Indholdsfortegnelse for 17 January 2025 i Farmer's Weekly

As modern living becomes increasingly fast-paced, many estate communities are seeking ways to combine luxury with sustainability. One key trend is the inclusion of community vegetable gardens, a concept that aims to create a healthier, eco-friendly lifestyle while building stronger social bonds. Balwin Properties has instituted this practice across its estates. It is demonstrated particularly well in its KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) developments, Ballito Hills and Izinga Eco-Estate, where it is reshaping the idea of community by integrating wellness, sustainability and greener living. Kyle Gallagher, general manager for KZN at Balwin Properties, notes that the introduction of community gardens offers residents numerous advantages, starting with easy access to fresh organic produce. “With growing concerns about pesticides and the environmental impact of mass farming, these gardens allow residents to know exactly where their…

‘My wish for 2025 is that local decisionmakers will take cognisance of the fact that […] maize producers contributed significantly to stability in Southern Africa’ – Chris Schoonwinkel, a maize producer from Wesselsbron in the Free State, on the role of South African maize producers when it comes to food security in the region (p16). ‘Premiumisation is where we see the opportunity for [local] wine producers’ – Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa, on the favourable conditions expected for the wine grape industry in 2025 (p21). ‘The weather kept yields low, but if it weren’t for that, prices would have plunged based on the increase in planted hectares’ – Monique Vlok, a potato farmer in the Sandveld region of the Western Cape, on the weather conditions in 2024…

The barley imported by South Africa in the 2023/24 season mainly came from Australia, with small amounts coming from France. Malting barley comprised the biggest part of the imported barley, and together with the increase in the total available stock, the industry also saw an increase in the total use. The end stock for 2023/24 was set at 169 000t, much lower than the 10-year average of 213 000t, according to Heleen Viljoen, economist at Grain SA. According to Manfred Venter, agronomy manager at South Africa Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), South African Breweries (SAB) set an ambitious target for 2024 to procure 375 000t of malting barley from South African farmers. However, he said the season presented significant challenges that made achieving this goal difficult. “Current projections estimate that SAB…

China’s appetite for pecan and macadamia nuts will continue to polarise the respective industries in South Africa in 2025 as concerns are raised about over-reliance on this market. While the World Macadamia Organisation (WMO) advised that no more than 33% of a country’s crop should be sent to China, figures from the Perishable Products Export Control Board show that for macadamias and pecans, more than 50% and close to 90% respectively of the domestic crop is sent to China. Jillian Laing, WMO’s CEO, said China’s limited scope for price increases became evident as 2024 progressed and global macadamia prices started increasing off historic lows the previous year. “As the higher prices trickled down to consumers, demand was negatively impacted.” ‘IN 2024, PECAN PRICES WERE 5% TO 10% LOWER THAN THE…

In a road test several years ago, we stated that the diesel-powered Mahindra XUV300 (in flagship, W8 guise) was a revelation for the Indian automaker’s South African arm, thanks to its punchy powertrain and generous amount of standard equipment. We did, however, have a few reservations about the XUV300, the most notable being the omission of an automatic transmission. Indeed, the local XUV300 models, whether employing the firm's 1,2ℓ three-cylinder turbo-petrol or 'torquey' (300Nm) 1,5ℓ, four-cylinder turbo-diesel, were only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. Although this unit was commendably slick in its workings, as we noted in the road test, a self-shifter was sorely needed, especially considering our market’s everincreasing inclination towards vehicles – including budget-oriented offerings equipped with automatic transmissions. This was arguably the most significant influence on…

ACROSS 1. Of chicks, breaking out of their shells (8) 5. Perplexed (8) 9. Of the countryside (5) 10. Nutritive cereal substance obtained from the pith of the similarly named palm (4) 11. Reluctant (6) 12. One of a breed of black-andwhite dairy cattle originating in the Netherlands (8) 14. Breed of bantam chicken with laced plumage, developed in England around the start of the 19th century (8) 17. Old American breed of chicken introduced by English settlers, also known as Pilgrim Fowl (9) 19. Male stingless honeybee that mates with the queen (5) 21. Landing stage (5) 22. Bloodlessness (7) 23. Currency of Saudi Arabia (5) 25. Fainter or less impressive (5) 27. Method of farming that maximises yield, also called industrial agriculture (9) 29. A living animal or…

