Innehållsförteckning för 9 February 2024 från Farmer's Weekly

At the time of writing, it has been almost a month since the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) released its Blue, Green and No Drop reports. These reports offer a shocking insight into the current state of South Africa’s water quality. In this week’s issue we speak to stakeholders about what the findings of these reports mean for agriculture, and how poor water quality is affecting agriculture (see story on page 17). Farmer’s Weekly previously covered the report, and so I will not rehash the findings here, but will provide a quick summary. The Blue Drop Watch Report investigates the current condition of drinking water infrastructure and treatment processes across 144 Water Services Authorities (WSA) in the country. These WSAs provide drinking water for domestic, commercial and business use…

On Soil Day on 5 December, management from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) visited a Drakensberg soil rehabilitation project. The annual event prioritises soil health and advocates for the sustainable management of soil resources. The KwaZulu-Natal project, managed by the African Conservation Trust (ACT), an eThekwinibased NGO, has seen consistent progress over the past two years. The CEO of ACT, Francois du Toit, and chairperson Carl Grossmann accompanied IDC programme manager Bhavanesh Parbhoo and senior account manager Dumisani Gumede to the amaNgwane Traditional Authority area, located near Cathedral Peak. Resident Social Employment Fund (SEF) participants are building barriers in deeply eroded gullies. SEF is a mass employment programme that is managed by the IDC and falls under the Presidential Employment Stimulus. Participants work for a stipend on projects for the…

In the heartbeat of an election year, as political landscapes evolve and politicians canvas for votes, it is paramount we turn our attention to a cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity, the agribusiness sector. South Africa’s economy is intricately woven with the threads of agriculture, making it imperative for politicians to introspect and recalibrate their strategies to harness the full potential of this vital sector. Land reform is not just a policy, it stands as a living testament to the intricate tapestry of historical challenges and the nation’s relentless pursuit of a more equitable future. Initiated to rectify the deep-rooted injustices stemming from the apartheid era and colonial history, this multifaceted initiative was meant to foster social justice, economic development and national reconciliation by restoring land to those who were unjustly…

Despite the South African government acquiring 432 038ha of land in the Free State under various land reform redistribution programmes since 1994, at a cost of R1 881 billion to the tax payer, this land was not being used for commercial food production. This was according to Dr Roy Jankielsohn, the DA’s caucus leader in the Free State. “In addition, municipalities in the province own 203 plots of vacant land that amount to 245 379ha, which means a total of 677 417ha of potentially productive land is lying dormant.” The Free State was but a case study of what was happening in the rest of the country, he said. It could be safely assumed that this trend of failure was continuing in all of the other provinces, except in the…

The US has revved up the the fight on climate change as the Biden administration announced its budget for domestic fertiliser and renewable energy projects last month. According to US agricultural secretary Tom Vilsack, the government was planning to spend US$207 million (about R3,96 billion) to boost supplier competition for the country’s farmers and assist with lower energy costs for agricultural producers. In a statement, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it had awarded US$50 million (R956 million) to be split among seven projects in seven states through its Fertiliser Production Expansion Program, which was launched after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. The USDA said the remainder of the funds would be used in 675 projects in 42 states across the country for the Rural Energy for America…

After being battered by devastating storms in January, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) farmers are counting their losses in crops, livestock and infrastructure. Having experienced six weeks of heavy rain with widespread flooding, severe thunder and lightning storms, torrential winds and hail, KZN is facing widespread disaster to the tune of billions of rand and many lives lost. Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thembi Nkadimeng, recently announced that the National Disaster Management Centre had declared some municipalities, including Uthukela, iLembe, Ugu, Umzinyathi, and eThekwini Metro, disaster areas. Nkadimeng, who was in KZN together with Deputy Minister Parks Tau and KZN COGTA MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, conducted oversight visits in areas affected by the floods. She also reported that more than R2 billion worth of infrastructure damage, including that of roads, bridges,…

