Vegetables & Fruit July/August 2022

SINCE 1988

JULY • AUGUST 2022

Climate change and the deciduous fruit industry R44,00

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No 208

8 5 Edition 208

ISSN 1015-85 37

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COVER

NEWS 4

BASF launches app to optimise crop production

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CropLife SA’s plant biotechnology media day

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Sluiting van inmaakfabriek voorlopig afgeweer

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Birthday for Groot Constantia estate

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Skei die koring van die kaf

The Western Cape in South Africa is the largest traditional apple production region and accounts for more than half of the apple production in the country. The biggest apple production regions are around the Western Cape towns of Ceres, Wolseley, Elgin and Villiersdorp.

EDITORIAL Willie Louw (Group editor)

DECIDUOUS FRUIT 18

Drone spraying in orchards

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Climate change and the deciduous fruit industry

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Gewasbeskerming moet in die winter steeds voortgaan

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BASF se oplossings in kernvrugte

Carien Daffue (Editor) 018 293 0622 info@mediakom.co.za PO BOX 20250, Noordbrug, 2522

ADVERTISING Jana Greenall 011 476 3702 082 780 9914 mediacom@lantic.net DESIGN Mercia Venter studio.chatnoir@gmail.com

BERRIES 16

Blueberries: Specialised irrigation for a specialised crop

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PEPPERS 18

Sweet pepper production

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Die optimale produksie van soetrissies in verskillende seisoene

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Potatoes SA leads discussion on fresh produce markets

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Spanpoging werp vrugte af

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Are granulated micro-fine limes superior?

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The future of olives

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GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2022

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BASF launches app to optimise crop production BASF Digital Farming GmbH, part of BASF’s agricultural solutions division, has officially launched its xarvio® Scouting smartphone app to support South African farmers and agronomic advisors. The launch also represents the first commercial market entry in Africa for BASF digital farming and smart farming products from its xarvio digital farming solutions range.

T

he app is free to download and use and has been specifically configured to local agronomic conditions. It enables the fast and accurate identification of significant local weeds and diseases impacting key crops, such as maize, soybeans, citrus and cereals.

Developed by agronomists and farmers, the app uses an advanced plant modelling platform powered by live algorithms that continually improve precision and functionality through machine learning and data sharing. It can instantly detect in-field stress and calculate leaf damage by simply taking a picture with a smartphone.

A community-based radar function also allows growers to see threats in surrounding fields and notifies them once a threat is close, so they can act. A grower can simply take a photo with a smartphone and submit it to instantly receive the result. With this information in-field issues and problems can be precisely identified, supporting better, more timely decisions for appropriate treatment, says André Pretorius, Marketing Manager, BASF South Africa.

Saving time spent on scouting expeditions and increasing

growers’ and advisors’ access to detailed and beneficial information, the app is recognised as the most comprehensive, automated, agronomic pro­blem identifier available globally.

It can identify more than 400 weed types and recognise damages caused by more than 400 different diseases, pests and nutrient deficiencies in over 60 different crops worldwide.

“We are confident that xarvio Scouting will be well-received and used in South Africa. The app’s accuracy will continuously improve, the more often farmers use it to share images of their crops, weeds, diseases and insect pests. This will ensure that faster and more relevant results are delivered, helping growers optimise crop production,” says Andrew Achille, Regional Commercial Lead APAC & Africa, xarvio Digital Farming Solutions.

CropLife SA’s plant biotechnology media day

S

outh CropLife SA serves responsible manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of sustainable crop protection and public health solutions in the agricultural, public health and consumer sector of South Africa.

Media and officials from the industry were treated to a day where they visited key biotechnology facilities and the farm of Willem Mahlangu outside Bronkhortspruit to observe the cutting edge technology at work. Pictured here are Elriza Theron, marketing and communications manager of Croplife; Chantel Arendse, Director Croplife; and Mr Lebogang Madubanya from Plant biotechnolo­gy at the ARC.

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VEGETABLES & FRUIT | JULY • AUGUST 2022

Sluiting van inmaakfabriek voorlopig afgeweer Ná ’n ooreenkoms met rolspelers het Tiger Brands in Julie 2022 aangekondig dat bedrywighede by die Langeberg- en Ashton-inmaakfabriek vir nog ’n jaar voortgesit word.

