Innehållsförteckning för 30 May 2025 från Farmer's Weekly

Pets are wonderful. They can provide security (a particularly important aspect on farms), companionship, and love. They are also known to reduce stress and anxiety, and help combat loneliness. While we may love our own pets, there are many that aren’t fortunate enough to belong to happy homes. One of the many people I follow on X (previously Twitter) is Niall Harbison, an Ireland native who now resides in Thailand. Harbison moved to Thailand after selling his highly successful PR and marketing company, and now spends his days rescuing dogs off the Thai streets. His work in finding and caring for these often abused, neglected, abandoned, and severely injured dogs is astounding, and it is truly special how these dogs go from being feral, afraid, and aggressive at times to…

At the end of April, we completed South Africa’s 2024/25 marketing year for maize. This marketing year corresponds with the 2023/24 production season, which was challenged by the mid-summer drought and led to the 22% decline in South Africa’s maize harvest to 12,85 million tons. The big help in that season came from the gains of the previous ones. For example, the season started with 2,4 million tons of carry-over stocks from the past season, ultimately boosting the available maize supplies in the country. This added to the harvest of 12,85 million tons. These overall maize supplies were against the domestic needs of 11,6 million tons, leaving the country with substantial maize for exports. IMPROVED SEED CULTIVARS The available exports were of great help to the Southern Africa region, which…

While it is not yet compulsory, growing pressure on international retailers will force South African producers of export fruit and wine to report on their sustainability in terms of environment, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. This was according to Dr Marlene de Witt, consultant at Agrifusion, who spoke at Vinpro’s regional information day held in Paarl, Western Cape earlier this month. She said many producers might feel intimidated by this new market demand, but Agrifusion had found that most South African wine producers were already well geared to meet these expectations, thanks to various existing certifications, such as the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association (Wieta) code and the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme. Farmers who had been measuring and keeping records of some of the metrics had also…

Cannabis was once relegated to the black market, but now it’s a valuable commodity flowing through intricate, regulated international supply chains. From greenhouses in the Western Cape to pharmacies in Europe, medical cannabis in particular has become part of a tightly governed export economy. This global transformation presents both opportunities and complexities, especially for South African producers looking to enter foreign markets. A GROWING GLOBAL TRADE The international cannabis market is booming. In 2023, it was valued at around US$57 billion (about R1 trillion), and it is projected to grow to over US$444 billion (R8 trillion) by 2030, thanks in large part to rising demand and new legislation across continents. Germany, one of the largest importers, brought in over 31 000kg of medicinal cannabis in 2023 from more than 20…

How would you describe a Saddlebred horse in terms of the breed standard? The American Saddlebred is known for its refined beauty, proud presence, and expressive movement. According to the breed standard, it is a harmonious blend of elegance, athleticism, and style. It is a long-necked, high-headed horse with a naturally animated and graceful way of moving. It should appear alert, intelligent, and stylish, exuding presence and charisma, especially in motion. Its height ranges from 15hh to 17hh, and it weighs between 450kg and 550kg. Its head is refined and well-proportioned, with large, expressive eyes, a straight or slightly convex profile, and well-set ears that are small, alert, and positioned close together. The neck is long, arched, and fine, and set high on its shoulders, giving the horse its distinctive…

Apart from their ability to improve soil in a crop rotation system, beans can also play an important part in adding to crop diversity, boosting a farmer’s cash flow, and ultimately supporting sustainability. Beans are widely planted for human consumption across all continents by small-scale and large commercial producers alike, with both green pods and dried seeds being marketed. The following dry beans are available for production in South Africa: • Small white beans: they constitute 40% to 50% of local production and are mainly used for canning. • Red speckled or speckled sugar beans: 50% to 60% of all local bean production. • Large white kidney beans: 1% to 2% of the local dry bean production. • Other beans: 0,5% to 1% of local production. According to a dry…