Vivian Jakobs says that when he was growing up on the farm Wanganella, which has since been renamed Beste Wens, in the Warm Bokkeveld, people at school in Ceres used to look down on him; they did not expect him to amount to much in life. Jakobs believes this was because he was a farmworker’s child, just like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. AFTER THREE YEARS OF DOING SEASONAL WORK HE WAS APPOINTED AS A PERMANENT GENERAL WORKER, A STEP UP AND AN ADJUSTMENT But he has proved them all wrong by working his way up from being a seasonal worker to becoming manager of one of the farms belonging to Crispy Farms, in which the Dutoit Group has a 49% stake. Farmworkers, including himself, have a 51%…

With all farming operations, the key objective is to improve yields and quality. This is achieved through nutrition, water, genetics and climate. Focusing on water, a farmer’s chosen irrigation system can make or break his business. To get the best from an investment in irrigation, a farmer should ensure that the right system is implemented from the start, and then ensure that a proper maintenance programme is in place to keep this investment functioning optimally. GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT Hennie Needham, general manager of Rivulis Irrigation in South Africa, says that there are six key considerations farmers must keep in mind when choosing an irrigation system: the type of crop; the climate; the field shape and slope; the water source and quality; soil type; and energy source, availability and any…

As El Niño causes droughts in many farming regions, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) is delving into water sustainability using remote sensing system OpenET to track and manage the earth’s water resources. OpenET is a data-processing platform that provides accessible satellite evapo-transpiration (ET) information using data produced by US space agency NASA. “For irrigated agriculture, satellite-based estimates of [ET] provide a measure of the water used to grow food. However, access to ET data has been limited and expensive, keeping it out of the hands of most water users and decision-makers,” says OpenET. The DRI used this data to calculate the ET or the amount of water lost to the atmosphere through soil evaporation and plant transpiration, at the level of individual fields. The scientists built 152 micrometeorological stations known…

Hidalgo was the purported Mustang owned by Frank T Hopkins, a professional horseman in the 19th century. Hopkins claims to have won over 400 long-distance races on his horse Hidalgo, and while some of his claims have been supported by third parties, many of his claims lack evidence. Besides this, the story of Hopkins and the great race in Arabia has become urban legend. Hopkins claimed that the race happened in 1891, and was called the ‘Ocean of Fire’. The race was purported to stretch over 4 800km across the Arabian Peninsula. It is said that Hidalgo, a Mustang and thus considered a horse of mixed race, was matched against pureblood Arabian horses, and that his chances of winning were small, due to the renowned endurance of the Arabian horses.…

During the run-up to the national elections, leaders of the various political parties contesting for power will outline their manifestos, speaking to the various challenges across society and the economy, and outlining how they plan to address these challenges. PARTIES' ELECTION MANIFESTOS Given the history of this country, it is commonplace for political parties to include land and agricultural policies in their election manifestos and promises. This year’s elections come when the agriculture sector faces serious challenges, thus offering an opportunity to hear whether the political leaders or various parties’ manifestos will address the pressing challenges of the sector. The most pressing issues, according to the Agbiz/ Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Agribusiness Confidence Index results for the 2023 fourth quarter (Q4), include intensified delays and inefficiencies at the ports, rising…

Dr Nandipha Ndudane, president of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and principal of the Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI), has been nominated to serve on the World Veterinary Association (WVA) as the representative for Africa. SAVC endorsed Ndudane’s nomination, recognising her significant contributions to the WVA. In congratulating her, the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform said it was pleased that Ndudane was flying the provincial flag high by being the first female SAVC president. The department wished her good luck as she aimed to represent Africa if elected, and help coordinate the veterinary issues of Africa. Commenting on her nomination, Ndudane said her voluntary and unpaid work were a form of social contribution to the advancement of veterinary services. In her motivation to the…

UNITED KINGDOM A wildlife trust in the UK said that the use of pesticides on locally grown sugar beets is causing harm to the local wildlife. The Suffolk Wildlife Trust said that the banned pesticide, a seed treatment called thiamethoxam, has been making its way into rivers, putting wildlife in the waterways in danger. Sugar beet is grown across the east of England. Gareth Dalglish, director of nature recovery at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: “This is a crucial issue for Norfolk. East Anglia is the heart of the British sugar industry and home to a majority of about 3 000 sugar beet farmers.” SOUTH KOREA South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has said that workers from Laos will be allowed to work on small and medium farms…

