Home//Farmer's Weekly/10 February 2023/In This Issue
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Little demand, even less supplySouth Africa's inflation rate reached 7,2% year-on-year in December 2022, and while this was 0,2% lower month-on-month, it was still higher than the target of 3% to 6% set by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).Inflation refers to the increase in prices of goods and services, and in July last year, the country reached a peak inflation rate of 7,8%. As a result, in December, we were paying an average of 7,4% more for said goods and services, while the salaries of many South Africans increased by far less than the inflation rate. So, in essence, we are all getting poorer.There are various other reasons for the rise in the cost of goods and services. For example, the skyrocketing fuel prices have certainly added to the burden of inflation. In…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023SA Harvest appoints new board memberSA Harvest, which has rescued more than 10 million tons of food from going to waste and delivered it to over 200 beneficiaries across South Africa, recently appointed Chief Operating Officer Ozzy Nel to its board.Nel believes that his position at the organisation brings him full circle in his life. “When I was 16, my brother and I got involved with communities in Ivory Park and the surrounding areas [in Gauteng]. We did development work, played soccer, and taught martial arts, while my parents taught reading and writing.”After matriculating in 1996, Nel studied extensively to become a chef, as well as a manager and team builder. When he built his own team to work with him in restaurant management, he chose people from the areas where he had worked as…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Addressing binding constraints to SA's agriculture growthA central theme in President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) was the government's work in improving the efficiency of physical and regulatory infrastructure aimed at unlocking private sector-led economic growth. This included the establishment of an office that focuses specifically on easing red tape across the different levels of government in addition to the ongoing efforts to address inefficiencies across South Africa's network industries.There is a variety of challenges that constrain general business activity, such as worsening dysfunction in municipalities, which is leading to deteriorating infrastructure, investment and poor service delivery, amongst others, and ultimately, low job creation. In 2021, about 163 municipalities of the 278 municipalities in South Africa were in financial distress, and some were battling to deliver basic services.The inefficiencies in municipalities have…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Namibian beekeepers plan big industry expansionBeekeeping in Namibia needs to be put on a sound footing to ensure sustainable, long-term honey production. It is for this reason that Women for Bees Namibia (WFBN) has embarked on a countrywide training and development campaign, according to Gretchen Burmeister, spokesperson for the organisation.She told Farmer's Weekly that approximately 150 women beekeepers were practising in Namibia, of whom 40 were actively involved in the WFBN programme. Their objective was to expand the industry as a means of alleviating poverty and empowering women.“To achieve this, we need to support participants through proper training based on proven scientific data and research,” she said.“While honeybees can be kept successfully throughout the country, extensive practical training in all aspects of the industry is crucial.”She added that very little, if any, research had been…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Balfour Hay Day proves the value of farmers’ daysBalfour Hay Day recently celebrated its 10th year, attracting a record number of visitors to the small Mpumalanga town. Just over 1 200 people attended the event, which showcased the latest silage and haymaking equipment.Farmer Danie Bester, one of the event's organisers, said that producers in the area were in good spirits, and were looking forward to what should be an exceptional grain season on the back of optimal weather conditions.Balfour Hay Day was launched by farmers in the area, who came up with the idea of bringing input manufacturers together on one day to hold demonstrations of their products. The inaugural event, which was held in 2011, was attended by only 65 farmers, but the day has grown from strength to strength since then.“From the manufacturers’ point of view,…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023“Africa needs loans to produce food’The African Development Bank has estimated that farmers in Africa will need as much as US$65 billion (about R1,1 trillion) in loans annually to produce enough food to limit costly imports and cushion their economies from external shocks.According to a report by Bloomberg, the continent imported over 100 million tons of cereals at an annual cost of US$75 billion (R1,3 trillion). It said recent spikes in inflation, including increases in food prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had helped underscore Africa's over-reliance on imports of food staples and agricultural inputs.“A major obstacle to the development of private actors is the lack of credit financing,” the bank said in a statement. Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered a shortage of at least 30 million tons of food across Africa, especially wheat, maize…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023World in briefUNITED STATESThe value of US agricultural imports, adjusted for inflation, grew by an average of 4% per annum between the fiscal years 2012 and 2022 (October to September).During this time, total US agricultural imports rose from US$139 billion (about R2,4 trillion) to US$194 billion (R3,3 trillion), HortiDaily.com reported, citing the latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture.Within the broad horticultural products group, fresh fruit was the largest contributor to the rise in imports at US$17,9 billion (R306 billion), growing at an annual rate of 9% over the period and accounting for 15% of total import growth.Key commodities in the fresh fruit group included avocados, berries and citrus, which the US mainly imported from Mexico, Chile and Peru.TURKEYFarmers in the Konya Plain, Turkey's grain-production hub, have been warned not to…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Deciduous fruit industry looks ahead to upswingWhile South Africa's deciduous fruit industry is going through a difficult time, it has faced similar challenges before and will survive the current situation. This was according to Anton Rabe, executive director of Hortgro, who spoke at the Hortgro Media Day recently hosted at Bernheim Farm's tissue culture facility near Paarl.Rabe estimated that it would take another year or two before farmers’ profitability improved.“The industry is repositioning and refining production, packaging and marketing to take full advantage once another profitable cycle starts,” he said.Mariëtte Kotzé, group operational manager at Hortgro, said that the area under deciduous fruit production in South Africa had declined from 56 432ha in 2000 to 53 143ha in 2021, a decline of 6%.Production, however, increased by 60% over this period, thanks to structural changes such as…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Lack of focus on science hinders agri growthThere is growing unease about the slow progress in crucial agricultural regulations needed to ensure the sector's success. Unless the regulations are put in place timeously, growth and job creation prospects within agriculture will not be achieved.This was the sentiment expressed by Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, in listing current constraints within the agriculture sector that will have the biggest impact in 2023. He said regulatory problems and the dysfunctional State Veterinary Services were negatively affecting the production of key vaccines.Johan Steyn, a sheep farmer in Mpumalanga, lamented the shortage of life-saving vaccines, and told Farmer's Weekly there was a ‘massive problem’ with Onderstepoort Biological Products:” I have not been able to get the Rev 1 Vaccine for brucellosis since September last year. It's just not available anywhere. Although…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Wildflower nectar can expose bees to glyphosateBees may be at risk from exposure to glyphosate, an active ingredient in some of the EU's most commonly used weedkillers, via contaminated wildflower nectar. This was according to new research from Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University scientists.Residues of glyphosate have previously been found in nectar and pollen collected by bees foraging on plants that have been selectively targeted with weedkiller, but this is the first time they have been reported in unsprayed wildflowers growing near sprayed fields.And although glyphosate is intended to only kill plants, it has been shown to harm the digestive systems of honeybees and bumblebees, which makes them more vulnerable to infections, and it may have other negative consequences.Elena Zioga, a doctoral candidate in the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, and…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Weather and geopolitica tensions put pressure on grain and oilseed pricesGrain and oilseed production in the Southern Hemisphere invariably comes under increasing scrutiny at this time of the year, as the progress of crops in this region has a significant impact on international prices.The persistent La Nina weather pattern, coupled with relatively low global stock levels of key agricultural commodities, is likely to keep prices elevated in the coming months.MAIZEOngoing La Nina-related weather conditions in South America have led to severe drought in Argentina. This has seen maize production forecasts slashed, as indicated in the US Department of Agriculture's January 2023 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.Maize production in Argentina for the 2022/23 season was projected to reach 52 million tons, down 5,5% month-on-month (m/m) from the December 2022 forecast.The report also showed decreased production in the US…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023The state of SA's flower industry: Part 3Dirk van der Merwe of Maluvha Carnations in Olifantsfontein, near Centurion in Gauteng, studied architecture at the University of Pretoria (UP). When he married the daughter of mega carnation supplier Geoff Botha, he left his career as an architect to join Botha on his farm. He took a particular interest in farm management, as well as operations, and completed a diploma in business management at the UP's post-graduate School of Business. This gave him a good basic background in how to manage fundamental business challenges, something that later stood him in good stead in the running of his own farm.After Van der Merwe and his wife divorced, his relationship with his father-in-law became volatile, he says. As the relationship ended, so did his work for Botha. However, Van der Merwe…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Committing to Bonsmara“I go full force for Bonsmara. When you farm cattle, it's good to focus [on a specific breed].” So says Mthobeli Dintsi of his approach to beef production on his 646ha farm, Flatfield, near Cathcart in the Eastern Cape, which is home to about 100 Bonsmara-type breeding females.Dintsi also has a state land reform farm near Indwe, where he runs about 100 crossbred cows put to Bonsmara bulls.His focus now is to build a herd of top commercial Bonsmaras on Flatfield and then expand his beef operation on more land in the Cathcart district.FROM COMMUNAL TO COMMERCIALDintsi's interest in livestock farming began in the former Transkei region of Lady Frere where he was born and raised. From a young age, he was required to herd the family's cattle in the…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Protecting vegetables under heatwave conditionsIt appears that extreme weather is becoming a permanent feature of our climate. Farmers cannot do anything about this, but they can change their management techniques to reduce the danger of heat damage to their crops.Let's start with water.IRRIGATIONThe way you irrigate can make a big difference to your crop. Last year, a farmer phoned me for advice on his cauliflower: they were not performing well despite the soil being sufficiently moist.I asked him which type of irrigation he was using.