Indholdsfortegnelse for 3+10 January 2025 i Farmer's Weekly

I cannot believe that another year has come to an end and a new one has already begun! The past year was certainly an interesting one. We ended 2024 with great uncertainty. Abroad, there are escalating tensions in Europe as the Russia-Ukraine war continues; and in the Middle East, conflict reigns in Israel, Lebanon and Syria. There is also widespread drought in various parts of the world, which may have an impact on commodity prices in 2025. Closer to home, riots and unrest continued to dominate in Mozambique at the time of writing. There is also widespread food insecurity in many parts of Africa due to ongoing conflict and drought. In South Africa, we're facing a similar drop in crop yields due to drought in 2024, as well as our…

South Africa's wine industry has successfully lobbied for the extension of the alcohol tax deadline to February 2025, granting critical time for stakeholders to analyse the impact of proposed changes and engage in meaningful consultations. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Rico Basson, CEO of South Africa Wine, said the extension was a necessary step to ensure informed decision-making. “Our next steps are to continue with detailed modelling to determine the impact of the proposed options,” he said. Basson added that the analysis would evaluate retail prices, changes in volume and the knock-on effects on the wine supply chain, including impacts on producers, agri-workers, local communities and wine tourism. “It contributes more than R56,5 billion annually to the economy and employs more than 270 000 people, and has been under significant strain.…

Wildlife conservation organisation The True Green Alliance (TGA) has expressed grave concern about the widespread ecological degradation and the devastating loss of wildlife, particularly elephants, in the Madikwe Game Reserve in North West. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Ron Thomson, TGA's CEO, said the crisis had been ongoing for a long time because of the overstocking of elephants in particular. According to him, reports showed that elephants were dying in the reserve almost on a daily basis. “The management of the elephant population in the reserve is severely lacking, allowing elephant numbers to grow unchecked without any consideration of the impact thereof on the ecosystem. The elephants had destroyed their own habitat through no fault of their own. “The situation is further compounded by overpopulation. With approximately 1 600 to 1…

The Science Forum South Africa 2024, held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, Gauteng, in early December brought together agricultural professionals, researchers and policymakers to address the challenges posed by climate change. The event's theme was ‘Enhancing extension services for climate resilience in agriculture: case studies for professionalisation and CSA adaptation strategies’. Dr Gugulethu Zuma-Ntshiukhwi, a senior researcher in agrometeorology at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), spoke about the importance of preparing extension officers with specialised training. “Considering the dynamics brought by climate change, we have developed modules covering natural resource management, crop production, animal production, agroforestry and agroecology,” she explained. “We've started training extension officers in Limpopo and plan to expand to other provinces. This ensures advisers can make informed, location-specific recommendations, such as selecting appropriate soil…

MALAYSIA Due to polluted water from recent floods, 90 cage fish farmers in Laguna Sri Tujoh, Malaysia, suffered losses of more than RM1 million (about R4 million) when all of their fish perished. Initially affecting grouper fish, the deaths later spread to sea bass, which are typically hardier fish. The Sun reported that many farmers who had invested in fish farming had lost their businesses. INDIA On 10 December, women in villages near New Delhi, India, held candlelight vigils in solidarity with more than 100 farmer leaders who had been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police. According to Peoples Dispatch, the women were demanding the immediate release of the detainees, and warned against intimidating farmers’ families. The farmers, who had been protesting for months, sought fair compensation for land acquired…

The year 2024 was a momentous one for market access for South Africa's avocado industry, having sent its first shipments to China, India and Japan. Developing these markets to remove import tariffs and excessive phytosanitary treatments and grow market share will be a key focus of the industry in 2025. South Africa's 2025 crop is expected to match the 20,5 million 4kg cartons that were exported in 2024. The World Avocado Organisation reported that returns for growers increased by 6% in 2024, despite a global increase in supply. This was attributed to global marketing campaigns. While South Africa has fared well in the EU market, increasing competition from Peru as that country expands production is cause for concern. The South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop) is therefore focusing its attention…

South Africa lost 86 000t of its 2024 sunflower harvest to midsummer drought conditions, and it was estimated that the year would end with a stock of 45 000t, 60% less than the previous season. Although the drought during the past season caused serious damage to the crop, some producers, such as Willem Groothof from Settlers in Limpopo, realised some of the best yields in many years. His hope was that the same production conditions that prevailed in Settlers would be repeated in the rest of the country in 2025. “We received rain at the right time, resulting in top yields and excellent prices. Some parts of the summer grain production area did suffer from drought but, generally speaking, we've had a good 2023/24 production season. The yields on the…

