Home//Farmer's Weekly/16 February 2024/In This Issue
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Macro-trends for agriculture in 2024I recently came across an article by Farmers Review Africa that focuses on the macro-trends we can expect to see in agriculture in 2024. I thought it may be of some interest to the Farmer's Weekly readers. I will offer an opinion on these trends, and whether I believe they will be driving factors for agriculture this year.Trends in the sector are usually influenced by global factors, such as fuel prices, as well as more local conditions, such as climate variability.According to BKT, which compiled the report, historical data and an analysis of industry trends over the years had been used to determine what the company believes are the driving trends for 2024.First and foremost, BKT believes that global agriculture will see an increase in conservation tillage as new EU…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Questions about terminal crossesDEAR SHANE,I am farming on communal land with Nguni-Brahman and NguniBoran crosses (Nguni cows have been crossed with Brahman and Boran bulls). The reason why I use two different bull breeds is that I wanted to see and decide which cross would work the best in my operation.In terms of carcasses, I love the NguniBrahman cross, but I love the look of the Nguni-Boran cross. In my area, we do not have feedlots to which I can supply my cattle, and as such, most of my clients buy cattle for funerals, wedding parties and other events (hence the focus on appearance).A friend mentioned the term ‘terminal cross’ to me. What is your take on this? Should I continue breeding with the two bull breeds or stick to one bull breed?My…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Saved by dryland pasturesThis Hampshire Down breeder proved it's possible to get by on just 2ha of winter pastures with 85 sheep.If irrigated winter pastures cannot be considered because there is no possibility of having a dam built, dryland pastures are well worth considering, even just 2ha. This was borne out on a small sheep farm near Nottingham Road, in KwaZulu-Natal, last winter. There had been no rain of any consequence to benefit a 2ha pasture of oats and rye-grass. Yet during the crucial winter period, the 2ha sustained a commercial flock of 600 SA mutton Merinos and a newly acquired Hampshire Down stud flock of 23 ewes and two rams. The 37ha farm, Surrey Place, was acquired by Roger Minett less than three years ago and is still being developed.Now farming with…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Sugar industry receives investment boostThe South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers) recently announced that, with the disbursem*nt of transformation funding this month, the sugar industry had met its objective of investing more than R1 billion in transformation funding over five years.“As the industry has endured waves of crises over the past five years, the funding has been critical in sustaining the livelihoods of more than 21 000 small-scale growers and their farmworkers,” it said.The South African Sugar Association distributed nearly R176 million in dedicated transformation funding last month alone. “This brings the total paid out to small-scale and black growers as well as land reform beneficiaries between 2019/20 and 2023/24 to more than R1 billion. These payments, to which growers contribute 64%, have been distributed biannually over the five-year period.” Through these payments,…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Early harvest calls for more creativity in the cellarThe 2024 wine harvest is expected to be notably larger than last year's harvest, which at 1 186 090t was 14% lower than the 2022 harvest, yet smaller than the five-year average of 1 322 265t. This is according to the second estimate of Vinpro and South African Wine Industry Information Systems.Etienne Terblanche, Vinpro's consultation services manager, said the estimate had been adjusted downward by 1,2% after it emerged that the early cultivars seemed to be lighter than anticipated.However, a lot could happen towards the end of the season, and Anton Smuts, chairperson of Vinpro, said he felt the estimate was still too optimistic.Terblanche said that most winegrowing regions had benefitted from an excellent winter characterised by low temperatures that had a positive effect on vineyard winter rest. Above-average rainfall…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Good outlook for olive oil production in SAThe South African olive industry is positioning itself for growth. Wendy Petersen, the new CEO of SA Olives, told Farmer's Weekly at their farmer day, held recently near Paarl, that roughly 40% of South Africa's olive oil was imported, and that there was good demand for olive oil on the international market.She said that South Africa was well-positioned to take advantage of the international demand, thanks to the excellent quality of its extra-virgin olive oils.De Rustica in the Klein Karoo, for instance, won the prize for the best single-varietal olive oil, with its De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina, at the International EVOOLEUM Awards held in Spain in 2023.To take full advantage of these opportunities in a sustainable manner, the industry would need to increase volumes and become more “exclusive”. Petersen…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024UK chains aim to assist local farmersUK supermarkets have been urged to assist local farmers by accepting smaller--than-usual produce. This was according to the National Farmers’ Union, which said the recent disruptive weather had affected the harvest of numerous vegetable crops.