Innehållsförteckning för 4 November 2022 från Farmer's Weekly

Whatever anyone may say, the antics of climatechange activists are almost always amusing in one way or another. This is particularly true of those in developed countries. In the UK recently, a climate-change organisation called Just Stop Oil threw canned soup onto the famous Sunflowers oil painting by Vincent van Gogh. Following hot on the heels of the soup-flinging incident, members of Animal Rebellion, an anti-livestockproduction organisation, walked into eight different stores in the UK and began pouring out litres of milk. The ‘protest action’ was coordinated to occur in stores such as Whole Foods Market and Marks & Spencer in London, Manchester, Norwich and Edinburgh, as reported on the Republic World website. Animal Rebellion says it is advocating for a plant-based future for the sake of the planet. Moreover,…

EU FERTILISER PRICES EASING AMID WEAK DEMAND With nitrogen production starting to resume in Europe and reports of a sluggish market, nitrogen is now trading at a discount to what it was some weeks ago. – farmersjournal.ie IRELAND: 25 DEATHS RELATED TO FARM CONSTRUCTION WORK OVER A NINE-YEAR PERIOD Twenty-five people lost their lives as a result of farm construction work in Ireland between 2010 and 2019, according to experts. – agriland.ie SOMALIA FACES WORST FAMINE IN HALF A CENTURY, UN WARNS Somalia faces famine on a scale last seen 50 years ago, the UN has said as it set a new target of more than US$2 billion (about R36 billion) in funding needs for that country. -aljazeera.com…

In the 10 years from 2000 to 2010, South Africa's steady economic growth and rising average income meant that many consumers were able to move towards protein-rich diets, leading to a significant increase in meat consumption in the country. During this period, average per capita meat consumption increased by more than 4% per annum. At the same time, average per capita consumption of poultry products grew by more than 7% per annum, reflecting strong preference for this protein source. Between 2010 and 2017, however, growth in average annual per capita meat consumption slowed to about 1%. This was the result of a reduction in economic activity and a rapid rise in unemployment. Another factor that affected meat consumption during this period was a series of devastating droughts. These wreaked havoc…

Tongaat Hulett has announced the completion of the critical next step in delivering a restructuring strategy to reduce its excess debt and ensure the group's sustainability. According to a statement by the company, the board of directors had approved a capital restructuring plan, which would now be submitted to stakeholders. “The near collapse of Tongaat Hulett under high debt levels, financial misstatements and historic mismanagement resulted in the loss of significant value to its shareholders. Since 2019, the group [has] embarked on a comprehensive turnaround strategy, guided by a new management team and new board of directors, with a focus on financial controls, oversight, asset care and protection, and our people and the communities they support.” According to the statement, debt had been reduced by more than R6 billion over…

Crop farmers in Botswana have expressed mixed feelings about recent weather forecasts, which revealed that much of that country could experience a wet 2022/23 season with fewer and shorter dry spells. In a recent statement on the outlook for seasonal rainfall and temperatures, Botswana's Department of Meteorological Services said that from October 2022 to March 2023, most of the country, including the major grain-production areas, was expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall. The department added that it predicted normal to below-normal temperatures for this period. Some grain farmers welcomed the announcement of shorter dry spells, after long bouts of dry weather destroyed crops on many farms during the previous planting season. This resulted in widespread crop failures, with the overall grain harvest declining from 110 000t in the 2020/21…

Although sugar beet yields in eastern England are expected to be lower than last year's average of just over 80t/ha, the disaster dreaded by some growers has not materialised. Farmers Weekly in the UK reported that rainfall received in August had “rescued some hard-pressed, drought-stressed crops”. Andrew Peal, farm manager at Salle Farming in Norfolk, said yields had so far been “better than we feared, but we await final yields from completed fields”. “We'd adjusted [forecasted] yields in the summer down to 70t/ha due to the dry weather.” By the third week of October, it was estimated that between 5% and 10% of the national sugar beet crop had been harvested. “[Yields are high] in the rich, deep, south Lincolnshire silts, while poorer yields have come from light, freely draining…