The canola industry once again struggled with seed availability during the 2023 season. This resulted in some farmers having to settle for seed they did not order, and some having to fall back on farm-saved seed, according to Koos Blanckenberg, chairperson of Grain SA’s canola work group. He said during a regional meeting in Moorreesburg in the Swartland that some farmers also received their seed late, which had a negative impact on production. To address the situation, Grain SA sent a delegate to Australia in September, from where roughly 95% of the canola seed planted in South Africa derived. Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA, described the visit as highly successful. “We have strengthened our relationship with Australian suppliers, and South Africa is now considered as important as any…

In addition to anticipated rate cuts by the South African Reserve Bank, the recent opening of international markets such as Saudi Arabia for South African meat is bound to increase demand, thus presenting some price support. Higher demand, coupled with increased supply in the broader context of an industry coming out of a period of strong herd rebuilding, could however offset some of the effect of improved demand conditions. BEEF Local beef prices have traded lower month-on-month by 1,7% and 1,4% for Class A and Class C beef respectively (see Graph 1), reflecting the post-festive waning demand. Beef prices traded notably lower yearon-year, with Class A beef trading 6,5% lower compared to the same time last year while Class C beef decreased by 7,9%. This can be attributed to factors…

An alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid known for its fluffy and soft fleece. Alpacas are members of the camelid family, which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicuñas. They are native to the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains in South America, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile. Peru is currently the world’s biggest producer of alpaca fleece. “After the intrusion of Spanish conquistadors around 1530 [in South America], sheep and other European livestock were brought into South America, and the Andean people with their alpacas were pushed high up into Andes, where they have predominantly remained to this day. The ‘push’ to higher altitudes was the result of mass slaughter of not only thousands upon thousands of alpacas, but of the Inca people as well as their…

The Woodpecker Mystery by Nick Norman (Franschhoek Press, R295) Geologist and mining engineer Norman spent several decades nagged by the question of why in South America he’d see familiar-looking relatives of the woodpecker, coral tree, yellowwood and even Karoo rocks when thousands of miles of Atlantic Ocean divide the continent from Africa. He’s already written three highly readable books about South Africa’s intriguing rock formations and a memoir of his life split mainly between mining exploration and his small farm in the Western Cape. He brings that same approachability and energy of discovery here to his quest to find out how related species could be so far flung. Part of his answer is continents shifting in prehistory and huge mountain ridges emerging on the ocean beds. He canters you through…

ARCHIVE It can be one of the most profitable of crops if you know what you are doing. Here, a producer near Vanderbijlpark passes on his know-how. The successful production of lucerne in mostly unsuitable areas depends on two factors: the correct soil and sufficient water, says Theo Schmidt, who farms just west of Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng. His farm covers 2 000ha, of which 1 020ha are planted to crops. About two-thirds of his lands are Hutton soils and the balance sandy Avalons. Water is no problem in this 700mm rainfall area because Schmidt is contracted to take 13 million litres of purified water a day from the sewage works. While his main source of income is from 340ha of seed maize, he has 600ha of commercial maize with 51ha…

Policies regulating animal medicine production and administration in South Africa are hindering transformation in the livestock sector. This is since medicines most needed to maintain animal health come with laborious processes and additional costs to administer. Animal health industry veteran Dr Peter Oberem told Farmer’s Weekly that while policies guiding the registration of medicines in South Africa were worldclass, the practical application of the policies was appalling. He explained that the medicine was categorised according to who could administer it, from over-the-counter remedies that farmers themselves could administer, to those that could only be used by vets. The latter included antibiotics, since authorities feared overuse, which could lead to anti-microbial resistance. “If we look at who uses antibiotics in the livestock industry, 80% is large-scale intensive farmers that have vets…

Pepper ringspot infestations in potato crops are being discovered across the northern and eastern production areas of South Africa. Although the spread appears to be rife, yields are not being affected and it is expected to have little to no effect on potato supply. Up until December last year, farms that had pepper ringspot were placed under quarantine to stop the spread of the virus. However, it has now been established that the virus poses no threat to human consumption, and the quarantine procedure was lifted. Dirk Uys, research and innovation manager at Potatoes South Africa, explained that the virus caused browning on the inside of the potato, which affected eating quality, but not safety. Since symptoms of infestation, which included the yellowing of leaves, were similar to a range…