“We have no expectations of shortages currently, but it remains important that we make the best of what's available, with supermarkets offering flexibility to growers when it comes to crop specification. In doing so, the food chain from farm to plate will avoid unnecessary food waste,” said the union.The areas affected by heavy rainfall and destroyed crops include Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Cornwall and Scotland. According to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK, the disruptive weather, coupled with higher input costs, had caused a spike in the price of vegetables. The department…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Macadamias are on the mendThe macadamia nut industry is entering a recovery phase as low prices stimulate demand and value-adding.Over the last two years, the crop fetched significantly lower prices as world economies took a downturn after the COVID-19 lockdowns. The increase in the global crop as a result of new plantings coincided with the lower demand, pushing prices further down.In 2023, farmers achieved on average US$8,25/kg (R152/kg at an average exchange rate) for kernel for the season.This was even lower than the average price of US$11,50 (R188/kg at the 2022 exchange rate) in 2022, and US$16/kg (R236/kg at 2021's average exchange rate) in 2021.This year, marketers expected a slight increase from the 2023 prices. Although the prices were on an upward trajectory, they were not expected to reach the highs of 2018, where…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Wheat developments to boost farmers’ profitabilityA shift from wheat quality to wheat yields in the approval of new varieties promises to increase yields by up to 5%, according to Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA.He said the shift has resulted in more than two new companies entering the South African market and the registration of five new varieties, including HB4 wheat. Trials with drought-resistant varieties are also expected to start soon.“Quality criteria has been loosened, but is still a priority to ensure our wheat is able to compete in quality with imported products. The shift has allowed companies that were unable to comply with our stringent standards to now enter the market,” Louw said.The import tariff for wheat is currently under revision.Louw said that the reference price, which triggers the variable import tariff should…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Insurer offers assistance to Zambian farmersAn estimated US$100 million (about R1,87 billion) is lost by various smallholder farmers in Zambia due to lack of financially-backed insurance to protect crops and animals from climate, says one of the major insurers in Zambia.Mayfair Insurance is a private insurer registered in Zambia and the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) in the country that has been assisting farmers recover their losses suffered from climate disasters. However, most farmers lack the capacity to remain resilient because of old farming practices and need insurance guarantees to remain sustainable.Local farmers are thus encouraged to adopt smart agricultural practices.Despite the company underwriting insurance products that protect farmers for weather-related crops, they remain vulnerable due to a lack of knowledge of more ‘user-friendly’ new farming methods.Mayfair Insurance, in collaboration with the World Food Programme, has…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024The concept of ‘terminal’ breeding and outcrossingEssentially, the cost implications of breeding poor-quality, inferior animals are the same as breeding good-quality animals, but as a farmer you will always obtain superior prices for good-quality animals or for commodities produced by them. In fact, the input costs of producing inferior livestock may be far higher than producing good quality because inferior animals tend to grow slower and may be more inclined to suffer from prevalent livestock diseases, parasite infestation, and so on.Farming has become very competitive, so to run a profitable business you need to be ‘on top of your game’. Generally, functional livestock breeding is a highly scientific profession and there are many pitfalls that novice or unaware producers may encounter.For example, inbreeding (using direct relatives) or the use of closely related animals (also known as…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024How wildlife vets play a vital role in advancing conservationSouth Africa has to ramp up its conservation efforts, including in the protection of threatened and endangered species, in order to meet its international commitments by 2030 as a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity.Acknowledging the urgency of taking action in this regard, government recently rolled out a groundbreaking tax incentive for the conservation of threatened species. It is also in the process of amending the Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) regulations, which will make it much easier for veterinarians to treat wild animals and assist in the conservation of vulnerable species.