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53 Articles

‘Net zero’ is but fantasy for the time being

The consequences of climate change are apparent throughout the world. There have been heatwaves across Europe, for instance, with temperatures in some regions soaring to record highs. Of course, enduring heatwaves and limited rainfall have major effects on agriculture. And while scientists are constantly developing cultivars that are more heat- and drought-tolerant, the world’s farming practices have to change in order to ensure that sufficient food is produced. And farmers are certainly doing this. As agriculture is the most climate-sensitive industry in the world, farmers are well aware of the consequences of climate change. According to a 2021 study conducted by economist Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, associate professor at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University in the US, warmer temperatures are particularly detrimental to agricultural growth.…

‘Net zero’ is but fantasy for the time being

The importance of sorghum for South Africa

“The world’s food systems have developed in a way that is not serving health and sustainability. People are increasingly eating industrially produced foods that are low in nutrients and high in fats and sugars. For example, in South Africa between 2005 and 2010, sales of snack bars, ready meals and noodles all rose by more than 40%. These are associated with increasing levels of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes. The diets of people living in poverty are typically monotonous, dominated by refined grains with an impact on nutrition, especially for children. Healthy diets remain unaffordable for most South Africans. The way food is produced, processed and transported also has environmental impacts. Among these are loss of biodiversity, high levels of water extraction and greenhouse gas emissions. At the heart of the…

The importance of sorghum for South Africa

Sheep and goats

16 October to 5 November, George Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 16 TO 18 AUGUST South African Sugar Technologists’ Association Congress, ICC, Durban. Email sasta@sugar.org.za. 17 TO 18 AUGUST Southern Africa Conference, Century City Conference City, Cape Town. Email membershipsa@freshproduce.com. 29 AUGUST TO 2 SEPTEMBER Southern Africa’s Agri-Tech Trends and Technology, Pretoria. Visit africa-agri.co.za/#goingforward. COURSES AND TRAINING 15 TO 19 AUGUST Introduction to Poultry Production, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone 012 672 9153. 22 TO 26 AUGUST Academy Poultry Module, George. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 28 AUGUST TO 3 SEPTEMBER Wildlife Management, Mpumalanga. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 7 TO 9 SEPTEMBER Basic Sheep Production Course, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Phone AgriSkills Transfer on 012 460 9585, or email admin@agriskills.net. 8 TO 13 SEPTEMBER Commercial: Mushroom Substrate Design, Cultivation, Marketing and Business Planning (virtual…

Sheep and goats

Learners at Eastern Cape agri school receive shoes and bags

As part of this year’s Mandela Month celebrations in July, the late Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela, through her Thembekile Mandela Foundation, partnered with Ford South Africa to donate school shoes and bags to 1 150 learners at the Clarkebury Agricultural School, located in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape. Madiba himself was enrolled at this school in 1934 at the age of 16. The initiative honours his legacy by supporting underprivileged communities, and providing more children with the opportunity to attend school. ‘TO TURN THE TIDE ON POVERTY, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY LEARNER RECEIVES A GOOD EDUCATION’ “We are honoured and privileged to be supporting an initiative that was very close to [Madiba’s] heart,” says Esther Buthelezi, executive director of government affairs and transformation at Ford South Africa.…

Learners at Eastern Cape agri school receive shoes and bags

Trending in Agriculture

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA IMPORTANCE OF VIGILANCE STRESSED AFTER KESTELL FARM MURDERS The murder of seven people on Lismore Farm in the Kestell district on Friday, 15 July has reaffirmed the importance of vigilance and having an up-to-date rural safety plan in place to empower farmers against farm attacks. This was according to Uys van der Westhuizen, chairperson of Agri SA’s rural safety committee. Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3zEwZ5a, or scan here: Posted: 21 July 2022. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA We posted a link to an article titled, ‘Considering the switch to solar energy? Read this first!’, and some of our followers shared their views on the subject. Posted: 19 July 2022. READERS’ COMMENTS Berdine Nel: “Not all households have R250 000 to install [solar panels].” Manfred Schmidt: “Solar power is definitely the answer to South Africa’s…

Trending in Agriculture

KZN ‘best farmer’ breeds hardy stock

In this article, a cattle farmer in the Drakensberg area of KwaZulu-Natal revealed how he raised sleek, hardy animals under harsh conditions. It is late August. A cold, biting wind blows off the snow-capped Drakensberg and the veld is short and not very palatable, yet grazing on it are some of the sleekest cattle you’ve ever seen. Their coats are shiny and they’re in beautiful condition, despite the fact that they only have the remains of the grass and a lick to eat. These are obviously hardy animals, and that is just what JM Smythe of Bester, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), has bred them to be. JM is this year’s winner of the NLK trophy for the best general farmer in northern KZN, and trophies for the best general farmer, best cattle farmer and best…