To create a sustainable rural economy, South Africans need to move away from their dependency on social grants, and jobs must be created for the millions of unemployed people in the country. This was according to Sandy La Marque, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), who spoke at Agri SA's 2022 congress held recently in Tshwane. “Agriculture can do a lot in terms of economic growth and job opportunities,” said La Marque, adding that Kwanalu members had changed their attitudes in this regard after the province was struck by a series of disasters. “The challenges kept on coming. The COV1D-19 [pandemic], the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in May 2021, the [civil unrest in] KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021, and then the floods in April 2022. All of these events exacerbated…

The agriculture sector faces a looming threat of cybercrime that has yet to be addressed adequately. This could have a devastating impact on food security and the industry's ability to stay in business. This was according to an industrial control systems (ICS) threat report released by cybersecurity company Kaspersky. As the agriculture sector became increasingly digitised and implemented smart technology, it made itself vulnerable to cyberattackers that sought to cripple competition, hack bank accounts or influence regional politics. According to the report, in the first half of 2022, computer systems in the ICS environment across Africa were attacked using multiple means, including malicious objects, spyware, and phishing pages. Over the past six months, malicious objects were blocked, on average, on every third ICS computer in South Africa, representing an 11%…

The discovery of a new antibiotic that acts against a wide range of fungi known to infect and wreak havoc on agricultural crops has been reported in mBio, a journal published by the American Society for Microbiology in association with the American Academy of Microbiology. Solammycin, a compound initially isolated from a pathogenic bacterium that infects potatoes by a multinational team of researchers in Europe, appeared to be produced by a broad spectrum of related plant pathogenic bacteria. In laboratory studies, the compound also acted against Candida albicans, a fungus that occurs naturally in the body, but could cause dangerous infections. The results indicated that solanimycin and related compounds could be useful in both agricultural and clinical settings, the report said. The new discovery suggested that plant-based micro-organisms were worth…

The rise of the ‘moral economy’ will play a key role in meat consumption in future, affecting how entities produce meat and protein alternatives. However, delegates at the recent Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association's (AFMA) virtual symposium were assured that plant-based protein was unlikely to completely replace animal protein in the future. Sharing research on consumer perceptions about sources of protein, Marieta Human, communications consultant at The Clever Club, said consumers had real concerns when it came to the future of the planet and its people. Producers would therefore have to focus on raising animals ethically, and communicating these processes to consumers to maintain market share. “This is the moral economy and it is real. People sit and think about the choices they have to make [with regard to] the planet.…

I recently bought a new vehicle. While driving it home I was amazed to see how many vehicles of the same type were on the road. This was the ‘selective observation bias’ working on me: suddenly noticing something I'd never noticed before. This often occurs due to a recent decision we've made, and is an example of a cognitive bias. COGNITIVE BIASES These biases are hard-wired into our brains by evolution, unlike ‘hidden’ biases, which develop over time and are rooted in our life experience. Here are some common cognitive biases that will be immediately familiar: •Confirmation bias The tendency to seek views that accord with our own. •Gambler's fallacy Where illogical prominence is given to previous events. For example cointossing, where after five consecutive heads, we predict that the…

Johannes van Niekerk, the managing director of MCM, tells Farmer's Weekly that the company develops, imports and distributes high-quality agricultural and construction equipment in South Africa and neighbouring countries. The implements are manufactured and qualitytested in China and again in Cape Town. The machines can be serviced by any qualified mechanic without this having an effect on the two-year warranties with which these machines come. The MCM RTL30 [1] is a 42kW rough terrain forklift with a powershift transmission. It has a load capacity of 3t, a maximum lifting height of 4,5m and requires a minimum turning radius of 4,4m. The 918L Wheel Loader has a 58 kW engine, a dumping height of 2,2m and a rated load weight of l,3t to 1,5t with a operated weight of 3,5t. Van…

