Innehållsförteckning för 29 September 2023 från Farmer's Weekly

In our Focus on Housing this week, we look at the regulations (or lack thereof) governing the construction of homes on farms (see story on page 42). As the article notes, there are many benefits to farmers and farmworkers when on-farm housing is made available. Some of these benefits have been mentioned in the article, but I will mention them briefly here for context. First, when farmworkers live on the farm, production becomes more efficient as no time is wasted commuting to and from the farm. This improves farmers' bottom line over the long term. Farmworkers benefit by having to spend less on travel, and by living in a safe environment. One of the studies quoted in the article (by Margareet Visser and Stuart Ferrer) highlighted that women farmworkers, in…

The Pitch AgriHack 2023 results are in, capping an inspiring journey celebrating Africa's most exciting agritech visionaries. Applicants from 39 African countries went through a rigorous selection process until six winners were crowned at the Youth Innovation Awards on the final day of The Africa Food Systems Forum hosted at the Julius Nyerere ICC, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This year's Pitch AgriHack theme, ‘Unleash your Innovation', resonated deeply with the entrepreneurs, who demonstrated how technology can be harnessed to drive sustainability, improve productivity, and uplift communities. The competition underscored the power of technology-driven solutions in addressing pressing challenges across the agricultural value chain. Awarding a total prize pool of US$45 000 (about R850 000), the competition recognised and celebrated the brilliance of young minds that are reshaping the future…

The National Development Plan (NDP) was adopted as government strategy in 2013 and the National Planning Commission has just published its 10-year review. The report, made public on 8 September, was given to President Cyril Ramaphosa for action and implementation. It provides a clear view of what went wrong and whether the NDP was still relevant. Typical of such a review from a body like the National Planning Commission, the issues mentioned would be generic and individuals, political parties or organisations would not be mentioned by name. WHEN THE DECLINE BEGAN It is clear from the review that things started going wrong in South Africa from 2008/09 and the Zuma years, when state capture was the main aim. Added to this was the economic devastation, especially from 2016 onwards following…

South African non-profit organisation GreenCape's market intelligence reports highlight the most promising market opportunities in key green economy sectors, including sustainable agriculture. GreenCape works at the interface of business, government, and academia to identify and remove barriers to economically viable green economy infrastructure solutions. The reports are published in partnership with the UK's Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT) programme, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. According to British High Commissioner in South Africa, Antony Phillipson, the PACT programme is helping South Africa deliver its ambitions for a just transition to a lowcarbon economy, including providing technical assistance for the renewable energy market. He said the reports would help to attract investment into the green economy by identifying market opportunities, as well as…

Wagyu producers need to work with others in the red meat industry if they want to unlock their full potential. This was the message from various speakers at the Wagyu Conference held recently near Franschhoek in the Western Cape. Veterinarian Dr John Grewar said Wagyu producers should not reinvent the wheel, but identify past and current trade partners to grow exports. “It is easier to improve existing relationships than to create new ones.” He identified the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, the Middle East, China, Hong Kong and Mauritius as lowhanging fruit, while European countries and the UK were “tough nuts to crack” because of phytosanitary and other market requirements. Botswana, Namibia, the US and the Mercosur bloc in South America were identified as good potential markets for genetic material. Grewar…

Genetic and strain development improvements are driving a significant revolution in the cannabis production industry. Now that we have a thorough understanding of cannabinoids, terpenes, and their complex interactions, the days of making simplistic distinctions between indica and sativa are long gone. Cannabis breeders are using the power of genetics to create strains with specific profiles, customised to satisfy diverse therapeutic requirements and consumer tastes as study into the plant's genetics deepens and technology advances. The two primary species of cannabis, indica and sativa, were traditionally used to categorise strains. This classification, though, was unable to adequately convey the intricacy of the plant's The study of terpenes and cannabinoids, which are the molecules and fragrances, is now the main objective. Terpenes like myrcene, limonene and pinene, as well as cannabinoids…

The Queensland government in Australia offers some useful advice on how to train a livestock guardian dog. First, the farmer must select a suitable breed. A breed like the Great Pyrenees, Anatolian shepherd dog, Maremma and Portuguese cattle dog are some examples of a guardiantype breed, but there are many more. It is essential that the puppy is raised with livestock from eight weeks old, either on its own or alongside other experienced livestock guardian dogs. It is recommended that while rearing the dogs, the farmer should maintain contact with the puppies so they are approachable and can be easily handled. As with rearing other dogs, the owner and the dog should bond; however, in rearing livestock guardians, this should also happen with the herd. Make sure to observe the…