When Gerhardt and Ria Breytenbach moved to Modimolle, Limpopo, in 1998 to establish a law firm, they never guessed that one day they would be running a guest farm instead. Their motivation for buying the property on which they now run RusteVinde Gasteplaas kicked in when one of their children got involved in horse riding and they needed a suitable place to stable their horses. The couple purchased the 18ha property, a 15-minute drive from Modimolle, in January 2020 and moved in during May that year. Their initial plan for the property, which was originally used as a wedding venue, was not to use it as a venue but rather as a family home. They also renamed it RusteVinde. However, overflow guests from a nearby wedding place already had reservations…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. One Energy is a renewable energy franchise network based in Benoni, Gauteng. Email gogreen@oneenergy.co.za, phone 011 918 9891, or visit oneenergy.co.za. Solar power has emerged as the top choice for homeowners looking to reduce their grid electricity costs in the face of massive multiyear tariff hikes and escape the crippling impact of power outages as a result of crumbling municipal infrastructure. Solar-energy subscriptions have been punted as a seemingly hassle-free way to access solar energy without the upfront costs or ongoing maintenance costs. While this might sound appealing, solar-energy subscriptions often prove to be very costly decisions. There are many solar rental and ‘solar as a service’ subscription options that have sprung onto the…

The projected stock-to-use ratios for white and yellow maize in South Africa are expected to remain relatively low at 6% and 7%, respectively, in the 2024/25 season. This is according to the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State. In a report prepared for Farmer’s Weekly, three researchers at the department, namely Prof Henry Jordaan, Prof Yonas Bahta, and Marcus Monteiro, said maize was expected to trade close to import parity levels due to the low stock-to-use ratios in the 2024/25 maize marketing season, ending on the last day of April. New stocks, entering the market around May 2025, are set to play a key role in determining whether prices stay near import parity levels. “If the growing season yields favourable results, with good crop output…

The cotton industry has shown growth over the past season. Increases in hectarage and lint production support this positive trend, according to Dr Annette Bennett, CEO of Cotton SA. She said unaudited figures of Cotton SA crop statistics for the 2023/24 season showed that 7 226ha were planted under irrigation, while 11 159ha were planted under dryland conditions. The Cotton SA grading facility evaluated 90 033 lint samples at the end of October 2024, indicating the number of bales appraised up to that point. The higher number of hectares harvested and the increase in seed cotton yield per hectare under irrigation were reflected in the higher number of lint bales achieved. The average yield achieved under irrigation was 5 071kg seed cotton per hectare, and under dryland, 954kg/ha. As these…

South Africa’s citrus industry is gearing up for a promising 2025, with expectations of higher production, despite ongoing challenges from climate conditions and volatile global market trends. While detailed forecasts for the 2025 citrus season would only be available in April, Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), told Farmer’s Weekly that a significant factor driving optimism in the industry was the extensive new plantings in recent years. “We will see an increase in fruit in orchards because of these new plantings. However, the industry remains at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns, which have significantly impacted recent harvests,” he explained. “In the past season, weather had a significant effect on export volumes, [with] floods in Citrusdal [in the Western Cape], frost [and hailstorms] in…

After buying 100ha of land near Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo, Pieter de Wet decided to turn the land into a high-end ecotourism resort primarily aimed at overseas visitors. To make the most of the beauty and solitude of the area, he built nine strategically placed luxury cabins and a restaurant overlooking the farm and Swartberg Mountains, and then populated the farm with game. But the COVID-19 pandemic struck just when they were ready to open for business, resulting in travel bans that brought the global tourism industry to a standstill. Simultaneously, the game industry declined significantly, which led De Wet to turn to sheep farming instead. His initial intention was to find a sheep breed that would blend into the farm environment like game, and he ended up with…

It is ideal for a seedling nursery’s planning if clients order well in advance. However, when there is still capacity in the nursery and a chance that farmers who haven’t ordered may do so later, approaching the nursery on the off chance of being supplied, the nursery must calculate whether it is worth the gamble. Much depends on the history and the cost of seed. Those who produce seedlings in an area where there are a number of small farmers are likely to choose a spec variety that is less expensive but still suitable for the purpose. From time to time, the nursery has an uncollected order – for example, when a farmer is unable to plant on account of unfavourable conditions. There is a perception that older seedlings will…

Dear Jonno, I know you can help to design our new home in the Western Cape. We need five bedrooms for family and friends, and three of them should be located at ground-floor level, with a common shower and toilet. The open-plan kitchen and dining area must be central, with bedrooms on the sides. The other two bedrooms need to be upstairs in the attic area, if possible. Construction-wise, we want to use stones at the base of the outer walls, with regular brickwork elsewhere. A thatch roof will add to the country styling. Kind regards, Adriaan Dear Adriaan, As per your request, I have configured a layout that will embody all the rooms, and I placed them in position to accommodate a thatch roof. In order to create a…

The 2025 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba will be hosted at Lavender Kontrei Market in Pretoria North and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Don’t miss this chance to learn from top-tier experts, meet game-changing producers, and unlock opportunities for growth and innovation. For more information, email info@foodformzansi.co.za, or phone 021 879 1824. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 10 TO 12 FEBRUARY Argus Fertilizer Africa Conference, Cape Town. Visit bit.ly/4e3E9ku. 21 FEBRUARY 2025 Waste to Energy Technology Conference, Emperors Palace Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Email Chris at chris@maphosam.co.za. 11 TO 13 MARCH CGA Citrus Summit, Summerstrand. Email Tanya at tanya@cga.co.za, phone 031 765 2514, or visit cgasummit.co.za. 27 TO 28 MARCH Drone & Unmanned Aviation Conference 2025, Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Johannesburg. Email admin1@bussynetadva.co.za. 3 TO 5…