The much-loved Flower Fairies of the Spring by English illustrator Cicely Mary Barker appeared in 1923. In 2016, poet and journalist Antjie Krog wrote an indigenous South African version, Fynbos Fairies, and now there's a follow-up: Vetplant Fairies (Umuzi, R220). Fiona Moodie is again the illustrator, and poet Ingrid de Kok joins the team. Young readers will love the vibrant illustrations and the nuggets of information on succulents, such as why some of them turn red in the sun. These plants have long been a talking point in botanical circles, as Southern Africa has the world's most diverse group of succulents. Learning to treasure these is important for youngsters, as these precious plants are now being poached in their millions. FIVE COPIES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FRYER COOKBOOK TO…

New research conducted by the University of Florida (UF) in the US shows that donkeys have played a central role in the development of human civilisations, perhaps more so than previously thought. “Donkeys have been important to humans for thousands of years, being the primary source of work and transport. Unlike horses, little was known about the origin and domestication of donkeys,” the study says. “Understanding [donkeys’] genetic make-up is key to assessing their contribution to human history and to improving their local management in the future.” Horsenetwork.com reports that the researchers sequenced the genome of the donkey from regions around the world, comparing the genetic composition of over 200 modern and more than 30 ancient donkeys, along with 15 wild horses. DNA analysis and fossilised remains suggest that donkeys…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. This is an edited excerpt from a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations titled ‘OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2022-2031’. To read the full report, visit bit.ly/3gdUDxW. “The structure of the global cotton market will not change significantly in the coming decade, with sub-Saharan Africa as a region remaining the third-largest exporter of raw cotton in 2031, after the US and Brazil. The global trade in cotton is expected to grow slightly faster than overall consumption, given the demand growth in countries without much domestic cotton production such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, and stagnating domestic mill use in Brazil, where the projected increase…

Dear Fanner's Weekly, Your magazine is very interesting and educational, especially for those who want to venture into agriculture. You cover all areas of the industry, including game farming and the marketing of agricultural products, especially fresh produce. Since Farmer's Weekly is distributed to other Southern African countries, such as Zambia, there should be more pages allocated to these countries to report on current affairs in agriculture and other industry-related topics there. This would enable farmers in these countries to learn more and even advertise their products. For instance, Zambia imports a lot of agricultural products from South Africa. It would be great if the roles were reversed, too, and I believe that your magazine could help with that. – Winmce Chuemya, Ndola, Zambia, via email GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?…

The South African Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) has welcomed the recent landmark agreement signed with Saudi Arabia to export between 500t and 1 000t of red meat per annum to that country from next year. This was according to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the RPO, who told Farmer's Weekly the good news was that South Africa was now exporting red meat to 25 countries, after losing all its export markets three years ago due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. “This meant we lost a market constituting 4% of local production. It might look like an insignificant percentage, but it had a very negative impact locally. [South Africa] mainly exports to countries in the Middle East such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and now also Saudi Arabia. South…

Aerial surveillance of African migratory locusts has the potential to reduce the damage caused by the pest to crops and grazing in northern Botswana. This was according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which, in partnership with the government of Botswana, recently introduced this surveillance method to that country. In a recent update, Kabo Kepaletswe, a plant protection officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that aerial surveillance would be carried out on a continual basis. The FAO said in a statement that the last outbreak of the locusts in Botswana was recorded in 2020, with these pests invading crops and grazing pastures in the Chobe and Ngamiland regions alongside the Okavango Delta. It added that the delta had become a breeding site for the…

VIETNAM Fruit and vegetable exporters in Vietnam need to increase the processing of produce and diversify their export markets, according to that country's Asia-Africa Market Department. This was to avoid trading risks caused by problems in major export markets. Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports amounted to US$3,5 billion last year (about R63 billion). However, with China tightening inspections under its ‘zero-COVID’ policy, Vietnam's fruit exports to that market fell to 56% of total exports in the first eight months of this year. UNITED STATES The recent repeal of a debt relief programme that supported ‘farmers of colour’ in the US amounted to a breach of contract by the government. This was according to a group of farmers who recently instituted a class action lawsuit against the government. It followed the…