“Drip irrigation,” he replied, adding that he was experiencing very hot weather. I explained that drip irrigation was risky when growing a crop such as cauliflower under hot conditions. Regardless of whether or not the soil is moist, cauliflower is sensitive to any form of stress, especially heat. Not so…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Next-Gen Ranger line-up gets longerThe Single Cab and SuperCab derivatives of the Next-Generation Ranger from Ford South Africa go on sale in March this year. Four Single Cab models are complemented by six SuperCab variants that provide the versatility of an extended cab and a large cargo volume to satisfy the requirements of business and lifestyle customers alike, headlined by the first-ever SuperCab model in the luxurious Wildtrak 4x4 specification.The new bakkies echo the distinctive Built Ford Tough design of the Next-Gen Ranger Double Cab. An upgraded chassis rides on a 50mm longer wheelbase, along with a 50mm wider track than on the previous Ranger. The frontend allows for greater airflow to the radiator to keep the engine temperature low when carrying heavy loads. It also frees up space for an auxiliary battery to…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Apple squaresMAKES 16 SQUARES1 cup cake flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 2¼ tsp ground cinnamon ½ cup white sugar, plus 2Tbsp ½ cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ cup chopped apple ½ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecan nuts• Preheat the oven to 175°C, and grease a 23cm square cake tin. • Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon into a medium bowl. In a small bowl, stir two tablespoons of the white sugar and the remaining cinnamon together. • In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, ½ cup of white sugar and melted butter together with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract. Stir in the…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023THE HITCHING POSTI'm a 65-year-old divorced and retired businesswoman of European descent. I spent 10 years living on a smallholding, but have since moved to the coast. I love animals, nature, fine arts, music good food and entertaining friends.COUNTRY LOVE, 4225I am a widowed 57-year-old white woman who is looking for her soulmate. I don't have children.I love the outdoors, camping, and watching rugby and cricket. I am a Christian and I don't smoke or drink.I am honest and have integrity, and I'm looking for a white man between the ages of 57 and 75 who is financially secure and looking for a long-term relationship. He needs to like dogs, too.ALL YOURS, 9480I am a caring and young-in-spirit bachelor aged 76 with a good sense of humour and lots of love to…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Myths and legends surrounding Africa's most iconic treesAfrica is home to some of the oldest trees on Earth. These trees carry with them legends and myths that stretch back over millennia. Moreover, they carry significance in cultural and religious practices, as well as in traditional medicine.AFRICAN BAOBABThe African baobab (Adansonia digitata) is distributed across Southern Africa. Writer Mazuba Kapambwe says that since 2005, eight of the 13 oldest baobabs in Africa have either partially collapsed or died.This is largely due to the trees being used as sources of water, food, medicine and shelter, as well as increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall.The world's largest baobab tree lives in Madagascar, and is called Reniala, which means ‘mother of the forest’.MYTHS AND LEGENDSThere are many tales surrounding the baobab. Kapambwe tells the story of Kondokamwale, a 1 500-year-old baobab in…6 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Morriston Merino Stud Production SaleMarket ReportHIGHEST: (RAM) R32 000Elliot - The Morriston Merino Stud Production Sale was held on the farm Glen Etive on 18 January on behalf of Pat and Anne Vorster. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Milton Green of Loskop Farming in Barkly East for R32 000. Rams were sold for an average price of R8 782, while ewes achieved an average of R2 040.The sale was held by BKB, with JP Marais as the auctioneer. - Gavin Isted…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Ask Our Vet Are termites a threat to veggies?Dear Prof McCrindle,I have a piece of land on which I want to plant potatoes, carrots, lettuce and some cucurbits. My first task, however, is to deal with a termite infestation.Do you have any advice about how I can eradicate these pests without compromising the quality of the soil? Kind regards, AnonymousDear Anonymous,Termites are members of the insect family Isoptera and are related to co*ckroaches. Three genera are found in South Africa:• Woodborers or drywood termites (Cryptotermes spp). These don't eat vegetables; they cause damage to dry wooden poles and structures used in homes.• Subterranean termites (Coptotermes spp). These species are often called ‘white ants’, although they are not ants at all. They live underground in tunnels, and cause the most damage to indoor wooden structures, trees and plants.• Harvester…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Strategies to eliminate rabies globally by 2030The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly.This is an edited version of an article written by 21 researchers from various universities and institutions, and originally published by ScienceDirect. To read the original article, visit bit.ly/3RajlrS.