AJ MTHEMBU, CEO, AFRICAN FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (AFASA) ‘New ministers of agriculture and land reform bring hope to the sector’ HOW DID THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR PERFORM IN 2024? The agriculture sector saw variable growth in 2024, with certain industries like horticulture performing better, and the livestock industry showing some positive signs of recovery from foot-and-mouth disease. These positive signs can be attributed to the stability of electricity and water supply in many parts of the country, among other factors. ‘WE ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR’ Government's ability to work with farmers and key organisations to deal with plant and animal diseases was also noted. WHAT MAJOR CHALLENGES DID THE SECTOR FACE IN 2024? Small-scale farmers faced, and will continue to face, challenges like access…

The Prestige Agri Workers Awards has evolved into a powerful empowerment platform that has transformed the lives of many farmworkers. Wimpie Paulse, for instance, who won the Prestige Agri Worker of the Year title in 2012, grew up on a farm belonging to the Dutoit Group in the Koue Bokkeveld, where both his grandfathers, and later his father, worked. “I don't share my dad and granddads’ love for physical farm labour, so I pursued a career in administration. I wanted to stay in agriculture to give back to the farming community. These efforts have been elevated thanks to the Prestige Agri Worker competition and my inclusion in the Prestige Agri [Worker] Forum,” he says. Paulse says the competition helps to broaden workers’ minds by allowing them to benchmark themselves against…

Researchers led by Dr Mustafa Akbulut, a professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University in the US, have developed nanopesticides – tiny delivery systems that improve pesticides’ adherence to plants, while also being safer for the environment. With traditional application methods, as much as 90% of pesticides are wasted, having missed their targets completely, leading to the pollution of the surrounding environment. Nanopesticides address this issue by wrapping the active ingredients in pesticides in microscopic carriers that are designed to cling to plant surfaces, thereby making them more effective. The team tested these carriers on the leaves of pepper plants, a good representation of many important crops. They found that adjusting their surface properties dramatically improved how well the pesticides stayed on the plants. One of their key discoveries…

Relax with Patricia McCracken‘s choice of tales about shipwrecks, a guide to the skies, Swedish band ABBA, South African patriarchs and Greek mothers, as well as a thriller, a new Spud book, and one for the kiddies. Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks Mapped off the Western Cape by Bruce Henderson and Kelly Graham (Wreckless Marine, R895) The Skeleton Coast gets its name with reason as winds and currents combine to make this a treacherous sea for mariners. This excellent book maps the last resting place of 60 vessels: 11 historic wrecks from 1698 to 1902; 27 wrecks from 1905 to 1972; and 22 in the modern era, 1972 to 2009. Some wrecks were from the age of wood and sail, others ironclads and most of modern steel. A few, such…

HIGHEST: (MARE) R180 000 Online – The Bloodstock South Africa December Online Auction was held on 3 December. The highest price of the day was paid for the mare Sally Called by Captain Al out of Laughing Matter, which was sold by Klawervlei Stud to Titanium Racing for R180 000. The second-highest price of the day was paid for the gelding Fly Futura by Futura out of Sleek Jet, which was sold by Bass Racing to Bass Racing for R150 000. The third-highest price was paid for the gelding Green Mandarin by Gimmethegreenlight out of Narjis, which was sold by Woodhill Racing to Glen Kotzen for R110 000. The sale was held by Bloodstock South Africa. – Staff reporter…

While Free State Agriculture (FSA) supports the Free State government's announcement in mid-December that unroadworthy vehicles and reckless drivers must be kept off the roads during the festive season, the organisation also called for impassable roads to be urgently attended to before putting the lives of holidaymakers at risk. According to Francois Wilken, FSA president, rural roads also carry heavier than normal traffic during the planting season that is currently underway. “There are more vehicles such as tractors, planters and spraying equipment on the roads, as well as trucks that transport inputs. Where agricultural businesses offered delivery as part of their sales service in the past, the maintenance costs due to poor roads are just too much and farmers are now forced to bear these costs themselves,” he said in…