If Transnet could revitalise South Africa's secondary railway lines, it would lead to significant cost savings for the agriculture sector. This was according to Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz, in response to Transnet CEO Portia Derby's presentation during Agri SA's recent congress held in Tshwane. “The cost of transporting longhaul freight by rail is about a third of the cost of moving it by road,” Boshoff told Farmer's Weekly. “In the days of commodity marketing boards, […] 80% of grain was transported by rail and only 20% by road. Today, these two figures have switched places, with 80% now transported by road and 20% by rail.” According to Derby, the rejuvenation of secondary railway lines would be very expensive, as lines across the country were in various stages of disrepair.…

Termites are important contributors to the earth's carbon cycle by breaking down wood. A recent international study in which the University of Pretoria (UP) took part showed that termites played a significant role in the earth's carbon cycle and carbon budget. According to Prof Mark Robertson, a lecturer in UP's Department of Zoology and Entomology, this meant that as global temperatures rose, the insects’ role in wood decay was likely to expand beyond the tropics. “Most people think termites are a nuisance that consume wood in homes and businesses, yet these termites represent less than 4% of all termite species worldwide. Termites are critical to natural ecosystems, especially in the tropics, as they help recycle dead wood from trees,” he said. Robertson told Farmer's Weekly that termites were particularly important…

The Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association (AFMA) has expressed optimism about the future of the industry, despite turmoil faced in global markets. Having survived disruptions in trade due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of widespread animal disease outbreaks, AFMA was expecting further growth in demand going forward. In his chairperson's report, Wouter de Wet noted that despite many challenges, animal feed production grew by 2,3% globally over the past year, with an estimated 1,24 billion tons produced in 2021 versus 1,21 billion tons in 2020. “Production exceeded expectations in many countries, mainly due to the [lifting of] COVID-19 trade restrictions, with China remaining the world's largest feed producer. “The global pig sector also rebounded from African swine fever (ASF), with a feed volume increase of more than 6%. In…

My research in the former Ciskei region of the Eastern Cape shows vast differences in income between the communal and commercial livestock farming sectors. In a communal area of some 100 000ha, comprising about 45 rural villages, the livestock farmers earn roughly R400 million less a year than commercial farmers operating in an area of the same size and with similar grazing. This is due to many factors, including low lamb weaning rates, lower prices obtained for meat and wool, and excessive input costs such as winter feed. To use just one example from sheep production, it has been shown that in an average commercial setting, more than 80 lambs survive per 100 ewes, while in an average communal setting, only 30 lambs survive per every 100 ewes. That's 50…

Frugal Feasts LIFESTYLE SERVES FOUR TO SIX 250g macaroni 30ml fresh basil or parsley, chopped 400g leftover roasted vegetables, (try pumpkin, onion, carrot, sweet potato and baby marrow), diced 50g frozen peas Salt and pepper, to taste 4 eggs 185ml milk 200g Cheddar cheese, grated • Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a 23cm pie dish. • Cook the pasta in a large saucepan according to the instructions on the packet, then drain and set aside. • Combine the cooked macaroni with the herbs, leftover vegetables and frozen peas, and season with the salt and pepper. • Whisk together the eggs and milk, then add the cheese and mix well. Pour the mixture over the pasta and toss to coat thoroughly. • Spoon the pasta into the prepared pie…

The Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) transition saw mass extinctions in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial vertebrate diversity patterns across the K–Pg boundary have been studied extensively, but less is known about marine vertebrates. Here, we describe a new mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian phosphatic beds of Morocco, showing how mosasaurids evolved to become apex predators in the Late Cretaceous. Thalassotitan atrox gen. et sp. nov., from the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Khouribga Province, Morocco, is characterised by its large size, broad skull, massive jaws, and reduced cranial kinesis, suggesting it was highly adapted for carnivory. Phylogenetic analysis reveals Thalassotitan to be a close relative of Prognathodon currii and P. saturator within the Prognathodontini. Among the associated fauna, the fossils of three genera of mosasaurids – elasmosaurid plesiosaur, chelonioid turtle and enchodontid fish –…

