Indholdsfortegnelse for 29 March 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

I recently came across a Canadian news story that warns farmers that cyber attacks on farms is on the increase. The article, published by RFDTV, reported that Canada's National Statistics Agency said that around 20% of all businesses can expect a cybersecurity hack at some point during their operation. And while we may often think of cyber attacks as a means to get money from farmers, this is not always the case, the article reported. It uses the example of a farm operation that was hacked in 2023. “Fairly simple ransomware was used to break into a small Ontario [pig] farm. They were able to paralyse cameras, accounting systems, and feeding systems. The farm was held at a standstill for a number of weeks. The attacker did not ask for…

Two interrelated issues are found in most political party manifestos: on the one hand we have what is generally known as ‘wicked problems’ and on the other hand we have the paradox of development. Most political parties have prioritised issues such as unemployment, poverty, job creation, crime, land reform, nationalisation and education as crucial matters to attract voter support. They promise to resolve these matters if they win the election on 29 May. However, any of these strong policy positions will be significantly softened if a party becomes part of a coalition government. IMPOSSIBLE TO SOLVE In 1973 an article was published by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber that investigated the dilemmas in the general theory of planning. They coined the term ‘wicked problems’ for issues with many interdependent factors…

The Western Cape recently held the first Indaba of its kind in the province to create a platform through which government and the private sector can work together to tackle challenges associated with climate change. Prof Guy Midgley, from Stellenbosch University school of climate studies, said that climate change was increasing the chances of extreme weather events in South Africa. Long-term weather data also indicated that the province was receiving less rain, which resulted in low soil moisture, with important implications for the agriculture sector. Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, highlighted that the provincial government had recently approved a climate change framework and the Agriculture Department had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Californian Department of Agriculture to promote co-operation between these regions. One of the…

In celebration of its 125th Bananaversary, Dole Food in the US recently established a National Banana Hall of Fame to honour culinary and cultural institutions that have helped to establish bananas as one of the world's most popular and most purchased fruit. William Goldfield, Dole's communications director, said Dole was aware that it could never have made it to their banana quasquicentennial – or 125th year of growing and marketing bananas – without the help of other banana ambassadors with a similar passion for the fruit and who have helped to turn bananas into a universal symbol of simple nutrition, goodness, flavour and fun. The first three inductees into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame were also announced. The first is Brennan's, the New Orleans French Quarter restaurant in the…

The second mohair sale of the 2024 summer season saw 174 419kg on offer, of which 99% was sold. The offering consisted of good-quality mohair, with individual clips achieving excellent results and buyers actively competing, according to Mohair South Africa. A total of 84% of the offering was Responsible Mohair Standard certified. Increased demand saw the market gaining 6% compared with the previous sale to close at R395,61/kg. The highest price of R850/kg was paid for a bale of 23-micron kid's mohair. Compared with the previous sale, prices were up as follows: kid mohair 10%; young goat mohair 4%; fine adult mohair 8%; and strong adult mohair 5%. Pierre van der Vyver, general manager of The House of Fibre, said the sale went remarkably well. “The differentiating factor was that…

Heard this one before? Van produced vegetables on a small plot near town. Someone told the Labour Department that he was not paying minimum wages and despatched an inspector to check on him. “I need a list of your employees and their wages,” demanded the inspector. “Well,” replied Van. “There are only three of us. Jacob works in the field, has been with me for three years, and I pay him R2 000 a week. Doris is in the packhouse. She's s been here 18 months, earning R1 500 a week. They both receive free room and board. “Finally, there's the half-wit who works 12 hours a day, making R250 a week, paying for his own room and board, and I buy him a dozen beers every Saturday night.” “Ah,…

