Indholdsfortegnelse for 29 July 2022 i Farmer's Weekly

Many farmers around the world are mechanising their operations. This is in part because of the fact that mechanisation allows for less investment in labour, as fewer labourers are needed for the operation to run. However, the use of mechanisation and technology also helps improve processes such as planting and harvesting, thus growing the profitability of producers’ operations. While I recently wrote about how farmers are bearing the responsibility of employing more men and women in the sector (see FW, 1 July 2022), perhaps at the cost of not fully mechanising their operations as may be required to farm profitably in the future, this week I want to look at the importance of farmers and producers investing in the workforce. In our Machinery and Implements section this week (see page…

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a non-reciprocal trade arrangement that enables the duty- and largely quota-free treatment of over 6 400 products exported to the US from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. The AGOA expands on the US’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a unilateral preference programme outlined in the US Trade Act of 1974, but which covers countries outside sub-Saharan Africa. The broader objective of the AGOA is outlined in the US Trade and Development Act of 2000, which specifies two goals, namely to increase exports from eligible AGOA beneficiary countries to the US, and to encourage investment by US businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. QUALIFYING FOR THE AGOA Section 104 of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 outlines the eligibility criteria for sub-Saharan African countries to…

An investment of about R80 million is needed to get the wool processing industry in South Africa off the ground again, according to Deon Saayman, general manager of Cape Wools South Africa. He said the industry had evaluated the financial viability of processing some of its own wool again, similar to various other countries, including Australia. It found a compelling case to reintroduce early-stage processing, but not on the commodity-based scale as was done in China. “South African wool is in high demand internationally, thanks to the non-mulesed status of our wool, recognition by the Responsible Wool Standard, and our traceability and transparent systems, which we are in the process of improving even further with a block chain system. “The idea has also been welcomed by South African fashion houses…

The African Development Bank Group recently approved a €121 million loan (just over R2 billion) to Senegal for the implementation of an emergency agricultural programme for about 850 000 small-scale farmers, 35% of whom were women. “Senegal’s dependence on the outside world for basic commodities and foodstuffs is a real bottleneck and poses a threat to the country’s food sovereignty, which has been [exacerbated] by the war in Ukraine,” Mohamed Chérif, the bank’s country manager for Senegal, said in a statement. “This operation is intended to mitigate exogenous financial, economic, social and climate shocks, and to maintain the upward trend in grain production seen in recent years, especially by focusing efforts on the availability of key inputs including seeds and fertilisers to producers.” According to the statement, the loan was…

ASIA About 8% of the world’s population, or 670 million people, will still be undernourished by 2030, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. A key reason for this was that the post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery seen in most countries had not translated into greater food security, especially in Asia. Prior to the pandemic, the region had been making great strides in reducing hunger, the report said. JAPAN According to a government report, Japan has lost more than ¥10 billion (about R1,24 billion) in potential earnings every year since 2016 due to the government-registered premium Shine Muscat grape variety being smuggled into China. The report, by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, estimated that the area under Shine Muscat cultivation in…

Positive feedback received during a recent evaluation of Vinpro’s training programme confirms that the programme represents good value for both farmers and workers. The survey, conducted by Winetech People Development and Skillogical, confirmed that the 22 respondents, which comprised training providers, employers, employees and industry bodies, associated the programme with increased production efficiencies and higher employability. A total of 65% said they would be more willing to appoint individuals who had completed these courses. Wine grape producers also reported improved production, better-quality grapes and fewer mistakes in vineyards after upskilling their teams via the programme. Jeanine Hollenbach, human resources officer at Bosman Adama, said its vine nursery’s team members attended Vinpro’s training sessions annually, and this had resulted in a “year-on-year improvement in terms of wine grape quality, larger bunches…

Those of us fortunate enough to reside in South Africa’s Lowveld have ‘magical’ Mozambique on our doorstep. The mention of ‘Mozambique’ triggers an image of warm seas, golden beaches and ice-cold beer. However, there’s more to Mozambique than that. It’s a country rich in beauty and history, with warm people and great tourist potential. Mozambique also has huge agricultural potential for tropical crops. With its five ports, including Nacala, the finest deep-water port in Southern Africa, it’s perfectly located to serve the burgeoning Middle East and Asian markets. Banana, pawpaw, pineapple, mango, coconut and cashew grow wild, and the climate is perfect for crops like cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, cocoa, coffee and sugar cane. Mozambique also has a wealth of natural resources, such as coal and gas. RICH COUNTRY, POOR…