“By reducing the red tape that currently hinders wildlife veterinarians, we will go far in actually increasing our efforts towards wildlife conservation,” says wildlife veterinary surgeon and South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) member Dr Johan Marais. These moves…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024New subsurface irrigation technologies: will they work in South Africa?Subsurface irrigation has been widely adopted in the production of highly mechanised crops, such as sugar cane and lucerne, because it helps to improve labour efficiencies and reduce damage to irrigation infrastructure.Added bonuses are that water is delivered directly into the root zone, reducing water losses caused by evaporation in overhead irrigation, and farmers can apply fertiliser via irrigation, which reduces labour costs and improves fertiliser efficiency.Hardly any fruit and grape farmers, however, are using subsurface irrigation in their orchards in South Africa. In ‘The pros and cons of subsurface irrigation’, which featured in Farmer's Weekly on 18 August 2018, both Pieter Fouché, viticulturist of Graham Beck Wine Estate near Robertson in the Western Cape, and Dr Philip Myburgh, a retired researcher of the Agricultural Research Centre Nietvoorbij, advised against…8 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Other common carrot leaf diseasesAs with most species of powdery mildew, the symptoms are unmistakable and the name provides sufficient description. The causal pathogen is Erysiphe spp. There are various species of this fungus around the world.In contrast with other carrot leaf diseases, powdery mildew develops in dry conditions and has no need of moisture for the spores to infect the leaves.It will only cause severe damage when there is a heavy infection, and as older leaves and older plants are more prone to infection, many farmers ignore the problem when harvesting is not far off.Even if the roots are fully developed and the disease will not cause any yield loss, the impairment of the functioning of the leaves to produce sugars will cause the taste of the roots to be degraded. If one…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Crossword 544ACROSS1. True bantam ornamental chicken breed originating in England (8) 5. Treacle drained from sugar during refining (8) 9. Horse-like (6) 10. Animal and plant scientist (10) 11. Meat dealer's trade (8) 14. Location (4) 17. A fatty acid in unsaturated fat (5) 18. It's spent in Mbabane (9) 19. Vision (5) 20. _____ Island Red or White breeds of fowl (5) 22. Young shoots (7) 23. To flatten and dry (flowers) (5) 25. Sharp sound made by birds (5) 27. Dish of pasta with sautéed spring vegetables in a creamy sauce (9) 28. Outflow of water (5) 30. Frame of bars or wires for confining animals (4) 32. Force or power of resistance (8) 34. Coastal wetlands regularly inundated by the sea (5,5) 35. Place of learning (6) 36.…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024AUCTIONSAuction SalesTO PLACE AN UPCOMING AUCTION EVENT in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact René Moonsamy on 010 971 3771 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on 010 971 3770 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za.TO LIST AUCTION RESULTS in this section, email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za.Hartebeesfontein Merino Stud Ram Production SaleHIGHEST: (RAM) R20 000Smithfield – The Hartebeesfontein Merino Stud Ram Production Sale was held at the Letsatsi Game Lodge on 18 January on behalf of Izak, Andries and GB Nel.The highest price of the day was paid for a ram, which was sold to Frans and Bart Kruger of Frankfort for R20 000. Rams achieved an average price of R10 666,67.The sale was held by OVK, with Danie Strauss as the auctioneer. – Gavin IstedMarket ReportTussen Berge Merinos Production SaleHIGHEST: (RAM) R24 000Barkly…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Ghana's plan to hike import tariffs may hit pockets and stomachsThe views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly.This article was first published by The Conversation. Read the original at shorturl.at/kyJMZ.“Ghana, like many other developing nations, relies heavily on imports of food and consumer goods to feed its population. For instance, the country imports 55% of its rice for consumption locally. Its import dependence is primarily a consequence of the production of low-value primary products without substantial value-addition. To forestall over-dependence on foreign goods, the government has proposed a trade restrictive policy via a legislative instrument on 22 major items. It has justified the policy on the grounds that it wants to reduce Ghana's dependence on foreign goods by making locally produced goods more attractive from a price perspective. In turn, the idea…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZAThe rate at which the world is changing seems to grow faster each year. This is particularly true for the agriculture sector, where technology, consumer demands and research culminate in a whole new playing field. What lies in store for agriculture this year? Lindi Botha looks at the top five trends that will influence the sector this year.Read the full article at bit.ly/42mSROV, or scan here: Posted: 30 January 2024.Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySAFROM X@FarmersWeeklySAWe posted an article, ‘No deal exists to export chicken feet to China’ – SAPA. Our followers shared the following comments about the article.Posted: 30 January 2024.READERS’ COMMENTS@Jongimoss: The BRICS thing looks like it's bearing some fruit.@GlenwinMaesela: SAPA cannot say that because we have orders from Asia, we don't have to disclose to them our deals. As…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024WEEKLY NEWS WRAP‘The average veterinarian is not only a general practitioner, but is also a […] surgeon' – Dr Brendan Tindall, vice-president of the South African Veterinary Council, on the costs associated with animal care (pg 20).‘Certain styles and specifications will get sharper increases, while others will get lower increases […]' – Roelof van Rooyen, director of Marquis Macadamias, on the differences in macadamia prices (pg 21).‘Our livelihoods have been bettered [and] profits are coming in […]' – Albert Thabane, chairperson of Moletele Communal Property Association, on the successful partnership between the Moletele community and South African Breweries (pg 22).