KZN ‘best farmer’ breeds hardy stock

Addressing the challenge of inclusive development in Uganda

In Uganda, the need for promoting inclusivity is particularly important given that the country has one of the youngest populations in the world. More than 75% of Uganda’s total population are under the age of 25, and 80% of its youth live in rural areas. This makes agriculture and agribusiness a key point of entry and source of livelihood for many of these young people. Over the past four years, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has, through a partnership with the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance, provided a grant to operationalise regulations under Uganda’s inclusive agricultural finance framework. However, it is critical for development partners to support the implementation of reforming the agricultural credit system in order to tackle low levels of access to finance for women and the youth. IMPORTANT ACTIONS There…

Addressing the challenge of inclusive development in Uganda

African countries must look inward and lean on each other

Persistently high commodity prices, fuelled by fears of recession and a clearer picture of this year’s global grain harvest, appear to be propelling food protectionism. This tendency is on the rise as countries restrict exports to cope with rising global commodity prices that have been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war. Malaysia, for example, recently announced a ban on chicken exports, causing consternation in Singapore, which imports one-third of its chicken supplies from Malaysia. India has also reduced wheat and sugar exports, while Indonesia has limited palm oil sales, and a number of other countries have issued grain quotas to reduce exports. Some commentators predict that India will restrict the exports of rice next. This is a concern, as rice, along with sugar and wheat, are products in which India plays a significant…

African countries must look inward and lean on each other

Interest rate expected to reach 6,5% by year-end

In July, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) increased the rate at which it lends money to commercial banks, commonly known as the repo rate, by 75 basis points to 5,5%. This represented the steepest hike the country has seen in almost two decades. SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago ascribed the significant increase to the global economy entering a period of persistently high inflation and weaker growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been aggravated by geopolitical tensions. These had, in turn, resulted in a tightening of global monetary policy. The same was also happening in South Africa, as the SARB had adjusted 2022 fuel price inflation upwards, from 31,2% to 38,9%, due to higher global oil prices and a weakening rand. Similarly, food price inflation had risen from 6,5%…

Animal, plant trafficking ‘damages ecosystems’

South Africa’s succulents and reptiles, particularly those in the Northern and Western Cape, are increasingly drawing the attention of people intent on removing them unlawfully. This was according to Katherine Forsythe, Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Project coordinator at the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Forsythe said these areas were known internationally for their remarkable diversity of species, some of which were now threatened by extinction. “Many of these animal and plant species don’t occur anywhere else in the world and are part of South Africa’s unique natural heritage. “It’s hard to say what the impact of removing any one element of these ecosystems may be, but what we do know is that ecosystems that retain their biodiversity are more resilient than degraded ones.” Forsythe was commenting on the recent…

‘Zero tolerance’ for potholes in North West

Agri North West has welcomed the North West provincial government’s announcement of a ‘zero tolerance for potholes’ campaign, but is urging authorities to ensure that the roads are repaired and restored according to acceptable standards by means of proven technology. “To only fix the roads superficially is of no use whatsoever; it’s throwing good money after bad. The quality of the work that has been done on some of the roads in our province can only be described as shocking. “It’s absurd to merely fill up potholes. The fact of the matter is that the roads must be rebuilt professionally and effectively,” said Agri North West Chairperson Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt. In a recent statement, the North West government announced that more than R120 million had been set aside for the campaign to…

‘Zero tolerance’ for potholes in North West

Big fines on the cards for illegal farming activities

If a farmer builds an illegal dam, feedlot or mine on a property, he or she could be issued with a heavy fine, Janse Rabie, head of natural resources at Agri SA, has warned. He added that while an official implementation date for the fines had yet to be announced, landowners needed to be mindful of the regulations laid out in the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2022), which was published in the Government Gazette on 24 June. “If somebody has started a project, without the necessary environmental [permits], and tries to rectify the matter later, they’ll have greater trouble than in the past,” Rabie told Farmer’s Weekly. “The new legislation compels government to force that person to stop his or her activities while the application is being reviewed.…

Coffee farming gets off the ground in Botswana

Botswana is expected to commence large-scale commercial coffee production following successful trials in that country. In an interview with Farmer’s Weekly, agronomist Kennedy Moshabashebi said commercial coffee farming in Botswana was expected to increase, as the farmers who had initiated the pilot project intended to donate coffee seedlings to other potential producers. “Their intention is to increase the quantity of coffee beans produced in Botswana, and have a central point where the beans are delivered for processing and packaging. “Commercial coffee farming can be [undertaken] in Botswana. “We’re doing it and we believe other farmers can do it, too,” Moshabashebi said. According to him, the species that had proved to be suitable for farming in Botswana was Coffea arabica. “This is the most preferred bean on the coffee market because of its good taste and [lower]…

