Innehållsförteckning för 25 October 2024 från Farmer's Weekly

In this and the 18 October issue of Farmer's Weekly, we offer a list and short descriptions of the agricultural courses available for full-time students in South Africa. As every producer knows, farming is an all-encompassing profession. As a farmer, you need to know how to farm, what to plant, what inputs to use, when to plant, how to vaccinate, dip or deworm your animals, how to read the weather, and how to mitigate potential climate disasters. You also need to know how to run a business: you need basic bookkeeping skills and you need to know how to manage your finances and work according to a budget. Further, you need to know how to manage your staff, whom to employ and whom to trust with greater responsibilities. You need…

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched an investigation into the precautionary recall of Top Score instant maize porridge following concerns that the product may be linked to the deaths of three children in the Eastern Cape. The porridge, manufactured by Namib Mills in Namibia, is sold in South Africa by Spar. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Phetho Ntaba, spokesperson for the NCC, said: “Our investigation into this recall is still ongoing and at its initial stage. We currently do not know the risks associated with consuming the product as the causal link has not yet been ascertained.” The recall comes after allegations surfaced that children who tragically passed away in the Eastern Cape had consumed the porridge. The recall aims to prevent any further distribution of the product while the…

South African Breweries (SAB) wants to grow the capacity of its two malting plants to source more malting barley from regions in South Africa that aligned with its climate, storage and processing capabilities. Richard Rivett-Carnac, CEO of SAB, told Farmer's Weekly that the company's agronomy teams and breeders were actively exploring new areas for production expansion with careful consideration to ensure that malting barley remained a profitable and sustainable crop for farmers and SAB. In collaboration with the South African Barley Breeding Institute, SAB is also focused on developing barely varieties that are tailored to the specific needs of SAB, local farmers and storage partners. However, Rivett-Carnac pointed out that increasing malting capacity to source more barley from South Africa would require the full support of the entire supply chain,…

In a pioneering urban agriculture initiative in Türkiye, leafy greens are being grown on less than 0,5ha on a soilless, vertical farm in the parking lot of a luxury mall in the Sariyer district of Istanbul. Founded by four entrepreneurs, the facility enables year-round production, regardless of the weather conditions. Co-founder Halil Beşkardeşler highlited the benefits of urban farming in a controlled indoor environment, which shields crops from variations in climate. “The vegetables are harvested fresh and delivered directly to consumers or local restaurants without transportation delays, preserving their high nutritional value,” he told Hürriyet Daily News. The farm relies on LED lights, precise temperature and humidity control to optimise plant growth. “As we produce in an enclosed space, we don't need to use pesticides or hormones. This allows us…

The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) has released its first crop estimate for the 2024/25 season, projecting a slight increase in export volumes. SATI anticipated that 343 800t of table grapes would be inspected for export, up 1% on the 2023/24 season. This was also 6% higher than the industry's five-year average, positioning South Africa to meet increasing global demand for high-quality produce. In a statement, SATI highlighted the resilience of the sector, saying: “Our industry remains strong, and this estimated growth reflects our ability to adapt to market demands while continuing to uphold a high standard of quality. We are encouraged by the outlook for this season.” The crop estimate offered a detailed breakdown across the country's primary grape-growing regions, revealing some regional fluctuations in expected output. The…

The!Xhariep Agricultural Writers SA Regional Awards, held in early October, celebrated four winners who will go on to represent the region at the national Agricultural Writers SA Awards in November in Pretoria. The region represents the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape. André Brink, owner of Groot Phesantekraal Boerdery Trust, was named Western Cape Farmer of the Year. He took over the family farm near Durbanville in 1996, which at the time comprised 350ha of crops, 800 ewes and 50 beef cattle. Since then, he has expanded production to 4 650ha of his own and 850ha of leased land. Small grain is produced on 2 500ha, medics on 1 500ha and wine grapes on 180ha, with the business today also having its own wine cellar. The sheep herd grew to 3…