Weens die uitstel kan Tiger Brands nuwe moontlikhede ondersoek en potensiële kopers kry geleentheid om fondse te bekom vir 'n oorname.

D

ie Langeberg- en Ashton-fabriek is die grootste in SuidAfrika en een van slegs twee vrugte-inmaakfabrieke.

Dié wêreldklasfabriek speel 'n noodsaaklike rol vir Suid-Afrikaanse ingemaakte vrugte om ’n nisposisie in die wêreldmark te beklee. Suid-Afrika is volgens produksie in die top-sewe inmaakvrugtelande ter wêreld, en die fabriek bring honderde miljoene rand in buitelandsevaluta in.

Agri SA sê produsente het dringende versoeke tot die WesKaapse en nasionale regerings gerig om hierby in te gryp.

Gegewe die noodsaaklike bydrae van hierdie fasiliteit tot die nasionale en provinsiale ekonomieë, moet die regering bystand verleen deur met die partye saam te werk om belegging in die fasiliteit te fasiliteer.

Tiger Brands het aanvanklik twee jaar gelede besluit om van dié fabriek te onttrek. In daardie stadium het ’n konsortium van 160 produsente met Tiger Brands begin onderhandel om die fabriek te bekom, maar die konsortium sal ’n verdere R200 tot R300 miljoen benodig om die transaksie te beklink.

Met die jongste aankondiging van Tiger Brands is hierdie produsente in ’n bykans onmoontlike situasie geplaas: hulle moes die nodige fondse binne minder as 60 dae bekom. Sonder ondersteuning van die regering en samewerking van Tiger

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2022

Brands, sal die produsente se inisiatief misluk en die gevolge sal katastrofies wees, sê Agri SA. Die fabriek verwerk hoofsaaklik taaipitperskes, Bulida-appelkose en Bon Chretien-pere afkomstig van sowat 2 250 ha boorde. Hierdie vrugte is spesifiek vir inmaak geplant in die Klein-Karoo-, Ashton-, Robertson-, Bonnievale-, Breërivier-, Wolseley- en Ceres-gebied.

“As die fabriek sluit, gaan ongeveer 300 boere geen alternatiewe mark vir hulle vrugte hê nie, aangesien die ander vrugte-inmaakfabriek in Suid-Afrika, wat deur die Rhodes Food Group besit word, reeds op volle kapasiteit werk. Die boere sal hulle boorde moet vernietig.”

Die uitwerking van die aankondiging word reeds gevoel, aangesien arbeidsmakelaars rapporteer dat hul spanne tuis sit omdat produsente ná die Tiger-aankondiging opgehou het om te snoei. In mediaverklarings het Tiger Brands aangedui dat 250 permanente poste en 4 300 seisoenale poste op die hoogtepunt van die seisoen geraak word. Die fabriek is die lewensondersteuning van die Ashton-gemeenskap en daarsonder staar die gemeenskap ’n sosio-ekonomiese ramp in die gesig. Die Langeberg- en Ashton-fabriek is ook die grootste enkele bron van inkomste vir die Langeberg-munisipaliteit.

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Birthday for Groot Constantia estate G

root Constantia Estate celebrates its 337th birthday this year, cementing its status as the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa. Adding to the Estate’s reputation of consistent quality, is its much-lauded flagship wine, Grand Constance, which recently received the National Wine Challenge Special Award for Wine Consistency and the Grand Cru “Best in Class” award.

Groot Constantia’s wine continues to shine as it claims the spot with one of three wines in South Africa which have achieved more than seven top 100 positions annually, with Grand Constance leading the charge with 11 wins over a period of 12 years. To this day, Grand Constance remains the grand dame of sweet wines.

Hundreds of years ago, the wine produced at Groot Constantia began to receive international acclaim for its superior quality. Emperors and kings, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, Napoleon and Louis Philippe (king of the French), were all known to be great lovers of the wines (translated Grand Constance into the French) which also means “consistency”.

