Farmer's Weekly - 8 May 2020 by Farmer's Weekly

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FREE MAGAZINE South African & Other countries

8 MAY 2020

ORCHARD FIXES FOR STINKBUG COVID-19 CRISIS FUNDING

TO IMPROVE MACADAMIA CRACK-OUT

LITTLE SUPPORT FOR AGRI SECTOR

LEARNING FROM KENYA’S BAN ON DONKEY SLAUGHTERING WHY AGRI ECONOMICS IS NOW MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER BETTER RESISTANCE TO TICK-BORNE DISEASES – A SUSSEX BREEDER’S STRATEGY WAGYU SUPPLEMENT

PRACTICAL POST-DROUGHT RECOVERY PLAN FOR LIVESTOCK FARMERS MONTHLY TRACTOR PRICES REPORT

Contents

ARTICLES

OPINION & ANALYSIS

6 By Invitation COVER Learning from Kenya’s ban on donkey slaughtering

22 Bottom Line COVER

– When performance fails to live up to breeding values – Dealing with soya rust

Why agri economics is now more relevant than ever

38 Vegetable Production

Livestock

39 On the Market Floor

COVER 24 Practical post-drought recovery plan for livestock farmers 28 Better resistance to tick-borne diseases: a Sussex breeder’s strategy

30 Crops COVER

Orchard fixes for stinkbug to improve macadamia crack-out

36 Back to Basics

Mildew: a major threat to lettuce

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP 14

40 Machinery

& Implements

John Deere joins the fight against COVID-19

48 Supplement COVER Wagyu

51 Monthly Tractor Prices COVER

COLUMNS 20 Managing for Profit 21 Field Notes from

a New Farmer

PRINTING CTP Web Printers, cnr Electron Avenue and Industry Road, Isando, Johannesburg. PUBLISHED by the proprietors, Caxton Magazines, a division of CTP Ltd (Reg. No. 1971/004233/06), Caxton House, 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall 2196. PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123. DISTRIBUTED RNA, 12 Nobel Street, Industria 2093. PO Box 101, Maraisburg 1700. Tel 011 248 3500, Fax 011 474 3583, Email rna@RNAD.co.za.

AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE: Adapting to the new reality of global agriculture POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE: The political economy of the COVID-19 crisis

ABOVE: The evolution of agricultural production and value chains requires that agricultural economics adapts quickly to remain relevent and helpful. Prof Theo Kleynhans, head of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, spoke to Lloyd Phillips (see story on pg 22).

15 16 18

‘CONFUSION ABOUT AUCTIONS receiving top level attention’ EGG DEMAND ‘shoots through the roof’ during lockdown STRONG DEMAND FOR SA CITRUS at start of 2020 export season GOOD SEASON FOR SA PECANS despite some challenges COVID-19 CRISIS FUNDING: Little support for agri sector COVER

REGULARS 8 9 10 41 50

Farmer’s Diary Letters Archive Horse Talk Auctions

FW ARCHIVE

COVER STORY: Achieving the near impossible, Dian Pretorius reduced unsound kernel recovery in his macadamia crop from 6% to 1,7% over just one season, adding R1,7 million to his profit in the process. He spoke to Lindi Botha about the technology that helped him achieve this improvement (see story on pg 30).

LIFESTYLE 42 44 45 46 46 47 47 63

Sweet & Savoury Crossword Hillbilly Homes Hitching Post Holistic Health Books Online Farmer 3 Minutes with ... Liza Bohlmann

LINDI BOTHA

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

From the Editor

Medium farmers also need help! Since South Africa went into lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) more than a month ago, several initiatives have been launched to provide South Africans with a platform from which to express their gratitude for farmers, farmworkers and all those involved in the agriculture supply chain. South Africans and others across the globe have taken to social media to post messages of appreciation and to encourage farmers and others in the value chain during the crisis (see page 9). Earlier this year, just a few weeks before our lives were so irrevocably changed by the pandemic, I quoted Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who said to farmers at the Grain SA Congress in Bothaville: “You could have chosen to be doctors, or lawyers [...], but chose instead to pursue a very unique calling that ignorant people look down upon: producing food. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Now, just like doctors, people have come to understand how utterly impossible life would be without farmers. Unfortunately, apart from the lip service paid by our political leaders to acknowledge the vital importance of the farming sector, government’s words of support have not been backed by any meaningful financial or practical support. It is a mistake to think that just because the farming sector is one of a few industries allowed to continue during the five-week hard lockdown that the industry does not need funding for losses suffered due to the pandemic and related trade restrictions. The COVID-19 crisis relief available to farmers (see pages 18 to 19) shows just how little support is being offered to the agriculture sector. There is some support for smallholder farmers, and the larger agribusinesses will probably be able to make use of some of the tax relief measures offered. But for a very large middle section, into which many of South Africa’s family farms and successful new black farmers fall, there is little or no support. Yes, the food supply chain has been functioning, but as fresh produce farmer Mbali Nwoko writes in her column this week (see page 21), many of those farmers who deliver their produce to fresh produce markets have been affected by a drop in demand caused by the sudden and complete shutdown of the hospitality industry. As Farmer’s Weekly has been reporting on its website during the lockdown, red meat producers have been unable to sell their stock at auctions and they fear a decline in demand due to the ailing economy and loss of consumer spending power. Wine producers have been unable to earn an income for almost the entire five-week period. Barley farmers are likely to suffer losses because of an anticipated decrease in beer production. Wool farmers have been unable to continue shearing and transporting their wool. Tobacco producers have also been hard hit due to the ban on cigarette and tobacco sales. Ultimately, there will be very few industries within the sector that will not face financial hardship due to the lockdown. The support packages made available to farmers up until now will not come close to providing the kind of assistance most farmers will need to recover from the damage their businesses will suffer, which will ultimately place South Africa’s national food security in serious jeopardy. FW