The top employer in South Africa certification has once again been awarded to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). “Achieving certification as a top employer demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to creating an improved work environment, as evidenced by exemplary human resources policies and practices. This certification underscores the organisation’s dedication to enhancing its people-related practices by benchmarking against industry leaders,” the ARC said in a statement. According to the Top Employers Institute, organisations were evaluated based on their participation in the HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covered six HR domains and 20 topics, which included people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity, equity and inclusion and well-being. “This recognition reflects the ARC’s ongoing efforts to improve its approach to people management and align itself with industry best practices,” said…

For many years, livestock farming and particularly ruminant farming, has been accused that its production of greenhouse gases is a major cause of global warming. The latest Conference of the Parties (COP28), held in December 2023 in Dubai, was slightly less anti-animal than previous ones. The main reason for this is the concerted efforts by international organisations like the International Dairy Federation and World Farmers’ Organisation. Slowly the tide is turning but it will need continuing effort from NGOs te ensure that agriculture’s positive role is recognised. WHAT IS THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES? The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into force in 1994 and established COP as its main decision-making body. It is responsible for guiding the UNFCCC in its response to global challenges and local…

Herman Archer, chairperson of the Free State branch of the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA), told Farmer’s Weekly in December 2023 that it is “impossible” to predict what 2024 will have in store for the country’s wool production. However, he did express his concern at the number of farmers from the Free State, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape that had left the industry due to stock theft, the increased cost of labour and the lack of important animal vaccines. One of the challenges that is facing South African farmers in 2024, in particular, according to Dr Ariena Shepherd, NWGA KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, is that the demand for certified wool is increasing, and as such, South African producers will have to make sure they keep up their certification status. “We also have…

WHEN CAN YOU START BREEDING AN ALPACA? Female alpacas (called hembras) become sexually mature at around 12 to 18 months of age. Male alpacas (called machos) can show sexual interest from a few weeks of age, but are not fertile until around 18 months to three years of age. HOW LONG IS THE GESTATION PERIOD OF AN ALPACA? The average period of gestation is 11,5 months, but pregnancies can last for more than a year. DO ALPACAS HAVE DIFFICULTY GIVING BIRTH? Hembras usually give birth without trouble. Baby alpacas (called crias) are around 5,5kg to 9kg at birth. Most young begin walking and nursing within two to three hours after birth. WHEN DO ALPACAS WEAN? At around five to six months of age. WHEN CAN HEMBRAS BE REMATED? Two to…

Frugal Feasts LIFESTYLE 250g shredded roast lamb 4 pita breads or any type of flatbread For the yoghurt sauce: 250ml (1 cup) thick plain yoghurt 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 15g (½ punnet) flat leaf parsley 15g (½ punnet) mint, plus a little extra for garnish Salt and pepper to taste 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, stoned and sliced Red onion, to garnish Pomegranate rubies, to garnish Spring onion, chopped SERVES 4 • In a bowl, combine the yoghurt, garlic, parsley, mint and seasoning. Mix to combine. • Spread the yoghurt dressing over the pita breads, top with the shredded lamb and slices of mango. • Garnish with slices of red onion, scatter with pomegranate rubies and spring onion and garnish with torn mint leaves. • Serve immediately.…

Dear Prof McCrindle, I read your article about getting a fly population under control with wasps. We are living in Paternoster next to a horse farm and every year we see a major increase in the fly population. All other methods of fly control are not working anymore. I would really appreciate it if you could put me into contact with a wasp supplier for further assistance. Kind regards, Pieter Steynvaard Dear Pieter, A wasp supplier I can recommend is Vital Bugs (see vitalbugs.co.za/online.asp). I have used their parasitic wasps at my own stud and found that they really reduced the number of both biting flies and house flies. Farmer’s Weekly also previously published details of the role of wasps for fly control in dairies. The biting fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) is the main…