1. Spoon on top of spaghetti, and sprinkle with grated cheese (optional) for a delcious bolognaise. 2. To make a tasty cottage pie, top the mince with mashed potato or sweet potato (see image above). As an option to finish the dish off, sprinkle with grated cheese and heat in the oven until the cheese has melted and started to become crispy. 3. Cut a freshly baked potato into quarters. Spoon the mince over the potato, and top with grated cheese (optional).…

Irecently hosted an Agri X Group panel discussion in Pretoria, where the primary goal was to provide insights on agriculture, politics and the economy to help agribusinesses re-evaluate their perspectives and challenge them to be competitive. The meeting began with a discussion about ‘Farmgate’, the February 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm Phala Phala in Limpopo, where a substantial sum of money was stolen but never reported to law enforcement authorities. The incident has piqued the interest of people countrywide and even beyond South Africa’s borders, with the main focus being not on the president as the victim of a crime, but why he had so much foreign currency at his residence, and why he failed to report the burglary to the authorities. The reason this has sparked so…

The outlook for wheat planted in South Africa’s winter rainfall region is uncertain because of the late start to the rainy season. Toit Wessels, Grain SA’s assistant manager for marketing and Nampo, said the crop in the Overberg region was looking good, but parts of the Southern Cape region were still in need of rain at the time of writing. The growth of wheat in certain parts of the Swartland region had been patchy and uneven, with the height of plants on the same lands sometimes differing by between 5cm and 10cm. Canola had also been affected. “The phenomenon is being investigated and farmers are trying to address the issue with the help of fertiliser. “The season started up to a month late in the Swartland region, forcing almost 90%…

At the peak of its production season, the South African citrus industry was dealt a double blow in the form of the EU’s strict new cold storage protocol, and Eskom’s severe rolling blackouts. According to the new protocol, which came into effect on 14 July, South African citrus producers now had to store their fruit at temperatures of between 0°C and -1°C for at least 25 days before the produce would be allowed into the EU. The EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed reportedly chose to implement this protocol to prevent incursions of false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) into the region. “This new protocol comes at the worst possible time, and it’s added to an already chaotic situation,” Hannes de Waal, chairperson of the Citrus Growers’ Association…

International Federation of Agricultural Journalists 2022 Congress Helping farmers reduce their carbon footprint Farmers around the world are facing the reality of taxation on carbon emissions, with New Zealand having just joined Denmark in proposing that taxes be levied on farmers for the carbon their operations emit. This is set to hit meat and dairy producers in particular, as these industries are seen as the biggest culprits in agriculture. The proposed taxes in Denmark amount to R1 400/t of carbon emitted. However, both the dairy and meat industries are rallying to reduce their emissions and retain customers amid an increasing shift to vegan diets. Speaking at the recent IFAJ congress, Astrid Gade Nielsen, vice-president of corporate communication at Danish Crown, Europe’s largest pork producer, said that as consumers wanted to…

Livestock farmers and food companies in the EU are intensifying their quest to replace imported soya bean with locally produced plant protein sources. This is in part due to soaring soya bean prices, but also in an effort to reduce the continent’s carbon footprint. According to speakers at the IFAJ congress, alternative protein sources included fava beans, yellow peas and starfish. In the case of starfish, which were classified as a pest in some fjords in Denmark, they were dried and then ground up for animal feed. Companies were therefore removing an invasive species as well as reducing reliance on soya been imports. Technology introduced this year also enabled protein to be extracted from grass. Fish feed company Aller Aqua was the first to convert all soya bean in feed…

Farmers have expressed relief about the announcement that Tiger Brands will extend operations at its canning business, Langeberg & Ashton Foods, for another season. The decision to continue operations at the canning factory in Ashton in the Western Cape has been welcomed by farmers and other industry stakeholders alike. Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association, told Farmer’s Weekly that the decision had come just in time, as this was the last week in which tin plate could be ordered for the next season. “If the tin plate had not been ordered, the factory might just as well have been shut now.” He said the extension bought farmers much-needed time to find a viable business model or partner to help keep the factory open. According to Jordaan, Tiger…