‘However, investments in new technology are expected to increase strongly […] as farmers need to invest to stay competitive […]' – Lindi von Maltitz, an agricultural economist, reporting on a new survey that…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Chicken prices fall but still no bird flu vaccineWhile the peak of the most disastrous highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in recent times has appeared to have passed and chicken prices have seen a decrease, South African poultry farmers are still struggling without an approved avian influenza vaccine.The H7N6 strain of bird flu, which spread across Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and the Free State last year, caused a surge in poultry and egg prices, raising concerns about a potential shortage.The emergence of this new strain, along with the more prevalent H5N1 strain, necessitated the culling of more than 8 million chickens, resulting in financial losses of billions of rand.However, owing to mitigating strategies, including the importing of 150 million hatching eggs, South Africa was spared a shortage of chicken from September to December last year. With supply meeting demand,…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Wool association gets new GMThe National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA) of South Africa recently announced the appointment of Dan Kriek as its new general manager, effective from 1 May 2024.Leon de Beer, the current general manager, is set to retire at the end of April this year, after 20 years of service at the NWGA.“The opportunity to work with South African wool producers is a privilege indeed. I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders, including government, to fortify unity and actualise the aspirations for greater prosperity for wool producers,” said Kriek.He comes with a wealth of experience having previously served as president of Agri SA. According to NWGA chairperson Billy van Zyl, the association was confident that Kriek will bring his knowledge with him. This will lead the association and the South African…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Repurposing food waste for animal nutritionAs part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and advancing the circular economy, a South African retail giant has been converting 1 000t of food waste into animal feed over the past six months.With this initiative, the Shoprite Group is supplying sufficient fodder for as many as 3 000 cattle every day.The retailer is repurposing food products that have been returned from Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets to its distribution centres in Brackenfell, Western Cape, and Centurion, Gauteng. These items, no longer suitable for human consumption, are being diverted from landfills, contributing to waste reduction efforts.Dried goods like rice, pasta, maize products, cereal items, flour, chips, snacks, and seeds are now being used to supplement hominy chop, a by-product of maize milling, in the Shoprite Group's animal feed formulation, helping to…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024World in briefFRANCEThe farmers’ protest in France has led to the death of a woman after her car collided with a protest barricade. French farmers took to the streets in January due to mounting input costs. The woman killed was a farmer on her way to join the protest. Local authorities told media a family, consisting of a husband, wife and child, was travelling in a car that crashed into straw bales protesters had placed on the road. The other occupants of the car were seriously injured. The government said it was planning to hold talks with the aggrieved farming community to end the impasse.INDONESIAThe Indonesian government said the distribution of subsidised fertiliser has not improved the country's agriculture production. According to the Indonesian Farmers’ Alliance (API), farmers were battling to grow…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Opening doors for subsistence, small-scale farmersWith an aim to establishing a pipeline of future finance-ready farmers, Agri Seed Capital was calling on smallholder farmers to apply for their three-year incubation programme.Agri Seed Capital is a micro-finance institution that exists to address the problem of financial inclusion affecting subsistence and small-scale farmers.According to Agri Seed, many farmers find it difficult to access production credit, technical advisory, and business support services such as accounting, records management and business planning.“Motivated to close this gap, the organisation has created an incubation programme that aims to provide business support to small-scale producers to a point where they can graduate and access mainstream finance from commercial banks and development finance institutions,” said the organisation. As part of its services, Agri Seed offers small-scale farmers access to markets, bookkeeping services, business plans,…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Millions in drought-hit Zim at risk of hungerThe UN World Food Programme (WFP) recently reported it is working with Zimbabwe's government and aid agencies to provide food to 2,7 million rural people in the country because of drought conditions. The drought is a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon in Southern Africa.