Amid challenging logistics worsened by the Transnet strike and current trading environment, the recent CC07 wool sale achieved an overall sales clearance of 94,8%. There were 6 671 bales on offer, consisting of goodlength and fine-micron wools, with 61,9% of the Merino wools on offer being certified as sustainable. The non-Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) indicator gained 2,9% to close at R160,87/kg, and the RWS indicator increased 3,7%, closing at R172/kg. Major buyers were Lempriere SA (1 754 bales), Modiano SA (1 487), Tianyu SA (I 429) and Standard Wool SA (966). At the OVK auction, 2 001 bales were on offer, of which 98,3% were sold. The highest price of R195,90/kg was paid for a one-bale BBH lot of 17,1 microns, from the clip of RN Lucas from the Tarkastad…

Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA We posted a link to an artide titled, ‘New Zealand's livestock “burp tax” aims to cut greenhouse gasses’, and some of our followers shared their thoughts on the topic: READERS’ COMMENTS Gudrun Scott Cleghorn: “I am baffled; do people not understand where their food comes from? It's as if there is a worldwide agenda to remove farming from the food cycle.” Charmaine Ciilmer Visser: “And 1 thought South Africa was ridiculous with all its taxes.” David Fincham: “Soon we will be taxed for breathing; we're already taxed for dying. We might as well stop working and rely on government support.” Cliff Sanders: “It's just a way to get more tax; it has nothing to do with what they say it does.” Want your photo to…

There is a general perception that the problem with governments in Africa is not so much a lack of viable and suitable policies, but rather their ineffective and inefficient implementation. While the latter is indeed the case for many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and remains the opinion of various donors and development partners, the view that governments generally fail to implement policies is being challenged based on emerging evidence. The key issues in this debate are that the definition of ‘success’ of a particular policy might be variously defined by different stakeholders, and ‘effective implementation’ of a policy might not be easily determined. It is becoming increasingly apparent that governments are actually implementing policies, although the degree of implementation is affected to a significant degree by a number of confounding…

The events that have played out on the global stage over the past year are forcing South Africa's agriculture sector to rethink its local production and supply chains. This was according to Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA, who spoke at the organisation's 2022 congress held recently in Tshwane. “There's a renewed drive to produce and manufacture locally, and become [less dependent on] imports. If we succeed, we'll reap the reward of a sustainable, job-creating sector that uplifts rural communities,” he said. Minnaar cited the increase in local wheat production in reaction to supply shortages brought about by the RussiaUkraine war. Russia and Ukraine are responsible for a large portion of the world's global production. “If our farmers produce more wheat, we'll be able to do more to ensure food…

Yet more disruptions to South Africa's flow of imports and exports are taking their toll on the agriculture sector, with many farmers unable to withstand another blow to their income. An illegal strike at Transnet that lasted about two weeks in mid-October was expected to cost the country billions of rands in trade as the entity declared force majeiire across all its harbours due to employees’ industrial action. By 20 October, workers had returned to work after a wage deal was reached. According to Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo, labour-related tensions at Transnet were a major challenge that had a direct impact on South African agriculture. He said the fourth quarter of the year typically saw agricultural exports amounting to about R51 billion. In 2021, this was 23% of the…

Wheat yields in the UK have largely been resilient to varying weather over the past 30 years. However, the future security of that country's most widely grown food crop is uncertain due to increasingly frequent extreme wet and dry conditions as a result of climate change, according to a study published in the journal Earth System Dynamics. A research team from the University of Oxford, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the Met Office and Bristol University carried out a detailed analysis of wheat yields and simultaneous meteorological conditions across the main agricultural areas of the country, beginning in 1990. They also investigated the potential effect of projected climate change on production in the coming decades. The study found that yields had shown substantial resilience to single extreme…

