Indholdsfortegnelse for 10 May 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

It’s that time of the year again: Nampo Harvest Day is upon us! For those readers who are unfamiliar with the event, Nampo is the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, and attracts farmers, businesses and even ordinary civilians to Nampo Park in Bothaville. It is also arguably the biggest event on the agricultural calendar, with everyone from livestock breeders’ societies to large equipment companies and manufacturers guaranteed to attend. If you are not a farmer or agricultural business, there is still plenty of reason to attend Nampo: you get to experience some of the realities of farming by interacting with animals, such as cattle and sheep, and by viewing (and climbing!) some of the equipment on display. The food offered at the event is also mostly plaaskos, with…

ARCHIVE However hard it hits the cattle owner to learn that there is unsuspected disease in their herd, it is to their advantage to know of it as soon as possible to prevent its further spread, as well as taking measures to eradicate the trouble where possible. Since an unhappy position may come about only after the despatch of carcasses to the meat packing plant (when inspectors find they have to condemn some because of disease), clearly it is to the benefit of the farmer whose cattle are involved that he should be informed immediately. It may also be necessary to locate animals that may have been exposed to the disease between the farm and the packing plant. But could current methods of backtracking diseased carcasses be made more efficient?…

Land Bank Insurance has launched an innovative training programme dedicated to empowering black assessors in the agriculture sector. The initiative aims to introduce a new era in agricultural assessment and insurance, offering a more equitable and sustainable future for farmers across South Africa. According to Land Bank’s Insurance Company managing director Pascal Siphugu, the programme has transformative potential. “Our training programme will be a game changer in the industry, empowering black assessors to play a pivotal role in revolutionising agricultural assessment and insurance. “By providing comprehensive training and support, we aim to bridge the gap in representation and expertise, ensuring that all farmers have access to tailored insurance solutions that meet their unique needs,” said Siphugu. The programme, designed specifically for black assessors, encompasses a wide array of topics crucial…

Woolworths recently launched an interactive digital experience to highlight the transformative potential of biodiversity and healthy soil in agriculture. Latiefa Behardien, chief food technology and sustainability officer at Woolworths, said the campaign formed part of their nature-inspired Farming for the Future journey, which started in 2009. The platform allowed visitors to explore the role of beneficial insects and learn about soil health practices. The mission of the campaign is to raise awareness of natural pest control methods and biodiversity conservation to safeguard crop health and resilience. Behardien explained that “instead of automatically reaching for pesticides”, their farmers nurture aphid-loving predators like ladybirds, allowing nature to maintain a delicate balance in their orchards without harming beneficial insects like bees. ‘BY FOSTERING ORGANISMS, FARMERS ENHANCE SOIL FERTILITY’ In addition to promoting biodiversity…

When I wrote my March 2024 article on the outlook for summer grain producers, conditions pointed towards a smaller summer crop in spite of an estimated increase of 2% in total maize plantings. The further deterioration in conditions can be seen from the Crop Estimates Committee‘s (CEC) second crop estimate at 7% lower than the first estimate. The figure below shows the total maize crop for different years. The estimated crop is 10% below the average from 2017 to 2023 and 19% down on the 2023 final crop of 16,4 million tons. Fortunately, maize prices have increased since 2023. Yellow maize prices are currently 26% higher than in July 2023 while white maize prices increased by a huge 63%. International prices are moving downwards as a higher supply caused by…

The poultry industry took a knock internationally last year with the outbreak of the avian influenza virus. This coupled with a number of other factors have led the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Strategic Networks to research health in poultry in order to replace antibiotics, which might be causing more harm. The research was led by assistant professor of food animal microbiomes from Penn State University, Erika Ganda, who said that there was an urgent need for antibiotic-free products in the diet of broiler chickens to improve feed efficiency, growth rate and intestinal health. For the research, the team worked with over 300 one-day-old chicks that were raised in 32 randomly located cages. According to the paper,…

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. Read the original at bit.ly/3wdHyNo. “In 1994, apartheid ended and the ANC won South Africa’s first ever democratic election, promising ‘Electricity for All’ as part of its Reconstruction and Development Programme. Back then, only 36% of all South Africans had electricity in their homes. The development programme promised to double that number by electrifying an additional 2,5 million homes by 2000. This seemed achievable. During the 1980s, the state-owned power utility Eskom’s build programme was so aggressive it had surplus electricity. Some power stations even had to be mothballed. By 1994, South Africa’s coal industry was generating high-quality coal that was exported mainly to Europe. These…

