Indholdsfortegnelse for 29 November 2024 i Farmer's Weekly

Recently I met with Simeon Hurwitz of Hurwitz Farming in Mpumalanga (see story from page 34). Hurwitz Farming has been in the agricultural news lately because their bull Cyclone was sold for a record-breaking R8 million at the Hurwitz Farming Annual Production Auction in August. This was followed by the sale of the in-calf cow Jasmine and her bull calf Jozini for R2,5 million, another record-breaking price. These are two exceptional achievements, considering the unpopularity of the Boran breed only a few years ago. What struck me about Simeon (and by extension his brother Jarren), is the confidence they had in themselves to back the Boran, despite everybody in the industry telling them that they were going to bankrupt themselves. Their achievements are even more impressive considering that neither Simeon…

In October, Winterberg Agricultural High School in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, presented a Farmer's Weekly medal to one of its Grade 12 learners, Alakhe Ndyebi, who is studying seven subjects this year, including agricultural management practices and agricultural technology. In a letter to Farmer's Weekly, Ndyebi spoke about his passion for agriculture. My name is Alakhe Ndyebi and I am 18 years old. I am from a small town called Adelaide in the Eastern Cape and currently attend Winterberg Agricultural High School. My interests are varied and I am always eager to explore new ideas and opportunities. One of my biggest passions is understanding the world of agriculture and how everything works around it. My interest in agriculture began when we started raising goats and chickens at home, and it…

Omnia has delivered strong financial results for the six months ending 30 September 2024, on the back of robust growth of the mining segment and strong agriculture volumes in South Africa. According to the company’s unaudited financial results, revenue increased by 5% to R10,9 billion; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation by 14% to R1,103 billion; and operating profit by 17% to R802 million compared with the same period in 2023. Operating margins increased by 12%, from 6,5 percentage points to 7,3 percentage points; headline earnings per share by 2% to 288 cents; and earnings per share by 2% to 289 cents. Revenue for the agriculture segment was down by 4% at R5,1 billion, because lower selling prices offset higher volumes, but operating profit increased by 27% to R422…

South Africa and Chile have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening co-operation in fisheries and aquaculture. This partnership aims to improve sustainable practices, knowledge sharing, and technological advancements in both countries’ aquaculture sectors. The agreement builds on dialogues that have been held since the 2016 Joint Trade and Investment Commission, reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to expanding its aquaculture industry through global partnerships. Narend Singh, deputy minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Enviroment, said through this strategic partnership, South Africa and Chile aimed to create new opportunities for development and innovation in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, ensuring that marine resources are managed responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of both countries. The MoU outlines various collaborative goals, including fisheries and aquaculture research, technology exchange,…

Capespan and Namibia Grape Company (NGC) recently renewed their partnership, which has already spanned almost two decades, through to 2045. Charl du Bois, managing director of Capespan, told Farmer's Weekly that the renewal of the partnership was to the benefit of Capespan, Namibia, and South African producers, as South Africa and Namibia were complementary production regions and not competitors. He explained that Namibia’s Aussenkehr region produced table grapes one to two weeks earlier than Limpopo or the lower Orange River region, and significantly earlier than the Olifants, Berg and Hex River production regions in South Africa. Due to climatic conditions, Namibia also produced very high-quality grapes. For this reason, many South African retailers switched from importing table grapes from Spain to Namibia, and then listed South African product when these…

At the time of writing, Radio France Internationale reported that French farmers were planning to launch a new round of countrywide protests in late November over concerns about an imminent trade agreement between the EU and countries in South America. The announcement came less than a year after unprecedented farmer protests shook the nation. In a radio announcement, Arnaud Rousseau, the president of agricultural union Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles, said that unlike the earlier protests, this new mobilisation would not block motorways and “annoy the French”. Under the proposed deal with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, which have been in talks for more than a decade, tariffs would be removed and the EU would allow annual imports of as much as 10 000t of South American beef into…

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) is empowering young agricultural graduates to establish their own agribusinesses through a graduate placement programme. In partnership with Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the DRDAR launched a specialised business management and entrepreneurial development course in April 2023, aimed at equipping 11 agricultural graduates with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the sector. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Mthozami Goqwana, acting deputy director genera of the DRDAR, said the department was committed to nurturing a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. “Our aim is to encourage and produce a new crop of farmers involved in the entire agriculture value chain, as there are many fields in this sector beyond primary production. Agricultural graduates shouldn’t be job seekers; they should be creating…

