Indholdsfortegnelse for 18 October 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

At the time of writing, tensions were quickly escalating in the Middle East. For those who have not been following the news in this regard, here is a quick recap: on 7 October 2023, members of Hamas, which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the US and UK governments, as well as others, but notably not by South Africa, crossed from Gaza into Israel and killed 1 200 Israelis and kidnapped around 200 more. On 8 October, Hezbollah, also labelled a terrorist organisation by the US and UK, fired guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli positions in the occupied Shebaa Farms. According to Hezbollah, this was done in solidarity with the Palestinians, whom they believe are under Israeli occupation (something that Israel, of course, vehemently denies). The Israeli…

A training and skills development project for small-scale livestock farmers recently launched by the University of Pretoria's (UP) Faculty of Veterinary Science is helping farmers, contributing towards food security, economic growth and biosecurity, and putting the implementation of the national Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) into action. The new three-year project, launched in May 2024, provides training to previously disadvantaged small-scale livestock farmers in the communities surrounding mining operations in the Tswaing and JB Marks local municipalities in North West and Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality in Limpopo. The project forms part of the ongoing primary animal health-care training programme, which has been running since 2011. “South Africa has a dual agricultural economy, with an established commercial farming industry and an emerging small-scale farmer sector,” says Dr Rebone Moerane, senior…

The South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (SACOTA) held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 18 September at the Centurion Golf Club in Gauteng. The event brought together representatives from all 31 member companies, government officials, and key industry leaders to address growing concerns over the sharp rise in maize and soya bean prices, following the drought that impacted last season's harvest. SACOTA members, who handle approximately 85% of the country's commercial grain and oilseed trade, are facing increased pressure as local maize and soya bean prices surged by 20% between January and May 2024. This price hike occurred despite a stronger rand and lower international grain prices, creating widespread concern among farmers and consumers alike. With South Africa's grain markets still reeling from the drought, further price spikes…

Despite the fact that South Africa is an agricultural powerhouse, over 20% of its population is food insecure, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). With World Food Day commemorated on 16 October, agricultural organisations are turning their attention to policies that hinder food security. The theme for this year's Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations World Food Day is ‘Right to foods for a better life and a better future'. The theme underscores the importance of nutrient-dense, available, fresh and affordable food. Results from Stats SA's General Household Survey from 2021 show that 15% and 6% of South Africans have inadequate and severely inadequate access to food, respectively. Noting the impact of policies on food production, Potatoes SA CEO Willie Jacobs demonstrated the effect of poor policies…

The tsetse fly (Glossina spp.), a known carrier of African animal trypanosomiasis (also known as nagana or sleeping sickness) is once again threatening livestock in the north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. This disease, which has devastating effects on cattle health and productivity, is raising concerns among farmers and experts. As this region forms the southernmost boundary of Africa's tsetse fly belt, addressing this issue has become a critical priority for researchers. According to microbiology professor Abdalla Latif from the University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Life Sciences, the tsetse fly belt in South Africa is largely confined to the northeastern part of KwaZulu-Natal. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Latif said that while African animal trypanosomiasis mainly affected domestic cattle, it could also infect wild animals. “The anaemia caused by trypanosomiasis reduces cattle productivity,…

The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) recently reported a trade deficit of R3,6 billion in August 2024, increasing from R2,1 billion in July 2024 but tapering compared to the R4,9 billion deficit recorded in August 2023. (The Namibian dollar-South African rand exchange rate is 1:1.) This data comes from the Namibia International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin, released in September 2024. NSA Statistician-General and CEO Alex Shimuafeni said Namibia's trade composition by partner showed that South Africa was the country's largest market for exports and imports. According to the Windhoek Observer, the NSA introduced a section in the report that tracks trade on food items (excluding live animals) and beverages. For the month under review, Namibia was a net exporter of food items, with a trade surplus of R223 million. The export…

The injecting of livestock with vaccines, antibiotics, and vitamin and mineral supplements is a crucial aspect of livestock farming. Ensuring animal health and well-being is a key component of maintaining functionality and profitability. It is vital that when you use an injectable product, you very carefully read the manufacturer's instructions and stick to the method of injecting and recommended quantity. The quantity required almost always works according to animal weight, but age and pregnancy status of animals are also important considerations, so these issues need to be kept in mind. If repeat medicinal treatments are advised, you should do so, because certain organisms and parasites have complex life cycles or modes of infecting livestock and can become a growing problem if not effectively addressed. THE THREE MAIN WAYS TO INJECT…