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Denene Erasmus Editor 4

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

EDITORIAL TEAM

EDITOR Denene Erasmus (denene@caxton.co.za) MANAGING EDITOR Janine Ryan (janiner@caxton.co.za) NEWS EDITOR Julinda Schroeder (julindas@caxton.co.za) ART DIRECTOR Vian Roos DESIGNER Louis Kruger CHIEF COPY EDITOR Paul Sulter COPY EDITOR Fanie de Villiers DIGITAL EDITOR Sindira Chetty (sindirac@caxton.co.za) OFFICE ASSISTANT Prenusha Moodley

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MARKETING MANAGER Reinhard Lotz 087 158 0278 (reinhardl@caxton.co.za) MARKETING COORDINATOR Melanie Olivier 087 158 0280 (melanieo@caxton.co.za) Copyright © 2020 Farmer’s Weekly and Caxton Magazines. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without the prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed by contributors, columnists and correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. DISCLAIMER. While due care is taken to ensure accuracy, Farmer’s Weekly is not liable for any errors in product listings or availability, pricing or any other information that was checked and has changed since going to print.

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BY INVITATION

Why Kenya has banned the slaughter of donkeys

Kenya legalised the trade in donkey meat and hides in 2012. But according to Monicah Maichomo, director of the Veterinary Sciences Research Institute at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, the country has subsequently decided to ban the commercial slaughter of donkeys. This was after a report published in 2019 warned that the rise of donkey abattoirs in Kenya could wipe out the entire population of these animals in the country by 2023.

The global demand for donkey hides and meat is driven mostly by Chinese markets. In China, donkey meat and hides are used to produce snacks, beauty products, virility stimulants, antiageing products and traditional medicine known as ejiao. Ejiao drives demand the most. Consisting of gelatin extracted from boiled donkey hides, it is claimed to boost health and vitality. Ejiao has a long tradition in traditional Chinese medicine, but previously only the elite in society could afford it. Over the past 30 years, a much larger section of the Chinese population has been able to afford it, which has driven the increase in demand. Local markets in China were unable to keep up, so Chinese businesses turned to other sources. Like a number of other African countries, Kenya was identified as a good source of donkeys, given that it had a population of about 1,8 million of these animals in 2010. Moreover, under Kenyan law, they are considered a farm and food animal, like pigs and cows. To meet the demand from China, four export abattoirs were licensed and started operating in 2016. These had the capacity to slaughter 1 260 donkeys a day. To supply them, donkeys were sourced from donkey keepers; however, the high demand led to some donkeys being stolen to be sold to abattoirs and some were even brought in (legally and illegally) from Ethiopia to meet the demand. There are currently no donkey farms in Kenya that have the capacity to supply the abattoirs.

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly.

IMPACT ON KENYA’S DONKEY POPULATION

This article was first published by theconversation.com. To read the original version, visit theconversation.com/why-kenyahas-banned-the-commercialslaughter-of-donkeys-121455.

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8 MAY 2020

According to the report, ‘The Status of Donkey Slaughter in Kenya and its Implications on Community Livelihoods’, which was published last year, the high demand for donkeys has significantly increased their prices, made them hard to find, and led to many incidents of donkey theft. The average price of an adult donkey has gone up in two years from Ksh4 000 (about R670) to Ksh13 000 (R2 170).

Donkeys are also at risk of going extinct in the country. My colleagues and I recently conducted a survey which found that donkeys were being slaughtered at five times the natural reproduction rate. A total of 301 977 donkeys, representing 15% of the donkey population, were slaughtered in four export abattoirs between April 2016 and December 2018. Keeping all factors constant, the report projected that by 2023 there would not be any donkeys left. This would be a huge blow to many households in Kenya. Poor households depend a great deal on working donkeys and have suffered as a result of their scarcity. The households most affected are found in rural Kenya and earn their living from farming. Donkeys offer crucial services for families that cannot afford motorised transport. They provide transport to markets, particularly in remote areas with poor infrastructure. They carry farm produce, people and fodder for other livestock. They are used daily for fetching water and firewood. Losing a donkey could mean a child has to help with household chores and cannot go to school. If a household does not own a donkey, it needs to hire one or people to take on the tasks. It costs more in terms of both time and money.