“Nearly 20% of Zimbabwe's population is at risk of hunger in drought-ravaged areas where people rely on small-scale farming to eat. The El Niño is expected to compound this by causing below-average rainfall again this year,” said Francesca Erdelmann, WFP country director for Zimbabwe.According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), El Niño conditions had developed in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years, setting the stage for a likely surge in global temperatures and disruptive weather and climate patterns.In 2016, Zimbabwe declared…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024The global oil price and the influence of geopoliticsThe price of Brent crude oil has remained around the US$80/barrel mark from the conclusion of 2023 into 2024. Crude oil prices are of interest to analysts as this year's trends have the potential to be shaped largely by geopolitics.About 70 countries holding general elections this year, and the political climate of the outcomes of those elections will influence political policies as well as legislation.There is a potential of redefined macro-economic flows should there be substantial changes. Key outcomes to look out for include the EU's climate change policies, tension between China and the West, as well as Middle Eastern conflicts.For instance, Yemen's militant group, the Houthis, have been attacking shipping vessels passing through the Red Sea. This caused rerouting and brought about supply concerns, influencing Brent crude oil prices…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Agri-services provider goes from zero to heroTWK Agri suffered major financial losses in 2010. By the time you joined the company in 2011, a complete shutdown was not excluded. What were the biggest financial challenges the company faced?Undoubtably, the foundation and business model of TWK was and is still very good. That was not the problem. Rather, the financial losses were as a result of controls that were not in place. There were serious cash flow constraints because of the 2010 loss and some assets were not delivering the required income. Important stakeholders like financing institutions had lost trust in us. The profits were historically good, but at that time, nothing seemed promising to return to profitability or achieve sustainable growth. We were also mostly financed by the Land Bank, which had its own challenges.To turn…8 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY COUNCILThe South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is a veterinary statutory body in South Africa with powers and functions for the registration of persons practising the veterinary and para-veterinary professions. The SAVC has legal authority over the practising of veterinary and para-veterinary professions, and for matters connected therewith.The South African Veterinary Board, which is the predecessor of the SAVC, was established in 1933 in terms of the Veterinary Act (No. 16 of 1933). The SAVC then later became an independent, self-funding statutory body in 1982 under the Veterinary and ParaVeterinary Professions Act (No. 19 of 1982). The current SAVC, therefore, has a proud and rich history of playing a role in the regulation of the veterinary profession in South Africa.It is compulsory in South Africa for all practising veterinary and para-veterinary…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Zoonotic diseases: Part 3Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella. Like all zoonoses, brucellosis can be transmitted from infected animals to humans. Brucellosis is also known as Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric remittent fever, undulant fever, contagious abortion and Bang's disease. Animals that are most commonly infected include sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and dogs.There are many sub-types of the Brucella genus, with B. abortus most common in cattle, B. melitensis and B. ovis most common in sheep and goats and B. suis most common in pigs (see table).ANIMALSBrucellosis is most commonly not a fatal disease, with the mortality rate low. However, the disease can do great damage to animals in terms of their production or production potential, with decreased milk production, weight loss, abortion, infertility and lameness all possible…6 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: Full SA line-up uncovered!The J250-generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was revealed back in August last year, riding on a fresh platform and boasting a new retro-inspired exterior design. Now, ahead of this ladder-frame SUV's highly anticipated touchdown in South Africa in April, Cars.co.za has unearthed several details of the local line-up.According to our information, the local Prado range will shrink slightly – from the five derivatives to three – largely owing to the removal of the naturally aspirated 4l V6 petrol engine from the line-up. As such, all models will employ the Japanese firm's familiar 2.8l four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.In J250-series Prado form, this wellknown 1GD-FTV motor will again deliver 150 kW and 500Nm to all four corners, though will switch from the outgoing model's six-speed automatic transmission to an eight-speed selfshifting gearbox. Braked…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024THE HITCHING POSTI'm a 40-year-old man and 1,76m tall. I believe in giving the best that life has to offer to everyone my life touches. I love wine, horses, dancing, Formula 1 racing and travelling the world. I'm looking for woman who is free-spirited and adventurous aged between 30 and 45, with or without children.MONTYTwo gorgeous Indian ladies are looking for a couple of gorgeous Indian men to take them out for a cappuccino or maybe a bite to eat. They both work in Pietermaritzburg, but one lives in Chatsworth.One has long, silky hair and the other one has short, curly hair. They are both around 45 years old. They are very special women. I, now an old lady, worked with them for many years on a volunteer basis.LOOKING FOR LOVEI am…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Spacious home with a great viewDear Jonno,I have