Farmer's Weekly 3 September 2021
Farmer’s Weekly is an agricultural magazine based in South Africa, targeting the whole of Southern Africa. The magazine is committed to advancing the interests of the region’s farmers and its agricultural industry by serving as a mouthpiece for the industry and by keeping its readers informed of the latest developments in the agricultural sector.
in this issue
the absolute terror of total freedom
It can be disappointing, even disorientating, when you start to learn that ‘freedom’ doesn’t really mean freedom, at least not absolutely. These days, whenever I feel too happy, I scroll through the comments sections on social media posts about the COVID-19 vaccine. The uncertainty, fear, vitriol, stubbornness, entitlement, moral superiority and stupidity on display is enough to ruin even the best day. It is a pity that we have become so bad at debating, because this could have been an opportunity to have an interesting discussion about what it means to have rights and freedoms in a democratic society such as ours. One of the most uncomfortable ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every person on earth is the way in which some of our freedoms, which we perhaps previously…
data show dire climate outlook for africa
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body tasked with providing scientific information on climate change, has released a major new report titled ‘Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis’, pulling together evidence from a wide range of current and ancient climate observations. It’s the most up-to-date understanding of climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science. It is crucial that we have a good understanding of the findings, as they give an indication of what our future could look like. According to the report, global warming is evident, with each of the last four decades being successively warmer than any decade that preceded it since 1850. Average precipitation on land has also increased since the mid-20th century. In addition, there is high confidence that the mean…
goats
20 October, Potchefstroom The Profitable Boer Goat Farming course is an intensive one-day course aimed at Boer goat farmers hoping to improve production and profitability. The course covers physiology of the Boer goat, the economics of production, animal health, feeding and nutrition, planning the production cycle and managing the kidding season, amongst other topics. Phone Johan Steyn on 064 727 8321, or visit boergoats.co.za. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 9 SEPTEMBER ‘Ken jou Beesboerdery’ Farmers’ Day, Doornhoek, Lichtenburg. Email Corlia Albrecht at hnd108@nwk.co.za. 18 TO 19 OCTOBER Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association Symposium (online). Visit afmasymposium.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 6 TO 7 SEPTEMBER Cow/Calf Production, Port Elizabeth. Phone Peter Milton on 083 630 8868, or email petermilton5252@gmail.com. 8 TO 9 SEPTEMBER Ewe/Lamb Production, Port Elizabeth.…
new flood irrigation system uses less water
In this article, it was claimed that a new method of irrigation would revolutionise irrigation in those areas suited to flood irrigation only. Research should be directed towards the more effective scheduling of water for irrigation purposes, so that increased production can be achieved by using the same amount of water. It is a well-known fact that the conventional method of flood irrigation eventually leads to brack in soils. This is a condition that occurs when the salt content reaches 150kg/m³ of soil. Farmers give one very heavy irrigation a season to leach out salts to below the root level of the crop to be irrigated, and subsequent irrigations are given to wet the soil to field capacity to the root zone, preventing the salt from entering the root system by its upward…
gauteng farmers face multiple threats
The men and women who grow crops and tend to livestock in Gauteng [and every other province in South Africa] are a national treasure. They carry a burden of responsibility that goes far beyond raising [and growing] food. When COVID-19 emerged as a zoonotic disease, Dr Jane Goodall charged humanity to urgently rethink its entire relationship with the natural world. Farmers are at the wild frontier of that charge. THE ISSUES THAT FARMERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH In Gauteng, these producers are faced with an unstable power supply, water shortages, acid mine drainage, eroding soil, rampant stock theft, and violent crime. They are also being threatened with the expropriation of their land without compensation, and the latest assault: potentially being disarmed by the [Firearms Control Amendment Bill] that will leave rural communities more vulnerable…
trending in agriculture
MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA RISING PRICE OF MEAT ADDS TO MONTHLY CPI JUMP IN JULY South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation (CPI) softened further in July to 4,6%, down from 4,9% in June and 5,2% in May. However, the monthly increase in CPI in July was 1,1%, the highest monthly rise since July 2020, when the CPI increased 1,3%, according to Statistics South Africa. Read the full article at bit.ly/3z2lwcW, or scan here: Posted: 18 August 2021. FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA When Farmer’s Weekly posted an article titled ‘China builds mega pig “hotels” to improve biosecurity, some of our followers expressed their opinions. Here’s what they had to say: Posted: 18 August 2021. READERS’ COMMENTS Andrew Ardington: “Every time, the solutions we come up with make the problems we [have] worse!” Stephen Prumm: “This [animal] density is what causes diseases to manifest and…
