Indholdsfortegnelse for 15 March 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

In March every year, we celebrate the Farmer's Weekly anniversary. The first issue was launched in 1911, making the publication a whole 113 years old this year. Since its inception, the Farmer's Weekly mandate has been to educate and inform; this is still the mandate of the publication today, and is a role that we take very seriously. The way in which we disseminate information has changed drastically over the years, especially with the introduction of the Internet, and more recently, social media. According to various studies, people are increasingly getting their news, for example, from social media platforms. Unfortunately, not all news is created equal or should be trusted, and perhaps this is why we are also seeing an increase in disinformation. Somebody's opinion on social media, for instance,…

When Patlego Machete lived with her grandmother in rural Mpumalanga, she couldn't wait to escape to the bright city lights. It was only years later that she realised the bush had always been calling her back – and now she is imparting this rekindled passion for nature to children as a conservation facilitator at the Good Work Foundation (GWF). As we celebrated World Wildlife Day on 3 March, Patlego and other young conservation champions wished to drive home the importance of educating children – as future custodians of our natural heritage – about conserving wildlife and caring for the environment. She says as a young village girl, she wanted a different kind of life: “I envied the city life. I needed to go and find myself,” she reminisces. After matriculating,…

ARCHIVE Fourteen years ago when Crocodile Valley Estates, of Nelspruit, bought the first animals that would eventually become part of their famous stud, they were told that they should not expect milk production comparable to that achieved in more suitable areas in the country. “You can expect only half or possibly two-thirds of the production normally achieved,” they were told. The fallacy of this statement was clearly shown when the edition of the Milk Recording Research Results of the Department of Agriculture Technical Services (September 1969) was released. The Croc Valley herd had come first in the averages for the production of registered Jersey herds in South Africa for lactation periods of 270 to 300 days (20 or more records) in the period from 1 September 1966 to 31 August…

A missed opportunity to incentivise businesses to grow the economy is how the agriculture sector has described the 2024/25 Budget Speech delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in February. “We desperately need to upscale the incentives provided to communities that meet their own energy, infrastructure, and service delivery needs,” said Agbiz CEO Theo Boshoff. He noted that farming communities incur duplicate costs to provide basic service delivery, fix roads and water infrastructure, and improve safety and security for their communities, and that these costs should be offset through rebates. Instead, the agriculture sector's competitiveness and ability to survive in this economic climate is being threatened, while government remains silent on support measures for businesses. Extending the solar panel rebate to batteries and inverters, a zero-VAT rating for the inputs required…

Agriculture can create jobs, alleviate poverty and grow rural economies, but needs partnerships to unlock its full potential. This was the main message from a panel discussion hosted by Farmer's Weekly at a FarmSol and the South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) mechanisation event held in Taung, North West. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of Agbiz, said many people were already benefitting directly from agriculture, as about 920 000 people worked in primary agriculture and 450 000 in agro-processing. Work done for the National Development Plan in 2012 indicated another million jobs could be created in these sectors.South Africa had a dualistic agriculture sector with a subsistence, primarily non-commercial and black farming segment on the one hand and a predominantly commercial and white farming segment, on the other. While other…

Mongolian farmers have lost hundreds of their livestock due to an extreme winter. The government said the past winter was more severe than usual, with lower-than-normal temperatures and heavy snowfalls. It said the temperatures went as low as -50°C in some parts of the country, which had resulted in the death of over two million cattle. The agriculture ministry said the deaths of sheep, goats, horses and cows were caused by starvation and exhaustion. The UN said Mongolia had experienced six incidents of devastating weather-related catastrophes in the past decade, including the winter of 2022/23, when 4,4 million head of livestock perished. This year's winter had been exacerbated by a summer drought that prevented animals from building up enough fatty stores to survive the harsh winter. More than 70% of…

An online platform to trade macadamias has been launched in a bid to provide a standardised trading tool and link farmers directly to the market. Traditionally, farmers sell their nuts to processing facilities who crack, sort, pack and export them, carrying the burden of the risk. With macadamia prices that reached their lowest point in decades last year, the industry has been seeking solutions to maximise profit for farmers and help them stay afloat. Macadamia Services Management (MSM) launched the online trading platform, Macadamia Sales Market, in Mbombela, Mpumalanga in February. It aims to put farmers and buyers directly in touch with each other. Cobus Kok, managing director of MSM, said that the platform would add value and opportunities to the way macadamias are traded. “We aim to take an…

The 22nd sale of the wool season saw 10 337 bales on offer after 1 702 bales were withdrawn prior to the auction, according to Cape Wools SA. Sustainably certified wools comprised only 33,5% of the Merino wools on offer, with less than half consisting of long-length wools. The market eased in rand terms but delivered positive results in dollar terms, taking into account that the rand traded stronger against all major currencies at the time of the sale. There was good competition for the better-quality Merino wools on offer, resulting in an overall sales clearance of 94,2%. The non-certified indicator eased slightly by 0,4% to close at R150,02/kg while the certified indicator closed 1,1% down at R168,95/kg. Major buyers were Standard Wool SA (2 702 bales); BKB Pinnacle Fibres…