“Rabies, caused by a negative strand RNA-virus belonging to the genus Lyssavirus (family Rhabdoviridae of the order Mononegavirales), remains of global concern. This vaccine-preventable viral zoonosis is present in more than 150 countries and territories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies is estimated to cause around 59 000 human deaths annually, with 95% of cases occurring, in Africa and Asia.However, rabies still occurs in other regions, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, Central Asia and the Middle East. Whilst a number of animals can…6 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023TRENDING IN AGRICULTUREMOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA‘ESKOM ROCKED BY UNDERINVESTMENT AND DESIGN FLAWS’The declining Energy Availability Factor of Eskom's fleet reflects the cumulative impact of historical underinvestment in maintenance and assets, exacerbated by flaws in the design of new power stations in the last decade. This was according to an announcement by South Africa's National Energy Crisis Committee.Read the full article at bit.ly/3HyMpM7, or scan here: Posted: 23 January 2023.Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySAFROM FACEBOOK©FarmersWeeklySAWhen we asked our Facebook followers whether they had any farming-based superstitions, we got some interesting responses.Posted: 13 January 2023.READERS’ COMMENTSButi Archiebald Seleke: “There are some bush plants, such as the shepherd's tree and jacket plum, whose early flowering, before there is sign of rainfall, suggests a bumper season.”Pinky Mo: “If you place a saucer in fermenting sorghum beer, [the…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023It's time for agriculture to build resilience - by investing in alternative energy sourcesIt has been said, and rightly so, that South Africa must foster a healthy agriculture sector that contributes to its GDP, food security, social welfare, and job creation while adding value to the country's wealth of raw materials.Furthermore, in a troubled global and local economy, the agriculture and food value chain sectors continue to be strong outliers, as they are driven by factors such as population growth and urbanisation. Food production must keep up with these ever-changing trends and distribution methods.South Africa, as a global agriculture and food-producing player, has a highly diversified, market-oriented agricultural economy at the primary production level that includes all major grains (except rice), oilseeds, deciduous and subtropical fruits, sugar, citrus, wine, most vegetables, livestock, and a well-developed poultry and egg industry.Up the value chain at…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Shrinking populations could hurt SA's agri exportsPopulation decline in South Africa's biggest agricultural export markets is cause for concern, and young farmers should think carefully about which crops to grow in the future.China registered a population decline in 2022 for the first time in 60 years. According to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics, the nation was home to 1,412 billion people in 2022, which was 850 000 fewer than in 2021.China now joined a host of other countries, mostly in Europe, that had negative population growth. Russia's population was set to start declining by 2030.Experts warned that if sustained, the trend could pose a problem for the rest of the world, with China, as the second-largest economy, playing a key role in driving global growth.Frederic Neumann, FFSBC's chief Asia economist, said: “The Chinese…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Africa newsGHANAChief Sariki Alhaji Alhassan Iddrisa of the Ga South Municipality recently advised the youth to go into agriculture.During a visit to his mango farm earlier this year, Alhaji Alhassan Iddrisa told journalists he had been able to take care of himself and his family through farming, reported AllAfrica.com.He urged the Ghanian government to team up with chiefs and other stakeholders to acquire land for the youth to engage in farming, and to support young farmers. He further urged banks to support the youth with loans to acquire tractors and other farm inputs.CÔTE D'IVOIREAccording to Dow ones Newswires, Dekel Agri-Vision PLC, a London-listed agricultural company, will begin full commercial production at its raw cashew nut processing plant this year after buying a further stake to increase its interest in the Tiebissou-based…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023France retracts decision to exempt sugar beet from pesticide banSugar beet farmers in France have said that country's recent surprise announcement of a ban on the use of neonicotinoids has resulted in a breach of trust by the government that could derail France's agriculture sector.This decision was made despite the fact that sugar beet farmers had been exempted from the ban on the use of these pesticides for the past two years. The exemption came about as a result of the decimation of the national sugar beet crop in 2020 due to jaundice disease, which was spread by aphids.A draft decree authorising neonicotinoids for a third consecutive year was submitted by France's agriculture ministry earlier this month, with minister Marc Fesneau telling producers that he expected the exemption to be renewed until 2024.Growers said the government's ‘U-turn’ came after…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Wine industry aims to improve farm profitabilityContinued profitability decline at farm level means that 38% of wine producers are farming at a loss, 3% are just breaking even, 50% are generating low profits, and a mere 9% are generating sustainable incomes. This was according to Rico Basson, executive director of Vinpro, speaking at the recent Nedbank Vinpro Information Day held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.Basson said net farm income per hectare had been below sustainable levels since 2012, with the gap widening over time, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exception had been in 2019, when market prices were high because of drought conditions.Producer return on investment currently had averaged around 2,4%, which was an improvement on the 1% of 2017, but still not enough to keep producers from pulling out…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Hefty prison sentences