I have often mentioned the importance of fences. Good, sturdy fences enable you to implement grazing plans and keep male breeding animals away from your female animals. As a farmer, you need to be able to plan when lambs and calves are born, and this should be when temperatures are not too cold and there is plenty of grazing. When bulls and rams are permanently with ewes and cows, you have no way of knowing when offspring will be born. In addition to using fences to create dedicated ram and bull camps, you should use them on the boundaries of your rangelands to prevent roaming livestock from other villages from grazing in your area. START WITH QUALITY MATERIALS Fences need to be erected properly so that they last. It is…

Prof Irene Chetschik, head of the Research Group for Food Chemistry at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), is in the process of developing new technological processes that can impact cocoa flavour on a molecular level. Cocoa beans are usually fermented on the farm where they are grown and harvested. This process involves removing the pulp-covered beans from their pods. These beans are gathered in a basket or container, which is then covered and left in the sun. As the beans ferment, the pulp around them deteriorates due to microbes in the environment. Once fermented, the beans are laid out on mats in the sun to dry out. “Fermentation results in a lot of quality differences. Not every fermentation works out well,” says Chetschik. Poor fermentation, she says, results in…

Dear Prof McCrindle, What are the health problems associated with Thoroughbred horses in particular? Is it a good idea to buy an off-the-track Thoroughbred? What issues should I be looking for? Kind regards,Anonymous Dear Anonymous, Health issues related to Thoroughbreds include racing injuries, a need for regular shoeing, and stress-related conditions such as ulcers and colic. Thoroughbreds are bred specifically for racing, and their management and training is geared towards honing them to become fit and fast enough to win. Good health begins with good grazing, which is why most breeding farms in South Africa are situated where there are high-quality pastures, such as the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Most foals are raised outside on pastures, and aren’t stabled until after weaning. Once brought into…

In this article, a Limpopo farmer and her son discussed how their mixed-crop operation earned them an income throughout the year. Pawpaws, carnations, tomatoes and avocados may not appear to have much in common, but a farmer in the [Modjadjiskloof] area of Limpopo has combined these crops to get the maximum use out of her labour force and, in addition, has at least one paying crop going to market throughout the year. The farmer is I Fleischmann of Confidentia Estate who, in co-operation with her son, EA Fleischmann, markets avocados in February and March. “This helps us to pay the wages and keep the workers busy during what is actually a slack period on the farm,” she explains. “The tomato crop starts coming in during March and is followed gradually…

Eskom’s load reduction programme, which is leaving hundreds of farmers in Limpopo without power for hours at a time, is illegal. This was according to municipal law expert Dianne Reddy, a senior associate at Schindlers Attorneys in Johannesburg. While the Supreme Court of Appeal last year found Eskom’s rolling blackouts to be an administrative action, load reduction was an unlawful practice employed by Eskom, mainly as a credit control mechanism, Reddy told Farmer’s Weekly. “It’s unfortunate that the failure by municipalities to make payment of their dues to Eskom results in suffering for paying customers,” she said. Willem Groothof, farm manager and a member of Agri Limpopo, told Farmer’s Weekly unscheduled power outages had been plaguing farmers since April. “Initially, we thought it was only part of [rolling blackouts],” he…

An increase in theft, vandalism and poor maintenance of fences alongside highways has prompted the Botswana Police Service to warn communal farmers to expect an increase in cattle losses due to collisions with vehicles. In a recent interview with Farmer’s Weekly, senior assistant Police Commissioner Katlholo Mosimanegape said that during dry conditions, cattle wandered onto road reserves in their search for better pastures. Mosimanegape said that in many parts of the country, fences erected to prevent the movement of livestock had been stolen, vandalised or become dilapidated. “We’re worried that as there are no good fences to control movement, many cattle [are] roaming on highways, and [in] the drought season in winter the situation could become worse,” he said. Mosimanegape said the practice of having police officers and private companies…

Global supplies of chickpeas are expected to fall by as much as 20% this year, according to data from the Global Pulse Confederation. This is as authorities in India struggle to meet the rising cost of food imports, according to Reuters. Chickpeas, although growing in popularity in the West, including the US, have long been a key part of diets in India and the Middle East. Due to poor weather affecting spring plantings in the US, the fourth-largest chickpea exporter, the crop would be smaller this year. In addition, many farmers were prioritising more lucrative commodity crops such as wheat and maize, US government data showed. Reuters reported that global supplies were dwindling, and buyers in South Asia and the Mediterranean were clamouring to secure US stocks. The situation was…