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) remains committed to contributing to prosperity and stability in the country, and finding solutions through engagement and not confrontation. This was according to NAU president Thinus Pretorius. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly following the NAU congress held recently in Windhoek, Pretorius said that while the union was committed to engagement and negotiations, it would not hesitate to act on matters that affected its members. “It is our responsibility to work together with all role players to ensure the future of our country. The Namibian agriculture sector plays an important economic and social role in our country; 72% of our citizens are directly or indirectly employed by the industry. Although agriculture officially only contributes 5% to the [gross domestic product], the sector, in reality, plays a much…

In recent years, the agricultural cultivation of industrial hemp has been on the rise. The scope of this plant goes beyond its historical roles of textiles and food as it is proving to be a promising substitute for petroleumbased plastics. This development creates advantages and prospects for the market. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVE Waste plastic proliferation in our environment has reached critical levels. A 2021 study in the journal Science, titled ‘An annual time series of global beach-cast plastic waste’, sheds light on the concerning extent of the impact. The study, which analysed data from 1958 to 2016, estimated that plastic waste in the oceans may rise to 53 million tons per year by 2030, which is roughly the same amount as the total weight of fish caught from the oceans…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. Anton Visser is the Group COO of SA Business School, a SETA-accredited training provider located in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Email info@sabusinessschool.com, phone 079 887 8638, or visit sabusinessschool.com. “In today's competitive business landscape, fostering a truly diverse and inclusive workforce isn't just a regulatory requirement, it's a strategic advantage. In South Africa, the Employment Equity Act (EEA) plays a pivotal role in driving transformation. With the 2024 employment equity (EE) reporting period now open until 15 January 2025, it's time for businesses to ensure they're on track to meet these crucial objectives. WHY EE MATTERS The EEA was designed to eliminate unfair discrimination and promote equal opportunities for all. It compels businesses to take affirmative…

ARCHIVE Cold milk and once-a-day feeding have streamlined dairy-calf rearing, but there's still room for further labour savings. For example, is it necessary to mix and bucket-feed milk substitute for five to six weeks? This article answered that question. Obviously, the criterion for determining the time to wean is the calf's ability to continue thriving after milk has been withdrawn from its diet. This capability is related to solid food intake, and five weeks has come to be accepted as a safe weaning age because, by then, a calf should be eating 1kg of starter concentrate daily. But is it necessary for solid food consumption to reach 1kg a day before liquid feeding is discontinued? This is a question the [then] British Ministry of Agriculture's field advisory service recently investigated…

Agricultural services company, FarmSol, has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2016. Speaking at the State of the Beer Economy event recently hosted by South African Breweries (SAB) in Caledon, Western Cape, Aron Kole, managing director of FarmSol, said that FarmSol aimed to incubate emerging and smallholder farmers into thriving commercial businesses by linking these farmers to markets, ensuring viable production through mentorships and training, and by offering financing solutions. In terms of the financing solutions, FarmSol started out administering close to R1 billion, funded by SAB, to give these farmers access to interest-free production loans to finance inputs like seed, fertiliser and pesticides. Partnerships with other companies has increased this facility by another R100 million. “Most of the emerging and smallholder farmers we support are unable…

BULGARIA In early October, the Bulgarian government announced €100 million (about R1,9 billion) in state subsidies for local farmers amid threats of protests over Ukrainian agricultural imports. According to Euractiv, the caretaker government's move was aimed at preventing unrest in the run-up to the elections on 27 October, the seventh vote in three-and-a-half years. Half of the funding will support grain and oilseed producers, while the remainder will aid livestock farmers, beekeepers, and fruit and vegetable producers. UNITED STATES Dry conditions are hindering crop production in Texas and Oklahoma, sharply contrasting with the flooding from Hurricane Helene affecting North Carolina and Georgia in the south-east. According to Agriculture Dive, the US Department of Agriculture has reported that 44% of winter wheat production in the US was currently impacted by drought.…

Agriculture leaders in South Africa are optimistic about the potential for increasing red meat and live animal exports to the Middle East, particularly from the Eastern Cape. Brent McNamara, CEO of Agri Eastern Cape, recently told the national executive of the Red Meat Producers' Organisation that South Africa successfully exported 17 loads of B-grade bulls to Mauritius, each load containing approximately 700 animals and achieving a remarkable mortality rate of just 1%. With the Middle East's growing demand for live animals, the outlook was thus promising. “Agri Eastern Cape was instrumental in facilitating sheep exports from East London with the meat broker Al Mawashi, which commenced in 2019 and was subject to sustained legal action from the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA),” McNamara…