Electoral polls continue to suggest that no single political party will win an outright majority in South Africa’s 2024 national elections due to take place on 29 May. This creates uncertainty regarding the national government that will emerge from any possible coalition discussions. But regardless of its composition, the seventh administration of the democratic South Africa may have to refresh economic policies when it assumes office. For some sectors of the economy, such a review may be necessary. The global environment in which we operate has changed significantly in recent months, partly because of the rising geopolitical tensions and their associated economic risks. GOOD POLICIES IN PLACE Agricultural policy does not require a review. What the sector needs is a sharper focus on implementation of the existing programmes. The agriculture…

Mental health, animal welfare, antimicrobial resistance and food security: these were some of the challenges touched on at the 39th World Veterinary Association Congress. The event was held recently held in Cape Town and attended by over 1 500 delegates from 48 different countries. Rafael Laguens, president of the World Veterinary Association, said the theme of this year’s congress, ‘Resilience in the face of adversity’, was apt, since the congress itself was a living example of resilience, considering that it had been held since 1863, despite two world wars, two pandemics and multiple crises. “The selection of the congress theme is absolutely relevant since strengthening veterinary resilience is a constant challenge because the profession offers diverse and demanding careers, requiring versatile and resilient professionals,” Laguens said. The Western Cape Minister…

The World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) programme in Cape Town. Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, said he initially had his doubts about whether SASSI would be viable in a developing country, but it had proved to make a huge difference in consumer behaviour thanks to all the funders, retailers, restaurants, chefs, organisations and individuals who had bought into the programme over time. He added that much of the success of the programme was due to it being founded on scientific research, which helped to improve understanding of the market dynamics involved in locally and internationally traded seafood products. Dr Deon Nel, head of programmes at WWF South Africa, said that people…

The New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers’ Association Incorporated (NZKGI) released a statement at the end of April saying the dry weather in the country had led to a good supply of high-quality kiwifruit. According to the NZKGI, the recorded harvest two years ago suffered due to labour shortages, which resulted in a lack of pickers and damage to the fruit. “The two years before that had been disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions on staffing and allocations that had added a layer of operating headaches to a harvest. “We were due a good season. Labour supply has been good thanks to more backpackers around, an increase in the Recognised Seasonal Employer staff numbers, and post-harvest operators installing more automation in their packhouses,” said the association. Kiwifruit growers in the country remain concerned, however,…

RJF Boerdery has registered a trade name, RYB Select, for Royal Beaut apple plant material that complies with their improved Royal Beaut budwood selection protocol. Elsa Muller, variety development manager of the South African Plant Improvement Organisation (SAPO) Trust, told Farmer’s Weekly that Robert Zulch, the owner of RJF Boerdery, registered plant breeders’ rights for Royal Beaut in 1996, after discovering the Gala mutation on his farm Wakkerstroom in Ceres. Since then, the Royal Beaut apple with its broad red stripes and crisp, sweet flesh has grown in high demand across the world. The problem with Gala types, unfortunately, is that they are inherently unstable, resulting in reversions on most types. The aim with the new plant material selection protocol, therefore, is to ensure only high colour material is selected…

Stock theft in the Free State is increasingly growing into a finely planned and sophisticated crime, according to Peet Swanepoel, the provincial coordinator of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). He said one of the indicators was the fact that where a relatively small numbers of animals was stolen in the past, the numbers of stolen animals had gone up to, for instance, 100 sheep or more at a time. “Stock thievery is being organised and executed more and more by well-organised syndicates. In the Free State, we’ve come across stock thieves carrying out their operations hundreds of kilometres from their home base. In one case, cattle were stolen in Vanstadensrus in the Free State, earmarked to be sold in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni,” he told Farmer’s Weekly. The perpetrators were mainly…

Innovating With Impact by Ted Ladd & Alessandro Lanteri (Economist, R350) The Economist pairs US entrepreneurship professor Ladd and British strategy and innovation professor Lanteri in this 200-page paperback, which falls into three clear sections: mindset for innovation; processes, tools and methods; and innovation themes and trajectories. In the first section you can test yourself to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses as an innovator and elsewhere you’ll find techniques to unblock innovative creativity. You’ll also discover how adapting a process from one context and applying it elsewhere can result in innovation success. The discussion of why innovations succeed or fail reminds you not to let go of common sense. Using online and data techniques give a broader context for innovation today, but perhaps most contemporary of all is the chapter…

As South Africa approaches its the general election, there is a pressing need for the incoming government to prioritise the growth and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. This sector is not only crucial for ensuring food security and rural development but also plays a significant role in driving economic growth and job creation. Therefore, it is imperative that whichever political party is elected to govern makes it a priority to enable emerging agribusinesses to commercialise their operations and contribute more effectively to the country’s agricultural development and overall economy. A NEW, DIVERSE COHORT Emerging agribusinesses represent a vital component of South Africa’s agriculture sector. These businesses, often led by young entrepreneurs and previously disadvantaged individuals, bring innovation, dynamism and diversity to the industry. They not only contribute to economic growth…