As with all conditions, prevention is the best cure for hypothermia. Good nutrition during gestation, a good lambing environment, an awareness of weather conditions, observation of the ewe and lamb at lambing, and assisting where necessary will go a long way to preventing lamb losses from hypothermia. The best way to recognise hypothermia is by taking the lamb's rectal temperature and observing its behaviour. The normal temperature of a lamb is 39°C to 40°C. The rectal temperature of any dull, weak lamb that seems unable or unwilling to suckle should be checked. The sooner action is taken, the better the lamb's chances of survival. The basis of treatment of the hypothermic lamb is to warm it up and provide a source of energy in order to start heat production again.…

The Beit brothers played a significant role in establishing deep-level mining along the Witwatersrand Reef during the turn of the previous century, as well as developing new extraction methods. Born in 1853 in Hamburg, Germany, Alfred was the eldest son and second of six children of an affluent family of gemstone traders in Hamburg, Germany. His younger sibling was Otto, with whom he developed a close and special bond during their boyhood days. Alfred was a good scholar, and after his schooling he was apprenticed to Jules Porgès & Cie, an Amsterdam diamond firm, where he developed a talent for examining and grading various stones. At the age of 22 he was sent by his firm to Kimberley to purchase diamonds during the halcyon period of the diamond frenzy in…

Dear Prof McCrindle, How common is hoof rot in livestock? What are the causes, prevention and treatment? Is it a highly contagious disease and how can it be controlled? Kind regards, Alice Dear Alice, Foot rot in dairy cows is called digital dermatitis and is very common, especially in humid areas with high rainfall. It is currently becoming a serious problem in parts of South Africa due to very high daily temperatures and rainfall leading to high humidity and muddy pastures. Horses, goats and sometimes sheep also have a problem with foot rot when pastures are muddy and contaminated with manure. Sadly, it is often the most valuable highproducing dairy cows or milch goats that have to be culled. This is because their systems are often more stressed and their…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. Queen Omoregie, a conservationist in the Nigeria, contributed to this article, which was was first published by The Conversation. Read it at bit.ly/3Tlzylk. “Nigeria is one of 37 African countries where elephants are found in the wild. Savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) can be found in the north, and forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the south. It's not clear how many elephants there are in Nigeria. Eighteen years ago, the African Elephant Study Report estimated that there were just 94 elephants left in the country. In 2021, it was estimated that there could be about 400 elephants in areas not systematically surveyed. What we do know, however, is that the numbers and ranges of elephants…

Hemp4Life and the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) recently briefed the portfolio committee on small business development on the opportunities, challenges and licensing in the cannabis and hemp industry. The meeting centred on the challenges faced by the small-scale cannabis and hemp farming industry, as highlighted in the briefing by Hemp4Life. Key points raised by Hemp4Life owner Ben Sassman included a lack of start-up funding, the financial burden of the water licence requirements which is essential for accessing funding, the stringent regulatory requirements associated with licences and permits and the cumbersome and lengthy application processes which needed government intervention to streamline as well as the lack of department oversight, allegedly ineffective resource utilisation and regulatory clarity. Overall, the discussion highlighted the urgent need for government intervention to address…

While most of Asia has left farmers picking up the pieces after prolonged dry spells, Malaysian vegetable and fish farmer associations seem to have exprienced a good period. According to a statement from the Federation of Vegetables Sellers Associations in Malaysia, farmers said the dry spell had boosted their yields, and they were able to sell their vegetables at a cheaper price, which means more sales. “When it is expensive, demand drops and when customers buy less, we have total losses when the vegetables spoil. Now things are good although some people are still unaware that vegetables are cheap,” said the association. The heat has apparently helped crops grow instead of wilting them this season. “Farmers know how to irrigate and supply water to the fields. If there was an…

Zimbabwe's economic growth potential largely depends on developments in its agriculture sector. The country has 4,13 million hectares of arable land. This was according to a recent report by the United States International Trade Administration (ITA) earlier this year. It was pointed out in the report that Zimbabwe urgently needed new and updated equipment to improve agricultural production. It was estimated the country had over 50 000 medium- to large-scale farmers, with 10 300 functional tractors of the 40 000 needed for commercial cultivation. Tobacco remains the most important cash crop in Zimbabwe in terms of generating foreign exchange. Farmer's Weekly recently reported on the fact that Zimbabwe's tobacco exports increased markedly in the first two months of 2024. A total volume of tobacco of 56 500t was exported in…

