Innehållsförteckning för 19 May 2023 från Farmer's Weekly

South Africans are becoming more despondent, according to the latest findings conducted every year by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The survey, named the South African Social Attitudes Survey, tracks changing societal values over time. It has been conducted on an annual basis since 2003. According to the HSRC, the purpose of the survey is to chart and explain "the interaction between the country's changing institutions, its political and economic structures, and the attitudes, beliefs and behaviour patterns of its diverse populations". In an article for The Conversation, Dr Joleen Steyn Kotze, chief research specialist in Democracy and Citizenship at the HSRC, and Benjamin Roberts, research director: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State at the HSRC, say that the most notable changes in attitude include the following: a decline in…

In recent essays, I expressed the view that consumer food inflation had the potential to moderate during the second half of the year. I believe the elements that will underpin this softening are grain-related products, vegetable oils, meat and fruit. But within the grains category, South Africa is exposed to imports, particularly of wheat and rice. Global grain prices have declined over the past few months with the exception of rice, which has surged in price. However, this does not change our view on domestic food inflation, and this article explains why. In April 2022, rice from various origins, such as Thailand, Vietnam, India and Pakistan, traded below US$400/t (about R740/t). This month, rice from all these producers except India traded at over US$470/t (about R870/t). This is notable, considering…

The president of the UK’s National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Minette Batters, has made a plea for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to lead the way on food security initiatives by setting an example for other European countries, according to a report by Farmers Weekly UK. Batters made the plea at a recent NFU Council meeting in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war had highlighted the importance of national food security. It was no surprise that food price inflation remained high. “Potentially, it is going to get much worse and much trickier,” she said. The EU Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy, which aimed to achieve a target of 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030, was looking “massively out of date with the challenges that the world is now…

Recently the Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT) hosted a Sunflower Symposium at the CSIR in Pretoria, with the focus on sunflower quality and improving yields. In spite of sunflower being an important grain crop, production had remained relatively stagnant over the past decade. The OPDT was a non-governmental organisation that promoted and developed the oilseeds industry in South Africa and aimed to improve the production, storage, processing and marketing of oilseeds, including sunflower, soya bean, canola, and groundnuts, through the financing of research projects and the provision of information and advisory services. Topics that were presented at the symposium included planting dates; the potential of high-oil sunflower cultivars; yield improvements and quality; pollination; comparison between local and global sunflower perspectives; and new technologies. According to Corné Louw, Applied…

Climate change challenges have taken a toll on Zambia’s bumper harvests of recent years, prompting authorities to consider initiating countervailing measures to ensure sustained food security. Since 2015, the country has produced between 2,7 million tons and 3,6 million tons of maize and other crops a year and remains a reliable provider of grains to Zimbabwe and other neighbouring countries during prolonged dry spells. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has championed his country’s capacity to lead the campaign for African food security. Noting the frequency of calamities, however, including the low rainfall that had affected Zambia’s food production, he recently urged the farming community and other players to adopt water-harvesting methods. Hichilema added that grain producers and traders, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union, and water harvester associations should all engage actively…

Wine marketers (and wine companies) could increase their sales if they developed targeted strategies to reach different groups of wine consumers. Market segmentation could help them gain a better understanding of the characteristics, preferences, interests and needs of different groups of wine drinkers. This was according to research conducted by Carna Myburgh for her MCom (Business Management) at Stellenbosch University. Because of the limited knowledge about different South African wine segments, Myburgh explored different consumer groups according to their involvement with wine (knowledge about wine and attendance of winerelated events), their motives for drinking wine, and their purchase behaviour. She held focus group discussions with wine consumers, adapted and applied a Swiss-based questionnaire on wine market segmentation to South Africa conditions, and used data collected by a South African wine…

South Africa’s poultry industry is under significant pressure from the rising costs of fuel and feed, and persistent bouts of load-shedding have exacerbated the situation. These supply-side constraints are eroding profit margins, with smallscale farmers suffering the worst, as they are resource-poor and unable to cope with constant supply challenges. THE EFFECTS OF SUSPENDING ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES Another major concern for the local poultry industry is an increase in imports on the back of the suspended anti-dumping duties against Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Spain. In June 2022, Minister Ebrahim Patel of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) delayed the implementation of anti-dumping duties for a period of 12 months. This was in response to rising food costs and the potential effect that the suspension of anti-dumping duties would…