The weakening of the rand at the end of 2024 is likely to raise wheat import costs for South Africa, potentially pushing up domestic wheat prices in the 2024/25 season. This followed the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the US in November 2024, when the rand depreciated by about 5% against the US dollar. Researchers Prof Henry Jordaan, Prof Yonas Bahta, and Marcus Monteiro from the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State stated in a report that, moving forward, it would be important for the South African wheat industry to monitor the dollar’s movements. A sustained increase in the value of the dollar would raise import costs, ultimately pushing domestic wheat prices higher. “Looking at the international wheat market, an important…

All indications are pointing towards a great year for South African wine grape production in 2025. Dr Etienne Terblanche, consultation services manager at Vinpro, said, however, that it was still too early in the season to predict whether volumes would be higher or lower than the 1,117 million tons achieved in 2024. Conditions leading up to the 2025 harvest, nevertheless, were generally favourable, with most of the quality boxes also ticked in terms of adequate winter rain, sufficient winter chill, sufficient irrigation water, and qualitative vineyard practices proceeding as usual without interruptions from flooding or other extreme weather events. EXPORT VOLUMES The market outlook, however, remains restrained. Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa, said South African wine export volumes had declined rather drastically since 2019. Drought conditions between…

The South African horse market continues to demonstrate resilience and stability, driven by robust trade agreements and a flourishing domestic scene. In an interview with Farmer’s Weekly, Allister Jack, executive director for Equity, Community Development, and Training at Equestrian Professionals of South Africa, shared insights into the industry’s current state. “Due to trade agreements with different countries, the export of sport horses remains stable and lucrative in South Africa,” he said. Jack added that the demand for horses in South Africa is largely influenced by the global gambling and betting industry. “This demand ensures consistent interest in South African-bred horses, especially for competitive disciplines,” he said. Jack explained that although many industries have been hampered by inflation and exchange rate swings, the horse industry is in a unique position because…

South Africa is a nation of stark contrasts, a place where fertile fields yield abundant harvests, yet millions of people go to bed hungry every night. It’s a cruel irony that Ozzy Nel, chief operating officer of non-profit organisation (NPO) SA Harvest, is determined to change. Since its founding in 2019, SA Harvest has delivered more than 76,8 million meals, repurposed 19,6 million kilograms of surplus food, and prevented more than 1,5 million kilograms of methane gas emissions. Behind these staggering numbers lies a story of resilience, innovation, and an unyielding belief in the right to food for all. “No one should go hungry when there is enough food in the world,” says Nel, as he reflects on the NGO’s mission. His words resonate deeply, particularly in a country where…

Ika Cronjé, operations manager at Jan-Tak Boerdery in Makhado, Limpopo, has tried her hand at farming just about every vegetable she could think of. However, with limited land and a hot and humid climate, profit margins were low. She found that crops like peppers and tomatoes, which can be grown in climatecontrolled tunnels, attract more pests and diseases in the humid heat, resulting in low yields. “All the research I did to find a crop better suited to this climate pointed to ginger, but it is very susceptible to soilborne diseases, which means you can only plant a field to ginger every four to 10 years. This means you need a lot of land to produce sufficient volumes, while always keeping a portion of the field ginger-free,” she says. Since…

SERVES SIX TO EIGHT, AS A SNACK For the butter bean hummus 2 × 400g tins butter beans, drained 2 garlic cloves, crushed 60ml (¼ cup) lemon juice 125ml (½ cup) olive oil 10ml (2 tsp) ground cumin Salt and pepper, to taste For the mango swirl ½ mango, peeled, pitted, and diced 30ml (2 Tbsp) lemon juice 15ml (1 Tbsp) olive oil For the topping ½ mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into small cubes ½ small red onion, thinly sliced Small handful coriander, chopped Zest and juice of 1 lime 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced 30ml (2 Tbsp) feta, crumbled Paprika or cayenne pepper, for dusting Crackers and crudités, to serve • To make the hummus dip, using a stick blender, blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Season to…

I would like to meet a decent white man in the region of 75 years of age. I was previously married to a farmer, and my son and son-in-law farm in the Eastern Cape. I am 1,7m tall, of average weight, and I have been told that I am still attractive and presentable. I am versatile, and do not drink or smoke, and I’m in good health. I would prefer a clean-shaven gentleman who does not smoke – a photograph would be appreciated. I am prepared to relocate. LET’S GET TOGETHER I’m 77 years old and on top of the world! Ladies, you’ll have to be fit and fast to keep up with me. I haven’t done enough travelling, and I want more out of life. Are you interested? Talk…