Zambia has declared the 2023/24 agriculture season drought an emergency following a prolonged dry spell caused by the El Niño. Government is also calling for co-operating partners to come to the country's aid for food while appealing to debt creditors to accelerate debt restructuring to shift resources towards food security and economic realignment. President Hakainde Hichilema said that of the 2,2 million hectares of planted maize crop, a total 1,1 million hectares had been affected by the drought in about 84 of Zambia's 116 districts. This threatened thousands of farmers with food insecurity following crop failure due to the lack of sustained rainfall. In a national radio and television address to the nation, Hichilema said the turn of events necessitated resorting to drastic cost-saving measures. He directed all food agencies…

Hemp cultivation has emerged as a promising option for farmers globally in recent years, owing to its variety, sustainability, and potential profitability. However, successful hemp cultivation needs more than simply sowing seeds in the ground. To unlock the full potential of this versatile crop, farmers must adhere to best practices in cultivation techniques. SOIL PREPARATION: THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS To achieve optimal development and yield, hemp seeds must be planted in well-prepared soil. Hemp flourishes on well-drained, fertile soil with a pH ranging from 6 to 7,5. Farmers should undertake soil testing to determine nutrient levels and pH, and make any necessary amendments, such as adding organic matter or correcting pH using lime or sulphur. Deep ploughing or tilling can enhance soil structure and aeration, allowing for better root development…

Sunflower production in South Africa experienced a notable surge over the past season in area planted, surpassing even the traditionally dominant soya bean crop. In spite of this, producers remain focused on expanding cultivation areas and boosting yields. However, amid this pursuit, a promising yet largely untapped opportunity lies within the seed's quality and oil content. While attention is primarily directed towards quantity, enhancing the quality of sunflower seeds and optimising oil content presents a compelling avenue for further advancement and profitability within the South African sunflower sector that has not yet been explored. SUNFLOWER PRODUCTION INCREASING Though eight of the nine provinces produce sunflower seed, the majority of the crop is produced in the North West and Free State. These drier central and western regions are preferred for sunflower…

Worldwide pressure has been mounting on cattle farmers due to CO2 emissions and the fines that come with it. The industry that might be feeling the pinch worst in terms of livestock is dairy farmers. With this mounting pressure on the industry, research focus is on milk and if it can be produced without cows. According to a research team from the University of Guelph in Canada, dairy proteins may be the next product, after lab-grown meat, to be produced in a lab. The authors of the paper published in The Conversation, Michael von Massow and Mitchell Gingerich, write that a California-based start-up has recreated the proteins found in conventional cow's milk without the use of animals. They say the company developed a form of genetically modified microflora that produced…

South Africa's agriculture sector faced several challenges in 2023, but we didn't think the overall annual performance would drop sharply. Along with the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), we expected a mild contraction in 2023 because of the animal disease challenges in the livestock and poultry sub-sector. However, the figures released by Statistics South Africa on 5 March show that the gross value added fell notably by 12,2% year-on-year (y/y) from a mild performance of 0,9% in 2022 and a robust activity of 7,4% in 2021. FALLOUT FROM ANIMAL DISEASES The headwinds in the livestock and poultry industry weighed on the overall sector performance more intensely than we anticipated. The livestock and poultry industry, which accounts for nearly half the sector's value, was hit last year by animal…

The infiltration of biological invaders poses a significant risk to the water security of South Africa, jeopardising sustainable agriculture, intensifying wildfires, and continuously harming the nation's distinctive and globally significant biodiversity. This is according to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy, who was speaking during the launch of the third National Status of Biological Invasions and their Management recently. “We must continue investing in research and innovation, supporting studies that enhance our understanding of invasive species dynamics to improve management strategies. The third National Status report on Biological Invasions serves as a clarion call for action, reminding us of the urgency of the situation and the imperative to act decisively,” said Creecy. She said the phenomenon was not unique to South Africa, prompting the recent Intergovernmental SciencePolicy…