Brothers-in-law Petrus Marx, Reco Pieterse and Stephan Erasmus farm about 20km from Wolmaransstad in the direction of Klerksdorp. Erasmus and Marx each run an Angora stud, while Pieterse runs a commercial flock. Although they run their flocks separately from each other, they work together for economic reasons and to ensure the best possible genetics and fibre yield. The three farmers agree that strong global demand for mohair and the high profitability of mohair production make it a good choice for extensive farming conditions. Angora are exceptionally adaptable and known for their excellent grazing utilisation. The fact that the goats are shorn twice a year is another advantage, as it ensures a regular income. FIRST NORTH WEST STUD Marx and his wife Angené registered the Marwyk stud in 2020, the first…

"Teff is becoming more and more attractive as a temporary non-weedy ground cover in many parts of the world," say Truter et al. "Its function as a temporary ground cover due to its quick establishment and competitiveness with other weeds has made this species an extremely important crop in the rehabilitation of degraded and disturbed soils. "Teff is quick to establish, which is an important characteristic of a ley pasture or cover crop. "Since teff has a shallow root system it can stabilise the soil surface and not deplete the soil moisture and nutrient levels at deeper levels. "As teff is currently used as a 'nurse crop', it has the function of creating a microclimate at the soil surface, thereby lowering the soil temperature, which facilitates the germination of the…

Harry Oppenheimer: Diamonds, Gold And Dynasty by Michael Cardo (Jonathan Ball, R350) This magisterial, 526-page biography reminds us of the politics of the past, the time when white South Africa was divided between the Nats and their fiery opponents, the Progs. At the heart of the mining economy was the colourful and pleasantly adroit character of Harry Oppenheimer, son of the equally influential and wealthy Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, who came to South Africa in 1902 after the Boer War, when English capital, and in particular, Anglo-American and De Beers, ruled supreme. This must be regarded as a benchmark biography of an influential South African businessman, industrialist, mining magnate, active politician and bibliophile. It weaves family asides and gossip into the more serious machinations of white politics through the greater part…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. Email James Brand at jbrand@ENSafrica.com, or Cheri Young at cyoung@ENSafrica.com. Canadian hydrogeologist James P Bruce once said: ‘If climate change is a shark, then water is its teeth.’ It has never seemed more relevant to the South African context than today in light of recent flooding and drought events. A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour, and when that water is released it can have devastating effects, as parts of KwaZulu-Natal experienced in 2022. A warmer atmosphere can also result in lower rainfall in other regions, such as the crippling droughts experienced in Gqeberha in 2022 and Cape Town in 2018. There is increasing awareness of the environmental, economic, geopolitical and social risks that…

The Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, along with the Mali Institut d’Economie Rurale and the Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie, recently launched the ‘StratAdapt-Mali’ project, through collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. The project aims to safeguard Mali’s sorghum yield, according to an article by News Ghana. “The groundbreaking project will aid rural farming communities, agricultural researchers, and other stakeholders to better plan in the face of extreme weather, through training and advanced crop and climate modelling technology that translates raw climate data into actionable information suited to local communities,” News Ghana reported. Amongst the technology used in the project was Climtag, a Web-based tool developed by VITO, which utilised climate data “to create…

JAPAN Japan’s farms have turned to foreign workers to mitigate a labour shortage stemming from the country’s ageing rural population. News agency Nikkei reported that PERSOL Global Workforce, one of Japan’s largest temporary staffing firms, launched a service in March to send foreign workers from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations to farms for seasonal jobs such as harvesting. Workers entered Japan on “specified skilled worker” visas, with PERSOL offering them the chance to “refine their skills” on a variety of farms around Japan. UK New data suggests that Northern Ireland’s farming sector is emerging from the worst of the cost-of-living crisis as farmers look for ways to mitigate the impact of soaring production costs, according to the BBC. The BBC said that farm incomes rose by 11,3% in 2022,…

Flash Gala, a full-red apple from the Bigbucks trees discovered in Elgin in the Western Cape in 2011, is receiving much attention, and there have been many requests for trees and additional information from India over the past season. This is according to Anthony RawboneViljoen of Oak Valley Estates, one of the holders of plant breeder's rights to Bigbucks and Flash Gala. Rawbone-Viljoen said the variety was ideal for the Indian market due to its ability to develop exceptional colour in warmer areas and Indian consumers' preference for sweet red apples. "India is the fifth-largest appleproducing country, with production centred almost exclusively in the northern states of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. “A modernisation process for orchard plantings has been underway in recent times, led…

A team from the University of Illinois in the US has modelled improving photosynthesis through enzyme modification and simulated soya bean growth under realistic climate conditions. They aimed to determine to what extent the improvements in photosynthesis could result in increased yields, according to the ScienceDaily website. Yufeng He, a postdoctoral researcher at the university, led this work for a research project called Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE). “There’s a complex relationship between photosynthesis improvement and actual yield. Having higher photosynthesis doesn’t necessarily mean you have higher yield. The yield return is highly impacted by seasonal climate conditions. This study has created a bridge that links the missing part between photosynthesis improvements and higher yields at field scale,” he said. According to ScienceDaily, RIPE was engineering crops to be more…