Zambia's production of cashew nuts has stagnated since the early 1990s due to a lack of education, contact with extension officers and input costs such as fertiliser and pesticides. The revival of the cashew nut subsector, planned for the next five years, is taking off through the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project. A milestone for Zambia, it has been made possible through assistance from the African Development Bank and Tanzania. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has recognised the cashew subsector's potential and wants to promote production because of its market value. Cashew nuts fetch an average price of US$8 000/t (about R154 000/t), compared with Zambia's main export metal, copper, which fetches around US$9 500/t (R183 000/t). Cashew nut trees take three years to produce significant yields. As a result, farmers in…

I was recently asked by a farmer who reads Farmer's Weekly about the concept of terminal breeding, and further to answering him about what this constitutes, I dedicated an article to the concept. I also covered the key differences between Bos taurus and B. indicus cattle breeds or types. In short, the Taurus breeds such as Herefords and Shorthorns largely have their origins in Britain and Europe, while the Indicus breeds such as Ngunis and Brahmans have their origins in Asia or Africa – these can largely be regarded as indigenous breeds and they have a valuable place in the broader local and global red meat value chain. It suffices to say that the Indicus breeds show good adaptability to drought conditions and warmer climates and many are resistant to…

Farming is a tough business, and breakdowns happen at the worst times. That is why South African farmers have relied on JHB Tractor Spares for over 53 years. The company's deep understanding of Ford, Fiat, New Holland, and Massey Ferguson tractors means getting the right parts fast to minimise downtime. JHB Tractor Spares is a true family story. Vernon Winter began selling spares from his garage in Germiston way back in 1971. He and his wife, Daphne, grew the business steadily, always with that farmer-first mentality. Their children, Glen, Darren and Kim, practically grew up in the business, learning and following their parents’ strong work ethic. After serving their country and completing their studies, the siblings took their place in the family business, eventually buying it in 2004. THEY GREW…

Nanotechnology is defined as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres (nm), according to the National Nanotechnology Institute. While it is in use in many products, nanotechnology is now being introduced into agriculture. In the latest research, published in The Conversation, a group of professors from Leidon University in the Netherlands show that it can help farmers to cut the usage of pesticides, but it comes at a great cost. The group who also partnered with environmental scientists said that nanomaterials might do more harm than good. According to their paper, pesticide products based on nanoscale materials, which is nano-enabled pesticides, are the latest technology promising new solutions for the protection of crops at minimal risk to the environment. In the research…

The First Kudu by Ben Shaw & Lorne Hallendorff (TMP, R330) Reading a business book that is set out of your sector means you don't identify with the scenario and events, so assess more dispassionately learnings from how the founders handled developments, for good or ill. HouseME, a South African tech start-up that aimed to be the Uber of renting and letting flats, is vividly depicted as a Gen Z team surfing its rollercoaster of success, hazards, awards and COVID, the ultimate challenge because nobody could move during lockdown Both authors are steeped in management studies and talk freely about their strategising attempts to raise the funds that would ultimately give them liftoff, and handling the stresses and strains of rapid expansion. They acknowledge they were lucky to have recruited…

Dear Prof McCrindle, My neighbour says I must vaccinate my cows against LSD. What is that? Kind regards, Louis Dear Louis, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is transmitted by biting insects such as mosquitoes, midges and biting flies. Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) manufactures a vaccine that is extremely effective in preventing outbreaks, provided that cattle owners vaccinate according to the recommended schedule available on the OBP website. The vaccine can be purchased directly from OBP. However, it is much easier for small-scale farmers to purchase it from their regional agricultural co-operative, especially if they own few cattle. If your cattle are on communal grazing, you can approach the local animal health technician or veterinarian employed by Animal Health Services to help you purchase the vaccine and show you how to vaccinate your…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. This article was first published by The Conversation, and is based on a journal article which the writer co-authored with Jade Botha, an economics master's graduate at the University of the Western Cape. Read the article at rb.gy/oz9i0p. “For more than three decades, the South African economy has had very high rates of joblessness. The country's economy has been unable to create enough jobs for its growing army of workers. This has partly been because of the stagnant economic growth rate of only 1,7% during the 2010s (it was even lower at 0,9% between 2015 and 2019). Another factor that limited the economy's capacity to create jobs at a rapid enough pace to absorb…

The DA recently submitted a report to the South African Human Rights Commission, which details the impact of collapsed water management in the Free State, along with mitigation suggestions. According to Roy Jankielsohn, DA leader in the Free State who authored the report, sub-par water in the province was not only a result of the pollution of freshwater resources, but also as a result of the loss of treated water due to ageing infrastructure, burst pipes and unmetered connections. For example, Jankielsohn estimated that 56% of treated water in Mathabeng, the second-largest municipality in the Free State, was lost because of leaking water pipes, which cost residents R323 million a year, while 46% of the treated water in Mangaung, the largest municipality in the province, was lost at a cost…