A new type of ‘smart soil' could revolutionise crop irrigation by enabling plants to self-capture water from their environment, a crucial innovation as drought and extreme temperatures threaten farms across the US and other parts of the world. Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin (UT Austin), US, recently announced the development of a new hydrogel material that when added to soil could lead to the growth of larger, healthier plants all while using less water and fertiliser. Speaking to news agency Agriculture Dive, lead researcher Jungjoon Park explained that this hydrogel, made from a specific polymer, allows plants to “harvest moisture” in a sense. When combined with soil, it helps plants retain water and stay hydrated, even in harsh conditions. It acts like a reservoir, absorbing moisture at…

ARCHIVE The importance of efficient management and proper recordkeeping in pig production can never be stressed enough. GJ van Aardt and his wife breed 3 000 pigs per annum on their farm Sonneblom in the Aliwal North district. He says: “Without efficient management, a farmer always runs the risk of disease outbreaks, which could spread through a herd of pigs at a disastrous rate. At the same time, the inefficient farmer runs the risk of losing many young piglets. “Record-keeping could save heavy losses that otherwise often goes unnoticed in a big herd. Adequate records, combined with good management, also means a continuous improvement in the breeding stock, as well as in the quality and the weight-for-age of the pigs being marketed.” As an illustration of the losses that could…

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently launched a new blush pear variety called Roselyn. Taaibos Human, a retired pear breeder at the ARC, discovered the spontaneous mutation in a Rosemarie orchard in Grabouw around 2009, after which he, in collaboration with Culdevco, proved that the mutation was new, distinct, uniform and stable. The mutation was evaluated over four seasons since 2019, before they were convinced it qualified for plant breeder's rights, which were finally approved in April this year. “Our initial challenge was to confirm that Roselyn was unique, as the variety is like Rosemarie in almost every way except that it has more blush. The similarities provide an advantage by weeding out many of the growing pains associated with new varieties, such as the way the trees should be…

The decline in fuel prices this year has been a welcome relief for summer crop producers. While grain fields for the 2024/25 production season were prepared at slightly higher fuel costs, producers are expected to benefit significantly from the lower prices seen in September. According to statistics released by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the wholesale inland price for 0,05% diesel went down from R22,15/ℓ in May 2024 to R20,96/ℓ in June 2024. The wholesale inland price for 0,005% diesel declined from R22,24/ℓ to R21,15/ℓ over the same period. The downward trend continued and in September 2024 the wholesale inland price for 0,05% diesel stood at R19,59/ℓ compared to R20,38/ℓ the previous month. The wholesale inland price for 0,005% diesel went down from R20,74/ℓ in August 2024 to…

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is taking a major leap forward in the green economy through its innovative hemp research programme. Spearheaded by Godfrey Ndamane, project manager at UJ's Centre for Ecological Intelligence, and Davison Chikazunga, programme coordinator for the university's Cannabis and Hemp Research Programme, this initiative aims to unlock the vast industrial potential of hemp across various sectors. “Hemp is more than just a crop; it's a solution,” Ndamane told Farmer's Weekly. The research is designed to bridge the gap between the enormous potential of hemp and the South African market, which offers few of these products. “The main goal for this programme is to unlock the industrial value of hemp because, despite having 60 000 products, [South Africa has] almost zero products on the shelf,” said Chikazunga.…

Israeli startup DairyX has made a critical leap forward in creating cow-free casein, a key component in dairy products, which it says will lead to tastier, more authentic cheese and yoghurt alternatives. Casein micelles provide dairy products with their familiar smooth and creamy texture. While many manufacturers of dairyfree products use additives and emulsifiers to replicate this texture, these often compromise the product's ‘clean label' appeal. DairyX's precision fermentation technology employs yeast to produce casein proteins, specifically designed to mimic the properties of traditional dairy casein. “Not all caseins produced using precision fermentation are alike,” says Maya BarZeev, DairyX's head of product development. “We trained yeast to produce the next generation of casein.” This innovation could eliminate the need to use additives in plant-based dairy products and make them more…

Ways to engage communities, workers, and citizens to actively participate in energy decision-making and related transformation processes came under the spotlight during a panel discussion at Windaba Connect, the precursor to Windaba 2024, held at the beginning of this month. According to Lindiwe Johnson, project manager at the Presidential Climate Commission, democratic approaches empower people to participate in decision-making that affects them, and adds transparency regarding how much money is allocated to what and the reasons why decisions are made. It also promotes community buy-in and motivates communities to take ownership of projects. Caroleen Naidoo, chief planning engineer at Eskom's National Transmission Company South Africa, said that having an experienced, flexible, multidisciplinary team helped to navigate differences in different locations: “A copy-and-paste approach will not work because of differences between…

