Farmer's Weekly 6 August 2021

During the days of unrest that shook South Africa in early July, we ran a news article on our website (farmersweekly.co.za) about dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal who, cut off from the supply chain due to blocked roads and factory shutdowns, were forced to dump thousands of litres of milk. Within minutes of sharing the article on social media, the first indignant comments started flooding in from people criticising the farmers for wasting perfectly good milk at a time when many South Africans were struggling to access food. Other readers were quick to respond to these comments to explain that there was nothing malicious about farmers dumping the milk. In fact, farmers would much rather have seen it put to good use. However, it was impossible at the time to get the…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. This article is an edited excerpt from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ report titled ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021’. To read the full report, visit fao.org/3/cb4474en/online7cb4474en.html. “World hunger increased in 2020 under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. After remaining virtually unchanged for five years, the prevalence of undernourishment rose from 8,4% to around 9,9% in just one year. Between 720 million and 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020. Hunger affects 21% of the population in Africa, compared with 9% percent in Asia; one-third of the world’s undernourished are found in Africa (282 million people). In Southern Africa, severe food insecurity increased…

Online course The Integrated Farm Planning and Management course is online and free to attend. While it focuses mainly on sheep farming in the Karoo, it offers valuable lessons to all farmers. Anyone can complete the course at any time, and will receive a cerificate on completion after passing four short tests. Email Esther Matthew at esterm@ewt.org.za, or visit karooforever.org.za/en. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 11 TO 12 AUGUST Bushveld Dorper Club Warmbad Livestock Show, Bela-Bela. Phone Annetjie van Wyk on 063 546 2005. COURSES AND TRAINING 5 AUGUST Accessible AgTech for South African Fruit Growers (webinar). Visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/accessible-agtech-for-south-african-fruit-growers-tickets-162858950505. 16 TO 20 AUGUST Pig Farming and Management, George. Phone Rothman Livestock Training Services on 078 546 7985, or email office@RLTSafrica.com. 21 TO 22 AUGUST The Building Blocks to Beekeeping, Johannesburg. Email David Fraser at david@beelife.co.za, or phone him on 082 578 6038. 22 TO 28…

This article from the early days of Farmer’s Weekly provided some guidelines on how to cultivate and provide pest control for the tricky crop that is the cucumber. Cucumbers are not an easy crop to grow, on account of the large number of pests and diseases to which the plants are susceptible. Occasionally, however, when the crops have been pulled through, and if there has been a good market, small fortunes have accrued for the fortunate growers. During the past few seasons, however, the growing of cucumbers has been rather overdone and, as a result, the prices have dropped considerably, although the crop is still a profitable sideline on many farms in the Lowveld of the Eastern Transvaal [Mpumalanga]. There are two seasons in this area for the crop: autumn and spring. In…

The KwaZulu-Natal agricultural Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme, a joint initiative of the Future Farmers Foundation, the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA) and the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union, this year sees more than 100 young people in agriculture taking part in this innovative and inspiring project. The WIL programme, now in its fourth year and referred to as WIL-4, was born out of the highly successful farming education initiative, the Future Farmers Foundation, which provides 12-month work placements on farms for young people. Judy Stuart, founder of Future Farmers, says: “Our core focus, at Future Farmers, has always been on non-graduates; however, in partnership with AgriSETA and Kwanalu, we have extended this opportunity to include young unemployed graduates as well.” HOW THE PROGRAMMES WORK The WIL programme affords year-long work placements to young graduates…

Farmer’s Weekly reader Siyabonga Mvula wrote in to the magazine with an appeal for assistance. Mvula has 13ha of land in the Okhahlamba Local Municipality in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, and is interested in planted soya bean this year. What he is looking for is advice on how to go about harvesting a good yield of soya bean. He is also seeking the support of a commercial farmer who would be willing to mentor and assist him as part of his/her corporate social investment programme, should they have one in place. If you are able to help Mvula in any way possible, please phone him on 082 495 4227.…