A SUSTAINABLE DONKEY INDUSTRY

The ban on the commercial slaughtering of donkeys will allow their numbers to grow again. If slaughtering were reintroduced in the future, abattoirs should enter into contracts with donkey farmers to ensure a steady, sustainable supply. Pregnant donkeys should also be excluded from slaughter. At the moment, about 27% of females slaughtered are pregnant, disrupting the reproduction rate. There should also be a focus on donkey breeding research to increase the number and size of donkeys produced. The predominant breeds are descendants and crosses of the Nubian wild ass and the Somali wild ass. Kenya could regulate the trade more carefully. Other countries in Africa have managed to do this successfully. Ethiopia, for instance, banned the country’s first donkey abattoir from operating after a public outcry. The government is looking at more sustainable ways of farming donkeys. FW

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A26057/FW

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Farmer’s Diary Important announcement! Due to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council has announced a nationwide lockdown until 30 April, resulting in many events in the Farmer’s Diary being cancelled or postponed. At the time of going to print, Farmer’s Weekly could not confirm whether some of the listed events had been officially cancelled. However, most of the organisations hosting these events are due to make announcements in this regard shortly. Readers will be kept up to date. Farmer’s Weekly urges its readers to contact the relevant organising body before attending any course or event to confirm whether the event has been cancelled or postponed.

CANCELLED EVENTS 24 APRIL TO 2 MAY

20 AND 21 AUGUST (Previously 13 and 14 April)

POSTPONED (Previously 8 to 13 April)

Bloem Show, Bloemfontein. Visit bloemskou.co.za.

The Solar Power and Wind Renewable Energy Show, Cairo. Email Prima Castelino at prima.castelino@terrapinn.com.

The Rand Show, Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec. Visit randshow.co.za.

27 AND 28 APRIL

Free State Regional SA Boerperd Championships, Bloemfontein Showgrounds. Email elize@studbook.co.za. 19 TO 20 MAY

IFU Fruit Juice Conference, Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch. Visit ifu-fruitjuice.com/event/ JuiceConference2020. POSTPONED EVENTS 24 JULY TO 2 AUGUST (Previously 22 to 31 May)

The Royal Show, Pietermaritzburg. Visit royalshow.co.za. 11 TO 14 AUGUST (Previously 12 to 15 May)

Nampo Harvest Day, Bothaville. Visit grainsa.co.za/pages/nampo. 11 TO 14 AUGUST (Previously 12 to 15 May)

Farmer’s Weekly Tour to Nampo 2020, Bothaville. Visit farmersweekly.co.za/ tour-and-events.

20 AND 21 AUGUST (Previously 31 March to 1 April)

The Water Show Africa, Sandton Convention Centre. Email Brian Shabangu at brian.shabangu@terrapinn.com. 10 AND 11 SEPTEMBER (Previously 14 and 15 May)

POSTPONED (Previously 23 April)

Global Cherry Summit, Sun Monticello Conference Center, San Francisco de Mostazal, Chile. Visit globalcherrysummit.com. POSTPONED (Previously 24 April)

Agri NW Young Farmer Conference, Bona-Bona Smart Livestock Farming Conference, Game Lodge, Wolmaransstad. Prague, Czech Republic. Email Marlize Fritz at Email Olga Aulasko at marlize@agrinw.co.za. olga.aulasko@bcfgroup.eu. 6 AND 7 NOVEMBER (Previously 26 and 27 March)

Environmental Waste and Landfill Management, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Email admin@maphosam.co.za.

POSTPONED (Previously 9 to 11 June)

AVI Africa, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Visit sapoultry.co.za. EVENTS NOT OFFICIALLY CANCELLED 16 MAY

AfriFarm Expo and Workshops, Riversands Marketplace, Fourways. Email Sammy Sehoana at sammy@afrifarmcrowd.com.

ENTRIES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST A MONTH IN ADVANCE. Email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za to place an entry. Please note that, due to limited space, publication of an event cannot be guaranteed. All entries are published at the editor’s discretion.

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8 MAY 2020

Letters Thank you, farmers! The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on businesses and economies worldwide. While many people have been told to stay at home to prevent the spread of the disease, essential workers, such as doctors, nurses, cashiers and rubbish collectors, have continued going to work to ensure that basic services are delivered. Amongst these essential employees are farmers and farmworkers. Farming is a thankless job, and farmers have often been the scapegoat for global warming and climate change. However, if there is a silver lining to the COVID-19 cloud, it is that society has slowly begun to realise the importance of farmers. In honour of farmers and farmworkers across the globe, Farmer’s Weekly has included some of the #thankafarmer tweets from the social media platform Twitter. #Thankafarmer was trending on Earth Day on 22 April. The hashtag was to show gratitude to and solidarity with farmers, and recognise not only their importance in providing food, but also the advancements made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the process of producing vital commodities. Farmer’s Weekly will continue to support all farmers and farmworkers, and offers its gratitude for the good work they continue to do!