It’s well known that global insect populations are declining rapidly – with some studies estimating their total biomass has nearly halved since the 1970s – largely due to habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and the effects of climate change. What is less obvious is that these pressures combine to exacerbate the situation, with insects already forced out of their natural homes struggling even more under rising temperatures. Researchers at Germany’s Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg studied 179 sites and found that bees were especially vulnerable. Bees in forests managed in the heat, but in cities, their numbers dropped by 65%. Both daytime and night-time heat were harmful and, surprisingly, warmer nights significantly affected bee populations, even though they are diurnal, or active during the day. “The fact that night-time temperatures have such…

Like clockwork, the Noon Gun is fired from Monday to Saturday, and witnessing it from Dorp’s roof-top terrace is a visceral experience. Located, as Dorp is, at the very top of Longmarket Street in Schotchekloof, a residential area in Bo-Kaap, Dorp is almost directly beneath the cannon fire. Despite having witnessed the Noon Gun many thousands of times while in the city, to experience it so nearby is unforgettable. The thunderous sound is not only heard but also felt, like a belly punch that leaves one a little winded, if for a moment. The Noon Gun is one of the defining sounds of Cape Town and has, since 1806, been fired from Signal Hill. Another defining sound of the area is the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, heard at…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. Dr Elize van Vollenhoven is a veterinary specialist in animal welfare and behavioural medicine, and a senior lecturer in ethology – focusing on companion animal behaviour, welfare, ethics, and law – in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria. Email her at elize.vanvollenhoven@up.ac.za. “In the past, animal welfare science focused on what not to do, or how to prevent an animal from suffering. Although this had a fundamental effect on promoting and ensuring the welfare of animals, this approach did not fully consider the mental aspect of what an animal experienced, nor did it answer the important question: is the animal happy? While preventing overt physical harm is essential, true animal…

A Kimberley teacher built up a small but impressive Red Poll stud. School master Henry Holroyd also considers himself a bona-fide farmer. Although a full-time teacher of 26 years, he’s been farming for the past 22 years. His 585ha Kanonkop farm is 40km from Kimberley. At first he ran commercial crossbred cattle, but was forced to sell the herd after a severe drought in the early 1980s when the Modder River, which runs through the farm, dried up. When the rains returned, he switched to purebred, unregistered Dorper sheep, which he reasoned would handle droughts better than cattle. Later he built a dam on the farm that enabled him to irrigate 17ha. By using the irrigation to produce feed for his sheep, he realised he had created an opportunity to…

The hemp industry is ripe for development as demand is expanding with every newly discovered application for this fibre. While ample opportunity exists to grow hemp in South Africa, an underdeveloped value chain has hindered progress. Recognising the need for a service that could assist farmers in getting started, and to provide offtake agreements and processing ability, Mahlatse Mohlala founded Green Route Hemp Industries in 2021. “I’ve always dreamt of building a vertically integrated hemp industry. It is such a versatile crop – the hurd [woody inner stem of the plant] can be used instead of sawdust on chicken farms, and the fibre is used for everything from building material to clothing. It’s a quick and easy crop to grow and requires minimal inputs,” he says. At the start of…

Garland Poil and her mother Dejané own the Bridgewater Stud, one of South Africa’s most renowned Saddlebred studs. Poil, who runs the stud, says that over the years, the Bridgewater Stud has built on the legacy of her father Harold, a stalwart and legend in the South African Saddlebred community. In his younger years, Harold, originally from Montana in the US, worked under his mentor Garland Bradshaw, a prominent and highly respected American Saddlebred trainer in the US. In the 1970s, however, Harold emigrated to South Africa, bringing with him American Saddlebred horses. According to Poil, Harold’s daughter with Dejané, a significant equestrian in her own right having earned the title of being one of the youngest riders ever to be accepted into the South African Lipizzaners, her father fell…

Dear Prof McCrindle, I suspect that some of my calves have contracted pneumonia thanks to the recent wet and cold spell. How should I treat them? Kind regards, Cattle Farmer, Gauteng Dear Cattle Farmer, The heavy rainfall in Gauteng and North West this year have created damp, cold conditions and wet grazing lands, increasing the risk of pneumonia. Calves are being weaned as the rainy season ends, and the first frosts are due any time after 1 May. Cow’s milk contains a high level of vitamins and antibodies that prevent disease. Thus, when calves are weaned, they become more susceptible to disease. There are a few ways in which you can reduce the risk. First, wean slowly, the African way. Keep your calves in the kraal during the day while…