Lung sickness spreads among cattle in Namibia

Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) has reacted with great concern to reports of 40 deaths among cattle, and clinical illness in a further 100, following a recent outbreak of highly contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (lung sickness). Farmers are on high alert following reports of more lung sickness cases in that country. This outbreak has been reported among cattle in Namibia’s northern communal areas. Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of the LPO, said cases had been confirmed in four separate regions since the first incidents were identified in May. He said government officials were still in the process of inoculating cattle there, with all animals in the four affected regions being placed under quarantine. A total of 47 veterinary teams had been deployed to undertake the inoculation programme. In addition, access control had been significantly stepped up, and a…

Lung sickness spreads among cattle in Namibia

Global research on crops that can resist climate change

With the extreme heat being experienced across Europe and in other regions, scientists are hard at work to uncover the secrets of the most drought- and flood-resistant plants in an effort to ‘climateproof’ global food supplies. According to a recent report by the Euronews website, the latest data indicated that Europe experienced the third-hottest June on record in 2022, with temperatures 0,3°C above the average for the period from 1991 to 2020. “As the population of our warming planet grows, we are going to need strains of wheat and barley [for example] that are better able to cope with heatwaves and drought. Such grains are at the basis of our food system, as they provide essential calories for people and animals,” the report said. However, the effects of climate change were already reducing…

Global research on crops that can resist climate change

Easing EU’s crop rotation rules

In an effort to increase grain production in the EU, the European Commission has proposed a temporary suspension of the region’s crop rotation rules. It was hoped that this would help head off a global food security crisis resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on global food supplies. The commission said in a statement that its plan, which followed a request from the bloc’s member states, would put an additional 1,5 million hectares of land back into production. “The global food system faces strong risks and uncertainties stemming in particular from the war, where in the near future issues of food security may arise. Every ton of grain produced in the EU will help to increase food security worldwide.” If formally adopted by EU member states, the measure would apply only in 2023…

CHINA Flash floods and mudslides due to heatwaves at the end of July could place cotton production in China’s Xinjiang province at risk. Xinjiang accounted for the production of about 20% of the world’s cotton, Reuters reported. “Continued high temperatures have accelerated glacial melting in mountainous areas and caused natural disasters such as flash floods, mudslides and landslides in many places,” Chen Chunyan, chief expert at the Xinjiang Meteorological Observatory, told the Chinese state media. ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe’s avocado picking season is under way, and local growers are expecting to export about 5 000t of the fruit this year. Avocados are grown commercially in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, with export prospects including countries elsewhere in Africa, Europe and Asia, according to ZimTrade, the country’s export trade promotion body. The Zimbabwe Avocado Growers’ Association warned, however, that rising…

Large global avocado volumes ‘upset the market’

Bumper avocado crops around the world have resulted in an oversupply on the European market, which is putting pressure on prices. Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), told Farmer’s Weekly that the export market had become extremely tough, with prices reaching lows, especially in June. “Israel had a bumper crop and was still sending fruit to Europe late into the season. Consequently, producers in Spain and Morocco held back their fruit to wait for a greater gap on the market in the hope of achieving better prices.” Donkin said this, in turn, had affected the South African crop, as local production overlapped with the period in which Spain and Morocco supplied Europe. “We’ve also seen lower demand for avocados in Europe than at this time last year, which we…

Large global avocado volumes ‘upset the market’

SA prepares for soya bean exports to China

South African soya bean farmers can now export their produce to China, the world’s largest importer of the commodity. This followed the signing of a protocol between the two countries in mid-July, which will allow for such exports. “South Africa has been fighting for a few years to gain access to the Chinese soya bean market,” said Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA. China imported about 100 million tons of soya bean per annum, or about 80% of its total consumption. Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA, told Farmer’s Weekly: “This is a historic moment, as it’s the first time ever that we can export soya [bean] to China.” While it had taken years to put in place, Louw said the agreement had finally come together quite rapidly. “It only took about three weeks…

Strong opposition to new fracking draft regulations

Shale gas and hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fracking) are again making headlines in South Africa, with new draft regulations in this regard now open for public comment. Dr Stefan Cramer, science adviser to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, described the new regulations as “bizarre and disregarding the available science and other existing legislation”. “The new regulations do not address the particular risks of onshore oil and gas exploration and production to the scarce and sensitive groundwater resources of South Africa. “The lack of understanding or recognition of the Karoo groundwater systems could lead to a huge deficit in protecting public and municipal water facilities. “The new regulations also do not protect private water facilities and, with very few exceptions, the latest proposed regulations are not new, but mostly stating the obvious…