always followed your articles in Farmer's Weekly and it's the first section I page to when I receive my new magazine. I am now delighted to be asking you to design a house for us.What we want is a contemporary home, but with some farm-style features. The living area must be spacious and open plan. We then need two bedrooms on one side, and a further master bedroom with a bathroom, ma ybe on a separate level, with a study/ office attached.Our property is in the Western Cape on a level site. The home must face northwards, and our driveway will come from that direction. We want a double garage on the opposite side to the bedroom wing.Kind regards, Howard and RenetDear Howard and Renet, Thanks for…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024How do I treat pasteurellosis?Dear Prof McCrindle,My sheep are coughing and sneezing and look sick. Someone said it's pasteurellosis. What is that and what do I do? Kind regards, OscarDear Oscar,Fatal pneumonia in sheep and goats has been around for many years and has been described in Afrikaans as bontlong, harslagsiekte and jaagsiekte. There are different causes, including chlamydiosis and poisonous plants. However, the main cause is pasteurellosis. This name is related to the bacterial species Pasteurella haemolytica and P. multocida. Several Pasteurella genera have been renamed Mannheimia, but the name of the disease has not changed.Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) provides a vaccine containing all the relevant strains of bacteria causing this disease, known as Pasteurella vaccine. Prevention is better than cure, and in this rainy season it is probably a good idea for…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Broiler productionThe Broiler Production course teaches the essential aspects of broiler production, including chick management, feeding programmes and biosecurity measures.Visit the Buhle Farmers’ Academy at buhle.org.za.AUCTION20 TO 22 FEBRUARYThis timed online auction sees two portions of farmland (Koedoesfontein) near Madikwe Game Reserve go for sale. Time: 10.00 to 12.00. Visit online.assetauctions.co.za.CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS6 TO 8 MARCHRegenerative Agriculture Integrated Soil Health and Carbon Credits Summit, Cape Town. Phone 073 978 2513, or email registration@thinkgreenevents.co.za.18 TO 22 MARCHWater Treatment Plant Design, Johannesburg. Email sales@creativeconceptssa.co.za.22 TO 24 MARCHCannabis Expo, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town. Visit the cannabisexpo.co.za.15 TO 16 APRILInternational Conference on Agricultural, Environmental Science and Engineering, Cape Town. Visit shorturl.at/lwBDE.4 TO 6 JUNEWoodEX for Africa, Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Visit woodexforafrica.com.COURSES AND TRAINING15 TO 17 FEBRUARYCattle Nutrition Management Course, George.…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024AGRI NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLDUS SENATORS PROPOSE CYBERSECURITY AGRICULTURE BILLA new bipartisan bill proposed by two US senators looks to bolster the cybersecurity of the food and agriculture sector. – infosecurity-magazine.comEL NIÑO WREAKS HAVOC IN RURAL ECONOMIESResearch firm EFE Securities shows rural economies will be severely affected this year as the populace depend more on agriculture, which will be heavily impacted by El Niño during the current season. – newsday.co.zwITALY: €46.7M IN AI SUPPORT FROM EU FOR POULTRY FARMERSThe European Commission has allocated €46,7 million (about R943 million) in aid for farmers in Italy who have been hit by the successive outbreaks of avian influenza in the country. – poultryworld.net…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Australians take charge of herbicide resistanceHerbicide resistance is forcing farmers across the world to change their weed management strategies. According to the International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database, there are 530 unique cases of herbicide-resistant weeds globally, involving 272 species. Resistance has been reported to 21 of the 31 known herbicide sites of action and to 168 different herbicides.The bulk of these cases come from the US (132), Australia (89), Canada (56), Brazil (49) and China (48). In 1986, South Africa had one herbicide resistance case, involving Avena fatua (wild oats) in wheat. To date, 14 unique resistant weeds have been reported, involving Lolium spp. (annual ryegrass), Phalaris spp. (canary grass) and Raphanus raphanistrum L (wild radish), to five modes of action.Initially problems in South Africa were restricted to grainlands, but since 2001 it had also been…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Good rain forecast for SA and Namibia in MarchIndications are the El Niño weather phenomenon is on the wane in the Southern Hemisphere. This could mean an increase in rainfall in the western parts of South Africa next month, according to Johan van den Berg, independent agricultural meteorologist.He said in the latest AMT weather forecast that a few tropical storms had developed during the past few weeks over the Indian Ocean because of increased sea temperatures. The combined effect thereof was an increase in the inflow of tropical moisture to the areas where the storms, occurred. This resulted in belowaverage rainfall in the western parts of South Africa with inflow of moisture towards to the tropical storm areas.