Standard Bank has unveiled the much-anticipated seventh edition of its renowned Finance and Farm Management textbook, reinforcing its four-decade-long commitment to agricultural education and innovation. The new edition comes at a pivotal time for global farming, as the industry grapples with increasing complexities driven by climate change, technological advancements, and evolving market demands. ‘THE NEW CHAPTER WILL EQUIP STUDENTS TO MANAGE HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR’ Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Melissa van der Merwe, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University, said: “The textbook fits our curriculum so well that it sometimes feels as though one was written to match the other.” For her, the textbook's value goes beyond financial management. “We use various chapters at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Sections on the value chain,…

Prospects of improved weather conditions for the upcoming season have raised expectations of maize production recoveries locally and in other heavily impacted Southern African countries, such as Zambia and Zimbabwe. Production recoveries are likely to happen in the context of lower prices on the back of a lower global price cycle and a stronger rand. SAFEX prices are expected to revert to export parity levels. In Southern Africa, production is extremely vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather events associated with climate change. THE KEY DRIVER WILL BE THE FORECAST RETURN OF THE LA NIÑA WEATHER PHENOMENON The El Niño weather phenomenon during the region's 2023/24 summer grains production season brought renewed emphasis on food security issues in Africa, as drought severely impacted maize, a staple food in the region.…

This survey was preceded by another some 10 years ago. Can you share the results thereof? Soekor, a then state-owned enterprise, searched for oil and gas resources contained in porous sandstone reservoirs in the Karoo Basin in the 1960s and 1970s. There were a few shows of oil and gas, but no significant discoveries were made, so the search moved offshore. Gas was found on the continental shelf, and the Mossgas gas-to-liquid refinery near Mossel Bay was commissioned in the early 1990s. This resource was depleted and the refinery was mothballed a few years ago. Around 2010, it was recognised that the Karoo Basin might contain significant resources of shale gas and that policies and regulations governing exploration and production should be formulated to prevent harm to the environment and…

Agriculture has existed for millions of years, long before humans started farming. A recent study by scientists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, US, reveals that ant colonies began cultivating fungi 66 million years ago, following the mass extinction triggered by an asteroid colliding with Earth. This event created the ideal conditions for fungi to flourish, prompting ants to establish a lasting symbiotic relationship. In their research, published in early October in the journal Science, the researchers analysed genetic data from hundreds of ant and fungi species to construct detailed evolutionary trees. This analysis pinpointed when ants first began their agricultural practices. “Ants have been practicing agriculture and fungus farming for much longer than humans have existed,” said entomologist Ted Schultz, the museum's curator of…

Dear Prof McCrindle, We have adopted an adult stray cat that someone dumped near our farm. Although it seems healthy, it has red, bleeding gums. What causes this and what can I do about it? Carina Dear Carina, This disease is known as gingivitis. It is very common in oriental breeds like Siamese cats and may be partly due to inbreeding, as it's also seen in large groups of feral cats. Pedigreed cats are often inbred with lines that have achieved success in showing championships. In large colonies of feral cats there may also be a lot of inbreeding, as dominant tomcats (males) will mate with many females and their daughters over a few years. Sometimes gingivitis occurs due to food allergies, often to fish. A lot of commercially available…

During September 2024 we witnessed heavy snowfall in KwaZulu-Natal and especially on the foothills of the Drakensberg and Van Reenen's Pass, which had a severe impact on traffic and got many people snowed in. The blizzard also had a major impact on the eastern Free State, Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. At the same time, we had severe veld fires in North West, the Northern Cape and the Free State. Over the previous three years we have seen several other disasters in South Africa, such as socio-political uprisings, cholera in Hammanskraal, veld fires over large areas, floods in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as droughts in several areas despite good rainfall elsewhere. The Jagersfontein tailings dam collapse in 2022 as well as three dam walls failing in Riverlands…

