Indholdsfortegnelse for 27 September 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

The national elections in the US are due to take place on 5 November. I have been avidly following the build-up, and not only because the battle between former president Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden was so entertaining, but also because of the significance of the outcome of the US elections on the world. Whether we like to admit it or not, whatever happens in the US has a trickle-down effect on every other country in the world, including South Africa. The US plays a major role in the global economy. Shifts in US fiscal policies, interest rates, or currency value, for example, can have ripple effects that influence global markets, including South Africa's. With the US being a key trading partner of South Africa, the outcome of…

The issue of land reform was mentioned as a positive development in the State of the Nation Address in February 2024, when President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that the 30% target set for agricultural land transferred to black South Africans by 2030 was already approaching 25%. Land reform has been moved to the back burner by issues relating to service delivery, load-shedding and the emergence of the MK Party. The formation of the Government of National Unity generated a positive climate for change, but also created ambivalences, such as the appointment of the DA's John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and the PAC's Mzwanele Nyhontso as Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform. These two politicians represent diametrical opposing views on land reform. The issue of expropriation without compensation was a…

South Africa's agriculture sector is poised for growth following a recent announcement about its expanding trade relationship with China. The new agreements, which include protocols for dairy and wool exports as well as a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding (MoU) on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), are set to open significant new avenues for local producers. Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), expressed enthusiasm about the new trade developments. “The MPO is pleased to acknowledge the recent announcement regarding the trade relationship between South Africa and China. This development signals a significant opportunity for South African milk producers,” he said. “This is just the beginning of opening up the Chinese market for South African products, with more exciting announcements to be made later in the year,” he added. According to…

The Bushmanland region of the Northern Cape is experiencing a severe drought, driven by several years of poor or nonexistent rainfall. Farmers are now in a critical situation and have had to cut livestock numbers to the bare minimum in an effort to remain on their land. This was according to Sybil Visagie, disaster relief co-ordinator at non-profit company Karoo Calling, which operates under the Save the Sheep drought-relief organisation. Bushmanland, an arid region located west of Kenhardt and east of Springbok, includes the towns Pofadder and Aggeneys. “Bushmanland is the focus of our drought-relief initiatives at the moment. However, the affected farmers have been remarkedly pro-active in their efforts to ensure the sustainability of their sheep flocks, despite the fact that small-stock numbers had to be cut dramatically in…

MOROCCO One year after the earthquake in Al Haouz, Morocco, the region's agriculture sector has largely recovered due to a government-led programme. Under High Royal Instructions, the US$18million (over R320 million) initiative has made significant strides in the provinces of Al Haouz and Chichaoua. The programme, which benefitted more than 42 000 farmers, included distributing almost 23 000t of barley, providing free livestock vaccinations, and supplying 25 000 sheep and goats to affected farmers. NEW ZEALAND Native shrublands, once common in New Zealand's Canterbury Plains, have declined over time due to the conversion of land for other uses, including irrigated pasture. In a recent study published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology, scientists at the Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research institute have revealed that nutrient and water run-off from intensive…

Veterinarians in South Africa face a host of challenges, including insufficient resources and medicines, inadequate remuneration, and mounting mental health concerns. This was according to a recent statement from Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen. Consequently, Steenhuisen has undertaken to ensure that the working conditions of animal health practitioners in the country are improved. Kobus Bester, Simbra breeder from Ventersdorp in North West, welcomed Steenhuisen's announcement and said well-equipped and motivated animal health practitioners were critical for South Africa. “We need animal practitioners to have sufficient access to transportation, animal medicine and equipment to combat the effect of disease on the national herd, such as brucellosis, which occurs on a regular basis. “In the past, inoculations against the disease were carried out nationally by state veterinarians on a yearly basis, but…

The EU is seeking to improve welfare conditions for livestock while they're being transported. Proposed regulations will limit travel time, increase space allowances, and halt travel when temperatures exceed certain limits. The European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on the protection of animals during transport to replace Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 under the Farm to Fork Strategy. The proposal is currently under assessment and is expected to be finalised next year. Tania de Belder, agricultural specialist at the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, clarified that the proposal included requirements for animals imported into the EU. “This undermines the sovereignty of the EU's trading partners to establish their own measures for the protection of animals during transport.” The proposal focuses on reducing animal welfare problems…