@AlliBurenheide: To the #farmers and #ranchers, we thank you! Thank you for your resilience, strength, and fight to keep #feeding the world! @CarolKit2010: Thank you to everyone in the food value chain. For too long we have taken our strong, safe, food system for granted. Hopefully, that won’t be the case any longer. @lambflorence07: I stand with farmworkers […] as they keep working to ensure we have food on our tables during the pandemic. @CortevaAU: When times get tough, the tough keep growing. Let’s come together to #ThankAFarmer for all their unyielding devotion to grow our food and ensure we all move on to greener pastures. @FoodLoversMkt: Farmers are more than just our friends; they’re our heroes. You’ve helped us to deliver the best in fresh produce to our customers every day. Thank You. Dankie. Enkosi.

The RSA Group specialises in the sales and marketing of fresh produce on behalf of farmers. CEO Jaco Oosthuizen posted the following letter on the group’s website: Dear Farmers, The world has entered a unique period in its history, and none of us has a rulebook to follow.

‘Farmers are more than just our friends; they’re our heroes’ No matter who you are or where you live, the ramifications of what’s happening today will be felt for a very long time. But right now, everyone is battling to cope with immediate circumstances, and anxiety levels are extremely high. People are afraid for their health and the danger posed by the coronavirus disease, and they are just as worried about whether they will be able to continue to access food and vital supplies today and tomorrow. Within this ever-changing scenario, what you and your

employees are doing right now, on your farms, is making a massive difference to everyone in the country, from individual citizens to families. You have answered President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to national action. You have also ensured that the vision of the food value chain being able to deliver enough safe and nutritious food to all South Africans during lockdown is a reality. I’d like to thank you for the huge effort you’re putting in to make sure South Africans continue to have access to fresh produce during this time of crisis. Without your efforts, our people wouldn’t be nearly as strong as they currently are.

Offering support

I’d also like to assure you that everyone at RSA Group is working 24/7 to make sure we keep the markets, including export channels and direct sales to retail distribution centres, running smoothly and efficiently, so that your efforts are supported and your businesses have every opportunity to stay active and sustainable in the midst of the uncertainty. We are extremely grateful for your incredible efforts, and we’re working hard to match you every step of the way!

got something to say? Send your letters to: Farmer’s Weekly, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123, SA, fax 011 889 0862, or email farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. The views and opinions expressed on the letters page do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly or Caxton. Readers’ letters will be published and edited at the sole discretion of Farmer’s Weekly. 8 may 2020

farmer’s weekly

ARCHIVE DEVOTED TO SA FARMING SINCE 1911

FROM OUR ARCHIVES 18 NOVEMBER 1981

Rabbits for reward

YEARS AGO

Selective breeding is essential to produce rabbits with long and high-quality wool, says two Gauteng breeders. There are three ways to make money out of rabbits. You can breed them for meat, or you can sell them as stud animals, or you can make money out of their wool. People who dislike the idea of slaughtering them could well profit from the experience of Tjaart and Caroline Steenekamp, of De Deur, near Vereeniging, who are producing Angora rabbits for stud and for their wool. Caroline is the daughter of the well-known Cape Town breeder and Aubrey judge, Marion Keller, who had a lot to do with developing the Angora rabbit in South Africa. Caroline took over the rabbitry and continued improving the stock after her mother retired in 1970. The strain was started with a pair of black fluffy rabbits in about 1952. When a good-quality long-woolled white rabbit had been developed from these, it was further improved by introducing a strain of high-quality British ‘Snowball’ Angora blood in about 1967, and a strain of the large French Angora rabbit in the early ‘70s. The overseas bloodlines were introduced into the Keller strain to improve the size and wool-bearing capacity of the animals, but they brought various genetic problems such as splayed legs, buck teeth and floppy ears, which took several generations to breed out again. Through a programme of rigid 10

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selection, the Steenekamp’s herd has been brought to a high degree of breed purity; the animals are well-formed in the typical ‘snowball’ shape, and they have a good wool production, giving an average of about 680g a year. The production of wool is strongly emphasised because Caroline clips the wool four times a year, and spins it into thread on an old-fashioned spinning-wheel for making up into garments that command good prices. With an eye to this kind of ‘cottage industry’, they have concentrated on producing animals with longwool fibres (about 75mm) that will take and hold dye colouration. Caroline prefers to use natural dyes because artificial colours look too ‘brassy’ for the soft Angora wool. However, Caroline is not satisfied with having to dye the wool. To produce a range of natural colours in Angora-rabbit wool, she has begun an ambitious programme of crossbreeding with various other breeds, and line breeding the offspring to produce blue, smoky and brown Angoras. Several of these new strains are into their third generation and are showing promise. Furthest towards ‘perfection’ are the smoky Angoras; the wool is not yet of the finest grade, but has a good length and spinability. Another strain has also been started with Angora does being crossed with Satin bucks. The first generation had a remarkable colour tending towards lilac, but the second generation has white wool with a definite satiny sheen, and a length somewhat better than that of the Satin ancestors.

ABOVE: The cover of the Farmer’s Weekly that included this article on Angora rabbit breeding.