or rhino horn poachersThe South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga welcomed prison sentences of between 25 years and 33 years handed down by the Skukuza Regional Court to three poachers last month.Three Mozambican citizens, Lowrene Makamu (28), George Muyanga (50) and Nuru Burros (24), were sentenced following an incident in July 2022 in which they were found in possession of six rhino horns, among other items, near the Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp in Kruger National Park.According to a statement from the SAPS, field rangers received a report from tourists about gunshots heard in the vicinity of the Afsaal picnic spot on 1 July 2022.The section ranger activated his team with the help of a helicopter. A tracker dog was also brought in to assist in tracing the suspects. The investigators found fresh…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Tough times predicted for SA economyNedbank economist Isaac Matshego painted a grim picture of South Africa's post-pandemic economy at the Nedbank Vinpro Information DaY.He said the country's economy had been in a downturn (its longest ever) since December 2013. Moreover, the year 2020 had seen “our deepest downturn in history”.He estimated that it would take three to five years before the economy recovered to 2019 levels, which had, in fact, been a weak year, as the economy grew by only 0,5% at the time.He ascribed the poor economic outlook to international factors, but primarily to self-inflicted damage, such as corruption and rolling blackouts.“Load-shedding could result in South Africa missing the boat of international investment from the expected 2024 global economic upturn,” he said.While it would obviously be better for the country to revert to Stage…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023How elephants could potentially save the planetIn findings published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Saint Louis University researchers and colleagues report that elephants play a key role in creating forests, which store atmospheric carbon and maintain the biodiversity of forests in Africa.Dr Stephen Blake, assistant professor of biology at Saint Louis University and senior author on the paper, and Fabio Berzaghi, of the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, documented exactly how the ecology of megaherbivores had such a strong influence on carbon retention in African rainforests.“Elephants have been hunted by humans for millennia,” Blake said. “As a result, African forest elephants are critically endangered. The argument that everybody loves elephants hasn't raised sufficient support to stop the killing. Shifting the argument for elephant conservation toward the role that forest…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023A difficult year looms for South AfricaWe live in uncertain times. During the past couple of years, we have seen how unexpected events can disrupt the economy and our lives. Indeed, uncertainty has become the only certainty.Nonethless, it is still necessary to obtain some indications about future trends in order to help us navigate our way.The global economy recovered well from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the damage caused by the strict regulations, growing by more than 6% in 2021. Growth then slowed down.In April 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected a 3,6% growth for 2022, but this was reduced to 3,2% in the World Economic Outlook update released in October 2022.A number of factors point towards a global recession in 2023. A recent article in The Economist speaks of a “permacrisis”, or…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Can South Africa become independent of Eskom?South Africans have been battered by power shortages for several years. These have worsened to the point where, towards the end of 2022, only half of Eskom's power-generation capacity was operational.This has forced the power utility to escalate its rotational power cuts. By mid-January 2023, users were going without electricity for eight to 10 hours a day. The situation is unlikely to improve much in the short to medium term. It's expected that this year, especially as power demand increases in winter, the country's electricity supply will decline to the point where power may sometimes only be available for 12 hours a day.The situation isn't expected to improve in the medium to long term, either. The national utility is in a precarious financial situation.The result is that South Africans are…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Now, an orchard that generates its own powerRising energy costs and rolling blackouts are taking a huge financial toll on local fruit producers by driving up production costs and causing losses in fruit quality.The South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) states on its website that 0,05% (regular) diesel and petrol cost around R11/l and R13/l respectively at the start of 2017.However, as of 4 January 2023, both prices had increased to over R20/l, having reached highs of almost R25/l (0,05% diesel) and just over R26/l (petrol) in July 2022, according to SAPIA.On top of this, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) recently approved an 18,65% electricity price hike for Eskom, which means that from April this year, electricity will cost 173,80c/kWh, up from 146,48c/kWh.Nersa also approved an additional 12,74% electricity price increase for the 2024/25…8 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Buying a horsePeople who purchase horses do so for a variety of reasons. They may feel tired of hiring horses and long to have their very own animal that they can get to know and train. They may want to experience the challenge and thrill of breeding horses, even champions. Or they may simply have fallen in love with a particular horse, or are under the spell of a glib sales person.Whichever category you fit into, buying a horse isn't a decision to be taken lightly.Your first step (unless money really is no object) is to work out whether you can afford to own a horse. Like a car, a horse involves not just the once-off