As if US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime doesn’t create enough uncertainty globally and for South Africa specifically, another piece of US legislation is on the horizon. The Trump administration has already issued two executive orders pertaining to the potential refugee status of Afrikaners, close on the heels of expelling Ambassador Ibrahim Rasool from Washington DC. The US government went even further by sending the South African military attaché Brigadier Richard Mapoyana and his team, as well as our consul general in Los Angeles, back to South Africa. Typically, this unilateral diplomatic action would solicit a tit-for-tat response, but South Africa chose not to respond and appointed Mcebisi Jonas as the country’s Special Envoy to the United States. On 3 April 2025 legislation titled, ‘The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review…

Designer seed that could solve challenges faced by farmers in specific regions is what seed companies are focusing on in their technology development departments. Speaking at the 20th anniversary of Bayer Crop Science’s seed brand Dekalb, at the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, Free State, agronomists said that while yield increases would always form the base of seed advancements, region-specific solutions were also needed. “Our research and seed development is becoming more focused on designing seed that provides tailor-made solutions,” said Christiaan Troskie, product development scientist at Bayer. “For example, farmers in irrigation regions want yield and standability, whereas those in the eastern production regions want disease resistance, coupled with high yield.” Future solutions for farmers could also include seed that had already been launched elsewhere, but was yet to…

Clear regulations on animal welfare are needed in the livestock industry, which currently has to rely on vague and blanket legislation contained in the Animals Protection Act (No. 71 of 1962). This was according to the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) CEO Peter Evans. Speaking at the organisation’s recent media event held in Pretoria, he said these regulatons were no longer fit for purpose. “The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals conducts farm inspections to ensure the legislation is followed, but since they don’t have clear guidelines as to what livestock production systems should look like for each species, it becomes open to interpretation. “It is frustrating for farmers who never know where they stand when each official has their own guidelines. Everyone in the livestock…

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) revised production estimates upward for both white and yellow maize in its third production report. In contrast, the CEC lowered production estimates for soya beans and sunflowers compared to the previous estimate. However, notable production recoveries for these commodities are still expected year-on-year (y/y). MAIZE Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) maize prices mostly followed an upward trend since March, increasing by 4% by the end of April month-on-month (see Graph 1). However, this trend has since reversed on the back of advancing US planting coupled with uncertainty created by the US-China trade war. CBOT maize prices did, however, remain notably higher y/y, rising by 8,1%. SAFEX white maize prices decreased by 2,7% y/y but increased by 1% m/m on the back of some weather concerns…

The South African cannabis industry continues to evolve, but legal cultivation remains restricted to specific licensing frameworks. Trenton Birch, co-founder and CEO of Cheeba Africa, an organisation that provides education on cannabis and hemp, says the current legal landscape in South Africa offers two primary routes for commercial growers: a medical cannabis licence through the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), which is the only legal model for cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels above 0,2%; and a hemp permit through the Department of Agriculture for cannabis containing less than 0,2% THC. “Those are the only two licences available,” he adds. MEDICAL CANNABIS VS INDUSTRIAL HEMP Birch further mentions that no legal model exists for the commercial production of recreational cannabis in South Africa, despite the private use of cannabis…

Being There: Backstories from the political front by Tony Leon (Jonathan Ball, R350) Leon’s cleverly crafted title doesn’t disguise that these are essentially clippings from his newsroom floor. It’s a variation of the old ‘I was there’ style of current affairs and history, dating back to WT Stead and the birth of modern journalism around the beginning of the 20th century. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting, as Leon is, of course, his usual erudite and perceptive self. There are 20 chapters of adroit and anecdotal commentary, with the age-old South African (Gladstonian) liberal’s disappointment at the vagaries of politicians, mixed with an eternal seeking of a path to light. Perhaps the most interesting vignette is entitled ‘Nelson Mandela’s mask’, which for once bypasses the gush and presents a more…