The South African economy grew by 0,4% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, rebounding after muted growth in Q1. However, the growth rate was lower than the consensus forecast of 0,5%. The effects of the marked decline in load-shedding and reduced political uncertainty after the formation of the Government of National Unity contributed to improved economic activity. Additionally, lower inflation improved consumer spending, providing a boost to economic growth. Seven out of the 10 industries experienced growth, with the electricity, gas and water sectors showing the largest increase at 3,1%, driven by higher electricity production. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries emerged as one of the industries that contracted, declining by 2,1% in Q2 after having grown by 13,5% in Q1 2024. Growth in Q1 was driven by improved production conditions…

How did the Fairtrade movement start? Fairtrade was launched in the late 1980s to give smallholder coffee farmers in Mexico access to more lucrative markets. Dutch missionary Frans van der Hoff, who lived in Mexico for much of his life, saw how big companies were taking advantage of smallholder farmers and used his influence and networks to group smallholders together in co-operatives and sell their products directly to consumers. The first Fairtrade coffee brand, Max Havelaar, was launched in 1988 for coffee produced in the southern Mexican state of Oaxac, as a collaboration between Van der Hoff, Nico Roozen, an economist who played a huge role in growing the market for Fairtrade products, and development agency Solidaridad. How has Fairtrade grown since then? The initial focus was on commodities that…

FAST FACTS Macadamia nuts can be farmed organically without chemical fertilisers and using mulch made from grass cuttings, which is placed around the base of the tree. Andrew Doré has only 12ha planted to macadamias, but he adds value to his unique produce to make it stand out in the market. Over 100 health shops and premium supermarkets stock his products. Andrew Doré made a significant career shift at the age of 35 that many would find daunting. After spending 14 years in Japan's corporate world, being fast-tracked into management and eventually serving as the head of procurement for a major vehicle manufacturer, he reached a turning point. He'd enjoyed his time abroad but began to feel a sense of disconnection and wished instead to make a meaningful contribution to…

The Ways and Wonders of South frican Trees by Willem Frost (Struik Nature, R480) With their role in combatting climate change, trees are fast rivalling birds in attracting attention from naturalists. As the manager of a game ranch who writes about conservation, Frost is well placed to compile this beautifully produced book. It's bursting with inviting photographs and showcases 160 conspicuous species likely to be among the first you want to know more about. Its introduction is about 60 pages, with short sections on everything from why trees shed bark to their role in various religions. Rather like ancestors inhabit trees and other natural features in Africa, in Australia, Aboriginal mythologies have examples of humans transforming into trees, Frost points out. One niggle is the tree list that uses English common…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is an African-led and Africa-based institution dedicated to placing smallholder farmers at the core of the continent's burgeoning economy. Its headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya. Email info@agra.org or visit agra.org. “On 3 September, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) launched its 2024 Africa Agriculture Status Report titled ‘Accelerating the Private Sector for Food Systems Transformation in Africa’. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the significant role that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play in transforming food systems across Africa. Developed through extensive collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders, it explores the vital contributions of MSMEs to agricultural and economic…

ARCHIVE Raised beds were used as insurance against waterlogging in George, a high-rainfall region. In the George area of the Western Cape, with its high rainfall and shallow, heavy clay soils, vegetable producers can easily suffer heavy losses as a result of plants drowning due to excessive rain. On top of this a lot of the land suitable for vegetables is sloping, which means there is always the danger of cultivated soil washing away. EXPERIMENT PAYS OFF To overcome these problems, Thinus Nortjé of Dankbaar, near Hoekville, started experimenting with ridges or raised beds five years ago. It was such a success that he now produces all his vegetables on the 150ha of irrigated land in this way. “I regard the raised beds as my insurance policy,” says Nortjé. “I…

The South African pig farming industry is facing numerous challenges, especially for small-scale farmers who struggle with rising feed costs, inadequate infrastructure and unpredictable market demands. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, farmers from several areas shared their experiences and struggles, highlighting these ongoing difficulties. For Sive Ngqinjana, a pig farmer based near Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape, one of the main challenges in pig farming is the high cost of quality feed. “The cost of productive or quality feed needed to feed pigs for optimal growth is a significant hurdle,” he explained. “Emerging farmers often cannot afford the specialised feed required to produce the best-quality meat.” In addition to feed costs, Ngqinjana pointed out that many small-scale farmers lacked proper pig structures. “Small-scale farmers cannot always afford to invest in…