cost of purchase, but the ongoing (and often underestimated) cost of upkeep.Even the purchase itself may…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Biscuits topped with mango mascarponeMAKES ABOUT 18 BISCUITSFor the biscuits100g oats 125g almond flour 50g cake flour Pinch of salt 150g castor sugar 80ml canola oil 2 Tbsp runny honey 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 Tbsp boiling waterFor the topping80g fresh mango, peeled, pitted, and puréed 125g mascarpone or cream cheese• Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper and set aside. • In a mixing bowl, combine the oats, flours, salt and l00g of the sugar. • Place the oil, honey and vanilla extract in a saucepan and gently heat through. • Place the bicarbonate of soda and boiling water in a small mixing bowl and stir until combined. Pour into the oil mixture and gently stir; it will froth up, so don't be…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Crossword 494ACROSS3. Any rough, prickly shrub, especially the blackberry (7) 9. The Namaqua sand——is a Southern African ground-dwelling bird (6) 10. Amounts of crops produced (6) 11. Keen; enthusiastic (5) 12. Feeling caused by lack of drink (6) 13. Pungent pods of a variety of Capsicum (8) 14. Bloodsucking aquatic worm (5) 16. Stick (6) 17. Mental strain (6) 21. Natural underground chambers (5) 23. A 10% part (5) 26. Happen (5) 27. Furthest from the centre (9) 28. Sweet substance obtained from beet and cane (5) 29. Cut into two equal pieces (5) 31. Resistant to frost (5) 32. Spice obtained from the kernel of the Myristica tree (6) 36. Larder (6) 38. Display of spreading flowers or branches (5) 40. Large red-and-yellow plum (8) 41. Flowers for which Amsterdam…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023The impact of milk restriction on calvesIn a recent study, researchers from Bristol Veterinary School at the University of Bristol in the UK have found that a reduced milk allowance can disrupt a calf's ability to focus and learn, and can result in the animal experiencing negative feelings of hunger.According to the university, this kind of study could help to identify farm animal care practices that lead to improved welfare for many dairy calves, the Agriland website reported.Researchers explained that dairy calves were subjected to milk-allowance restrictions when they were weaned. “The researchers expected that the sudden reduction of milk allowance, mimicking what would happen at weaning, would be associated with calves being too hungry to focus on a learning task,” the website said.This hypothesis was put to the test with a hole-board test adapted for…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Bergplaas Merino Stud Production SaleAuction salesTO PLACE AN UPCOMING AUCTION EVENT in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact René Moonsamy on 010 971 3771 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on 010 971 3770 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za.TO LIST AUCTION RESULTS in this section, email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za.HIGHEST: (RAM) R115 000Barkly East - The Bergplaas Merino Stud Production Sale was held on the farm Prospect on 17 January on behalf of Stephan Nel. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Jannie Schlebusch of Tussen Berge Stud in Lady Grey for R115 000. Rams achieved an average price of R13 178,57.The sale was held by BKB, with JP Marais as the auctioneer. - Gavin Isted…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Hartebeesfontein Merino Ram Production SaleHIGHEST: (RAM) R50 000Smithfield - The Hartebeesfontein Merino Stud Ram Production Sale was held at the Letsatsi Game Lodge on 14 January. The sale was held on behalf of Izak, Andries and GB Nel.The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Fred Bibbey of Frankfort for R50 000. Rams achieved an average price of R9 333,33.Ewes were sold for an average price of R2 200, while in-lamb ewes averaged R2 460,42.The sale was held by OVK, with Andrew Miller as the auctioneer. - Gavin Isted…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Tussen Berge Merinos Production SaleHIGHEST: (RAM) R32 000Barkly East - The Tussen Berge Merinos Production Sale was held at the Clifford Farmers’ Association Grounds on 20 January. Tussen Berge Merinos consists of Francois Pretorius, Jannie Schlebusch, Francois Nel, Stephanus, Donie and Peet Naude, and Cobu s Botha. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Frans, Francois, Marx and Frans Jr van Rooyen of Ongegund in Barkly East for R32 000. Rams achieved an average price of R8 281,82.The sale was held by BKB, with JP Marais as the auctioneer. - Gavin Isted…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023First test-tube calf born in SA: Part 1This article revealed how the birth of Africa's first test-tube calf opened up new horizons of advantages to dairy and beef breeders. The advent of the test-tube calf heralds a new era in South Africa that makes it possible for farmers to obtain calves from some of their best cows after they have died. Problem breeders or those that don't respond to superovulation can now also produce healthy calves.It is an alternative to the internationally accepted method of embryo transfer that has proved the quickest and most costeffective method of increasing the rate of genetic improvement within a herd.Africa's first test-tube calf is presently thriving on Gunter Meyer's farm Esperance, near Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal Meyer offered one of his Holstein-Friesland cows as a recipient of the test-tube-conceived Friesland heifer calf…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023*[…] MACHINERY SALES HAVE HELD UP, AND WE SHOULD SEE THIS TREND CONTINUING UNTIL JUNE THIS YEAR […]’‘Production s expected to be down n all wineproducing regions, and substantially down in the Northern Cape and Swartland’- Conrad Schutte, manager of consultation services at Vinpro, on the expectation of a smaller wine grape harvest in the coming season (pg 20).