The farming industry is vital to the world's food industry and requires the utmost protection from cyberattacks. This is according to Carey van Vlaanderen, CEO of ESET Southern Africa, who believes that with the evolution of technology, the digital threat level for farmers has increased in recent years. “Technology has improved productivity, efficiency and communication in every industry across the globe, and agriculture is no exception. Once considered a traditionally low-tech industry, the increased use of email, online monitoring tools, remote controls and payment systems, together with automated smart farming equipment such as Internetconnected tractors, means the digital threat level has increased for farmers,” Van Vlaanderen said. “As is the case in many industries across the globe, a growing reliance on online, connected technologies means businesses are more vulnerable to…

UNITED KINGDOM Sheep farmers across the country are saying that they fear a shortage of lamb production due to the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV). The virus apparently causes lambs to be born deformed. The Animal and Plant Health Agency said a vaccine has been developed but is not yet available. The agency said the virus is transmitted from “midges that bite an infected animal … and pass the virus on to another animal”. Symptoms include reduced milk production, fever and diarrhoea. INDIA India's latest crop estimates released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare show that West Bengal, which used to be the top rice-producing state, has slipped to fourth position. The ministry said that production and yield data show that the productivity of rice in West Bengal has been…

The drought in Zambia has led to co-operating partners and other countries offering humanitarian assistance to the Southern African country where over six million people are in dire need of food after a failed harvesting season. Vice president Mutale Nalumango said a total of 2,4 million people had been supported with relief food through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit since October last year. Over a million hectares of the more than 2,2 million hectares of land where maize was planted had been destroyed. She said the UN had initiated a US$30 million (R560 million) disaster management plan to help Zambia overcome El Niño conditions and climate change. She said Zambia would launch a humanitarian appeal to the UN to mobilise money for humanitarian support, livelihood recovery and resilience building…

Goats are known for having twins and triplets and they can become pregnant at a relatively young age. Both these factors can contribute to the older and young ewe experiencing birthing challenges. At the best of times the birthing process is strenuous and your female animals thus need to be prepared for this challenge. An animal that is clearly not in good physical condition or suffering from an internal and/or external parasite burden will more than likely struggle during the birthing process and may give birth to weak offspring that the mother struggles to feed due to a lack of milk. Ewes with trace element or nutrient shortfalls can also be prone to post-birth health conditions and so too may their kids. PREPARING THE EWE FOR BIRTH Three to four…

A little more than a decade ago, most broiler producers were dependent on modified mainstream machines to collect mature broilers out of poultry houses. Not being specifically designed for the job, these machines were not very efficient. “They always left me with this feeling that there had to be a better way of doing things,” says Bruce Kleynhans, who has been involved in the poultry industry for over 30 years and is the managing director of Cedarvest. Kleynhans's search for a solution ended when he met Sam Moffett at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, US. THE POWERFUL DIESEL ENGINE IS RELIABLE AND QUIET, AND THE FORKLIFT IS EASY TO OPERATE Moffett turned out to be the son of Robert Moffett, who developed the first truckmounted forklift, and…

Fevered Planet by John Vidal (Bloomsbury, R495) The chaos, anger and heartbreak that was COVID-19 is still so close that every year we mark the breaking news of the early cases and the shock of the first lockdowns. The former environment editor for the UK's Guardian newspaper, Vidal, does a roundup of zootic diseases, past, present and to come. Farmers are already familiar with some of them, and the imperative to stop them being passed into the human population – think brucellosis and listeria. But Vidal is reaching past these: there are many more that our science hasn't recognised or that haven't yet evolved but could with ecosystems’ wholescale disruption when forests are felled or land dammed, plus the world's ongoing push towards urbanisation. Vidal gallops you through risks in…