Innehållsförteckning för 2 December 2022 från Farmer's Weekly

The UN's Conference of the Parties (COP27) ran from 6 to 18 November and was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. On the agenda, as always, was climate change. And, as always, the world's leaders delivered very little in terms of decisive climate-change mitigation strategies. The event held an important lesson in irony for all of us, as the conference was dominated by talk of climate change and the need to act fast on the growing problem, while being supported by massive corporations and polluters. For starters, and perhaps not all that surprisingly, the world's leaders arrived at the conference on private jets, which emit 4,5 to 14 times more carbon dioxide than a flight by a commercial airliner, depending on the distance of the flight, according to the European Federation…

The World Trade Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently released a study calling on G20 countries to take global action to improve access to fertilisers and avert a global food crisis. The study makes some important remarks that are worth noting, which I summarise here. First, it brings clarity and awareness to the ongoing global fertiliser supply shortfall, which is forecast to continue into 2023. The study notes that the main drivers of this fertiliser supply shortage are low global stocks and geopolitical tensions that are sustaining supply restrictions; both are combining to reduce fertiliser availability and access. Worryingly, the study points to a real possibility that the ongoing global shortage may extend for several more seasons if prevailing market conditions continue unabated. Second,…

As government fails to inspect infrastructure timeously, early communication from water boards is becoming more critical to help farmers prepare for any flooding, according to Bennie van Zyl, CEO of TLU SA. Van Zyl was commenting on a meeting between the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation and Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, where it came to light that the department had a backlog of 474 dam safety evaluation reports that needed to be completed. Robert Mashego, chairperson of the committee, said in a statement that this backlog was very worrying, because it had a direct impact on the department's ability to enforce the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998). During the meeting, members of the portfolio committee expressed concern that a repeat of the…

The pricing strategy for raw water use is in its third revision, but is still far from granting the agriculture sector peace of mind. Instead, the draft strategy removes existing support measures for irrigation, and is likely to add additional costs to the sector. This was according to Annelize Crosby, head of legal intelligence at Agbiz, who cautioned that farmers were already under strain due to rising input costs. She added that the effect of water pricing on the sector needed to be carefully considered. “Tariffs should promote the development of competitive businesses, and not be loaded with excessive taxes or cross-subsidy requirements,” she said. In a written submission to the Department of Water and Sanitation in November about the proposed revised pricing strategy, Agbiz said the aim of the…

The African Investment Indaba, held recently at the Cape Town Convention Centre, focused on ways to unlock Africa's agricultural potential. David Burton, sector director of agriculture for Africa at the UK Department for International Trade, said appetite for investment in Africa's agriculture sector was growing strongly. This was due to the need for more arable land to solve Africa's looming food crisis, feed the growing world population, and the expectation that climate change might destroy 15% to 30% of the world's available arable land by 2050. Food security and availability, Burton added, were long-term issues that “haunted the continent” and would continue to keep food prices high and create input supply challenges, notably of fertiliser and water. Another speaker at the event, Western Cape MEC for agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer,…

Trade is a force for good for the climate and part of the solution to achieving a resilient and just transition to a low-carbon economy. This was according to a recent report by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO argued in the report that climate change was a major threat to future growth and prosperity, due to potential productivity losses, production shortages, damaged transport infrastructure, and supply chain disruptions. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions was essential to limit the effects of climate change, its impact was already taking a major toll on the environment, people and, as a result, the global economy. It increased trade costs and disrupted production and supply chains. However, trade and trade policies, in conjunction with international co-operation, could help to alleviate some of the…

You can provide top-rate nutrition and follow every single animal health protocol, but if you farm poor-quality animals, you will always struggle to earn good money as a red-meat producer. A poorly bred beef animal will not produce a good-quality carcass; it's as simple as that. The first step towards achieving a good-quality carcass is to use a bull that provides good traits (characteristics) in their offspring, such as good growth rates, acceptable body conformation (shape), high fertility, and good temperament. Of course, there are other traits to consider too, such as resistance to disease. And if you farm in a very hot climate, you also need to think about the colour of the animal. In other words, you should choose a breed type that is suited to your specific…