ChatGPT was launched on 30 November 2022. In its first five days, it amassed one million users and numbers have since grown by 95 million a month. If you haven’t given it a try, you’re missing out on the most powerful AI tool ever developed (see FW, 5 May). Here are three of the many questions I asked it, along with its responses: • Question: In brief, what are the 10 critical success factors for citrus production? • ChatGPT: "A warm climate; well-drained soils with a pH between 5,5 and 6,5; regular watering; disease and pest control; cultivar selection adapted to the climate and soils; proper fertilisation; harvesting at the right time; proper handling, storage and transportation; effective marketing; continuous research and innovation." A good summary, don't you think? With…

The Burger family, who farm near White River in Mpumalanga, own some of the oldest macadamia nut orchards in the area. The land below the towering trees is shaded and dark, with only patches of sunlight periodically filtering through. The cool atmosphere among the trees and the spongy, mulch-dense soil mimic that of a jungle, just perfect for growing coffee. Macvue is headed by father-and-son team Charles and Carel Burger, who both trained as commercial pilots. While on holiday at the farm during his studies, Carel decided to start experimenting with coffee cultivation. "We had a coffee tree growing in the yard and I wanted to see if I could produce more trees by planting the beans. When they flourished, I started looking into coffee production on a larger scale."…

SERVES FOUR TO SIX For the salsa: 2 ripe avocados, peeled and diced 250ml (1 cup) cooked maize kernels 3 spring onions, white and green parts thinly sliced 1 small jalapeno, seeded and finely diced (optional) Juice of 1 lemon 30ml (2 Tbsp) fresh coriander, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 15ml (1 Tbsp) avocado or olive oil Pinch of sea salt For the hotdogs: 6 hotdog sausages or Frankfurters 6 hotdog rolls • Boil the sausages for four to six minutes in water. • Slice the rolls in half. • While the sausages are boiling, in a large bowl combine the avocado, maize kernels, spring onion, jalapeño, lemon juice, coriander, avocado oil, crushed garlic and salt. Toss well. • Remove the sausages and place one into each sliced bread roll.…

In a new study, researchers have managed to make gelatin from chicken. Pork is currently the main source of gelatin, according to Partner Science Norway. According to the publication, as many as three different protein products can be extracted from the same poultry carcass using the newly developed processes as described by the study. "In the industry, chicken and turkey carcasses are currently processed using enzymes that release the fat, break down the proteins and extract bones and minerals. The fat is mainly used for animal feed. The protein is also used in animal feed, especially pet food, but also in food for human consumption," the article reported. In the study, scientists demonstrated a new method that enabled more protein products to be extracted from the poultry carcass. The publication…

Dear Prof McCrindle, I farm in Tshapfutshe near Beitbridge in Zimbabwe. Please would you explain what is meant by lung sickness and respiratory diseases in small stock? And how do I treat them? Kind regards, Langalanga Farming Dear Anonymous, Respiratory diseases, including lung sickness, can be caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa or even parasites. In general, the best way to prevent pneumonia is to keep your small stock warm and dry, vaccinate them regularly and control parasites. The treatment of respiratory diseases in sheep and goats depends largely on the cause. For example, high levels of intestinal parasites such as roundworm, tapeworm or coccidia can reduce immunity to bacteria and viruses, causing pneumonia. External parasites such as botflies lay their eggs in the nostrils of the animals, and the larvae…

ARCHIVE This farmer had 5 500 coffee trees on 2,5ha, twice the usual planting density, and believed that South Africa could ultimately produce enough coffee to meet local demand. One of the most costly aspects of a coffee plantation is labour for picking the berries and for pruning or cutting back the trees. But a former Tanganyika (now Tanzania) coffee farmer is confident he has found the answer to part of this problem, although his scheme is a little unusual. First, Bob Kotowicz of Wolmar Farm, Munster, on the Natal South Coast, has the distinction of establishing probably the most southerly coffee plantation in South Africa, now that the coffee trials in the Transkei have been ploughed up. He is also farming coffee right on the coast, despite unfavourable weather.…

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO The Zambian government’s decision to ban the export of maize in early April is having a severe impact on African countries reliant on Zambia for maize, according to various reports. The EastAfrican reported on 11 April that Zambian Finance Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane said Zambia would not export maize to Kenya, as a poor harvest had led to a deficit of the grain in the country. The ban has since extended to other regions. Chiefly affected is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the price of maize meal increased from FC25 000 (about R224) for 25kg in March to CF92 000 (R824) by early April. EGYPT Following the ban of meat from Sudan, the Egyptian government is working on finding alternatives, according to the Egypt Independent.…

