Farmer's Weekly 24 September 2021

Driving in South Africa has become a bit of an ordeal for me. On a recent trip to the Free State, I had that uniquely South African experience of finding myself on a road that was so profoundly potholed there really was no option left but to drive on the gravel shoulder of the road. More recently, I attended the opening of BKB’s new Highveld Auction Facility just outside Standerton in Mpumalanga (see story on page 21). The R23 is in a relatively good condition; while it’s not without potholes, the potholes are not quite as impressive and numerous as those in the Free State. It was also good to see that some sections of the road were undergoing maintenance. However, to get to the new auction facility, I had to…

“The impact that fire has on a livestock enterprise in terms of profit, forage production, biodiversity and the soil microbiome depends on a number of factors. These include, amongst others, the perennial basal cover of the soil, the amount of bare ground, the ratio of perennial to annual grasses, the density of the bush and the soil type. Other factors focus on the fire itself. Is it a head or rear fire? What are the environmental conditions, such as wind speed, humidity and fuel load, during the fire? Is it a cool, early-season burn (when grass plants just start going dormant) or a hot, late-season burn? All of these will determine the impact of the fire. DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRE Fire can never be applied as a single tool; it always occurs within…

The Veld Management Course aims to train participants on the important principles and practices needed to ensure sustainable veld management. This course looks at what natural resource and veld management entail, and discusses the important legislation dealing directly or indirectly with this topic. Email Frits van Oudtshoorn at courses@alut.co.za, or phone him on 071 866 1331. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 29 TO 30 SEPTEMBER Agricultural Drones and Robots Conference, Southern Sun, Rosebank. Phone Simon Mkitlane on 067 107 6133, or email him at simon@mogorosicomms.co.za. 18 TO 19 OCTOBER Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association Symposium (online). Visit afmasymposium.co.za. 21 TO 22 OCTOBER Africa Strategy Execution Conference (online). Visit africastrategy.co.za. 28 TO 29 OCTOBER 4IR Agritech Conference, Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch. Email Connie Mamabolo at connie@mathematraining.co.za, or phone her on 011 862 4001. COURSES AND TRAINING 30 SEPTEMBER Cattle Pregnancy Awareness, Gauteng. Phone Rothman Livestock Training Services…

Humans the world over collect a variety of things, some strange and unusual. In the US, many people collect different types of barbed wire, as this article revealed. In America there is a group of people who believe that the American West was not won with the gun, but with barbed wire. These people are enthusiastic and dedicated collectors of examples of early pieces of barbed wire and proudly call themselves ‘Barbarians’. There are over 100 000 barbed-wire collectors in the US today. They have about 70 associations in more than 18 states, which are affiliated to a national association and an international one. Collectors regularly compete for prizes in each state and nationally at shows and conventions that are enjoyable social occasions for collectors and their families. Many pieces of wire are sold…

Government’s proposed initiative to expropriate land without compensation threatens to jeopardise food security and dissuade investment in South Africa, and will have a profoundly negative impact on the country’s economy. Earlier this year, Agri SA published the results of a research study that considered the likely impact of a policy of expropriation without compensation (EWC) via econometric modelling, based on capital formation and GDP ratios gleaned from relevant country case studies. The study found that South Africa will face an imminent socioeconomic disaster if EWC is pursued. The reason for this, says the report, is that “politicians and bureaucrats cannot repeal the fundamental laws of economics, try as they might”. The report adds: “Economic capital, which is an indispensable prerequisite for economic development, job creation and growth, needs to be nurtured and…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA STRONG PERFORMANCE FOR AGRICULTURE IN LATEST GDP FIGURES South Africa’s economy expanded 1,2% quarter-on-quarter, with the transport, storage and communications industries making the largest [combined] contribution at 6,9%, followed by agriculture at 6,2%, according to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa. Read the full article at bit.ly/3heg3sq, or scan here: Posted: 8 September 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @farmersweeklysa We posted an article on Facebook titled ‘dehorning your beef cattle can help boost profits, and some of our followers shared their views on the matter. Posted: 8 September 2021. READERS’ COMMENTS Rebone Mr-Clean Phologane: “What good advice. I didn’t know why horns were removed from cows!” Anton de Swardt: “Unless you breed Ankole!!” Mlungisi Vundlas Mavundla: “We can’t dehorn Nguni – that’s nature.” PHOTO OF THE WEEK Olerile Ole @Olelekgetho “We had the most painful, heartbreaking weekend ever.…