Climate change and weather extremes are becoming an increasing issue, not only in the warmer regions but also in more temperate countries. Heat stress makes it difficult for dairy cows to remove heat from their bodies, which can have consequences for health and productivity. Cows can actually tolerate temporary, short-term increases in temperature and humidity as long as they quickly return to more comfortable levels. PROVIDE A HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE FEED AND A BALANCED RATION WHILE MAINTAINING A SAFE FORAGE-TOCONCENTRATE RATIO There has been a lot of research studying the thresholds for temperature and humidity above which cows will suffer heat stress, but much of this early work was carried out in the US, where animals would have been adapted to higher temperatures to start with (Chamberlain, unpublished). This means that…

Lionel Phillips was born in London in 1855, where his father was a trader. He was one of three sons in this lower middle-class, hard-working family. Phillips's early formal education was limited, and at the age of 14, he became a bookkeeper for his father's business. He soon ventured out on his own and joined a firm of London diamond-sorters. While there he heard of the discovery of diamond deposits at the thriving mining town of Kimberley in South Africa. After saving up money for the passage to Cape Town, Phillips resigned from his employer and travelled in steerage class to the Cape. He arrived at the Kimberley diamond fields at the age of 20, having walked most of the way there from Cape Town. Joseph Robinson, the mining magnate,…

HIGHEST: (RAM) R12 000 Smithfield – The Koko Boerdery Dormer Stud Production Sale was held on the farm Heuningkrans on 7 September. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Pieter Aucamp of Mossel Bay on behalf of Jaco Geldenhuys of Mulco Trust in Riversdale for R12 000. Rams achieved an average price of R8 055,56. The sale was held by BKB, with JP Marais as the auctioneer.…

ARCHIVE Artificial insemination (AI) proved to be the answer for this beef producer when his herd was badly hit by disease. When trichomoniasis infected his herd, Peter Schoeman's calving rate plummeted and he thought he might have to abandon his commercial beef enterprise. Trichomonas is a parasite transmitted during coitus as a true venereal infection from bull to cow and vice versa. If the cow falls pregnant, the foetus dies and if she doesn't, she usually contracts a chronic form of endometritis, or inflammation of the womb or uterus. A worried Schoeman, who farms on the slopes of Spioenkop in KwaZulu-Natal, sought the advice of the local vet and was advised to switch to AI or separate his healthy animals from the infected ones. Neither course would be easy. Segregation…

Concerns over food insecurity amid rising food costs has led government to direct the Economic Cluster to implement an action plan on food prices, food security and access to food. In a media briefing, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the cluster would continue to monitor food prices to ensure affordable and accessible essential food products for consumers. This followed the Competition Commission's ongoing enquiry into possible food price gouging since the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020. “We note that the commission has recommended measures including market inquiries to address structural features in the market that lead to high food prices and low levels of competition. “We will also focus our inquiry into the ‘feather and rocket' effect, where prices are quick to rise, often in…

South Africa's GDP increased by 0,6% in the second quarter of 2023. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), six industries on the supply side of the economy grew in the second quarter, with manufacturing and finance driving much of the upward momentum. On the demand side, the country benefitted from a sharp rise in investments in machinery and equipment, which included products related to renewable energy. Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza welcomed the latest figures released by Stats SA, which showed that the agriculture sector was one of the biggest contributors to the country's economic growth. She said this growth signified the importance and influence of the sector in the nation's economy. According to Stats SA, after two consecutive quarters of decline, the country's…

As the farmers of Wales prepare for their harvest season they are facing a new challenge in a shortage of seasonal workers and pickers, said the UK government. Despite the government making 15 000 extra visas available for seasonal working, farmers were still struggling and could opt to invite the public to ‘pick your own' events. However, this solution would not help larger farms. Farmers in the area told the BBC that previously they had no shortage of farm labour as overseas workers came to work on the farms during harvest season and returned to their home countries during winter. However, due to Brexit and the pandemic, this number had dropped drastically. Smaller farms were able to include activities for the public, including ‘pick your own' options for customers to…