Export-orientated farmers are waiting with baited breath for news of Transnet's access charges, which will allow the private sector to use its rail network. Proposed pricing has been deemed unfeasible, which will make the shift from transporting goods by roads to rail unlikely. The Private Sector Participation (PSP) tariffs will be detailed in Transnet's Network Statement that is expected to be published on 1 November. The current proposal is to set the tariff at a minimum of R0,19 per gross ton per kilometre. This has attracted criticism across industries in South Africa. Mitchell Brooke, logistics manager at the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), said that this would put the cost of transporting a container of citrus from Limpopo to Durban at around R6 332. This was excluding additional…

Citrus farmers' efforts to keep fruit free of citrus black spot (CBS) to maintain export markets in the EU have received another blow as a critical fungicide could be rendered unavailable. The EU backtracked on a proposal for maximum residue levels (MRLs) that would make carbendazim and benomyl fungicide applications possible. Active ingredients used in pesticides within the EU undergo a mandatory review every 10 to 15 years. The draft carbendazim and benomyl MRLs were voted on during the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) Pesticide Residues meeting in April 2024, which included a proposal of 0,7mg/kg on lemons and mandarins and 0,01mg/kg on grapefruit and oranges. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Paul Hardman, CEO of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), explained that the proposed…

The South African agriculture sector has marked a significant milestone with a record canola harvest for the 2023/24 season. The surge in production is expected to boost domestic supply and strengthen the country's presence on the global oilseed market. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Grain SA economist Helene Viljoen said that much of this success was a combination of increased hectarage and ideal weather. She noted that while the Western Cape has traditionally been a canola-growing region, this season it had experienced a expansion of approximately 34 550ha, a 26,3% increase from the previous year. “The Northern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal have also increased their canola planting after a five-year hiatus. This translated into an additional 58 000t of production,” Viljoen said. She highlighted the broader implications of the bumper…

The importance of being proactive in preventing disease in garlic was highlighted at the recent South African Garlic Growers' Association's annual general meeting and congress, held at the Agricultural Research Council's (ARC) Roodeplaat campus in Pretoria. Garlic viruses can reduce bulb size and affect overall yield, resulting in significant economic losses. Dr Inge Gazendam, senior researcher in genomics at the ARC Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plant campus, said garlic and onions were prone to an array of viral infections. She said in terms of garlic, viruses were mostly disseminated by infected cloves, and farmers needed to be on the lookout for symptoms of infection, including colour changes, such as yellow stripes or mottling, dwarfing, and tissue distortion. Viruses depended on the plant host for reproduction and were difficult to eliminate…

Globally and locally, there are signs of economic improvement that, especially with more favourable climatic conditions, may impact positively on farmers. GLOBAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Globally, the purchasing managers' indices show an increase in economic activity, although manufacturing is still lagging. Global trade showed a slow, and according to the World Bank, fragile recovery. In September 2024, the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 50 basis points and further cuts in interest rates are expected in coming months in the US as well as Europe. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the global economy will grow by 3,2% in 2024 and by 3,3% in 2025. Growth in global trade and increased disinflation will provide impetus for the economic growth. The global economic recovery can be seen from the performance of…

Blueberries aren't an easy crop to cultivate, as they require meticulous control over inputs, and lengthy compliance audits to open export markets. But the crop's suitability to a host of climates and cultivation methods makes it an ideal business to set up on the outskirts of mines, where land is ample and unemployment rife. When gold-mining company Pan African Resources sought a project to uplift the community around its Barberton mines in Mpumalanga, blueberries ticked all the boxes: it was labour-intensive, able to accommodate mostly unskilled labour, and touted to provide a good return on investment. Barberton Blue was therefore established in 2021 in partnership with Primocane Capital, with 14ha planted to blueberries. Some 22 permanent workers and 232 seasonal staff keep the farm going, delivering on the mine's mandate…

The Super Cadres: ANC Misrule in the Age of Deployment by Pieter du Toit (Jonathan Ball, R330) In recent years, there have been several detailed studies about corruption and ‘how and why things went wrong with the South African dream’. This latest in the genre is by an award-winning journalist with a rack of books under his belt. It looks at the phenomenon of the party faithful being used to consolidate and affirm the ANC's declared political position as the ‘natural ruling party’. The argument is straightforward enough: party loyalists are parachuted into positions where they can act as ‘commissars’, ensuring that all sections of public life are obedient to the party's dictates. Moving from Mandela to the Ramaphosa era, citing examples and noting the consequences, this book sets out with…