This article has been edited to adhere to the current style of Farmer’s Weekly.

A by-product of this crossbreeding programme has been the discovery that when Angoras are crossed with other breeds, the offspring are much larger than either of the parents (by anything up to 1,5kg), and have a fine, high-quality meat. Caroline puts her does to the buck at about six months. The babies are left with the mother for about eight weeks after which they are put into outdoor colonies. These consist of large wooden boxes raised slightly off the ground connected to runs that have wire-mesh floors (to limit their propensity for digging), which allow them to hop about in the open, and “to develop with their bellies on the ground”. Tjaart says rabbits have the longest digestive tracts of any mammal, which makes it important to treat them in as natural a way as possible. When the litter is 12 weeks old, the doe is remated. This would not pay at all in a commercial rabbitry, says Tjaart, but they are after quality rather than quantity. They actually prefer to have smaller litters, six or so being the ideal as this gives the mother a better chance to look after the babies. Extra babies are not culled, but put to foster mothers wherever possible. FW

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OPINION & ANALYSIS

Adapting to the new reality of global agriculture

AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVES BY WANDILE SIHLOBO Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist at Agbiz. Email him at wandile@agbiz.co.za.

lobal food and agricultural supply chains are taking strain due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This is the case whether one looks at meat or grain supply chains. The US, Brazil and Canada, which accounted for nearly a third of global meat and edible offal exports in 2019, closed some of their meat processing plants during the last week of April. This was in response to the spread of COVID-19 among employees. In the US and Canada, the main closures are in beef and pork processing plants, while in Brazil, the closures are of poultry-related plants. Given the significant contribution of 28% these countries make to global meat exports, if the closure of processing plants is extended and they remain closed for a prolonged period, fears of a global meat shortage and a potential uptick in prices may be realised. Fortunately, from a beef perspective, South Africa is a net exporter. Hence the closures of certain plants in key exporting countries presents minimal risks from a food security perspective.

SOUTH AFRICANS ARE STILL IN A RELATIVELY BETTER POSITION THAN OTHER COUNTRIES In terms of pork, however, South Africa remains a net importer of mainly ribs from Europe. These imports accounted for roughly 6% of domestic consumption in 2019. Similarly, with poultry, about 20% of domestic consumption is imported, mainly from Brazil, the US and the EU, among other suppliers, according to data from Trade Map. This essentially means that if the disruptions to various meat plants in the US and Brazil persist and spill over to the global market, South Africa will be affected, specifically in terms of poultry imports. Meanwhile, wheat continues to be plagued by the spectre of export limitations. In March, Russia placed a quota of seven million tons on wheat exports in the three

months to June to protect its domestic supply during the pandemic before the July harvest of its new crop. This quota has now been reached, and it is unclear whether the country will issue a new quota for the remaining months leading to July. Russia is the world’s leading wheat exporter, accounting for 19% of global wheat exports in the 2019/2020 season. On average, the exports account for 45% of Russia’s wheat production of 77 million tons. With the International Grains Council currently forecasting a 9% year-on-year increase in Russia’s wheat production in 2020/2021, I doubt that further wheat export restrictions will be announced post-July 2020. Nonetheless, the policy direction that Russia takes will have implications for South Africa, which imports half of its annual wheat consumption, with Russia among the leading suppliers. Looking further afield, there are rising concerns about food insecurity in Africa this year. The concerns stem from unfavourable weather conditions, which negatively affected agriculture in various countries, along with the continuing spread of locust infestations.

SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOES

Within Southern Africa, Zimbabwe suffered drought and floods in 2019, leading to the production of staple crops falling by more than half, and agriculture in Zimbabwe also started the 2020 production season on the back foot due to unfavourable weather. The International Grains Council forecasts that Zimbabwe’s 2019/2020 maize production will amount to 800 000t, which is less than half of what the country needs for the annual consumption of two million tons. In East Africa, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda could experience crop losses as locust swarms continue to spread. The next couple of months could reveal more challenges and opportunities as the world tries to cope with the new realities of COVID-19. As things stand, the South African consumer and farmer are still in relatively better positions than other countries that are going through the challenges highlighted.

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

OPINION & ANALYSIS

The political economy of the COVID-19 crisis

POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE BY DR JAN VENTER Dr Jan Venter is a political analyst at Aginfo. Email him at Jan.Venter@nwu.ac.za.

t became increasingly clear during the lockdown of the past several weeks that there are two factions competing for power. One is the government centred around President Cyril Ramaphosa and his supporters, and the other is the ‘so-called ANC’ based in Luthuli house headed by ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule, uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association spokesperson Carl Niehaus and others. Actually, this latest cabal does not involve the entire ANC, just a prominent faction opposing Ramaphosa, informally called the Radical Economic Transformation Movement. According to Bloomberg, the ANC has struggled to convey a coherent and consistent message about how the country should be run, with senior officials from opposing factions issuing conflicting policy statements. While Ramaphosa, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and ANC economic transformation head Enoch Godongwana have stressed the need to encourage investment and growth, a group that includes Magashule wants the emphasis to be placed on giving the black majority a bigger stake in the economy. Proposals to allow the state to seize land without compensation, nationalise the central bank and direct pension funds are among the main points of contention.