“Very little rain is therefore expected until the end of February and even the beginning of March. However, from March, the…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Wine export value increases despite a decline in export volumesSouth African wine exports declined 17% in 2023 to 306 million litres but export value increased from R9,9 billion to R10 billion, according to the South African Wine Export Report recently issued by Wines of South Africa and South African Wine Industry Statistics.To put this in perspective, export volumes declined 5% to 368 million litres in 2022, after increasing 22% to 388 million litres in 2021.Volumes of all the wine categories were down in 2023, except for the Other Single Red Cultivar category, which increased 11% to 4,4 million litres; the Dry Red category, which increased 4% to 11,6 million litres; and the Other Red category, which increased 20% to 11,5 million litres.In terms of rand per litre, however, the value of all the categories increased, except for the Other…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024European farmers are up in armsThe agriculture sector across Europe has brought the bloc's countries to a standstill since the start of the year. According to the media, farmers in France, Germany and Romania, among others, have not only downed tools, but are using their farming equipment to blockade main roads and prevent access to some of the region's busiest cities.According to reports, most of the protest action was due to the cost-of-living crisis coupled with the EU's sustainability policies. The Russia-Ukraine conflict had also compounded the struggles of the farmers.According to the EU's policy statement, the revamp of their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) stated that at least 4% of arable land needed to be devoted to non-productive features, and that farmers would be required to carry out crop rotation and reduce fertiliser usage by…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024SA vets appeal to owners not to skimp on veterinary careWith the current economy placing pressure on South Africans, many farmers and animal owners have cut back on costs by sacrificing veterinary care.In lieu of this, local veterinary and para-veterinary professionals are appealing to animal owners to explore other options such as insurance and preventative care to make looking after their animals more affordable.Echoing the call, the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) was aiming to create awareness around the valuable role veterinary and para-veterinary professionals play in the healthcare chain.“No one is disputing that veterinary care is expensive,” said Dr Greg Irvine-Smith, a specialist surgeon at a Johannesburg veterinary hospital and a representative of companion animals on the SAVC's Specialisation Committee. “But owning an [animal] is a privilege and a responsibility. So, when you take on that animal, you're taking…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024A ‘sub-lime’ boost for farmersSouth African Breweries (SAB) has turned a sour situation for beer drinkers into a ‘lime-light’ opportunity for local emerging farmers.Having faced a lack of local supply of limes that was affecting SAB's Corona beer-drinking experience, the company sought out a novel opportunity to invest in lime farming.This resulted in a boost to local production and the empowerment of emerging farmers and their communities.According to SAB, Corona beer is traditionally served with a wedge of lime as part of the drinking ritual. However, as the beer became popular in the country, it encountered a severe shortage of limes.To solve the problem and boost the South African agriculture sector, SAB formed a community private partnership (CPP) to the tune of R19 million with the Moletele Communal Property Association in Limpopo and Komati…5 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024‘Policy uncertainty’ is farmers’ biggest challengeA recent survey undertaken by agricultural economists, Johan Willemse and Lindi von Maltitz, showed that the South African agriculture sector can expect profitability to remain constant, or show a slight decline during the next year.Known as the Agriculture Economic Barometer, it is the first of its kind in the country.Uncertainty and poor government policy posed the largest risks to the agriculture sector over the next 12 months, according to 62% of economists.According to Willemse, the survey was an important resource as it provided farmers and agribusinesses a glimpse of expected future trends. The survey was planned as a monitor of agricultural economic variations as foreseen by experts.The panel consisted of 85 practising agricultural economists in the country who represented all provinces and a wide variety of industries.“It will be done…2 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Safeguard your optimism at all costsIt has not been a great start to the year for farmers, and not only in South Africa.Apart from their inflation and interest rate woes, farmers in Europe and the UK are angry with their governments about a rash of new environmental regulations affecting their operations, increased taxes, subsidy cuts and bans on pesticides.British farmers and their families are in a state of deep depression about the future. A recent article in the Guardian newspaper, headlined ‘Farming is a dirty word now’, makes for disturbing reading. (shorturl.at/QSY19).They've adopted some of the more tame methods, pioneered by South Africans, to express their displeasure with government: marching to government offices (with their cows, in the case of Irish farmers), blocking roads and dumping manure on the city streets. (They've still some way…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Why getting your dog trained is important in South AfricaI have seen many bad news articles in the papers and on social media lately about dogs attacking people, eating poison and even killing people. I bet you are thinking, wow! How do dogs get that bad? Well, it's because people get dogs for whatever reason, put them in their yards and