“The iconic Grand Constance wine that we produce at Groot Constantia is in effect the essence of the estate.” says Groot Constantia winemaker, Boela Gerber. “We are immensely proud of our Grand Constance and humbled to be able to continue to produce this wine, and for it to consist-

Part of the Groot Constantia wine-making team is Hansie Warries (cellar foreman), Floricius Beukes (estate manager and viticulturist), Boela Gerber (winemaker) and Daniel Thana (team manager).

ently bring home awards. It is a 300-year-old legacy that we are custodians of, and the team strives to ensure that we interpret and honour it meticulously so that this special wine can continue to be appreciated on a world stage.”

As a provincial heritage site and a living museum, Groot Constantia has always been one of Cape Town’s most important destinations and is a member of the Cape Town Big 6 tourist attractions. It is not hard to see why the Estate is a favourite for locals and visitors alike – and has been for centuries.

Skei die koring van die kaf M

et soekenjins en toepassings aan hul vingerpunte, kan produsente maklik glo hulle het alles wat nodig is om ingeligte besluite te kan neem.

Die noodsaaklikheid om data en waarnemings in die veld aan te teken en toegang tot inligting te hê wanneer ‘n vraag opduik, veroorsaak volgens InteliGro dat die moderne produsent altyd ‘n tablet of slimfoon byderhand het. Hedendaag­ se boerdery draai om insigte en ingeligte besluitneming.

Alle data is egter nie ewe goed nie. Bloot omdat iets op die internet is en as ’n Google-soekresultaat verskyn, beteken nie noodwendig dit is akkuraat, aktueel en relevant op ‘n plaas nie. Daar is deesdae meer data as ooit tevore beskikbaar – ‘n werklikheid wat ongelukkig nie weerspieël word in die gehalte van besluitneming in alle sfere van die samelewing nie, landbou ingesluit.

InteliGro sê die kennispoel het so diep en wyd geword dat die meeste mense selde meer doen as rondplas in tweedehandse vlak water, naamlik inligting wat uitgekies, saamgestel en verpak is deur ‘n derdeparty wat meestal nie gekwalifiseerd is om wetenskaplike inligting in perspektief te stel nie. ‘n Mens kan maar net dink aan die mate waartoe Covid-waninligting ‘n pandemie opsigself was.

Waar laat hierdie stand van sake landbouprodusente?

Dit is noodsaaklik dat produsente terugstaan van die stort­

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vloed van inligting en die bronne wat hulle raadpleeg en vertrou, in heroorweging neem. Wanneer ‘n mens byvoorbeeld sclerotinia opsoek, gee Google 1,8 miljoen resultate binne sekondes – maar hoe relevant en op datum is die inligting?

Behalwe as die persoon bedrewe is in die kuns om die resultate vir relevansie te filtreer en weet hoe om akkuraatheid te verifieer, is hy of sy niks nader aan die antwoord waarna gesoek word nie.

En selfs al is daar ’n antwoord, hoe word die beheer van een pes geïntegreer met die res van die boer­deryaktiwiteite, in die konteks van oorhoofse gewasbeplanning, bestuur van insetkoste, vereistes vir omgewingsvolhoubaarheid en wins­ gewendheid?

InteliGro se vennootskappe en alliansies gee hulle enersyds toegang tot ‘n spektrum van tegnologie en kwaliteit produkte, en aan die anderkant geverifieerde inligting. Hulle kombineer dié twee perspektiewe met ‘n begrip van die produsent se unieke omstandighede. Dit stel hulle in staat om geloofwaardige, akkurate en relevante inligting aan te bied waarop geïntegreerde gewasbestuurstrategieë geskoei kan word.

Produsente weet hoe om koring van die kaf op die plaas te skei. Ten einde suksesvol en volhoubaar te wees in ‘n bedryf en mark wat al hoe vinniger verander, moet hulle dieselfde doen met die inligting en hulpbronne waarop hulle besluite gerig word.

VEGETABLES & FRUIT | JULY • AUGUST 2022

BULLETIN

Fokus

aartappels SWAMSIEKTES

Rhizoctonia solani

in aartappels

Oorsig Rhizoctonia solani is ’n knol- en grondgedraagde patogeen wat stamkanker en swartskurf op aartappelknolle veroorsaak wat lei tot kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe verliese van aartappelgewasse.