BAILOUT PLAN

South Africa’s bailout plan for the current coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) crisis demands that money be sourced from somewhere. At first Mboweni made the statement that, “there is no time for ideology. If not the IMF [International Monetary Fund], then give me the money. I cannot eat ideology”. Magashule, SACP Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila and Cosatu General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali accused him of indiscipline, without as far as I know, providing an alternative source of funds. Fortunately, as we have seen, Ramaphosa concurred with Mboweni and some of the money for the R500 billion COVID19 stimulus package will be sourced from the World Bank, the IMF and the BRICS New Development Bank. 12

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• However, corruption has once more reared its ugly head. According to a report by Jordan Griffiths in the Daily Maverick, food parcels have emerged as a key tool of ANC policy.

POLITICKING AND CORRUPTION

First, a tender for food parcels was issued, a specification was drafted and sent out, and companies bid to provide government with food parcels. Perhaps the various companies that won the bids are politically connected, or has captured officials within the state, and therefore a food parcel that should cost R500 comes in at R1 000. In Mangaung, allegations emerged that food parcels valued at R1 200 contained only a 1kg bag of sugar, a tin of sardines, a loaf of bread, a pack of maize meal, and a cabbage. Second, once created, the food parcels are then duly delivered to the relevant departments, which must take charge of distribution and storage. In the case of the Gauteng Department of Social Development, no sooner did this happen than officials involved in the process were accused of giving the food parcels to their own family members. Third, one of the worst ways to distribute food parcels is through the use of councillors who immediately politicise and hijack the whole process. News24 reported in the last week of April that in every province in the country, excluding the Western Cape, incidences of food parcel corruption had been reported. There were reports of trucks delivering food parcels to ANC politicians’ homes, which were then distributed to ANC members; in other cases, non-ANC wards were deliberately omitted from receiving food parcels; and there were multiple reports of ANC councillors or members stockpiling food parcels in the run-up to their own branch meetings. It would seem that at every level where there is a distribution and/or a competition for resources, a struggle for control, and thus the possibility that the funds or food will be misused. What hurts the most is that the callous politicking of individuals leads to people going hungry.

COMPETITION

Last chance to enter 2020 silage competition Farmers have time until 15 May to enter the summer grain category in the 2020 Santam Agriculture National Silage Competition, which will be presented for the seventh time this year. According to a statement issued by Santam Agriculture, silage played an important role in many crop and livestock farming businesses. For livestock producers, having access to good-quality silage could enhance effectiveness and drive profitability in the business. “Ultimately, the goal is to increase production by enhancing feed quality with fewer input costs and minimal impact on the environment,” the statement said. Gerhard Diedericks, head of Santam Agriculture, said the specialists who had been involved in the competition over the years, such as silage experts John Bax, Prof Robin Meeske and Richardt Venter, helped to determine the efficiency levels of various factors such as compaction and the chop length of feed particles. “If we improve the approximately

ABOVE: Entries for summer grains in the 2020 Santam Agriculture National Silage Competition will be accepted until 15 May, but entries for winter grains have already closed. DENENE ERASMUS

nine million tons of silage made annually by only 3%, we can fill farmers’ pockets with nearly R130 million in increased milk and meat production [income] without increasing production costs. This competition benefits the entire agricultural value chain by increasing farmers’ sales and by unlocking value for brokers,” Diedericks said. Santam Agriculture has been the main sponsor of this competition since its inception, and its aim was to spearhead growth and sustainability throughout the agriculture sector. “It was an easy decision for us to take on the role of main sponsor of the Santam Agriculture National Silage Competition.

“We support our clients through key areas such as risk management and help them to realise the importance of silage in various production processes,” according to Diedericks. The competition generated useful data for participating companies, farmers, as well as academic and research institutions. It was scientifically presented, followed an internationally accepted protocol, and was specifically aimed at the commercial farming sector, he said. The 2019 competition was especially tough, boasted a record number of entries and the points awarded surpassed the previous year’s achievements. Westend Landgoed near Morgenzon, Mpumalanga was crowned the silage king and grabbed first place in the maize silage category. Hurwitz Farming, near Delmas in Mpumalanga, won the feed sorghum category, and farming business De Draay near Riversdale in the Western Cape secured first place in the oats silage category. For more information, email deidre@plaasmedia.co.za. Entries for winter grains have already closed, but entries for summer grains are open until 15 May. – Staff reporter