Honey industry slams proposed Zambian exemption

The South African bee industry is up in arms about a draft import protocol that would allow bottled honey imported from Zambia to be exempt from irradiation. The exemption would be granted only for bottled honey, not honey imported in bulk. The draft documents argued that this posed a lower risk of spreading American foulbrood disease (AFB), a highly contagious bacterial disease that weakened and destroyed bee colonies by infecting the brood. The draft protocol stated that the bottled honey would be inspected upon arrival. A random sample would then be drawn and sent to the Agricultural Research Council for testing for Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium that causes AFB, and Nosema ceranae, a parasite that reduced the lifespan of adult honeybees. If the tests detected a P. larvae spore count of more than…

New EU citrus import regulations ‘catastrophic’

Citrus exporters are hoping for a favourable outcome in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s request for consultation with the EU and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding new regulations for South African orange imports to the EU. The new EU regulations published in July require oranges exported from South Africa to the EU to undergo additional cooling measures in order to prevent the spread of fruit diseases. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has called the regulations unjustified, unfair, impossible to comply with, and not based on proven science. If intervention from South Africa’s government and industry proved unsuccessful, a large proportion of local citrus would be without a market, the CGA said. Cornel van der Merwe, marketing and packaging director at Komati Fruit Group, said there were not…

New EU citrus import regulations ‘catastrophic’

SAAI lays criminal complaint over decay of college

The Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) has lodged a criminal complaint against three government entities about the derelict condition of the historically important Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. These are the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the South African Heritage Resources Agency. According to the CEO of SAAI, Francois Rossouw, the complaints were lodged in terms of Sections 27(18) and 51(1)(a) of the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999. “The continuous decay of facilities, buildings and administration has been a problem for more than a decade. “It is a symptom of mismanagement at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. Therefore, SAAI appeals to the North West Department of Agriculture to place the management of the college in competent hands,” Rossouw said in a statement. Boy…

Grain inspection services return to normal

With the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) has been able to reinstate physical inspections, regarded as a crucially important service. This came to light during SAGIS’s recent annual general meeting, held near Broederstroom in North West. “COVID-19 lockdown and travel restrictions meant that many physical inspections could not take place, but thankfully they have been reinstated again,” SAGIS Chairperson Dr Erhard Briedenhann said during the presentation of his report. “In cases where it wasn’t possible to carry out physical inspections, electronic audits were implemented.” Between March 2021 and February 2022, just over 5,8 million tons of grains and oilseeds were physically verified by SAGIS officials, he said. While SAGIS had 24 full-time employees, Briedenhann said the organisation’s success could also be attributed to the co-operation of hundreds of…

Grain inspection services return to normal

‘Local production keeping SA’s grain prices relatively low’

The importance of local production, the free market system, and timely, accurate information were all highlighted by the current uncertain global market situation, according to Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s head of marketing and research coordination. Speaking during the South African Grain Information Service’s (SAGIS) recent annual general meeting, Strydom said the COVID-19 pandemic, together with the Russia-Ukraine war, had had “a massive spillover effect on global food security”. “It caused both food supply and supply chain uncertainty. Locally, the immediate questions were: do we have enough food? Do we have enough of a stockpile? What will happen with prices?” South African stakeholders could answer all of these questions, because they had reliable information at their disposal thanks to credible information services such as SAGIS, he said. “Because we knew we had an adequate…

Fruit farmers urged to remain competitive

With the world in turmoil due to COVID-19-related logistical challenges and the Russia-Ukraine war, attendees at the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association’s annual general meeting, held recently in Rawsonville, Western Cape, were urged to focus on the things they could control. Anthony Dicey, chairperson of the association, said the canning industry had been facing a tumultuous time for quite a few years, with the current situation being especially arduous. While there was nothing that farmers could do about logistical challenges such as inefficiencies at the country’s ports, rolling blackouts, rising inflation, commodity prices, and escalating input costs, they still had some control over the volume of fruit they produced, fruit quality and production efficiencies, he said. “You need to be realistic. Being average is not good enough in the current economic environment, so focus…

‘Learn from those who are doing better than you’

Farmers need to benchmark themselves against others to see what they can learn from those who are doing better. This was according to Rihan Saayman, director of Optimal Agricultural Business Systems, who was speaking during the recent Canning Fruit Producers’ Association’s annual general meeting held in Rawsonville, Western Cape. “Don’t get caught up in the numbers when doing exercises like that, but just look at whether you’re above or below the average and identify ways to improve the situation.” He presented the results of his analysis of production costs in the Klein Karoo region and the Ceres area to the conference. According to this, apricot production costs in the Klein Karoo increased from just over R96 690/ha in 2017 to almost R158 460/ha in 2022, while peach production costs increased from just over…

‘Designing’ roots to climate-proof grain crops

Scientists in the UK are modifying the roots of grain plants to enable them to continue to grow in hard soil by altering their ability to penetrate further, thus giving them access to water sources deeper underground. It this way, they are hoping to ‘climate-proof’ vital crops in response to changing rainfall patterns, which are resulting in drier, harder soils that threaten yields in dryland crops such as grains. An international team, led by researchers from the University of Nottingham in the UK and Shanghai University in China, have discovered key genes, hormone signals and processes in rice roots that control their ability to penetrate hard soils. Their findings were recently published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Hard soils led to short, swollen roots. Root swelling was…