While the grain industry is facing numerous challenges, Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA's head of Nampo, marketing and research co-ordination, identified ‘activism’ as the issue that gave him sleepless nights. Speaking at Grain SA's panel discussion at the Swartland Show, held recently in Moorreesburg, Western Cape, Strydom said that it wasn't necessarily activism over the issue of genetically modified organisms that concerned him, but rather populist European regulations and policies, and how these were spilling over into South Africa. “Instead of science, the situation is driven by populist ideas, which has resulted in confused consumers in Europe, who have idealistic ideas about how their food should be produced but are unwilling to pay for the changes needed to achieve these ideals,” he said. Strydom added that he did not have…

The newly rehabilitated EtakaUuvudhiya Earth Canal project in Namibia is more than just an infrastructural achievement; it forms a lifeline for the country's farmers and communities. This was according to Abraham Nehemia, CEO of NamWater, who spoke at the recent official opening of the 130km long canal in northern Namibia. The canal was constructed in 1974 by the South African government. It was designed to provide water to the rural communities in the Uukolonkadhi, Uukwaluudhi, Ongandjera, Uukwambi, and Ondonga tribal areas during times of drought, according to a report by The Namibian. “The years have taken their toll on the canal. The harsh Namibian climate, combined with natural wear and tear, had reduced its capacity to serve the people and livestock. Recognising this, NamWater, with the full support of our…

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), agricultural employment decreased by 45 000 jobs between the first to the second quarter of 2024. This is more than 50% of the total decrease in employment across all sectors over the same period. The largest decrease in agricultural employment of 53 000 took place in the Western Cape (-25%), followed by 21 000 each in North West (-25%) and the Northern Cape (-39%), and Gauteng with 13 000 job losses (-28%). The Free State (+7%), KwaZulu-Natal (+6%), and Mpumalanga (+20%) showed job growth. On a year-on-year basis, agricultural employment increased by 0,2%. According to Stats SA's labour force surveys, the number of workers in the agriculture sector decreased sharply from 1,08 million in 2006 to 624 000 in 2011, and then increased…

SERVES 8 AS A SIDE 420g tin cream-style sweetcorn 2 eggs 15ml (1 Tbsp) sunflower oil 15ml (1 Tbsp) sugar 5ml (1 tsp) salt 500ml (2 cups) self-raising flour 250ml (1 cup) Cheddar cheese, grated • Combine the sweetcorn, eggs, oil, sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir in the flour, then pour the mixture into a 21cm silicon ring cake mould. • Microwave for about eight minutes or until a testing skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs. Turn the bread out onto a microwave-safe serving dish. • Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the bread and into the centre. Microwave for about three minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately. • Serving suggestions: use a blowtorch to char the melted cheese, if you like.…

South Africa's 2024/25 winter crop season is under way, and some regions of the Western Cape (the largest province for winter crops) have received excellent rain so far. Some areas of the Western Cape may have received more rain than ideal earlier in the season, leading to fears of possible poor yields, but we are still early in the season and there will be clarity about the yield potential only in the coming months. We pay close attention to the Western Cape regarding the winter crops because of the province's significant contribution to these crops. For example, about 70% of the winter wheat plantings for the 2024/25 season are in the Western Cape. The area planted to barley, canola, and oats is much more prominent in this province, as a…

Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa presented the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment's (GDARDE) annual report for the 2023/24 financial year at the Gauteng Legislature in early September, outlining key achievements and challenges. “This report is crucial for us to demonstrate how our activities have contributed to the key service delivery goals set out in the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 plan,” Ramokgopa said. The past year was marked by several hurdles, including limited availability of agricultural land, adverse weather conditions, and rising costs exacerbated by frequent load-shedding. Additionally, outbreaks of African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease affected livestock and disrupted access to international markets. One of the department's major accomplishments was job creation. Through various programmes, the GDARDE generated 6 244 Expanded Public Works…

A significant drop in the year-on-year (y/y) forecast for white maize has resulted in a notable price disparity between white and yellow maize this season. Traditionally, white maize serves as a staple for human consumption, while yellow maize is primarily used for animal feed. This year, the price of white maize has soared beyond that of yellow maize, driven by a combination of domestic and regional factors, including drought and strong export demand. According to Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA, the price discrepancy is largely due to the limited availability of white maize internationally. “White maize is not a staple in many countries as it is in Africa. While yellow maize can be sourced from various regions worldwide, white maize is much less common, which is why we're…