The South African sugar industry is bracing for a transformative year in 2025 as stakeholders advance into the next phase of the Sugar Value Chain Master Plan to 2030. The plan aims to stabilise the sector and drive growth through policy coherence and strategic interventions. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Sifiso Mhlaba, CEO of the South African Sugar Association, expressed hope for the industry's future: “We are optimistic that phase two of the master plan will see a thriving industry and usher in policy coherence among government departments.” According to him, key priorities for phase two included establishing a sustainable pricing framework for the local market, strategic trade protection, and support for small-scale growers. Additionally, restructuring through diversification and clarity on food policy, including the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) and food…

Global production of soya bean, one of the most important oilseeds used in animal feed, was expected to reach 425,4 million tons in 2024, up from 394,7 million tons in the previous season. This was due to higher production in the US, Brazil, and Argentina, where farmers planted a bigger area to soya bean and were realising good yields, according to a report by CMB News's Commodity Information Service. According to the report, global soya bean stocks were expected to climb to 112,4 million tons in the current marketing season. Because soya bean has a high protein value with a structure that does not contain cholesterol and saturated fats, it is high in demand not only for livestock feed but also for consumers, who continue to show increased interest in…

Issuing a written warning can be a delicate process, even though it is an essential part of managing employee behaviour in the workplace. If done correctly, issuing such a warning can set the tone for addressing unwanted behaviour and improving conduct. However, when mishandled, the process can lead to misunderstandings, defensiveness, and legal challenges. THE PROCESS TO FOLLOW WHEN ISSUING A WRITTEN WARNING Issuing a written warning involves careful steps to ensure fairness and clarity. These include the following: • Confidential setting. Always issue a written warning in private, making sure never to reprimand the employee publicly. This ensures confidentiality and shows respect for the employee's privacy. • Presence of a witness. Always ensure that a witness (someone more senior than the employee receiving the warning) is present to observe…

Thirty-four-year-old Lindie-Alet van Staden was bubbling over with excitement as she thanked numerous people for their contribution to her success on the night she was crowned the Western Cape Prestige Agri Worker of the Year for 2024. The garden and olive orchard manager at the L'Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek admits she's usually the one who enters other people on the farm into the competition, helping drive them to the various interviews and events. This year, however, Lanese Behr, human resources manager at Anthonij Rupert Wines, under which L'Ormarins falls, suggested she participate. Says Van Staden: “The regional rounds went well, but the interviews for the finals were tricky. They really take you out of your comfort zone, asking questions about the resolution of disputes and the role of technology…

The mohair winter selling season ended with 119 577kg on offer, of which 94% was sold. The offering consisted of some mixed-quality mohair with some good individual clips, of which 73% was certified under the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS). The buying houses competed actively for the stronger segments of the market, according to Mohair South Africa. The average market indicator remained unchanged in dollar and rand terms from the previous sale to close at R335,91/kg. A best price of R700/kg was paid for a bale of 24-micron superkid mohair. Compared with the previous sale, prices were as follows: kid and young goat mohair was down 1%, while all adult-type mohair was up 1%. The average market indicator for the winter season was R338,65/kg, 4% up on the 2023 winter season.…

Dear Prof McCrindle, My husband has just retired and we are moving from Gauteng to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast. He has purchased a farm near the mountains and wants to start farming Angus cattle. He has been speaking to Angus breeders, and we can afford a small pedigree stud. Is foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) still a threat in KZN? Kind regards, Nelly Dear Nelly, The recent outbreak of FMD has not yet been controlled in KZN and the Eastern Cape. At present, vaccines are available at a discount from Onderstepoort Biological Products, and it is important that any cattle purchased are vaccinated with at least two doses, and then annually. Movement controls remain in place, and it is essential to get a movement permit from the state veterinary Services. The…

Willie du Toit of Fauresmith, Free State, believed in placing breeding emphasis on riding qualities, a policy mainly responsible for the fine reputation of his horses. Willie du Toit is known as the largest breeder of purebred Arab horses in South Africa, but until quite recently, he was a very worried man. He wasn't getting any younger and the future of his 6 000ha farm, Dassiespoort, was uncertain, because there were no sons to take over from him. RELIFE ON THE WAY Relief was on the way, however, in the form of one of his four daughters, Wilma. A Stellenbosch graduate, Wilma decided to give up her career as an occupational therapist and told her father she would take over the farm. Wilma has an excellent grasp of the principle…