Mardouw Investments and De Rustica Estate dominated this year's SA Olive Awards by winning five gold medals each. Mardouw's XXV Delicate won a gold medal in the Delicate category, while their XXV Medium and Favolosa won gold medals in the Medium category. Their XXV Intense and XXV Intense Blend won gold medals in the Intense category. De Rustica Estate Collection Arbequina won gold in the Delicate category, De Rustica Estate Collection Frantoio and De Rustica Estate Medium won gold in the Medium Category, and De Rustica Estate Intense and De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina won gold in the Intense Category. Babylonstoren, Lions Creek Olive Estate and Morgenster Estate each won two gold medals. In the Medium Category, Babylonstoren won their gold medals for Babylonstoren Blend EVOO 2023 and Babylonstoren Coratina…

South Africa's real GDP increased by 0,6% in the second quarter of 2023 (April to June). This corresponds to a 0,4% rise recorded in the first quarter. Following two consecutive quarters of contraction, South Africa's agriculture sector made a reversal toward positive growth. The observed 4,2% increase in output may be ascribed to an increase in the production of field crops and horticultural commodities. Favourable weather conditions, an expansion in agricultural methods, and an increase in export demand contributed to growth. The year-on-year (y/y) growth for agriculture as examined by looking at the 2023 Q2 value-added figure relative to the same figure in 2022 Q2 shows an increase of 17,8% (seasonally adjusted and annualised). In 2022, summer crop harvesting was delayed, resulting in a 25% y/y drop in the second…

South Africa is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including some common predators that can pose a threat to livestock. These predators vary in size and behaviour, and their impact on livestock can range from occasional predation to more significant threats. • Cheetahs: While cheetahs primarily prey on wild game, they may occasionally target livestock. • Leopards: Leopards are known to be opportunistic predators and can pose a significant threat to livestock, especially in rural areas. • Hyenas: Spotted hyenas are scavengers and predators, and they may target weak or unattended livestock. • Jackals: Black-backed jackals and side-striped jackals are known to prey on small livestock like sheep and goats. • Caracals: Also known as the African lynx, caracals can be a threat to poultry and small livestock. •…

Over the past few years, there have been numerous ‘save the bee' campaigns, with more people taking an interest in the massive impact these tiny insects have on our existence. Previously, many would swat at or kill a bee for fear of being stung, but today more people are interested in bee farming and the impact it has on the ecosystem. An article written by Mabel Burnet for the website Ecoideaz gives details of the latest smart technologies that positively affect bee farming. She delves into various farming methods, and one of these is the use of Beebot. This device is perfect for amateur beekeepers who know very little about beehive health. “Beebot is a smart sensor gadget that helps beekeepers track the temperature in hives and humidity and identify…

Luis Pinheiro is wearing jeans and an open-necked shirt. He is clutching his Royal Portfolio-branded travel coffee cup. “It was quite ambitious of founder Liz Biden to go with a no-jacket, no-tie and staff in jeans policy. Other five-star hoteliers at the time were shocked,” he says. He is general manager of The Royal Portfolio's Silo Hotel in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront and this month he will have been there for seven years, making this his longest-running GM position. With GM roles at other top hotels such as Belmond's Reid's Palace in Madeira, Belmond Mount Nelson, The Table Bay and Leeu Estates in Franschhoek on his CV, he knows the luxury hotel business better than most. “The Bidens invited me to visit the construction site in 2015 and I saw…

HIGHEST: (RAM) R100 000) Smithfield – The Heuningkrans Merino Stud Production Sale was held on the farm Heuningkrans on 7 September on behalf of Eddie and Eduard Prinsloo. The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Frikkie Jooste of Luckhoff for R100 000. Rams achieved an average price of R9 116,88. Ewe lambs achieved an average price of R1 463,29, while in-lamb ewes were sold for an average price of R2 000. The sale was held by BKB, with JP Marais as the auctioneer.…

The Humane Society International has taken serious issue with a decision by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to allow the hunting of an elephant in the Maseke Game Reserve in Limpopo. The hunt took place despite an interdict prohibiting the allocation of permits for trophy hunting of African elephants, leopards and black rhino in South Africa. On 3 September, an elephant bull was shot eight times during a trophy hunt before ultimately being killed. The society is now exploring legal avenues against the DFFE since the incident was in contravention of the High Court interim ban. The Western Cape High Court interdict was issued after a successful legal challenge brought by Humane Society International/Africa in 2022 against the DFFE and others. The interdict prohibits the allocation…