The good rain that fell over the western parts of South Africa’s summer grain production region so far this month meant producers had started planting a variety of grains, maize in particular. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Corné Louw, head of applied economics and member services at Grain SA, said as much as 94mm of rain had been reported in the Free State and North West from 8 November 2024 onwards. “Ninety percent of the maize in the western region, namely the central and western Free State and North West, is produced under dryland conditions. “The rain is indeed welcome, as the optimal grain planting window in the west stretches from 15 November to 15 December. It fell exactly on time,” Louw added. He pointed out that planting later in January…

At the end of October, we saw notable price fluctuations across South Africa’s fresh produce market, with cabbage, carrot, onion, potato, and tomato prices mainly reflecting shifts in supply volumes and weather conditions. Increased supplies led to price declines for most commodities, although annual trends showed mixed trends. The heatwave in Limpopo and the temporary closure of the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique are expected to impact vegetable volumes and quality, influencing market expectations into November. CABBAGES Average month-on-month (m/m) cabbage prices for the end of October fell by 16,3% (see Graph 1), driven by a 42,1% increase in market supply volumes. Prices declined from R3 151/t at the end of September to R2 638/t at the end of October, as volumes rose from 2 058t to…

What is South Africa’s current wind energy capacity? The number of operational wind farms in South Africa has grown to 34 since the introduction of utility-scale wind technology to the country’s renewable energy mix in 2014. We have 3,4GW of wind energy currently installed, equating to about 6% of the energy mix. Wind energy generates approximately 46 480GWh per annum and powers over 3,6 million households. By how much is South Africa’s wind energy capacity expected to increase by 2030? The 2024 South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey revealed a potential for 53GW of projects at all stages of development, and 33GW of projects that could be implemented over the next three to five years. There are 1,3GW of wind energy projects in construction across the Renewable Energy Independent Procurement…

Remembering Tigers by Wildlife Photographers United (Wildlife Photographers United, R1 050) Whether you want to reward yourself for getting through this year or are looking for a striking gift, this coffee-table book will stop you in your tracks. A substantial 29×31cm, it’s filled with breathtaking tiger portraits, beautifully reproduced, from internationally renowned photographers, including South Africa’s Daryl and Sharna Balfour and Greg du Toit, as well as Kenya’s Jonathan and Angela Scott. The global tiger population is now estimated at only about 5 500. The book concentrates mostly on the Bengal tiger because the four subspecies are all highly endangered. Margot Raggett’s introduction emphasises there are more tigers in captivity in the US than left in the wild. Several mesmerising photographs were taken using remote sensors - ‘tiger selfies’. An important…

Dear Prof McCrindle, Is running a cattle feedlot more financially worthwhile than running cattle on the veld in the Eastern Cape? Kind regards, Cattle Farmer Dear Cattle Farmer, A recent publication was very negative about the success of feedlots in the Eastern Cape, each with 2 000 cattle, citing a lack of water and the disposal of manure and waste as two major problems. The other difficulty this research highlighted was that farmers in that area were unable to get credit to finance feedlots. The major advantage of feedlots is that they apparently have a positive influence on climate change. Reading through the aforementioned publication, I contrasted it with my experiences with small-scale farmers and cattle feedlots. If you farm feedlot cattle, the very first consideration is that you need…

The fifth mohair sale of the winter season saw 112 698kg on offer, of which 84% were sold. The offering consisted of good-quality mohair of which 79% was Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)-certified, according to Mohair SA. While the rand traded slightly stronger against the US dollar compared with the previous sale, the market followed the same trend as the previous sale. The market indicator closed slightly higher at R340,02/kg, which was 2% up in dollar terms. Compared with the previous sale, prices were as follows: kid mohair up 1%; young goat mohair down 1%; and fine and strong adult mohair up 1%. Major buyers were Samil, who bought 45,4% of the offering sold; Stucken (43%); and Mosenthals (4,4%). The House of Fibre sold 62% of the clip, while OVK sold…

The 11th wool sale of the wool season saw 8 834 bales on offer, after 776 bales were withdrawn prior to the sale, according to Cape Wools SA. Just under half of the Merino wools on offer were Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)-certified, with long-length and fine-micron wools comprising slightly over 60% of the total offering. The market delivered stable results, with some support from the weaker rand against the US dollar on the second day of the sale. There was good participation from the buying houses, resulting in a good overall sales clearance of 96,8%. The all-Merino indicator showed a marginal increase of 0,1% to close at R159,68/kg, with the certified indicator also increasing by 0,1% to close at R162,01/kg. A highest price of R346,57/kg (clean) was paid for a…