Good quality spurs demand for fresh produce

The Russia-Ukraine war has placed much pressure on global agricultural markets, particularly grain. However, South Africa’s fresh produce sector has remained relatively unscathed, despite increases in fuel and fertiliser prices. In general, consumer demand has been stable in the five categories analysed here, due to the good quality of the produce. CABBAGES Market stakeholders reported cabbages of good quality over the past few months. As a result, consumer demand for cabbages was stronger at the end of June, but eased towards mid-July, which is typical for this vegetable category. Around mid-June, smaller heads of cabbage were selling at unexpectedly higher prices than larger heads of better quality at the Tshwane Market. The price of cabbages increased by 13,4% month-on-month (m/m) for the week ending 15 July (see Graph 1). Volumes remained relatively unchanged, with almost no…

Good quality spurs demand for fresh produce

Are we heading for another Great Depression?

To paraphrase the title of a recent Politicsweb article, South Africa has “no need for foreign invaders“, with employees from state-owned enterprises “willing to take the country down”. It got me thinking. Times are certainly very tough for many businesses in South Africa, and farmers are no exception. But surely what we’re going through is not comparable to the impact of the Great Depression of 1929 to 1939, followed by the Second World War (1939-1945), as some have said? Yet the more I think about it, the more I realise the parallels between the current situation and that period. Let’s take stock: • Fruit exporters are short of containers and shipping, and costs have gone through the roof; some imports have likewise been affected. • The costs of certain critical items, basic foods, fertiliser and…

Are we heading for another Great Depression?

How to make money from egg production

Food prices have soared in recent months, putting huge pressure on household budgets. With this in mind, there is surely no better time than now to start an egg production enterprise. Eggs are a remarkable food: affordable, convenient, delicious and high in protein. Many communal farming and periurban residential areas have some space available where this can be undertaken. While not everyone can afford to buy purebred point-of-lay hens such as Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons or White Leghorns for between R100 and R150 a bird, many rural households have an existing population of chickens that produce eggs. I have used such crossbred chickens in the past and they have laid good-quality eggs. You should be able to buy young female chicks for between R10 and R30 each, depending on size, and…

How to make money from egg production

How to drive rural farming development

Agriculture plays a substantial role in South Africa, particularly when it comes to the creation of employment and supporting livelihoods for rural dwellers. However, emerging farmers are mostly faced with significant challenges, often due to poor investment in rural development. Recently, I had a chat with Bruce Diale, founder and CEO of Brucol, a company that helps to drive rural farming development. He pointed out the three main challenges that rural farmers face: • Little access to information Emerging farmers need access to a range of information that can help them plan for weather changes and know when to make the right decisions, saving them time and money. Good, reliable market information enhances a farmer’s bargaining power. The availability of market information about variables such as prices and products in high supply and high demand is…

How to drive rural farming development

The Beefmaster: adaptable and hardy

The Beefmaster is a composite breed developed in the early 1930s by rancher Tom Lasater in Texas, US. It was the result of the systematic crossing of Hereford and Shorthorn cows with Brahman bulls. The US Department of Agriculture recognised the Beefmaster as a new breed in 1954. The Beefmaster was produced to thrive under the difficult production conditions of southern Texas. Lasater’s philosophy of the Six Essentials was used to develop the breed, and is still employed by Beefmaster breeders for the improvement of the breed. The Six Essentials are: • Weight; • Conformation; • Milking ability; • Fertility; • Hardiness; • Temperament. As a composite breed, the Beefmaster is used by many breeders and producers in crossbreeding programmes for its hybrid vigour and its ability to enhance the meat quality, maternal traits and hardiness of other breeds. Beefmaster bulls,…

The Beefmaster: adaptable and hardy

World and National Dorper and White Dorper Championships

DORPER CHAMPIONS WHITE DORPER CHAMPIONS…

World and National Dorper and White Dorper Championships

Nigeria’s most important crops

According to Taiwo Oyaniran, an associate director at PwC Nigeria, agriculture is a key sector in Nigeria, contributing around 22% to the country’s annual GDP and employing about 36% of the workforce. Despite the size and importance of the sector, more than 80% of farmers in Nigeria are smallholders, and they grow around 90% of the country’s agricultural produce. Investment in the sector remains fairly low, with only about R7,37 billion of the budget in 2020 apportioned to the sector. This is short of the 10% specified in the AU’s 2003 Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security. Crop production is the largest segment of agricultural production in Nigeria, accounting for 87,6% of total output. This is followed by livestock (8,1%), fishing (3,2%) and forestry (1,1%). Sesame seeds, cashew nuts and cocoa beans…