The month-on-month (m/m) prices of the key commodities analysed here are a mixed bag, with onion and carrot prices rising, and those of cabbage, potatoes and tomatoes falling. These changes were the result of a wide variety of factors, including delivery problems and quality issues. CABBAGE Market stakeholders reported a drop in cabbage sales during the first week of October due to the public school holidays. As school feeding programmes tend to consume large volumes of fresh produce such as cabbage, demand usually softens during the breaks between school terms. South Africa's five largest fresh produce markets took delivery of 6 464t of cabbage between mid-September and midOctober. This was a 16,2% drop from the 7 713t during the same period last year. In mid-October, the price of cabbage was…

As an employer, you are almost sure to encounter misconduct by an employee in the workplace at some stage or another. What happens next is governed by labour legislation, and you are obliged to follow this to the letter. When an employee's alleged misconduct comes to your attention, your first step is to investigate what has taken place. This will establish whether there is enough evidence to justify holding a formal disciplinary hearing leading to possible dismissal. THE DISCIPLINARY HEARING An employer cannot dismiss an employee under any circumstances, even with valid reason, without first holding a disciplinary hearing. This is to ensure that a fair procedure is followed and there is sufficient proof for the dismissal. Although you may be personally convinced that the employee is guilty of the…

Secretariat is perhaps the most famous racehorse of all time as, in 1973, he became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. The Triple Crown comprises the Kentucky Derby (2km), the Preakness Stakes (1,9km) and the Belmont Stakes (2,4km). As the races are set at different lengths, for a horse to become a Triple Crown winner, it needs both speed and stamina, which aren't necessarily mutually inclusive traits. Secretariat was sired by renowned US sire Bold Ruler. According to various sources, Bold Ruler produced precocious offspring that while fast, had little stamina or racing longevity. Secretariat's dam, Somethingroyal, was the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, but had never featured on the track, remaining unplaced in only one start. Despite this, she had an excellent pedigree, and was sired…

Small stock are highly susceptible to certain species of poisonous plants and roundworm, and farmers therefore need to work hard at controlling these threats. The following plants are toxic to small stock: • Geigeria, a genus of African flowering plants in the daisy family. It can cause vermeersiekte (vomiting disease). • Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides), a bulbous plant species endemic to the Western Cape. • Castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis). Poisoning occurs when animals, including humans, ingest broken castor beans or break the seed by chewing; intact seeds may pass through the digestive tract without releasing the toxin. • Striped wild cucumber (Cucumis myriocarpus). Also known as the gooseberry cucumber, this is a prostrate or climbing annual herb native to Southern Africa • Januariebos (Gnidia polycephala). This is widespread across the central…

Maanda Tshifularo, author of Lead with Super Clarity (Tracey McDonald Publishers, R310) is a man of many parts. A chemical engineer turned management consultant, he is now a leadership coach. He recently offered some insights on how people, particularly leaders, can reach their goals. 1. Clarity. You need singleminded focus to get where you want to be, or your environment can easily dictate where you end up. I had to have clarity to overcome my difficult upbringing in a Limpopo village, where I was raised by a single mother who was a domestic worker. 2. Refuelling. At this time of year, when you're running and exhausted, you need to stop to refuel yourself so that you can finish the year on a high note. Putting time in the diary to…

Dear Prof McCrindle, My stable manager expects that my horse has laminitis. I am still awaiting a diagnosis, but how severe is this condition, and what can be done to correct it? Kind regards, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, This is a very serious condition that can prove fatal The approach to treatment is twofold. First, in an acute case in which the horse is lame and the hoof feels warm, veterinary involvetnent is urgent. However, if this is a chronic case, you need to consult a certified farrier as soon as possible to evaluate the severity of the disease. In chronic cases, the hoof may appear wrinkled and be slipper-shaped. Laminitis is an inflammation of the hoof laminae, which are folded fleshy protrusions that attach the hoof to the pedal bones.…