that's that. I think dogs are wasted just sitting in the yard all day.There is so much potential in most dog breeds, and by letting them waste away in a yard is cruel.Dogs are intelligent animals and should be continuously exposed to exciting and interesting events, even if this is just a walk around the farm or a swim in the dam. When this doesn't happen, people often come up with some excuse like, ‘Oh, I get home…4 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Which beef breed is best for you?When choosing a beef cattle breed for your farm, you need to consider various factors. No two breeds are the same, and some are more efficient producers in particular circ*mstances and environments than others. As such, you need to take your farming environment and production goals in mind when choosing a breed for your farm.For this article, we have assumed that the reader wants to focus specifically on beef production. If this is indeed your production call, it is recommended that you choose a breed that has been specifically bred for beef production. (This is not to rule out dual-purpose breeds like the Simmentaler. However, for this article, we have focused exclusively on beef breeds.)Beef breeds emphasise muscle development and efficient conversion of feed to meat.CHOOSING A BREEDAs mentioned above,…6 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024UNPASTEURISED RAW MILK• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that raw milk and milk products are those that have not undergone pasteurisation, which kills pathogens, such as bacteria. If someone consumes raw milk that contains the Brucella bacteria, for example, he/she may become infected and develop brucellosis. • “Most cases of brucellosis associated with raw milk are caused by a strain called Brucella melitensis or Brucella abortus in people who travelled to countries where these strains are common and drank contaminated cow, sheep or goat milk. In rare cases, brucellosis cases associated with other strains, including RB51 and Brucella suis, are reported. • “RB51 is resistant to certain antibiotics that would normally be used to prevent or treat Brucella infections.” • The CDC recommends that anyone exposed to RB51…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Mango-infused co*cktails for Valentine's DayFROZEN MANGO MARGARITASThese grown-up popsicles are refreshing and cheeky.SERVES 4750ml (3 cups) mango, cubed (± 4 small mangoes) 62,5ml (¼ cup) lime juice, plus lime slices for garnish 75ml (3 tots) tequila 50ml (2 tots) Cointreau or orange-flavoured liqueur 75ml (3 tots) orange juice sea salt, to serve Lime wedges, to serve• Place all the ingredients in a blender and purée until smooth. Pour into popsicle moulds and insert an ice cream stick in the middle of each. Freeze for 8 hours or overnight. • To serve, unmould the popsicles and place on a tray with ice, sprinkle with salt flakes and garnish with lemon wedges.MANGO SANGRIASangria is a Spanish punch traditionally made using red wine and stone fruit. We have adapted this refreshing summer drink to include delicious mango.…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024Old practices could combat climate changeIn a warming world, scientists are now looking at older farming practices to assist the agricultural world.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, one of these practices is agroforestry, which is basically the incorporation of trees in agriculture. The FAO, in taking a closer look at the agricultural landscape in Italy, said that developing agroforestry could possibly help millions of smallholder farmers combat climate change.According to an article published by The Conversation, research into vine agroforestry systems used on ancient Roman farms could prove beneficial. The author of the article, Dimitri van Limbergen, said ancient Roman wine production might hold clues for battling climate change.The common technique at the time for growing grape vines was forest agriculture. The technique was for the vines to attach themselves…1 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024AI, wildlife and a Valentine's Day readThe Hitchhiker's Guide To AI by Arthur Goldstuck (Macmillan, R350)Here we're talking the other AI – not artificial insemination but artificial intelligence, although wisecracking tech guru and journalist Goldstuck could no doubt align the two with a great quip . . . Given that he was a Vrystaat lad from Trompsburg now in demand in national and global media for his tech insights that alignment's not as far-fetched as you might think. His AI “handbook for all” is a vital business backgrounder. It gives you most of the tech talk and even marketing speak in plain English in his trademark energetic style, relish for the power of tech (watch out for “look, no hands!” on driving round Helshoogte Pass) and obvious enjoyment of speaking truth to apparent AI power. You'll…3 min
Farmer's Weekly|16 February 2024A unique opportunity to go back in timeA fallow site on Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West in the Western Cape that was previously used for plums as been transformed into a subterranean wonder.Five metres below the ground and accessed by a curved ramp that is also wheelchair friendly, a 24m-long excavated chamber is revealed. This is Earthbox, which the organisers claim is a world first.Reaching Earthbox is by means of a tractor-drawn trailer that passes Bon Chretien pear orchards and sunflower fields on land previously dedicated to Chardonnay grapes.Best known for its wine production, Lourensford also has 90ha to apples and pears, 85ha to plums and 42ha of vineyards. About 22ha of avocado are also part of its 4 000ha area on a historic farm, originally owned by Willem Adriaan van der Stel and established in…5 min