Western Cape Veterinary Services has warned poultry farmers that avian influenza has been detected on two commercial layer farms in the Drakenstein and Swartland municipal areas of the Western Cape. Approximately 120 000 birds had died or been destroyed following the outbreak, with the exact strain involved still unknown at the time of writing. Izaak Breitenbach, general manager of the South African Poultry Association’s Broiler Organisation, said the previous outbreak had been detected in October 2022, and no reports had been filed that the disease had spread from there. He said that avian influenza had the greatest financial impact on layer producers, as these chickens had a longer life cycle than broilers. Government did not compensate farmers for their losses, as was done in many other countries. Over the past…

President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the recent South Africa-Finland roundtable attended by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö that he was disappointed at the acts of EU protectionism and unfair decisions against South African products, most recently citrus. He said he was looking to Finland to make a case in the EU against rising protectionism in European trade, and to promote free trade. The Citrus Marketing Forum in March reported that the 2023 season had come after an extremely tough year for growers, which resulted in 5,7 million fewer cartons being packed for export (at 164,8 million) than predicted at the start of the season. Only one in five growers was making a positive return. The forum blamed a surge in farming input prices and transport costs, along with “unjustified and discriminatory”…

The new umbrella body for the South African wine and brandy industries, SA Wine, recently held its inaugural board meeting and announced Vinpro managing director Rico Basson as its CEO. The Vinpro and South African Liquor Brand Owners' Association appointed five producer directors and five brand owners to serve on the board of the non-profit company. They were Antoinette Vermooten, Anton Smuts, Boyce Lloyd, Sakkie du Toit, James Reid, Mohseen Moosa, Philip Retief, Rydal Jeftha, Vivian Kleynhans and Wessel du Wet. Ronald Ramabulana was appointed as an independent board member and chairperson of the board, while Khumbuzile Mosoma, from the National Agricultural Marketing Council, was appointed as an observer. Basson will take up his position on 1 June 2023. Two executives and other staff are expected to commence employment in…

Small stock with a heavy lice burden will continually scratch themselves, use their mouths to pull at their wool or mohair, or rub against walls, poles, trees and other objects. Wool sheep are particularly prone to this problem, especially when the wool is long. When seeing this behaviour, many farmers mistakenly think it is due to sheep scab or itch mites. They then apply an injectable antiparasitic remedy, but this has little or no effect. Dipping is the only really effective way to control lice. HOW TO DIP YOUR SHEEP OR GOATS There are three ways of dipping livestock. Whichever way you choose, it must be carried out correctly, or you will not solve the lice problem. • Spray and plunge dipping This method is best for meat goats and…

Why do producers have to change the way they farm? Our world is in peril. Economies and societies globally are becoming more fragmented and disconnected, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine revealing just how broken these systems have become. We’re seeing increased antagonism between the US and China as power shifts from the west to the east, Brexit deepening the divide between the UK and EU, civil wars taking their toll in places like Afghanistan, Syria and South Sudan, and many domestic political challenges, not only in South Africa, but internationally. Lawlessness from both the elite and the populist movements are on the rise. Besides these man-made disasters, we also have natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, which are predicted to increase because of climate change.…

• Abiotic: non-living components, such as water, soil and the atmosphere. • Anabolic pathways demand an input of energy to create complex molecules from simpler ones. • Bioavailable dissolved organic carbon: the fraction of dissolved organic carbon rapidly absorbed by microorganisms and used for cell multiplication. It consists of a wide range of low-molecular-weight organic carbon molecules such as sugars, organic acids and amino acids. • Biochar: charcoal created from plant matter and deposited in the soil as a way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. • Biosphere: the slender life-supporting layer of Earth's surface, ranging from a few kilometres into the atmosphere to the deep-sea chimneys of the ocean. It consists of living organisms and non-living elements from which the organisms obtain energy and nutrients. • Biotic factors…

SERVES ONE OR TWO 2 slices crusty sourdough or French baguette 30ml (2 Tbsp) softened butter 1 small ripe pear, cored and sliced 250ml–500ml (1–2 cups) good-quality hard cheese such as Cheddar or Gruyère, grated 150g caramelised onion or store-bought onion marmalade 1 large ripe avocado, peeled, stoned and sliced • Preheat oven to 200°C. Spread one side of each slice of bread with softened butter. Lay a few pear slices on top of the bread and cover with grated cheese. • Place sandwiches on a sheet pan and bake until the cheese has melted and become golden around edges (six to eight minutes). To serve, top with the avocado slices, remaining pear slices and a dollop of caramelised onion.…