South Africa's organised agricultural structures are extremely concerned about evidence that a huge proportion of veldfires that occurred in the country so far this year were caused wilfully and deliberately. Naudé Pienaar, Agri North West assistant general manager, for instance said that there were clear indications that an unreasonably high percentage of the fires that destroyed in excess of 600 000ha in the province so far were caused by arsonists. Kobus Visser, Agri SA director of rural safety and provincial affairs, told Farmer's Weekly that signs of arsonists starting veld fires also came to the fore in 2022. To that effect, the organisation liaised with the South African Police Service (SAPS) on the matter during a priority committee meeting. “SAPS was urged to consider such incidents in a serious light…

SCOTLAND The historic Kelso Ram Sales attracted buyers from all over the UK and has been hailed as one of the oldest and largest sheep sales in Europe. The first sale took place more than 180 years ago and a spokesperson for the Border Union Agricultural Society said the gathering this year was a “sight to see”. The society said the Kelso Ram Sales event in Scotland was a pinnacle of sheep farming as people came from all over to attend. There were close to 4 000 rams this year, with the event finishing earlier than expected. For the statistics and sales of the 2023 event, visit borderunion.co.uk. PHILIPPINES The government of the Philippines' finance department said it had not been consulted when a price cap on rice was imposed…

Every South African citizen, and especially the country's farmers, is paying the price for the impracticable policy environment in the country that more often than not leads to miserable failures on the economic front. This is according to Henry Geldenhuys, president of TLU SA. At the organisation's recent annual congress, held in Tshwane, Geldenhuys said the ANC's transformation policy, characterised by issues such as cadre deployment, impacted every sphere of the country. The congress was held at the Voortrekker Monument. “It has resulted in poverty and sorrow. Crime in South Africa is out of control. This is underpinned by the fact that nearly 70 murders take place in the country every day. “Farmers are attacked and murdered on their farms and many have been driven out of business because of…

South Africa's citrus industry is set to receive a boost in quality as stricter laws for propagation are tabled. The Citrus Improvement Scheme (CIS) will soon be promulgated after undergoing a two-decade process of consultation in the industry. At the end of July, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza approved the content of the CIS notice. It has since been published in the Government Gazette for written public comment before finalisation and promulgation. The Citrus Research Institute (CRI) has welcomed the tightening of biosecurity and quality control in tree propagation that will result from the scheme. Paul Fourie, scheme manager at the CRI, said the scheme would ultimately increase the profitability of the Southern African citrus industry by ensuring citrus growers were supplied with nursery trees…

Retail food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 9,9% from July 2022 to July 2023. While this is much lower than the peak of nearly 14% reached in April 2023, it is still much higher than the headline CPI inflation of 4,7%. A recent Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy publication lists the food categories with the highest rate of inflation year-on-year (see the table). A recent report on retail sales and prices for dairy products by the South African Milk Processors' Organisation shows that while the sales of nearly all dairy products decreased in the 12-month period to June 2023, compared with the 12-month period that ended in June 2022, retail prices increased substantially. The increase in prices fully compensated the retail sector for the lower sales volumes. In…

Obesity in dogs is a medical condition characterised by an excess accumulation of body fat that significantly impairs a dog's health and well-being. It occurs when a dog's energy intake from food exceeds their energy expenditure through physical activity and metabolic processes, leading to weight gain. Obesity can have serious consequences for a dog's overall health and can affect their quality of life. Common features of obesity in dogs include: EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT Obese dogs have a body weight that exceeds the ideal weight for their breed and size. Body fat accumulation: Fat deposits are visibly evident, often leading to a rounded or distended appearance. Reduced mobility: Obesity can make it difficult for dogs to move comfortably, resulting in decreased physical activity and exercise intolerance. Respiratory issues: Obese dogs may…

There are few relationships as important to a farmer as the one between him or her and and their farmworkers. While we often laud farmers for their contribution to food security and the economy, we should not forget the importance of farmworkers in this regard. No farm would be profitable without the input of committed farmworkers. This is something farmers are well aware of, and this is why most farmers offer their workers on-farm housing. This scenario is beneficial for farmers and their workers, as on-farm housing limits commute time, which saves farmworkers money and time and means that farmers always have ready hands on-farm. Farmworkers' presence on the farm is critical for a seamless operation, particularly during crucial periods, such as planting and harvesting. On-farm housing allows the business…