Eva Mazza says she wrote the first novel, Sex, Lies & Stellenbosch (Melinda Ferguson Books, R275) as a bucket-list challenge to herself when she turned 50. That 2019 novel was a runaway bestseller and was followed in 2020 by Sex, Lies Declassified (Melinda Ferguson Books, R280). Now fans of the raunchy tales are in for a holiday treat with the final instalment of the trilogy Sex, Lies & Alibis (Melinda Ferguson Books, R290). In a series where characters seem to rip their clothes off faster than you can turn the page (should you wish to), there's an underlying serious message: women ultimately regret allowing themselves to become playthings and men underestimate women at their peril. Yet it's all told in a jaunty manner that matches bling with bonking, often quite humorously.…

Throughout the summer of 2022, western Central Europe, North America, mainland China, and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere faced water shortages, extreme heat, drought conditions, and inadequate soil moisture. Water scarcity, widespread wildfires, skyrocketing food prices and severe crop losses were among the most serious consequences of one of Europe's hottest summers on record, as well as heatwaves and unusually low rainfall throughout the Northern Hemisphere. These soil moisture deficits resulted in poor harvests and increased fire risk in the affected regions, and, when combined with already high food prices, are expected to threaten global food security. GOOD RAINFALL IN THE SOUTH While farmers in the Northern Hemisphere continue to face low rainfall, extreme heat and low soil moisture conditions, those in the Southern Hemisphere were also bracing for…

The Zimbabwean government lias announced a strategic initiative to help fill the gap between milk supply and demand in that country. The new government scheme aims to address the under-performance of the dairy value chain in Zimbabwe by strengthening the linkages between production, processing and financing, according to a government statement. The Zimbabwe Sunday News recently reported that the current milk production capacity of that country was just below 80 million litres per year compared with an annual demand of 120 million litres, leaving a deficit of 40 million litres. The deputy minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, said in the statement that about 2 000 small-scale farmers were set to benefit from the government's plans as part of the Presidential Input Scheme. The programme…

The poorest countries have been hard hit by rapidly rising food import costs, which are on course to reach a near-record US$2 trillion (about R34,5 trillion) this year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World food prices reached record highs in March after Russia invaded Ukraine, a key producer of grains and oilseeds, and while prices had since fallen slightly, they were well above last year's levels. According to the FAO's biannual Food Outlook report, these increases disproportionately affected economically vulnerable countries, and were expected to continue doing so next year, despite an improvement in overall agricultural supply chain functioning. Global food imports were projected to reach US$1,94 trillion (R33,5 trillion) in 2022, up 10% year-onyear, which was higher than previously expected. The report…

The dairy industry is on the right track and there will be room for dairy products in the future, despite the economic hardships faced by the industry at times. This was according to Alwyn Kraamwinkel, CEO of the South African Dairy Processors’ Association, who spoke to Farmer's Weekly following a recent Milk South Africa webinar on the ‘dairy matrix’. “Basically, the dairy matrix refers to the fact that the [overall] nutritional benefit of dairy products is more than the sum of the ‘individual nutrition’ of the products,” Kraamwinkel said. During the webinar, Prof Arné Astrup, head of the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said many health professionals still recommended that people limit their saturated fat intake to a minimum, but this was…

Annual almond production in South Africa has more than doubled over the past few years as new producers have entered the industry and their orchards have come into production. Stephan le Roux, managing director of Robertson Almond Company, said it was difficult to quantify production exactly as the industry was not well organised, but he estimated that it probably ranged between 800t and 900t this year. He added that his company, of which his family's farm, Amanteco, formed part, had more than 30 contracted suppliers who had harvested just over 550t this year from 350ha in production. These growers had a total of 1 500ha planted to almonds, and their output was expected to double each year as new orchards came into production. Production was expected to reach 7 OOOt…