Nigeria’s most important crops

Finding cherry leaf spot-resistant varieties

Cherry leaf spot (CLS), caused by Passalora circumscissa, is a fungal disease that can result in decreased fruit quality and yield due to inconsistent ripening or premature defoliation. However, there is limited information available in China about the resistance of cherry cultivars to leaf spot caused by P. circumscissa. Our study aimed to identify the resistance levels of cherry cultivars to this disease. Fifty-two cherry cultivars, comprising 40 sweet cherry (Prunus avium), four Chinese cherry (P. pseudocerasus) and eight sour cherry (P. cerasus) cultivars, were evaluated for resistance level characterisation. Specimens of these cultivars were collected and then used to screen for P. circumscissa resistance through both detached leaf assays and natural field infection. Our study provides a theoretical basis for cherry disease resistance breeding and rational cultivar utilisation. BACKGROUND Cherry production in China…

Finding cherry leaf spot-resistant varieties

An artisanal dairy that makes both lifestyle and financial sense

Preston Farm, home to La Petite France dairy, is situated just outside Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It is the picture of countryside perfection, with cattle grazing in lush, flower-dotted pastures, and pathways winding between old oak trees and milking sheds. The renowned Karkloof Farmers’ Market can also be found at the entrance to the farm, providing patrons with a tranquil view of the surroundings as they tuck into cheese produced from the milk of cows just a stone’s throw away. Preston is owned and run by Grant Warren, who says that while his family farm is partially set up to allow for a country lifestyle, it is nevertheless a business that needs to remain financially viable. But in the dairy industry, where margins are low, this isn’t easy to achieve. “The number…

An artisanal dairy that makes both lifestyle and financial sense

Percivale South Devons: a stud built on a solid legacy

“Our family’s long association with the South Devon breed has now been registered in a system of science and measurement,” says PD Roets, the fourth generation of his family to farm these cattle in the Eastern Cape highlands, but the first to register a stud. This took place five years ago. “I love the South Devon and wanted to better manage the breed’s [genetic] potential in my beef operation. There are costs associated [with having a stud], but they’re a small price to pay for crucial benefits like being more scientific about selecting cows. You can’t farm effectively by bringing in cows at weaning and culling the poor-looking ones, because they could be the best-producing animals.” CONTINUING A SOUTH DEVON LEGACY Today, Roets’s South Devon enterprise consists of 120 medium-framed stud and 80…

Percivale South Devons: a stud built on a solid legacy

Harvesting the products of the bountiful marula

Ghaub farm, near Tsumeb in the northern part of Namibia, is the epitome of a mixed farming operation. Here, the Rust family run a game farm, raise cattle and grow vegetables and citrus. Moreover, they have recently begun capitalising on the fruit of the marula trees that grow wild on their land. Martin Rust’s parents, Joachim and Caroline, bought Ghaub in 2016. “At the time, our primary focus was ecotourism, but we’ve since expanded into agriculture. The idea is to produce as much as possible of the food we need for our tourism operation. “Under the label Ghaub Farm Products, we started producing beef and game meat, milk, and eggs, as well as providing braai wood for our lodges. Our vegetable production began in 2019, and we’re now harvesting lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, beans…

Harvesting the products of the bountiful marula

Know when late blight is about to strike

Whereas early blight is likely to begin in patches and gradually spread through the land, late blight (Phytopthora infestens) starts as a few small patches and then spreads fast. If the spores are carried by the wind from an infected crop some distance away, late blight can cause widespread damage to tomato plants without any warning signs. Late blight is also an important disease of potatoes, which are often the source of an infection when cull piles (tubers deemed unsaleable) left on a farm over winter become infected with water mould. SHOWERY AND COOL I used to farm in the Mpumulanga Lowveld, where the weather is influenced by tropical cyclones from Mozambique. This often resulted in intermittent rain and lower temperatures for a week or so, invariably followed by an outbreak of late blight. After…

Know when late blight is about to strike

Growing freesias

Freesias are indigenous to the Western and Eastern Cape, and the eastern regions of Southern Africa. They belong to the large and diverse Iridaceae family of about 1 800 species distributed all over the world. There are approximately 16 freesia species in all, and literally hundreds of hybrids in a wide variety of colours. Most of these hybrids, however, originate from Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba (formerly F. alba) and three or four other freesia species. The focus of this article is F. leichtlinii subsp. alba, called the white freesia or wild freesia. Its natural habitat is in the Western Cape, mainly along the coast between Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, where it is found in sandy or stony soils amongst dune scrub or at forest edges, usually in light shade. It also…

Growing freesias

‘Thanks to Fendt, I always look forward to the harvest season’