While the members of a newly formed rural safety task team are cautiously optimistic about the task at hand, some have raised concerns that a lack of resources and action could result in failure. The task team was established during the recent Rural Safety Summit, hosted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Parys in the Free State. Petrus Sethi, committee member and founder of the Stop Farm Murders movement, told Farmer’s Weekly that to date, little action had taken place. He added that farmers needed the same level of protection as some VIPs, as farm attacks and murders threatened food security. “But unfortunately, there aren’t enough police officers and other resources [such as patrol vehicles]. We need action, but it looks as if our country’s leaders don’t care…

Former mink farmers in Denmark are outraged by the finding that the government decided to cull millions of mink during the COVID-19 pandemic after spending less than 45 minutes on reviewing information for and against culling. This has sparked fears about governments’ powers to close down industries based on consumer whims and panic. This emerged in a report, published at the end of June, by a parliamentary commission that investigated so-called ‘Minkgate’. The report said that in the days following the decision, which was made in November 2020, 16 million mink, including breeding stock, had been slaughtered. Fur houses had also been shut down, decimating the value chain. Denmark previously made up 40% of the mink fur industry worldwide. While some mink had contracted COVID-19, fears about its spreading to…

The realisation of several acquisitions and the restructuring of its business, together with another exceptional production and commodity price cycle, contributed to outstanding financial results for Senwes for the year ended 31 March 2022. This was according to company CEO Francois Strydom. Senwes reported a 45,8% increase in turnover to R10,88 billion, up from R7,46 billion during the corresponding period in 2021. Operating profit increased 30,9% to just over R1 billion. The company declared a dividend of 34c/share (2021: 32c/share), and a special dividend of 56c/share (2021: 26c/share), while its net share value climbed to R19,48/share (2021: R17,07/share). There were three major reasons for this success, Strydom told Farmer’s Weekly. “[First], the climatic [conditions] were favourable in both South Africa’s winter and summer rainfall regions, which led to bumper crops…

Meat prices continue to have a notable effect on South Africa’s food inflation, but this could moderate in the second half of the year as a result of the high base effects of 2021. The upside risk to this is a weakening exchange rate, which could keep feed prices firm, despite a softening of global prices. BEEF The price of Class A carcasses in the first week of July was 2,7% lower month-on-month (m/m), while that of Class C carcasses increased by 3,5% (see Graph 1). Year-on-year (y/y), these prices were also substantially higher, having climbed by 14,2% and 9,4% respectively. In the first week of July, the average price of Class A carcasses dipped below R60/kg for the first time since the start of May, falling to R58,70/kg. The…

In cannabis production, standard operating procedures (SOPs) form the backbone of operations and compliance, especially when it comes to medical cannabis cultivation. SOPs are essentially a set of best practices and standards that detail the daily operations and compliance procedures of the business. They can only be changed with the approval of authorised persons within the business. ‘Early Stages’ SOPs are a requirement for any commercial cannabis production facility and need to be included alongside a quality management system and business plan as part of a licence application. In a cannabis cultivation business, these will include every aspect of production, such as cleaning, hiring, hazardous situation mitigation and control, training and compliance. Non-compliance is the primary reason for fines, suspension of activities and loss of licence. PRODUCTION STANDARDS Once a…

SERVES FOUR 1 Tbsp canola oil 1 medium onion, peeled and diced 1 Tbsp curry powder 500g lean or extra-lean beef mince 2 Tbsp flour (any type) 1 Tbsp dried mixed herbs Handful fresh parsley, finely chopped 2 Tbsp tomato purée or tomato sauce 2 rooibos teabags, steeped in 500ml water 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground black pepper 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables • Heat the oil in a shallow casserole dish or sauté pan with a tightly fitting lid. Add the onion and curry powder, and fry for a few minutes until the onion starts to turn golden brown. • Add the mince to the onion mixture. It’s best to do this in stages so that the mince has enough room in the pan to fry, rather than…

Rhino War by Johan Jooste with Tony Park (Macmillan, R340) Major-General Johan Jooste joined the army in 1971. So when he retired in 2006, he’d arguably seen more than enough action for one lifetime. He tried a corporate job, and by 2012, at the age of 60, he and his wife Arina were dreaming of a semi-retirement running a small game lodge. Instead, he became the commanding officer of SANParks’ new paramilitary anti-poaching unit focused on rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Against expectations, the unit succeeded in tamping down the problem, and Jooste’s makeover of the lacklustre anti-poaching corps is a leadership case study all of its own. Jooste’s memories are ably marshalled by bestselling Australian author Tony Park, whose 19 thrillers are set mostly in Africa,…