BACK TO BASICS FENCING Packing a line of stones along the bottom of a camp fence is probably the most cost-effective non-lethal way of controlling the movement of black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas). These predators keep you busy and can wipe out half of your lamb crop before you know it. Packing stones to keep predators out of lambing areas works well, according to small-stock farmers who have done it. It won't keep caracal (Caracal caracal) out, however, as these cats can climb right over. And the fence must still be patrolled and checked regularly, as with electrified fences, for holes made by burrowing animals such as aardvark (Orycteropus afer), through which an enterprising jackal can find its way to the prey. The two methods (stone wall, or a fence) can be…

Frugal Feasts LIFESTYLE MAKES 4 ½ French loaf or baguette 15ml (1 Tbsp) avocado or olive oil 4 pancetta or bacon slices 2 eggs, boiled and cooled 100g (⅓ cup) mayonnaise 30ml (2 Tbsp) white wine vinegar 15ml (1 Tbsp) wholegrain mustard 1 packet mixed salad leaves 1 avocado, peeled, stoned and thinly sliced 500ml (2 cups) cooked chicken breast, or leftover roast chicken, sliced 125ml (½ cup) finely chopped chives • Heat a grill pan to mediumhigh. Use a serrated knife to cut the baguette diagonally into 5mm-thick slices. Brush with a little of the oil. Cook on the grill until lightly toasted, about one minute each side. Transfer to a plate and set aside. • Cook the pancetta or bacon on the grill until crisp, about one minute…

South African Moths & Their Caterpillars by Herman Staude, Mike Picker & Charles Griffiths (Struik Nature, R550) Moths, unlike their more flashy cousins the butterflies (only 800 butterfly species in Southern Africa), have a bad press because a small minority of the 11 000 species of these Lepidoptera in the subcontinent eat our jerseys. But thanks to three intrepid, moth-loving authors, the moth and its junior form, the caterpillar, are coming to the fore. The moth has been around for about 300 million years and is found on all continents except Antarctica. Globally, there are about 160 000 species. Of these, about 7% are in Southern Africa. The 1 500 most common and curious locally found species are featured in this impressively easy-to-use guide. Each species has a distribution map,…

HIGHEST: (COLT) R1,76 MILLION Online – The Bloodstock South Africa September Online Auction was held on 5 September. The highest price of the day was paid for the colt Billy Bowlegs by The United States out of You're The Tops, which was sold by AG Racing to Brett Crawford for R1,76 million. The second-highest price of the day was paid for the mare Grande Roche by High Chaparral out of Larrocha, which was sold by Tim Bootsma to Lammerskraal Stud for R610 000. The third-highest price of the day was paid for the gelding Narina Trogon by Silvano out of Beach Beauty, which was sold by the Drakenstein Stud to Pound Bloodstock for R390 000. The stallion Vercingetorix, by Silvano out of National Vixen, was sold by Maine Chance Farms…

The fourth sale of the wool season consisted of another small offering of only 5 707 bales, of which 65,6% of the Merino wools were sustainably certified. The non-certified indicator rose by 1,9% to close at R153,07/kg, while the certified indicator gained 2,2% to close at R165,74/kg. The longer-length Merino fleece wools sold well, with the short and mixed types dragging the sales percentage down, which resulted in an overall sales clearance of 90,5%, according to Cape Wools SA. Better overall market sentiment and a weaker rand supported the market, with all micron categories ending the day in positive territory. Major buyers were G Modiano SA (1 176 bales), Standard Wool SA (962), Tianyu SA (858) and BKB Pinnacle Fibres (853). OVK offered 1 546 bales of which 91,85% were…

Dear Prof McCrindle, Why are only heifers vaccinated against brucellosis? At what age should they be vaccinated? Kind regards, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, The vaccination age for all animal vaccines is, by law, stated on the label or enclosed instructions in the box or container in which a vaccine is sold. These instructions are based on several different risk factors for each particular vaccine. Risk means the most likely danger or the greatest danger to humans, animals or the environment. In the case of brucellosis, the danger is to all three. Brucellosis is perhaps the most underestimated risk to human health of all animal diseases in the world, firstly because of the size or magnitude of the risk. Cattle, sheep, goats and dairy buffalo can all get forms of brucellosis. Brucellosis…