in order to provide his customers with a professional service. “Pannar is immensely proud to have representatives of this calibre, ” said Jaco Naudé, Van der Merwe’s…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA ARMED CONFLICT AND CYCLONE GOMBE ERODE FOOD SECURITY IN MOZAMBIQUE The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently announced its intention to provide vegetable seed to 23 000 families displaced by the armed conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. Read the full article at bit.ly/3MvNweH, or scan here: Posted: 6 June 2022. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA When we posted a link to an article titled, ‘Bonsmara bull sells for record-breaking R2,1 million’, some of our followers shared their thoughts on the story. Posted: 4 June 2022. READERS’ COMMENTS Andrew Ardington: “Totally crazy. We are obsessed with size and genetics. The only thing we should be obsessed with is sustainable profit per hectare.” Richard Joseph: “I’m a bit perplexed … In these tough economic times, two record prices fetched for livestock within a week?!” Thabo…

Decades ago, the South African table grape industry and its export trade were struggling due to a lack of suitable local cultivars. However, as this article revealed, the search was on for new and improved varieties. Eighty promising selections of table grape cultivars are being evaluated in an extensive breeding programme for new and improved cultivars at the Bien Donne Experimental Farm near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The evaluation is being done in three stages and is a contribution by the Department of Agricultural Technical Services to overcome a lack of proper table grape cultivars. This situation has prevailed for several years and has resulted in an irregular supply during the export season (January to June), creating economic difficulties for table grape farmers. The small quantities of grapes available from January to…