ARCHIVE Give calves dry feed from two to three weeks. Milk alone isn’t enough, said this dairyman. Poorly raised calves can go a long way to putting a dairyman out of business, because only strong, healthy calves make high-producing milkers, says Henry Vincent, a Jersey breeder in the Hazyview district of the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld [now Mpumalanga]. He says a calf is born with very small reserves of all the necessary nutritive substances except iron, and it has almost no resistance to diseases or other harmful conditions. From the start, the calf is completely dependent on its mother’s milk, not only for its immediate requirements but also for the rapid building up of reserves against any deficiencies that may arise. The earliest age at which calves are able to digest…

In a recent statement, CropLife South Africa (CropLife SA) said that it and its member companies were shocked by recent media reports of young people being poisoned, and even losing their lives, following the consumption of foodstuffs that appeared to have been contaminated by illegal pesticides. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said 23 children had died, with 441 cases of food contamination at spaza shops reported since January. He told The Citizen the cases were caused by the severe food safety crisis that had mainly affected children between six and 10 years old who consumed snacks from spaza shops near schools. “Seven postmortem results out of the 19 deaths tested positive for organophosphate,” Lesufi said during a media briefing on 10 November 2024. Johannesburg recorded the highest number of deaths, followed…

Around half of South Africa’s avocado orchards aren’t yet in full production, signalling significant growth in volumes in coming years. Farmers have however slowed down their orchard expansion and tree replacement, which could halt growth further down the line. “Few farmers are taking a growth approach,” said Tracy Davids, executive director at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy. Speaking at the Subtrop Marketing Symposium held in early November in White River, Mpumalanga, Davids noted that while demand for avocados remained firm, price increases were in line with inflation, leading to very small actual price increases for farmers. “Margins are shrinking, leading to a decrease in income back on farm,” she added. While avocados have traditionally benefitted from higher prices in export markets, Davids said that this crop had not…

The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) recently appointed Alwyn Dippenaar as its new chairperson. Dippenaar, who is from the Orange River region, has served on SATI’s board since 2014, more recently as vice-chairperson, and takes over the role of chairperson from Anton Viljoen Jr, who is stepping down from the position after four years. In a press release, SATI said Dippenaar brought “extensive experience and practical knowledge” to the table grape industry, which he would use to guide its strategic direction across all portfolios, including research, market access, and market development. Michael Vorster from the Hex River Valley was elected vice-chairperson, while Reynecke Viljoen, also from the Hex River Valley, will join the board of re-elected directors, including Brett Gosling of the northern provinces, Morné Paxton of the Olifants…

KAZAKHSTAN The Astana Times has reported that Kazakhstan is boosting agricultural exports while ensuring domestic supply, with increased financing for the agro-industrial sector and reforms to the subsidy system. The country has recorded increases in the export of grains like barley and maize, especially to new markets like Iran, Uzbekistan and Europe. Overall, maize exports have risen 150% to 117 000t this year, while barley exports have grown by 69% to reach 710 000t. GERMANY With the help of various investors, Munich-based agricultural voltaics company feld.energy has raised €1,7 million (about R327 million) in early-stage funding aimed at helping to expand renewable energy solutions for farmers, enabling them to generate electricity alongside food production. Founded in 2022, feld. energy allows farmers to earn up to €4 000 (R77 000) per…

We have all worked with ‘good’ managers - men and women who took their jobs seriously, made few mistakes, and were a pleasure to work with. However, very few of us will have had the good fortune of working alongside truly great managers. Managers for whom we would have attempted to move heaven and earth if they had asked; managers with the magic touch of building and motivating great teams, whom we respected, admired and even loved. If I look back on my own working life, I can think of only one person worthy of this accolade. The fact is that the world is awash with good managers, but the truly great are a rare breed. If you have been lucky enough to come across one of them in your…

South Africa doesn’t have an ideal climate for growing cherries. Herein lies a considerable challenge for those taking on this notoriously finicky crop. But the rewards are worth it for those who succeed, providing a lucrative export market. For ZZ2, growing cherries in Lanseria, Gauteng, provides an even greater benefit - they are one of only a handful of cherry growers in the global market for four weeks of the year. “This is a massive advantage,” says Piet van Zyl, general production manager at ZZ2. “As our cherries enter the market, the Canadian supply has dried up. The next region to enter the market is the Western Cape, followed by Chile in South America, but only six weeks after the last of the Canadian crop.” Identifying such a niche microclimate…