‘Crime against the environment, in any shape or form, should be considered as serious and anyone found guilty thereof should be dealt with accordingly’- Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa, welcoming the prison sentences handed down to three rhino poachers by the Skukuza Regional Court (pg 21).‘The country now lags behind its competitors […]’- Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, on how South Africa is falling behind in terms of agricultural research (pg 22).‘From the manufacturers’ point of view, it's important to have a…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Tractor sales set to moderate after highs in 2022Sales of agricultural machinery are not expected to reach the record highs of 2022 this year, as inflation rates and high input costs weigh on farmers.This was according to Agbiz, which recently reported that tractor sales in South Africa grew 17% year-on-year in 2022 to reach 9 184 units, the highest annual sales figure for the past 40 years.It added that combine harvester sales during the same period amounted to 373 units, up 38% from 2021. This was the highest yearly sales figure since 1985.Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB, told Farmer's Weekly that the lower interest rates over the past two years had given farmers a reprieve from their debt, and this had enabled them to buy new machinery.“Since the 2022 Nampo [Harvest Day], machinery…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023US treasury secretary calls for beefing up of Africa's food systemsDuring a recent visit to Zambia, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said there was an urgent need to scale up efforts to make Africa more food secure. According to her, agriculture on the continent faced the costly blow of disruptions from climate change, regional conflicts, the residual effects of COVID-19, and increases in the prices of key farming inputs.Yellen said it was important for the world to take a longterm view in its efforts to assist Africa, where millions are facing food insecurity.“Africa has the potential not only to feed itself but also to help feed the world if the right steps are taken.“Africa's long-term strategy to address food security requires developing its infrastructure and logistics capabilities. The continent needs a robust capacity not only to grow food, but to…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Ukraine gets more support from FAOThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is ramping up funding to support food production and supply chains in Ukraine. The organisation's efforts include clearing farmland of landmines.This emerged during a special meeting for G7 ministers of agriculture at the recent Global Forum for Food and Agriculture held in Berlin, Germany.The website Food Ingredients First reported that an essential part of the forum's agenda was the discussion on restoring alternative grain export routes from Ukrainian ports.“The Black Sea Grain Initiative has been a major theme over the past 10 months, and has seen grain being held up at [Ukraine's] blockaded ports, released in part as the [Russia-Ukraine] war continued to play out in 2022,” the website reported.The FAO had announced updates to its Rapid Response Plan to…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Load-shedding takes its toll on wine grape harvestThe 2023 wine grape harvest is expected to be substantially smaller than the 2022 harvest and the fourth-smallest of the past 17 years, Conrad Schutte, manager of consultation services at Vinpro, said at the recent Nedbank Vinpro Information Day.To put this in context, the 2022 harvest was 5,5% smaller than the 2021 crop at 1,38 million tons, but still larger than the latest fiveyear average of 1,35 million tons.“Production is expected to be down in all wine-producing regions, and substantially down in the Northern Cape and Swartland. The exception is the Klein Karoo, where production was negatively affected by drought and is now expected to increase,” Schutte said.The 2022 season would also go down as one of the most expensive.He said that sufficient irrigation water was available, despite lower dam…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Adverse factors weigh on SA wine exportsWine export volumes have declined by 5% from 388,1 million litres in 2021 to 368,8 million litres in 2022, while export value declined by 2,4% from R10,2 billion to R9,9 billion, according to the recently released Wines of South Africa Export Report 2022.Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa, blamed the decline primarily on shipping constraints at the Port of Cape Town, in particular an extended period of adverse weather conditions that prevented ships from docking in April, and a two-weeklong period of strikes in October.The industry, nevertheless, was on track with its premiumisation strategy, with the total price per litre increasing by 2,2%, mainly supported by a 5,3% increase in bulk rand per litre.While this was only slightly better than last year, prices were substantially higher than in…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023DA calls for fewer power cuts to Free State farmersRolling blackouts have had a severe impact on the Free State's agriculture sector and it was crucial for Eskom to manage the sector as an essential service in terms of power distribution in order to not harm food production. This was according to the DA's Dr Roy Jankielsohn, leader of the opposition in the Free State Legislature.Jankielsohn said he had petitioned Eskom to declare agriculture as a critical sector and to manage power distribution accordingly. In a letter to Eskom's general manager, Agnes Mlambo, who was responsible for distribution in the Central East Cluster, including the Free State, he had requested power distribution to be planned so that it would support sustainable food production.