How to improve Hay Quality

Delmhorst Instrument Co. is a 2nd generation familyowned business that has been manufacturing moisture meters for agriculture and the building trades/lumber industries for 75 years. Our products are known world-wide and have been accepted by the major schools of agriculture and forestry. They are proven for ruggedness and accuracy and will provide many years of reliability. Monitoring the moisture content of hay helps to preserve leaves, color, and feed value, and reduces the possibility of mold development while in storage. When harvest time comes, Delmhorst probe-type meters are proven, essential tools that are a critical component to ensuring high quality hay. The popular model F-2000 hand-held meter uses a 9v battery and offers easy to use controls, and a sharp digital display even in bright sunlight. For high volume producers who need the timesaving convenience of on-the-go monitoring, the FX-2000 adds the ability to check hay moisture during baling, without even leaving the tractor. It is powered by the tractor’s 12V system as well as a 9v battery for portable use. The F-2000 and FX-2000 hay testers are covered by a 3-year warranty. Whether in the windrow, while baling, or in storage, Delmhorst meters measure hay moisture every step of the way with speed, accuracy, and reliability. Prods are available for the windrow, small and large square bales, and round bales too.

Delmhorst also produces moisture meters for the cotton, soil, grain, hemp/hops/ tobacco markets, as well as a temperature measuring probe system, ideal for grain, hay, and cotton. Download our complimentary guide How to Improve Hay Quality For more information on the F-2000, FX2000, and Delmhorst’s full line of moisture meters and accessories visit our website at delmhorst.com and click on the Speak to a Specialist link or email us at

info@delmhorst.com

Murang’a farmers reap big from expanding avocado business

Farmers in Murang’a earned an estimated Sh8.8 billion from avocado farming last year, according to a new report. The income is more than half of the proceeds earned by farmers in the sector countrywide. Kenya’s avocado farmers earned Sh14.7 billion from international markets, up from Sh5.4 billion in 2017. Farmers in Murang’a County have doubled their avocado trees, eyeing the lucrative overseas markets. The World Bank has promised to facilitate the construction of a Sh100 million avocado processing plant in the county. According to the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), Kenya produced 72 million tonnes of avocados, up from 68 million tonnes in the previous year which earned the country Sh10 billion. This year, farmers have been warned against selling an avocado for less than Sh12 following increased demand as the harvesting season opened last Tuesday. Patrick Kamande, the chair of Gatanga Avocado Farmers has attributed the high earnings to increased demand for the fruit in foreign markets due to production of high quality Hass variety. Kamande said the maturity of the avocado trees planted in Murang’a between 2015 and 2017 through distribution by the county government has contributed greatly to increased production since last year. “I have more than 120 avocado trees that were planted between 2016 and 2018, out of which 100 are mature. Last year, I sold avocados worth Sh220,000, up from Sh150,000 the previous year,” Kamande said. He said farmers are affiliated to the Murang’a County Avocado Cooperative Union, under which 227,062 growers benefited with free seedlings issued by the county government since 2015. “Murang’a fruits have attracted buyers in international markets. We have come together and resisted the middlemen who used to offer us low prices,” said Joseph Wanjohi, the chair of Avocado Marketing Agents Association. He said farmers should be encouraged to harvest mature fruits not to compromise standards. Murang’a County Avocado Bill fronted by Governor Mwangi wa Iria met opposition from middlemen even as growers with 5,450 acres of land embraced it. AFA partnered with the county governments to increase production after the Chinese market was opened in 2019. The Bill sought to stop the exploitation of farmers by merchants through registration of players in the sector, among other proposals. Iria said his administration had distributed more than 1,541,554 seedlings to 227,062 growers. He said he had contracted a Dutch company to spearhead certification process of avocado farmers. In 2019, the governor was crowned an avocado ambassador in recognition of his efforts to support small scale growers.

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Namibia: Nust Holds Workshop On Sustainable Farming

THE Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) held a two-day workshop for vegetable growers in the Kalkrand area of Hardap region, on sustainable farming. The workshop, the first of its kind in the area, was held on 5 and 6 March under the auspices of the Omomas Training and Care Centre (ATC). It was attended by 25 participants. According to CED director Godwin Chisenga, this kind of training is relevant because of the persistent poor rains that lead to droughts, resulting in poor yields and degraded pastures in most parts of the country. The workshop looked at sustainable ways of restoring natural fertility of degraded soil through the use of cheap local materials to achieve increased crop output. Participants learnt how to apply kraal manure and mulch to their vegetable gardens. They were also taught how to grow seedlings the correct way. "The high cost of external inputs, limited knowledge on soil fertility management and overexploitation leads to diminished resilience of the soil to provide a suitable medium for crop growth. "Therefore it is important that crop farmers learn available methodologies to enrich the soil to improve their harvests," Chisenga said. He stressed the importance of such training, specifically targeting farmers who may not have extension services from the Ministry of Agriculture, in imparting knowledge to them. Chisenga expressed gratitude to the ATC management for their foresight in organising such training. ATC director Ing-Anja Huppertz, thanked CED for providing such a practical and inspiring workshop for the participants. She said: "Organic farming technologies are an alternative agricultural system that advocates the use of appropriate and affordable farming techniques in improving soil fertility". She added that fertile soil is crucial for sustainable farming in Namibia because of the extent of land degradation in most of the regions. * Vehonga Ndjitaviua is the marketing officer at the Centre For Enterprise Development at Nust.