The financial deterioration of the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) and its increasing reliance on state support to keep the company’s head above water is cause for concern among livestock producers in Namibia. This was according to Jako van Wyk, chairperson of the Namibia Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO). Meatco, a meat-processing company headquartered in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, is the largest exporter of prime beef in the country. Following a recent official announcement that R212 million was being made available to Meatco for the 2024/25 financial year, Van Wyk said: “For the past few years Meatco has announced record financial losses and had to increasingly rely on state support to keep going. Namibia, as a net exporter of red meat, successfully competes in top-end global markets. There is therefore no reason…

Namibian Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein has reiterated the urgent need for action as Namibia grapples with below-normal rainfall and erratic weather patterns. Speaking at a five-day planning workshop to address the crisis he said: “It is common knowledge that about 70% of the Namibian population directly and indirectly depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. “This is a reminder to us all to take this sector and its programmes very seriously and to thoroughly implement them.” According to the Namibia Economist, the event, held in the national capital of Windhoek, brought together key stakeholders from across the country to strategise solutions to pressing issues in the face of mounting climate challenges. Key concerns discussed included the looming food insecurity crisis, with widespread crop failures predicted due…

SRI LANKA The Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture and Plantation Industries confirmed in April that the country was once again self sufficient in poultry and eggs. Minister of livestock development Dharmasiri Bandara Herath said production was up and running for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. According to his statement, this was good news for the country as it would now be able to export both poultry and eggs. CANADA Canadian cattle farmers have been taking extra precautions following the announcement of the strains of the bird flu outbreak found in cows. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement that there was no cause for alarm due to national food safety standards, and food producers were urged to adhere to biosecurity measures. Agriculture and Agri-food…

Zambia’s co-operating partners have responded overwhelmingly to the drought devastating the Southern African country, with over US$1 billion (about R18,9 billion) pledged to reverse the climatic effects that have left over eight million people on the verge of hunger. China, Britain, the US, the Netherlands and the World Bank have responded with assistance after President Hakainde Hichilema’s plea for humanitarian aid to alleviate the plight of citizens who are afflicted by the loss of over 1,1 million hectares of maize planted during the 2023/24 season. China has pledged to assist Zambia with emergency food and equipment for the families and smallholder farmers affected by the drought, driven by the El Niño climate phenomenon. Britain pledged US$320 million (R6,1 billion) in drought response through funding technical assistance provided by the UN,…

Brent crude oil prices have been an important topic as the commodity is one of the biggest macroeconomic indicators globally. In our previous piece on Brent crude oil market dynamics, we noted that the commodity remains of interest for analysts due to current global geopolitical tensions playing a role in price movements. This article gives an updated perspective on what transpired in the oil market both globally and in South Africa in the first quarter of 2024, and what analysts forecast to happen for the rest of the year. On 26 November 2023, the OPEC+ meeting’s outcome was an agreement to voluntarily reduce an additional 2,2 million barrels per day, compared with the 1,3 million barrels per day reduction in September 2023. The agreement was based on creating and sustaining…

Humans and animals share a special and close bond, especially when it comes to our beloved pets and our livestock. But think twice before giving your parakeet an affectionate peck on the beak, letting your dog lick your face or cuddling up with your new kitten until it’s received a clean bill of health from an animal healthcare professional. Why? Well, your cute pets or farm animals might just be harbouring a zoonotic disease, which is an infection that is transferred between animals and humans. And be aware that there are some diseases that we can transmit to our beloved animals, too. “The best-known zoonotic disease is rabies, which is transmitted from an infected mammal – usually a dog – to humans, and can be fatal if not treated immediately.…

Frugal Feasts LIFESTYLE These eggrolls may seem unconventional but will delight family and friends. Photo and recipe: South African Poultry Association. SERVES 4 60ml (¼ cup) butter or margarine 8 eggs 60ml (¼ cup) milk Salt and pepper 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves 125ml (½ cup) feta, crumbled 250ml (1 cup) shredded left-over roast chicken 60ml (¼ cup) sweet chilli sauce • Heat a large frying pan over high heat and melt a tablespoonful of the butter/margarine. • Beat together two eggs and 15ml (1 Tbsp) of the milk. Season with salt and pepper. • Pour into the pan and swirl to coat the base. Cook for about two minutes or until the egg is just cooked and the bottom is golden. Slide onto a plate and keep warm. Repeat…