CHINA Agricultural robots were hard at work on farms in Shanghai, China, as they assisted farmers with planting and harvesting. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said it had been making progress in technology, with a mechanisation rate of crop cultivation exceeding 70%. In the rural farming district of Shanghai, farmers were also using robots to help with livestock farming. A Diantian Agricultural Co-operative spokesperson said the robots operated efficiently and tirelessly using 5G technology and image recognition. BELGIUM Agriculture ministers met in Brussels at the end of February to discuss how the EU's farming subsidies scheme was dismantling its green legislation. Belgium's Ministry of Agriculture said these were the first steps in addressing the farming community's concerns and included loosening green elements in the Common Agricultural Policy and…

Over the past few years, businesses and agribusinesses alike have had to navigate through tumultuous and uncertain conditions, which made the business landscape increasingly difficult. While dealing with shocks and uncertainty in agribusiness presents challenges, shared insights within the agriculture sector are crucial for successfully navigating these circumstances. Analysts often use a process that includes looking back at past events, usually by comparing actual results with earlier predictions, and analysing the reasons for any differences. Predictions usually take into account several aspects expected to impact the future direction of agricultural economics. It is important for producers and creditors to use future outlooks to evaluate the possible risks associated with commodities. These perspectives influence strategic decision-making by aiding in predicting future prospects. Understanding one's risk as a supplier enables the implementation…

Terracura Wines, in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs, is buzzing with activity in preparation for the harvest, which is two weeks early. Chris Groenewald, co-owner and winemaker of Terracura, is juggling this interview while selling wine, putting wax on bottles and directing repairs on the cellar's cooling system that broke the day before. Despite all the chaos, Groenewald remains calm, a characteristic that is of utmost importance if you captain the South African blind-tasting team in the World Blind Tasting Competition, as he did at Château Sainte-Roseline in Provence, France, in 2023, and at Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhone wine region in 2021. The South African team is selected based on their performance during the South African Blind Wine Tasting Championship, with the winner being appointed as captain. Each team…

Navigating the murky waters of water security demands precision. While pages could be filled discussing the necessary governmental fixes for the water crisis, let's focus on agricultural water use and what we can do. Let's remember to protect water security in our continued drive for food security by striving towards increasingly efficient irrigation. We need efficiency, predictability, productivity, technology, excellence, control, consistency, reliability, peace of mind and success. Luckily there is a solution that is synonymous with all of this. Precision. Why precision? Because it delivers results. The advantages of precision irrigation are numerous, and the ripple effect of precision irrigation is evident, with farmers often reporting that adopting precision irrigation fosters a broader culture of precision in their practices. Precision irrigation delivers a clear proposition: Boost yields, save time…

FARMERS’ PROTESTS: TORIES AND PLAID CALL FOR FUNDING PLAN AXE Opposition parties in the Senedd have voted in favour of scrapping the Welsh government's controversial Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). – bbc.com MORE THAN 50% OF US FUNDS FOR ‘CLIMATE-SMART’ FARMING DO NOT HELP CRISIS – REPORT An agriculture agency set aside nearly US$3 billion (about R57bn) to give to farmers who cut emissions, but about US$1,9 billion of this is spent (R36,5bn) on practices not doing that. – theguardian.com BIRD FLU REACHES MAINLAND ANTARCTICA FOR FIRST TIME, SCIENTISTS SAY A deadly type of bird flu has been confirmed on the mainland of Antarctica for the first time, scientists said, a potential risk for the southern region's huge penguin colonies. – reuters.com…

As consumers hold companies to higher standards, farmers need to ensure they have an environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy in place or risk losing market share. ESG issues are the broad set of metrics to measure how countries and companies are contributing to sustainability. This includes environmental health, social equity and economical progression in order to create communities that are healthy, resilient and thriving, for this and the next generation. For the agriculture sector, this holds both challenges and opportunities. Marlene Louw, senior economist at Absa AgriBusiness, said broader ESG issues were gaining increased policy and commercial importance. This was likely to shape the way business was conducted in the future since consumer and investor pressures were mounting to address the broader problems related to ESG. The exact nature…

One hundred local farmers in the Eastern Cape have received training in the cultivation and value chain of industrial hemp production. Funded by the Eastern Cape Rural Development Association and facilitated by Training Force, in collaboration with Cheeba Cannabis Training, the training took place at the Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in Middeldrift just north of Qonce, formerly King William's Town. The training included the agricultural element of hemp cultivation, various industrial applications and how to harvest and process the hemp plants. Areas such as the legal framework of the hemp industry, how to produce a number of products from the hemp plant, taking the products to market, and various other elements in the hemp supply chain were also covered. Linda Siboto, director and co-founder of Cheeba Cannabis…

Government seems to be waking up to the power of private land ownership, but it may not be enough to keep all farmers on the land. WHAT ARE YOUR BIASES? Humans are riddled with biases. One of the most prevalent is the hunger for bad news. It's a fact: most people are drawn to depressing stories and that's why newspapers and TV are filled with disaster, corruption and incompetence. These are the stories that sell. It's known as the ‘negativity bias'. I'm aware of it and I'm afraid of it, and always on the lookout for good news to counter the deluge of bad news. That's why a recent headline in Farmer's Weekly, ‘Farmers go into the new year with good news about title deeds’, caught my eye (2 February…