The agriculture sector experienced a steep decline in the third quarter of 2024, with agriculture gross value-added contracting by a staggering 28,8% quarter-on-quarter. According to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB, this significant drop played a major role in dragging South Africa's overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth down by 0,7 percentage points to 0,3% quarter-on-quarter. Makube said the decline is due to underperformance in field crops and livestock. “Maize production, a key staple crop, decreased by 22% year-on-year to 12,72 million tonnes, while the total commercially grown summer crop harvest fell by 9,7% to 15,40 million tonnes. These factors, coupled with a 6% reduction in the area planted for wheat, weakened the sector's performance,” he said. Livestock also remained under pressure, grappling with seasonal demand fluctuations and the…

Despite some temperature variability during spring 2024, conditions have stabilised, resulting in a positive outlook for raisin production. According to Raisins South Africa's first official crop forecast for 2024/25, raisin production was expected to increase from 96 000t in the previous season to 104 000t. This would provide a marketable crop of 93 000t, if favourable weather conditions prevailed during the harvest and drying period from January to April. From January to October 2024, exports reached 71 000t, which the organisation anticipated would result in no carryover stock going into the next marketing season. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Gog van der Colff, who farms in the Northern Cape, which accounts for roughly 85% of production, said that last season's harvest was a record for the industry, with this season's harvest…

The Agriculture Sector Education Training Authority hosted the Agri-Edu Symposium at the University of South Africa Main Campus in Pretoria in early December. Under the theme ‘Transforming agricultural education for a sustainable future’, the event focused on how modern education and skills development could create job opportunities for young people and equip them with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Speaking at the symposium, Dr Diane Parker, an adviser to the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Pretoria, said: “Agricultural colleges have been in a difficult space for a very long time, and one of their key issues is that they are not selfmanaging. They do not have governing councils, and there is no legislative framework for most of them.” She explained that agricultural…

Nestlé's Purina brand is driving regenerative agriculture across its European pet-care operations through key partnerships and initiatives. Collaborations with Sols Vivants (Living Soils) in France and Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) in the UK, Italy, Hungary, and Poland form part of Purina's aim to source 20% of its main ingredients grown via regenerative agriculture practices by 2025, and 50% by 2030. Sustainability Magazine reports that since 2020, over 450 farmers have joined Purina-supported schemes promoting regenerative methods like cover cropping, reduced tillage and biodiversity enhancement. These practices restore soil fertility, protect water resources and reduce environmental impact while improving the resilience of farming communities. Cécile Doinel, Purina Europe's head of regenerative agriculture, said: “We aim to mitigate our impact on the environment and build more resilience to our sourcing, helping to…

The South African canola industry experienced a significant surge in production in 2024, reflecting its growing importance in domestic and international markets. Canola's dual role as a healthfocused oil crop and a key ingredient in the animal feed industry has propelled its output to record highs, according to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Makube said the 2024/25 canola season was set to deliver an impressive output of 295 445t, marking a 25% year-on-year (y/y) increase. This growth aligned with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% over the past two decades. The planted area, now at 165 750ha, had similarly expanded by 26% y/y, showcasing a long-term CAGR of 6%. “Canola's rising popularity is underpinned by strong consumer demand for its health benefits…

The Prestige Agri Awards originated in the Hex River Valley in the early 2000s. Elza Jordaan, then executive chairperson of the Hex River Valley Table Grape Association, sought a way to empower and recognise farm workers’ value. “I grew up on a farm in the Karoo, where farms are isolated, resulting in farm owners and workers being heavily reliant on one another. When I married into the Hex River Valley, where farms are much closer together and to town, I wanted to do something to strengthen the relationship between farmers and workers and celebrate the importance of our workers,” she says. The late Boetie Kriel, who farmed in the region, shared Jordaan's passion for empowering and uplifting workers, so together they started looking for a platform to realise this vision.…

Theuns Kotzee had a thriving papaya farm in Trichardtsdal, Limpopo, in the early 2010s. But in 2014, he started noticing that his trees were falling over and dying, one after another. His production dwindled from 42ha to 12ha, with the remaining production in jeopardy, too. “I just couldn't figure out why this was happening; nothing had changed in my production practices,” recalls Kotzee. Despite a host of input suppliers providing proposed solutions, nothing worked. In 2024, he was advised to test his irrigation water – not for the usual suspects like E. coli and heavy metals, as most farmers do, but for bicarbonates. The tests showed that the bicarbonate levels in his borehole water were exceptionally high – in excess of 300 parts per million (ppm). “It took nearly a…