When AGCO Africa launched the Fendt IDEAL range last year, Sasolburg farmer Tharina Terblanche knew that these were the combine harvesters she had always been looking for. The range sets a new benchmark, as it was developed from the ground up. Special attention was paid to efficiency, grain and straw quality, reliability, and user-friendliness, in addition to revolutionary sensor technology for optimal machine setting. When new combine harvesters had to be purchased, Terblanche immediately looked to the new range and her experience at the IDEAL reveal event in Wesselsbron, which she attended with Frans Cronjé, regional sales manager for Fendt South Africa. “We decided on an IDEAL 7 and 8. Our lands are not large and flat, so the smaller areas are harvested with the IDEAL 7 and a 35-Draper Header. “On…

‘Thanks to Fendt, I always look forward to the harvest season’

Egg salad with baby marrows and wild rocket

SERVES FOUR 350g baby marrows, sliced30ml olive oilSalt and pepper, to taste30g wild rocket6 to 8 eggs, boiled to your liking and halved2 spring onions, sliced For the salad dressing 100ml olive oilJuice of 1 lemon1 tsp crushed garlic½ tsp dried chilli flakesSalt and pepper, to taste • Slice the baby marrows lengthways into quarters. • In a large skillet, sauté them in the olive oil over a medium to high heat, season with the salt and pepper, and set aside. • In a flat salad dish or platter, layer the wild rocket leaves, followed by the baby marrows, boiled eggs and spring onions. • For the dressing, add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and chilli flakes to a glass jar with a lid. • Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste. • Shake well, and…

Egg salad with baby marrows and wild rocket

Healthy banana bread

SERVES 20 ½ cup apple sauce2 large eggs¼ cup butter, melted and cooled½ cup white sugar½ cup unrefined brown sugar2 tsp vanilla extract1 tsp sea salt2 bananas, mashed½ cup sour cream1½ tsp baking soda¾ cup cake flour¾ cup wholemeal flour½ cup roasted unsalted almonds, chopped¼ cup poppy seeds (optional)¼ cup chia seeds (optional)¼ cup flax seeds (optional) • Preheat the oven to 175°C, and grease two 23cm x 13cm loaf pans with cooking spray or butter. • In a large bowl, beat the apple sauce, eggs and butter together until smooth. Add the sugars, vanilla extract and salt, and mix well. • In a separate bowl, whisk the bananas, sour cream and baking soda together until smooth. Add to the apple sauce mixture and stir until evenly combined. • Gradually stir the cake flour, a…

A secure, practical home on three levels

Dear, I’m planning to erect a three-storey wooden home with the following features: • Ground floor – garage and workshop; • First floor – kitchen, dining room, lounge and fireplace, as well as a braai area for entertainment; and • Second floor – two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and a lounge with a fireplace. The structure should be of treated gum poles and wooden cladding on the exterior walls, while the inside should have modern, insulated drywalling. I’d like Marley tiles to be used on the roof, as they save on weight. The second-floor bedrooms should each have a balcony. Finally, I’d like the entrance steps to be of the type that can be pulled up to the first floor, for security reasons. Kind regards,Charles Dear Charles, Thank you for the description of your proposed home. I’ve kept the room sizes…

A secure, practical home on three levels

ACROSS 1. South African vulture (8) 5. Judicial decisions (8) 9. The crested ______ (Trachyphonus vaillantii) is a colourful bird found between Rwanda and South Africa (6) 10. Bottle containing six litres of wine (10) 11. Marine-burrowing creatures used by anglers as bait (8) 14. Pale, flattened, edible bean (4) 17. Country, capital Khartoum (5) 18. (A leaf) consisting of three lobes (9) 19. Bloodsucking annelid worm (5) 20. Throng of bees (5) 22. Surface of the land (7) 23. Glue made of flour and water (5) 25. Male duck (5) 27. Very sweet variety of plum (9) 28. Long rope with a running noose (5) 30. Liquid secreted by lactation (4) 32. Removes the feathers from (8) 34. Rural economist (10) 35. Seller of food and household goods (6) 36. Interval between two points (8) 37. Large flying beetle of Central and South America (8) DOWN 1. Tree-dwelling (8) 2. Plants that grow…

THE HITCHING POST

I’m an attractive, feminine, cheerful, confident and sincere lady who lives in Gauteng. I love family life, dancing, reading, swimming, the outdoors, gardening, entertaining, music and travelling. I am looking for my soulmate. He must be between the ages of 68 and 73, affectionate, caring, courteous and honest. I want a refined gentleman with a zest for life; someone who can make me laugh. If you are intelligent, principled and well mannered, a man who loves the outdoors, caravanning and adventure, you’re the one for me! Only non-smokers and social drinkers need reply. CARPE DIEM I am a young, slim and pretty Caucasian lady from Gqeberha, who would love to meet a man who is kind and loving. I am a non-smoker, and I only drink socially. I love nature, cuddling in front of…