With rolling blackouts easing somewhat during November, farmers have experienced fewer disruptions to harvesting and packing. However, high rainfall in November could affect volumes and quality of produce in December. CABBAGES Market stakeholders reported strong cabbage sales on the Joburg Market in mid-October, and notable improvements in quality since the winter months. The volume of cabbages sold increased 0,4% month-on-month (m/m) during October (see Graph 1) and by about 20% year-on-year (y/y). Due to the higher volume, the price of cabbages decreased by 8,5% m/m and almost 4% y/y. This is bound to add to the inflationary pressure that was apparent on the vegetable market during October. At the start of November, the average price of cabbages across the five main fresh produce markets in South Africa was R2 422/t.…

There is a common misconception in the workplace that employees are entitled to an annual bonus. Sectoral Determination 13 regulates labour relations in the agriculture sector and does not prescribe any compulsory bonus. Bonuses are solely at the employer's discretion. It is extremely important that the employer confirms this in writing so as not to create an expectation on the employee's part that bonuses form part of his or her employment conditions. It is also essential that the employer continually evaluates the employee's work performance, so that it can be used as motivation during the awarding of bonuses and other compensation adjustments. Bonuses can come in handy to reward employees for great performance, or to motivate and incentivise continual improvement at work. It is important to communicate the terms and…

According to a new study conducted by Italian researchers, pigs are ‘smart’ enough to recognise conflict between other pigs, and are then able to defuse the situation, The Washington Post reported recently. Over the course of six months in 2018, the researchers observed 104 pigs on a farm near Turin in Italy. The animals were allowed to forage a 13ha woodland area, which allowed them to move and behave naturally. Researchers collected hours of video data to analyse. “[T]he [study suggests that pigs have the] cognitive ability to watch and empathise when two other pigs fight, and then intervene afterward to reduce the levels of aggression or anxiety,” the newspaper said. This was a form of social regulation that could benefit the entire herd. The study showed that a ‘bystander’…

Dear Prof McCrindle, What would you advise as the most important thing to consider when buying cattle, sheep or goats? I live in a township and there are livestock sellers around here, but I don't know whether their animals come from reputable farms. Kind regards, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, This is a very important question, as it's quite risky to buy from livestock dealers unless they are registered and work with State Veterinary Services. Risks include buying livestock with diseases that are transmissible to humans (zoonoses) and to the animals you already own. Livestock without a visible tag, number or brand registered in the name of the previous owner or breeder might have been stolen. Under the Stock Theft Act (No. 57 of 1959), this could make you criminally liable as…

In this, the first article of a two-part series, a farmer spoke about his small yet highly diversified operation. There is no reason that a small-scale farmer cannot earn a reasonable income if he or she works hard and makes the most of their opportunities, says Frank Olschewski ofBirkenhain farm near Ermelo. He runs a highly diversified business comprising 40 sows, 5 000 broiler chickens, 40 dairy cows, about 70 Simmentaler cows, a small woodlot and a few other operations. Each section of his overall operation, he says, is small enough to manage comfortably and is making money. In addition, each one adds to the total, providing a “reasonable” income for the farm. SEVERAL SMALL UNITS “I find that working with a number of small units is a good way…

The government of Zimbabwe has raised objections to the Botswana government's plans to divert water from the Chobe-Zambezi River system to irrigate crops as part of the large-scale commercial farming project planned in the Pandamatenga area in the Chobe District of northern Botswana. This was according to a recent report by the US International Trade Administration. According to Botswana's Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana intended to draw approximately 495 million cubic litres of water a year from the rivers to irrigate about 45 000ha on farms in the Pandamatenga area. The aim of the project was to expand agricultural production in that country. The ministry stated that commodities to be produced on the farms would include sorghum, beans, sunflower, maize, cotton, wheat, soya bean, lucerne and mangoes. The 45 000ha irrigation…