BLUEBERRIES

53% increase in SA blueberry production for 2019/2020 South Africa’s blueberry production for 2019/2020 has increased 53% to 18 000t from 11 700t the previous season. “Our projections for the year ahead indicate that blueberry production could reach 25 000t for the 2020/2021 season, a solid increase considering the impact of the [coronavirus disease] COVID-19 crisis,” Justin Mudge, chairperson of the South African Berry Producers’ Association (SABPA), said in a statement. Production expectations in Limpopo and Mpumalanga were particularly good at 136% and 102%

respectively by 2025, he said. “Earlier this month, we announced a new record in blueberry exports with 12 282t exported in 2019/2020. Read together with the production figures, the data shows that exports account for 68% of the industry’s production.” This year’s planting season was already underway, and according to Mudge, it was expected that this year would be as productive as previous years, allowing the industry to extend its career and work opportunities for the local labour force. “We understand that the economy is

in a tough position with a staggering number of job losses. Nevertheless, we are grateful that we are able to continue with our operations. All our stakeholders are, of course, taking every precaution to protect the health and safety of our labour force. “At least we can continue to attract export revenue, since global demand for our fruit remains high, especially among health-conscious consumers. The well-known immune-boosting properties of berries means that they are likely to remain in demand for the foreseeable future.” – Staff reporter

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP

COVID-19 Update

‘Confusion about auctions receiving top level attention’ The uncertainty about whether livestock auctions may go ahead during the countrywide level-5 lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is receiving attention at national level. This was according to Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department). Recently, several livestock auctions in the Free State had been stopped by police, who even threatened to arrest farmers and auctioneers. This was despite an announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, that auctions could continue during the lockdown period. Ngcobo told Farmer’s Weekly that the matter was being attended to, and that the department

had revised regulations for the consideration of the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. “They are already on the table of the minister for her consideration and signature.” Meanwhile, Annette Steyn, DA MP and member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, advised farmers and auctioneers not to proceed with auctions until the regulations were published in the Government Gazette. She explained that law enforcement authorities were acting within their jurisdiction, as they were following the regulations set out in the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, which prohibited all public gatherings of people. “Although auctions were approved by the Minister, it was unfortunately not

ABOVE: Farmers and auctioneers have been advised not to proceed with auctions until the regulations for auctions to take place during the national lockdown are published in the Government Gazette. FLICKR

gazetted and is therefore regarded as a gathering.” She warned farmers and auctioneers that they were therefore at risk of being fined or arrested. At the same time, a letter allegedly signed and distributed by Mike Mlengana, director general of the former Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, had been circulating, stating that auctions were allowed during the lockdown. – Jeandré van der Walt

Egg demand ‘shoots through the roof’ during lockdown The countrywide lockdown enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) has offered a temporary respite for egg producers, as home-cooked meals and baking activities spiked. During the previous 12 months, the egg industry suffered continuously low prices as egg production increased, while demand remained stable. “But since consumers have been confined to their homes during the lockdown, egg sales have shot through the roof,” said Leander Robbertze, CEO of Heidel Eggs in Mpumalanga. “There has been a huge increase in demand and sales have increased by between 50% and 60%. People are baking, making proper breakfasts, and entertaining themselves in the kitchen. In the Mpumalanga area that we supply, we have also seen a greater demand from the lower income

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groups that have returned home from the mines and factories in Gauteng.” Mogala Mamabolo, general manager of the South African Poultry Association’s egg division, confirmed that there had been an increase in egg sales since the start of the lockdown period. “Even though restaurant uptake has decreased, consumption has shifted to home-use. We have also seen an uptick in producer prices, so there should be some relief for farmers.” Robbertze, however, noted that while demand had increased, prices had not increased by much.“Before lockdown, producers were running promotions at price levels below production cost. Eggs were effectively being dumped on the market just to recover some kind of input cost. Since the lockdown, the current promotions and those scheduled for May have been cancelled,

so prices are trading at normal levels. Since we can’t increase prices as per legislation set out for COVID-19, we can’t push up prices based on the higher demand and lower supply, even though around 90% of producers have reported that they can’t meet demand.” He said that while the pandemic has been a bit of a lifeline, it would take a few more weeks to see proper figures and establish the effect the high demand has had on producers. “We’ve been making losses for the past 12 months, and most farmers will never recover from that. Now the feed price is also increasing due to the weak exchange rate. Eggs are a very risky business at the moment. We don’t know what to expect. The sad part is many farmers will expand to meet current demand, but in a few months’ time we will sit with too much stock again.” – Lindi Botha

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP CITRUS

Strong demand for SA citrus at start of 2020 export season A strong increase in global demand for citrus has so far been evident in the 2020 export season, according to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa. In a statement, Chadwick said increased global demand for lemons had resulted in 4,5 million 15kg-equivalent cartons being shipped to date. This was double the 1,8 million cartons exported during the same period in 2019. “The bulk of these shipments (64%) have been shipped to the Middle East, while shipments to Russia have increased from 9% to 12% [of total volume]. [Volumes] of soft citrus, at 424 000 cartons to date, and grapefruit, at 411 000 cartons to date, are similar to the previous year’s exports [for the same period].” Gert Upton, marketing and sales representative at Schoonbee Landgoed, which produces citrus fruit among other commodities near Groblersdal in Limpopo, said countries in the Northern Hemisphere, such as Spain and