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) launched Phase 1 of a new traceability platform on 1 November, an initiative set to boost transparency, efficiency, and market access across South Africa’s red meat industry. Designed to strengthen every stage of the supply chain from farm to retail, the platform is aimed at addressing disease management, combatting stock theft, and expanding trade potential. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, RMIS chief operations officer Dr Phillip Oosthuizen said Phase 1, showcased recently to key industry stakeholders, focused on the identification and numbering of production units across the red meat value chain, including communal land, farms, auction houses, feedlots, and abattoirs. “The success of traceability will depend on an efficient, transparent, and trustworthy platform, a phased implementation approach, and the collaboration of each participant in the value…

Fresh produce marketers need to keep up with changing trends in consumer behaviour to make the best of marketing budgets. Speaking at the Subtrop Marketing Symposium, held in White River, Mpumalanga, Glynnis Branthwaite, founder of Protactic Strategic Communications, said marketers needed to be flexible. “Facts, the situation, and channels change quickly. If you aren’t watching what worked yesterday, today and tomorrow, you risk losing out on market share.” She used avocados as an example, which, prior to 2021, about 88% of consumers said they would not purchase online. This year, some 86% said they would. “Avocados are in the top 10 of most purchased items on some supermarket apps.” Branthwaite pointed to research by market research platform Kantar, which showed there was a disparity between what marketers and consumers deemed…

Winemag recently announced the Top 10 wines in their first Prescient Old Vine Report at the Old Vine Experience hosted in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. To qualify, the wines had to be made from Certified Heritage Vineyards, which are at least 35 years old. Christian Eedes, editor of Winemag.co.za, said that the quality of the wine was exceptional, leading to tight competition between the brands. Of the 58 entries received from 47 producers, 44 received a rating of 90 points or more out of 100. The highest mark achieved was 95 out of 100. “These high scores might be unprecedented, but this was definitely the strongest category showing of the year,” he said. All the wines that made it to the Top 10 were white, with Chenin Blanc taking eight of…

The 2024 South African sugar cane harvest is expected to be 10% lower than average, largely as a result of unusually dry conditions in most production areas in KwaZulu-Natal. This was according to a statement released by the South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers). South Africa’s cane growers usually produce an average of 18 million tons of sugar cane per season. This season, however, a yield of less than 17 million tons is expected. While areas like the North Coast, South Coast and the Midlands were the hardest hit, the drier-than-usual conditions affected most growers across KwaZulu-Natal. Despite growers in Mpumalanga also experiencing lower-than-average rainfall, farmers supplemented with irrigation. The reduction in load-shedding, allowing for uninterrupted and consistent irrigation, somewhat offset the poor 2024 growing conditions for Mpumalanga farmers.…

In its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q3 2024, released in early November, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has revealed that there were significant improvements in employment figures in South Africa in the third quarter (Q3) of the year, despite lingering drought conditions affecting the country’s agricultural performance. In the report, Stats SA Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said there was a 294 000 increase in the number of employed individuals across all sectors in Q3 2024, bringing the national employment figure to 16,9 million, while the number of unemployed people decreased by 373 000 to eight million. The report also showed that agriculture sector employment grew by 39 000 jobs from Q2 to Q3, helping drive an overall employment increase within the sector. Reflecting on the data, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist…

Cannabis tourism is taking the travel industry by storm. With cannabis legalised for recreational or medicinal use in several countries and regions, an entire niche market has developed to cater to enthusiasts, curious newcomers, and those simply interested in unique travel experiences. Cannabis tourism encompasses everything from guided tours of local dispensaries and farms to experiences that showcase cannabis as a culinary ingredient. And just like wine and craft beer tourism, it combines education, adventure, and relaxation in some of the world’s most scenic locations. CANADA IS LEADING THE WAY In 2018, Canada’s cannabis tourism had a massive boost when it became the first Group of Seven country to legalise the use and production of recreational cannabis. There is little doubt that Canada leads in cannabis tourism judging by how…

Rice is an essential component of global food security. But climate change is threatening production, with over 15 million hectares of rice fields across 24 countries already experiencing the consequences of falling temperatures. Now, scientists have discovered that a gene called COLD6 helps rice plants tolerate cold weather, a finding that could lead to the development of rice cultivars that are more resilient to cold. In their research, published in October in the journal Molecular Cell, the scientists say that when COLD6 interacts with another protein, OSM1, it triggers a defence response to low temperatures. When the temperature drops, OSM1 attaches to COLD6, which helps the rice plant produce a chemical signal that boosts its tolerance to the cold. The study also revealed that different versions or alleles of the…