INDIA Indian farmers have planted 4,5 million hectares to wheat since 1 October, when the current sowing season began. This was a 9,7% increase year-on-year, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Late rainfall in October and November had raised soil moisture levels and helped farmers increase their plantings of wheat, that country's main winter crop, growers said. In India, wheat is produced mainly in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and the central state of Madhya Pradesh. MOROCCO As in the rest of North Africa, global warming is already evident in Morocco, where it is affecting agriculture severely. According to A1 Jazeera, Moroccan farmers have, however, blamed drought conditions on the mismanagement of that country's remaining water resources, which are…

Animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS recently released 10 lions at its Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary near Bethlehem after a compliance notice was issued to move the lions from a Gauteng breeding facility. Local authorities previously requested FOUR PAWS to assess the lions, as it was found that the breeding facility did not comply with fencing and various other permit requirements, and continued to breed with the lions despite warnings to the contrary. A total of 15 lions were kept in small camps. “By relocating the group, which we named the Golden Pride, we are one step closer to breaking the vicious cycle of big cat exploitation. A recent public opinion poll demonstrated that 81% of the surveyed respondents preferred to see big cats in the wild as opposed to in…

A collaboration between Hortfin, FNB and the Jobs Fund has resulted in an innovative funding structure that promises to accelerate transformation in the deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industry value chains by offering funding on favourable terms. Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB, said the recently announced partnership unlocked an initial R600 million in funding to commercialise emerging, predominantly first-generation, farmers over the next three years. Since January this year, transactions amounting to R37,2 million had been approved, while an additional R90 million in transactions were currently being evaluated. Michael Brinkhuis, CEO of Hortfin, said the company had been launched in 2018 to promote job creation, transformation and sustainability. The custodians were the fruit, table grape and wine industries, the Jobs Fund and the Land…

The annual Agricultural Writers of South Africa's (AWSA) awards are not about competition, but about recognition of the organisation's members as ambassadors of agriculture, according to Liza Bohlmann, AWSA chairperson. Speaking at the recent AWSA awards ceremony in Bothaville, Bohlmann said: “These awards are made for [people] who have made it their life's work to contribute to the sustainability of agriculture in South Africa. All the nominees are already seen as ambassadors of the sector and leaders in their own right.”…

My mother was looking the other way. Keeping a wary eye on her, I quickly licked the remaining honey off my knife. She saw my reflection in the window and admonished me angrily: “How many times have I told you not to do that?” Turning to my father, wagging a finger, she scolded him too: “You see, Jim. It's the bad example you set for the kids.” Do you remember something similar happening to you? You might have left the table without pushing your chair back in place, for example, or slammed the door, but if Dad or Mom did it, you felt you could get away with it. After all, they were your leaders. THE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP Leadership has fascinated students of human behaviour for centuries. Great leaders…

In 2015, hunting aficionado Leslie van der Merwe delighted foodies with his first book, South African Gamebird Recipes. And his new collection, Everyday Venison (signed copy R490 including delivery: lesliej375@outlook.com), is bound to attract similar accolades. Taking a bold, modern approach, it includes dishes such as venison wraps, venison rib curry, gemsbok fillet with rhuarb and naartjie compote, and mini venison Wellingtons that could be the hit of your Christmas party! Van der Merwe summed up some of the influences and interests of his life: 1. The veld: I grew up in Pretoria and would spend most afternoons running around the veld behind our backyard. That led to studying zoology and, after retiring from the corporate world, working as a safari guide. 2. Hunter-gatherer: Initially, my interaction with nature was…

The First Battle of Draaibosch in late December 1877 was a relatively minor clash that took place during the Ninth Cape Frontier War (1877-78) between the Cape Colony, its Mfengu allies and the Xhosa. The battle has nevertheless been immortalised in South African military history as it produced the first Victoria Cross won on South African soil. The Ninth Cape Frontier War was sparked in August 1877 by a wedding feast quarrel between Gcaleka Xhosa and the Mfengu people near today's Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. Prior to this incident, the Gcaleka and the Mfengu had had a complicated relationship that started in the 1820s when the former offered the latter conditional refuge from the trauma of the Mfecane. Zulu for ‘The Crushing', this was a series of bloody and…