“The Free State is South Africa's breadbasket. Its 2022/23 budget states that [the province's] farmers contributes 23%…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023New online academy seeks to offer farmers and farmworkers greater opportunitiesEfforts to upskill farmers, their staff, as well as those looking to become agri entrepreneurs, have received a major boost, with the recent launch of an online animal health academy supported by global animal health technology and industry leader MSD Animal Health South Africa.The launch of the MSD Animal Health Academy took place in Johannesburg last month, and organisers said it signified a major milestone in that the provision of cutting-edge training and tutoring would be available beyond borders, to anyone with an Internet connection.The academy's offering would be presented wholly online, making it possible for a limitless number of students and farmers across Africa to access the academy's curriculum, Jacques van Rensburg, national training manager for MSD Animal Health in South Africa, said at the launch.He said the academy…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Macadamia nuts: has the bubble burst?We've seen a big price reduction in macadamias as a result of high volumes and slow market uptake. Has the global market for this crop simply become saturated?We're facing economic headwinds in all of our major markets, with supply outstripping demand and low farm-gate prices. Macadamia products are usually a premium and discretionary purchase, which puts pressure on consumer demand in most markets. Anecdotally, macadamia retail sales are down between 6% and 10% in the US and Europe, while sales during the Mid-Autumn Festival in China were reportedly down between 40% and 50%. With high in-market inventory and prices falling, buyer sentiment is very low.The global outlook for macadamia demand and sales has therefore become increasingly challenging. We need to work harder to find and activate new sales and marketing…6 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023The slow transformation of SA's dairy industryMilk production is a complex business, but add fanning on communal tribal land into the mix, and you're destined to walk a rocky road. Nonetheless, this is the path that several communities, business people and commercial farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal chose to follow in 2004 when they formed Amadlelo Agri, a company that runs dairy farms and helps emerging black producers grow their operations into profitable agribusinesses.In 2019, businessman Simpiwe Somdyala took over the reins as CEO of Amadlelo and restructured the company into a 72% majority black-owned agribusiness. Today, its ownership is comprised as follows:• Tulsacap (46,4% share), a group of black professionals and business people, which includes Somdyala, who pooled funds into the company in 2017;• Amadlelo Milk Producers’ Investment Company (AMPIC), with a 26,8%…7 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023ANIMAL PRODUCTION Getting started with rabbitsRaising rabbits might seem a strange choice for South African farmers, but, according to a leaflet produced by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, farming rabbits offers a number of distinct advantages: rabbits don't need much space, are inexpensive to keep, and “eat almost anything”.Rabbits have long been domesticated and bred for their meat and soft fur.HOUSINGFor commercial production, it's best to place the rabbits in large cages of wire mesh and wood. Placing each cage on bricks or old tyres to keep it off the ground.Don't use the ground as a floor; the rabbits will dig their way out. The floor should be wire mesh with holes large enough for droppings to fall through, but not so big that they can trap a rabbit's paws. The…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023‘A sprayer so precise it can spray a logo on a land’The ECO Ranger boom trailed sprayer from Kuhn, distributed locally by Valtrac, is ideal for precision spraying. It can even be used to spray words and logos on lands.The ECO Ranger series was developed for excellent operational performance and autonomy without sacrificing cost-effectiveness.ROBUSTThe entry-level model is perfect for farmers looking to move from a mounted machine to a trailed sprayer. It features a 2 000l fibreglass tank, robust construction and a 16m or 18m boom with a fully hydraulic opening system.The chassis is produced using steel sheet folded in a ‘U’ profile that guarantees greater resistance under severe torsion conditions. Powder coating protects the steel frame against corrosion.With the ECO Ranger, farmers can be assured of an advanced sprayer solution that is economically viable while still having the strength of…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023Traditional apple crumbleSERVES 10 TO 12For the filling10 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, peeled and sliced into thick wedges 6 cardamom pods Thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated 1 cinnamon stick 2 Tbsp coconut sugar 4 Tbsp water, plus extra, if neededFor the crumble¾ cup oats ½ cup oat flour ½ cup almond flour ¼ cup chickpea flour 2 Tbsp coconut sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 3 Tbsp butter or coconut oil 2 Tbsp maple syrup• Preheat the oven to 180°C. • Place the apples, cardamom pods, fresh ginger and cinnamon stick into a pot or saucepan. Simmer gently for five minutes, then add the sugar and water. Stew for 10 to 15 minutes until the apples have caramelised and become sticky. Add a dash more water, if…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|10 February 2023A practical, affordable home with a sea viewDear Jonno,I've seen your layouts and ideas in Farmer's Weekly, and I'm certain you could help me.I've run a home school for nearly 30 years and plan to retire in Betty's Bay, where I look forward to enjoying some peace and quiet!I've bought a relatively small plot, but it has a sea view, and I'll also be able to build a double-storey house.I would like to have an outdoor entertainment area that's protected from the wind. I'm also keen to have large windows wherever possible to take maximum advantage of the beautiful scenery.I'd prefer an uncluttered, open-plan kitchen-lounge-dining-room area.I'd like to have two bedrooms upstairs, and two bathrooms, one upstairs and the other on the ground floor.I also need a ‘wet room’ adjoining the house, where I could bring my…2 min