Die implementering van bestuurspraktyke en die gebruik van Emesto ® Silver speel ’n belangrike rol in die bestuur van Rhizoctonia-infeksie. Emesto ® Silver is ’n dubbel-doel sistemiese swamdoder met twee verskillende metodes van werking, wat die ontwikkeling van weerstand beperk.

Beheermetode Vir die effektiewe beheer van Rhizoctonia solani is dit noodsaaklik om die volgende in ag te neem: om stamkanker en swartskurf op aartappels te beheer, is ’n geïntegreerde bestuursbenadering nodig. Chemiese beheer speel ’n sleutelrol in die bestuur van Rhizoctonia-inokulum. Toediening van Emesto ® Silver lei tot minder besmette knolle wat verhoogde opbrengste en hoër kwaliteit aartappels verseker. Hoë vlakke van doeltreffendheid teen alle anastomose-groepe van Rhizoctonia solani is bewys in laboratorium-biotoetse. Veldtoetse het gewys dat Emesto ® Silver opbrengste gemiddeld tot en met 5% verhoog.

Voordele van

Emesto Silver ®

Beter groei Beter kwaliteit Beter opbrengs

www.cropscience.bayer.co.za /// www.bayer.co.za /// Tel: +27 11 921 5002 Bayer (Edms.) Bpk. Reg. Nr 1968/011192/07. Wrenchweg 27, Isando, 1601. Posbus 143, Isando, 1600.

Kom ons praat ...

A32469

Vir meer inligting, laai die Bayer-app af, BayerCropSA. Emesto® Silver Reg. Nr. L11148 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947. Bevat Penflufen en Prothioconazole (Versigtig).

Emesto® Silver is ’n geregistreerde handelsmerk van Bayer AG, Duitsland. Gebruik slegs volgens etiketaanwysings.

DECIDUOUS FRUIT

Drone spraying in orchards

The DJI Agras 30T agri drone in action in sugarcane fields in KZN.

Photo supplied

The key global challenge of the moment remains the provision of healthy, balanced and affordable meals to a growing global population. Current levels of rural poverty and concerns about natural resource management and public awareness about sustainable practices in food production are prominent.

Jan Greyling EDITORIAL CO-WORKER

T

he economics of cultivation and irrigated agriculture are important topics in precision agriculture that relate to these challenges. In the case of fruit orchard management, the challenges also concern processors. Within the context of precision agriculture, site-specific management is crucial to enhancing agricultural economics and in reducing environmental impact.

Site-specific management refers to the general stages of orchard variability mapping, collecting data and making decisions. According to Zhang and Kovacs, 2012, it is making it possible to understand all aspects of crop cultivation, including biological, chemical and physical processes.

Leading technology As a preferred manufacturer of agri drones, the DJI factory is situated in what is known as China's Silicon Valley. Here they benefit from direct access to the suppliers and raw materials.

Their young, creative talent pool are developing and manufacture precision drones for industrial, agricultural, security, landmapping, construction, landscape, equipment and structure surveillances.

Also aimed at fruit orchards, the next generation DJI Agras 40-litre payload spraying drone will leave the factory in Shen-

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zhen for availability in South Africa before the end of 2022.

In fruit orchards, pruning is often aimed at optimised fruit production and protection. However, orchard canopies are making accurate and timely data collection challenging. These limitations in data collection are increasingly managed by using a suitable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) / Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or a drone to obtain data with the required time frequency and spatial resolution (Campos et al., 2019; Matese et al., 2019).

“Compared with satellite-based remote sensing, using UAVs for monitoring is less dependent on weather conditions.

For the monitoring of regions covered by significant cloud, UAV yielded a data-acquisition probability of 45% to 70%, while the probability based on satellite was around 20%,” according to Van der Wal et al., 2013.

Drone observations in orchards have been found to have significant advantages: • they can be deployed in high-risk situations, • data acquisition is fast, and • images are geo-referenced (Handique et al., 2017; Saldana Ochoa & Guo, 2019).

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The limitations of drones include operational speed and the battery life. Battery life, however, enables drones to operate in relatively small or medium-sized orchards. Their operational speed is lower than that of manned airborne spraying alterna-

VEGETABLES & FRUIT | JULY • AUGUST 2022