THE HITCHING POST

App breaks down citizen-science barrier

According to a recent study, it has been shown that the free app BirdNET, which helps users identify bird species through sound alone, generates reliable scientific data, making it easier for people to contribute to scientific data on birds. The app was launched in 2018, and uses machine learning to expand its database. Since its launch, 2,2 million users have contributed to the appʼs database. The app was designed for ease of use. Users simply press ‘Record’ on the app, which then uses artificial intelligence to identify the species of bird recorded. The app can already identify 3 000 species of bird. To test whether the app could generate reliable scientific data, the authors selected four test cases in which conventional research had already provided definitive answers, ScienceDaily reported. According to the research…

Economics, politics, police and puddings

The Tyranny of Growth by Malcolm Ray (Melinda Ferguson Books, R360) In a 500-page analysis, Ray details how the Global North got it wrong about growth in the wake of the Second World War and unleashed a wave of self-interested and self-defeating economic theorising on the Global South, in this case Africa. As he emphasises, this approach had, and continues to have, dire consequences for socio-economic survival, the environment and the balance of power. Equally, however, he could have traced the fear of economic recession in the Global North more clearly back to the First World War and the eroding of the imperial dream. He touches on the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s, but this could have done with more coverage, as it explains the economic desperation that made the munitions-led…

Economics, politics, police and puddings

Subdued elegance comes to Orange Street

Central Cape Town is home to some of South Africa’s oldest and most intriguing buildings and precincts, including Government Avenue and the Company’s Garden. The ‘companyʼ, of course, was the Dutch East India Company, which established the garden to grow fresh produce for the crews of ships passing on the trade route between Europe and the Far East. This was, in effect, the birth of formal agriculture, and especially fruit farming, in South Africa. Located on the site of the former Dutch Reformed Church synod building, diagonally opposite the Long Street Baths and adjacent to the South African Museum, is The Capital 15 on Orange, a luxurious 129-room hotel. Farmer’s Weekly recently had the pleasure of staying here. The Capital 15 on Orange is not simply sumptuous; it provides a masterclass in…

Subdued elegance comes to Orange Street

Eastern Cape HUMANSDORP • Krugerskraal (4ha) sold by De Lange Trust to Gunther Golke for R1,3 million. KARIEGA • Brakkefontein (8,4ha) sold by Johan van Eyk to Futann (Pty) Ltd for R800 000. • Welbedachtsfontein (57ha) sold by Master Brick Works to Dunci Trading for R600 000. MIDDELBURG • Rietfontein (4,3ha) sold by Valentine de Beer to Willemse Partners for R400 000. Free State FRANKFORT • Cosmos (243ha) sold by Mostert Familietrust to B Fransdeel (Pty) Ltd for R10 million. • Strasburg (5ha) sold by Living Waters Properties to Frankfort Solar Eiendoms for R1 million. HOOPSTAD • Billerbekshoek (372ha) sold by Susanaʼs Post Trust to Billerbekshoek (Pty) Ltd for R44 million. THABA NCHU • Omikron (205ha) sold by unnamed seller to Lovedale Trust for R2 million. VREDEFORT • Saaibult (123ha), Samaria (263ha), Judea (87ha) and De Rust (175ha) sold by Marks Partners to Birbury Estates for R4…

TO PLACE AN UPCOMING AUCTION EVENTS in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact René Moonsamy on 010 971 3771 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on010 971 3770 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za. TO LIST AUCTION RESULTS in this section, email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za. Richter Simbras Production Sale HIGHEST: (BULL) R375 000 Bloemfontein - The Richter Simbras Production Sale was held online on the SwiftVee platform on 14 July. The highest price of the day was paid for the bull JHR 19 820, which achieved a new South African Simbra record when he was sold to Dr Obakeng Mfikwe of Lekatu Simbras & Simmentalers in Lichtenburg for R375 000. The second-highest price of the day was paid for the bull Richter Baros JHR 18 667C, which was sold to Jenet van Niekerk of Zarissa Simbras in Ficksburg for…

Ask Our Vet Breeding and caring for puppies

Dear Prof McCrindle, At what age should puppies be sold, and what would you recommend for a feeding, inoculation and deworming programme? Kind regards,Anonymous Dear Anonymous, Healthy, purebred pups are in high demand in South Africa. However, if you wish to become a commercial breeder, you’ll need to consider not only market demand, but the relative cost of rearing puppies of different breeds. Don’t sell puppies before six weeks of age, which is when they are weaned. In general, good breeders sell them at about eight weeks. Feeding can start after 21 days, while the puppies are still suckling. Begin with soft puppy food (sold in tins or sachets) and dilute it with boiled, cooled water for easy feeding. To prevent choking, give only a little at a time. Over the next three weeks, gradually add softened…

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