The Swartland Show held in Moorreesburg in September featured over 300 cattle, making it the biggest beef cattle exhibition in the Western Cape. The interbreed championship was a major attraction, with several breeds, including SA Angus Black and Red, SA Simmentalers, SA Santa Gertrudis, SA Charolais and SA Afrikaner, competing in this prestigious event. Some of the top achievers in this championship are shown here. – Glenneis Kriel…

Pursuing a career in agriculture does not necessarily involve the physical act of farming. There are numerous careers in the sector. Many of the qualifications required for these careers can apply to primary and secondary agriculture, as well as food processing and even retail. UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS) Established: 1904. Campuses: Bloemfontein Campus, QwaQwa Campus and South Campus (Bloemfontein). DEPARTMENT OF SOIL, CROP AND CLIMATE SCIENCES In this department, prospective students can study either soil, crop or climate sciences. With regards to soil science, soil is studied as a natural resource. Information is provided on the origin, classification, geographical distribution and utilisation of soil; the promotion of sustainable production of plants to supply in the food and fibre requirements; and measures to combat deterioration of the environment to…

South Africa's agriculture sector is currently in what some would consider a relatively quiet period before we start the busy period again in a few weeks. Farmers will soon be tilling the land for summer crops from mid-October. Towards the end of November, the table grape industry will also start with its harvesting period, and there will be more activities from that period onwards. The winter crop is the main crop currently in season, with farmers starting the season in May. Indications are that the winter crop is in reasonably good condition in some regions of South Africa, although the start of the season was challenging. On September 26, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) lifted the country's 2024/25 winter crop by 2% from August to 2,72 million tons. This placed…

SouthAfrica is set to conduct field trials of genetically modified (GM) wheat, which is purported to be drought tolerant, during 2025 and 2026. According to a report by Africa Science News, these trials will take place at three locations in the Western Cape – near Moorreesburg, Protem and Swellendam – and one in the Northern Cape near Hopetown. This development follows an application by Trigall Genetics in August 2024, marking a significant step in the country's agricultural advancements. The application for field trials followed the approval by South Africa's biosafety authorities, the executive council under the GMO Act, for the importation of GM wheat in August 2022. Approval was granted for wheat from Argentina to be used for food, feed and industrial processing (commodity approval), despite the absence of comprehensive…

Good news for South Africa's canola producers is that the majority of seed suppliers in the country have started trials and propagation research to produce canola seed locally. The objective is to lessen the country's dependence on seed imported from Australia. Currently, only conventional canola is officially permitted for local planting. This was according to Corné Louw, head of applied economics and member services at Grain SA. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, he said the local canola industry faced the risk of cross-contamination between Australian conventional seed and genetically modified (GM) seed, as both were produced in Australia. He added that domestically produced seed would serve as a crucial buffer, helping to mitigate potential shortages. “Local producers are also exposed to a very tight timeline, waiting for the Australian seed to…

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) is actively advancing agricultural training and capacitybuilding initiatives throughout the province. DRDAR MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe said revitalising agricultural training institutes would help drive human capacity development. The initiative is aimed at benefitting not only farmers but also unemployed youth and agricultural graduates by equipping them with the essential skills needed to thrive in the sector. “We are investing in the people of the province through farmer training and incubation programmes,” she said. One of the key institutions in the endeavour is the Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute (FCAFTI) in Middeldrift, which, in collaboration with the DRDAR, has trained 152 unemployed agricultural graduates in training facilitation skills. “This will enable graduates to benefit from the government's investment of…

MOLDOVA Moldovan agriculture is facing significant challenges, with the area allocated to vegetable cultivation shrinking from over 10 000ha in 2004 to just 4 000ha in 2023. While local varieties once accounted for 80% of planted crops, many producers have switched to higher-yield varieties often unsuited to the Eastern European country's climate. According to a report by TVN, without effective irrigation – only 24 of the country's 88 systems are operational – further agricultural development will be impaired. UNITED KINGDOM English company Garford Farm Machinery unveiled its new multimodal vision guidance system, known as Robocrop AI InRow, at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London, held from 30 September to 1 October. The system offers improved flexibility and resilience to varying light conditions and weed pressure. Using AI, it integrates…