In early September, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over US$15 million (almost R270 million) in research grants to investigate and mitigate the impact of the ‘forever chemicals’ per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on US farmland and food supplies. The EPA awarded 10 institutions with funding to study how PFAS contaminate crops and livestock, and to develop strategies for reducing PFAS exposure. This announcement comes amid a lawsuit against the EPA from a group of farmers, who allege that the agency has failed to regulate PFAS levels in biosolid fertiliser, a sludge-like by-product of the wastewater-treatment process that was once promoted as a cost-effective method to enhance crop yields. While the extent of PFAS contamination on US agricultural land remains uncertain, the Environmental Working Group, a Washington DCbased activist…

Government has expedited hemp permits for farmers and has issued 1 100 since cannabis was declared an agricultural crop in 2021. However, little attention is being paid to the rest of the value chain, resulting in an abundance of biomass for which there is no market. “Without feasible offtake agreements, farmers are essentially growing grass,” Shaad Vayej, legal cannabis expert and founder of OpenFarms in Cape Town, Western Cape, told Farmer's Weekly. “Government has made the permit application process relatively cheap and easy, which is good news. But there has been little scrutiny in where farmers applying for permits are based. Anything further than 100km from the market is not feasible since transport costs erode profits,” Vayej said. He added that government's strategy has been lopsided to date, with too…

The importance of meat exports was highlighted during a Grain SA panel discussion presented at the Swartland Show, held recently in Moorreesburg in the Western Cape. Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, said that local meat prices, especially for sheep, were under immense pressure, and that exports presented an opportunity for the industry to improve margins and grow production, with positive spin-offs for the economy and job creation. The last ship that went out from South Africa with live animals, around May, brought in over R180 million for the agriculture sector, according to him. In response to a question about animal welfare, Maré admitted that there had been problems in the past, but these had been rectified. The meat industry has established stringent guidelines to improve the…

Over the past few years, there has been more focus on medical cannabis, with many people arguing that it can be used in place of medicinal drugs for some conditions, but then there is always the backlash of controversy and disinformation. With legalisation becoming more prevalent now in different countries, it is necessary to separate fact from fiction. MYTH: CANNABIS IN ITS MEDICAL FORM IS AN EXCUSE TO GET HIGH Yes, the cannabis plant contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which gives the feeling of ‘getting high’, but the plant also contains CBD (cannabidiol), which does not impart ‘high’ effects at all. Most medical cannabis products are developed in favour of cannabidiol. MYTH: MEDICAL CANNABIS IS A CURE-ALL One often hears the notion that cannabis can cure all diseases, including cancer and even…

FAST FACTS For the past three years, Simbra breeder Lianne Herbst has walked away with top honours at the Zimbabwe Herd Book Awards for the most fertile stud in the country. Herbst describes the Simbra as the complete beef cattle breed, performing outstandingly in crossbreeding and highly popular in feedlots. Her LS Simbra stud was developed through the introduction of Simbra bulls to the farm's existing Brahman cow herd. When asked why she prefers Simbra over any other beef cattle breed, Zimbabwean stud owner Lianne Herbst says: “What's not to love about Simbra? For me, they are the complete all-rounder. Simbra do well in our area, they have good fertility, medium frames, are good for crossbreeding, quiet, and ideal for market requirements for feedlots.” Herbst's LJ Simbra stud is known…

It is a well-established fact that phosphorus is vital for plant growth. Now, researchers from Kansas State University in the US, led by associate professor of biology Kathrin Schrick, are shedding light on how plants sense and use phosphorus, which could help us grow crops more efficiently. According to their research published in New Phytologist, Schrick and her team have discovered how a specific protein, which controls gene expression during plant development, interacts with a phosphorus-rich molecule called a phospholipid. This molecule binds to the protein, affecting how genes are either activated or deactivated. Speaking to ScienceDaily, Schrick explained that this process takes place in the plant's outer layer, or epidermis, where the plant senses how much phosphorus is available to it. This then helps the plant adjust its growth…

Dear Prof McCrindle, My local co-op says I can buy vaccines for my dog and cat and inject them myself. What is the best way to do it, and will the kennels accept my pets if the vet doesn't vaccinate them? Kind regards, Pet Owner, Gauteng Dear Pet Owner, Recently, the South African Veterinary Association attempted to classify pet vaccines as a vet-only medication. However, pet vaccines are currently listed as stock remedies under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act (No. 36 of 1947). This means that anyone can purchase them and inject their own animals. However, you would not be allowed to vaccinate anyone else's pets for a fee. There is nothing stopping you if you or a friend wants to inject pets free of charge. The…