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) recently released a guidance memo in which it called on the red meat industry to put more emphasis on environmentally sustainable production and social justice in its growth strategy. The memo, titled ‘The Beef with Climate Change: Growth, Equity, and a Just Transition in the Beef Sector in South Africa', specifically refers to the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030, aimed at raising exports from 5% to ‘at least' 24% of production, with overall output growth of 35%. Dr Andrew Bennie, senior researcher in climate policy and food systems at the IEJ and co-author of the memo, said the export-led expansion is expected to involve the increased commercialisation of black smallholder farmers who, according to the Department of Agriculture, represented about 240 000 farmers and…

An elderly woman of 80 was killed in the veld fires that destroyed about 50 000ha in the Memel and Vrede districts of the Free State in the last week of September. Marina le Roux succumbed to the flames in her home on a farm in Memel. Her husband, Koen, was injured by the fire that destroyed their home. On Thursday, 26 September, strong winds resulted in at least four runaway veld fires that destroyed thousands of hectares of grazing and crops. The areas worst affected included the Memel, Verkykerskop and Vrede regions. Hundreds of livestock were annihilated by the flames. The Memel district was particularly hard hit. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Martinus Willemse, chairperson of the Memel Farmers' Association, said that grazing on a number of farms was totally…

It took Homo sapiens between 2 000 and 3 000 years to realise that there were easier ways of feeding themselves and their families than hunting other animals and gathering seeds and roots. The earliest signs of agriculture emerged some 10 000 years ago, and there is evidence of the first crude farming tools and technology, like wooden ploughs and basin irrigation, in use around 4 000 years ago. It took a further 3 500 years for bronze to start replacing stone. Innovation and technology moved slowly in those days! It was only in the 15th and 16th centuries AD that the thinking of people like Galileo, Isaac Newton and Johannes Kepler began to lay the foundations for modern science and technology. This was the start of the Scientific Revolution,…

Over the past few years the food market has seen an explosion of innovation from companies capitalising on bigger shifts towards veganism. But in their quest to mimic meat, ingredient lists grew longer, negating some of the biggest reasons for a move away from meat. “Plant-based foods made a lot of headway during the COVID-19 pandemic as people shifted towards healthier lifestyles. But what we saw was food that contained endless lists of unnatural chemicals and additives to make them taste like meat,” says Juval Kürzi, founder of Wild Foods in Switzerland. This graphic designer – a vegan since childhood – spent much of lockdown experimenting with vegetables in his kitchen, employing methods like smoking and drying to achieve meat-like flavours in vegetables. “The first time I smoked carrots it…

FOCUS ON ANIMAL HEALTH & NUTRITION Originally, livestock veterinarians treated sick livestock. In the 1970s, however, this changed to disease prevention and improving profitability through early diagnosis. The best disease prevention strategy is to develop a system for dipping, deworming and vaccinating cattle specifically aligned to your farming system. DIPPING Dipping is the main method used for controlling external parasites in cattle. The word was derived in the early 20th century when ‘dipping' meant chasing the herd through a crush-pen so each animal, in turn, plunged into a deep pit filled with water containing a tick-killing chemical (later called an acaricide). It remained on the skin and controlled ticks and biting flies for a specified time after dipping. These were called ‘dips', even when administered topically or, in the case…

The Age of Decay: How Aging and Shrinking Populations Could Usher in the Decline of Civilization by Shamil Ismail (Quickfox, R360) An American once wrote a book called The Vanishing Irish, where he predicted the demise of the Irish people. He was wrong. Ismail's tome may very well be a different kettle of fish. Given its subject and statistical basis, it is surprisingly easy to read, indeed compelling in parts. It is less a one-stop disaster that is predicted but rather a confluence of apparently disjointed factors (birthrate, migration, artificial intelligence, the tax-base), that are directing humankind along a dangerous pathway. The author is an investment analyst, and if it is charts and tables you like, you'll love this book. Did you know South Africa's fertility rate in 1960 was 6,2…

Dear Prof McCrindle, We live in the bushveld and our goats are very lame. They have ticks: some are small with black backs and black legs, while others are bigger and round with many colours on their backs. The ticks bite around the hooves of our goats. The skin under the hooves is very swollen. Could the symptoms be caused be the ticks? We tried spraying with dip, but it does not seem to help. Kind regards, Oscar Dear Oscar, The answer to your question is yes, tick bites can cause goats to become severely lame. It is possible that the ticks you are describing are of the species Amblyomma. However, it's a very good idea to remove a few ticks and take them to your local state veterinarian or…