Italy, had supplied lower volumes of citrus to the global market due to harvesting challenges. “As a result of the coronavirus disease [COVID-19] pandemic lockdowns, there has been a shortage of labourers, who mostly come from North African countries such as Morocco. Another reason for the increase [in demand] is the international drive for healthy foods to boost immune systems. Lemons fall in the category of Vitamin C products, which is an immune booster,” said Upton. “International countries are now [importing] more citrus supplies from South Africa and Argentina,” he added. Chadwick said he was confident that the local citrus industry would be able to meet demand, and in March, export figures for Southern Africa reached a record 143,3 million cartons of citrus fruit. “South African farmers also began harvesting lemons earlier (in April), as opposed

to in May,” he said. Upton added that in the Loskop Valley in Grobersdal, harvesting started two weeks earlier than usual. However, challenges at some ports remained the biggest threat to the current citrus season, Chadwick said. “Staff shortages and labour protests have affected operations at the Cape Town and Durban ports over the past few weeks. A back-up of non-essential containers that have not been moved or unpacked has also caused bottle-necks at ports,” he said “These issues have been raised with Transnet management and the National Joint Command Centre, and we welcome the steps taken to increase staff capacity at all ports, as well as recent amendments to the Disaster Management Act regulations to allow for the movement of both essential and non-essential cargo at ports,” he added. – Siyanda Sishuba

FRUIT

R10 million tissue culture facility to boost fruit industry The Western Cape Department of Agriculture had made available a R10 million once-off grant for the establishment of a tissue culture facility in Paarl. The funds would be used for the infrastructure and key equipment required to establish a new company, the Tissue Culture Facility, which would be owned and managed by the five deciduous fruit grower associations that own SAPO Trust, namely Hortgro Pome, Hortgro Stone, Canning Producers’ Association, South African Table Grape Industry, and Raisins South Africa. According to the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, the facility would improve the competitiveness of the deciduous

fruit sector in the province and its ability to penetrate global markets. Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer, said the facility would create the opportunity to multiply and provide quarantine-compliant plant material to the local industry and neighbouring states. “The latter will also create a gateway to Southern African Development Community (SADC) [members] and will further enhance the Western Cape’s standing as a key player in internationally accredited plant material trade and development.” Tissue culture is a very rapid plant multiplication technique to create new plants with desired characteristics. Thousands of plantlets can be produced from a small amount of plant tissue within a few weeks, and new

cultivars can be supplied to markets. “Given the realities of climate change, this will ensure the ability to rapidly multiply climate-adapted and droughtresistant cultivars and rootstocks, thereby improving the industry’s ability to compete and supply the international trade, including subSaharan Africa.” He also pointed out that the new plants produced through tissue culture were diseaseand virus-free, therefore optimising production of cultivars, which satisfied the quarantine concerns of international trading partners. It was expected that about three million plants would ultimately be produced at the new facility every year, and would create 30 permanent jobs. – Jeandré van der Walt

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP PECAN NUTS

Good season for SA pecan nuts despite some challenges The 2020 pecan nut harvest is currently underway in most of South Africa’s production regions. According to André Coetzee, chairperson of the South African Pecan Producers’ Association (SAPPA), the harvest was looking promising so far. “However, the final figures for the current pecan nut season’s volumes are not yet available, as it is still too early to make any predictions.” According to Dries Duvenhage, a pecan nut farmer near Hartswater, the pecan nut production area around the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme had experienced a good production season thus far. “We generally experienced a moderate season with sufficient water. Currently, the crop on the trees look good, and so does the quality of the nuts. We are cautiously optimistic that this season will be better [than] the previous year.” He said the previous year’s pecan nut crop amounted to 16 500t. Duvenhage told Farmer’s Weekly that there was some concern

about how the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China, South Africa’s largest export market for pecan nuts, would affect that country’s procurement of nut supplies. “Fortunately, the feedback we are currently receiving from the processors is that the demand from China is still good. It looks like it could be a good marketing year for the industry as well.” According to Coetzee, around 80% of South Africa’s pecan nuts were destined for the Far East, mostly China, as nut-in-shell (NIS). “Despite the uncertainty surrounding the [COVID-19] outbreak, China is ready to receive our products since their stocks are quite low. However, logistics appear to be a challenge this year due to the scarcity of reefer containers. This is not just a problem for our industry, but a global challenge.” In 2019, the average NIS price paid for pecan nuts was between R68/kg and R70/ kg, according to Duvenhage.

ABOVE: It is expected that the export price for pecan nuts will be 10% higher this year due to the weak exchange rate of the rand. FW ARCHIVE

He expected that pecan nut prices could be up to 10% higher than last year due to the weak exchange rate. However, he stressed that it would all depend on the US dollar price. According to Coetzee, current indications were that the US dollar price would be in the lower region. “We know there is a demand for pecans, but we do not know at what price.” – Jeandré van der Walt

WOOL

SA’s first ever electronic wool sale deemed ‘a success’ A total of 5 382 bales were on offer at the 25th sale of the 2019/2020 wool season, of which 87,9% were sold. The market closed 6,4% (988 points) higher at a value of R165,57/kg (clean). The rand was 9,8% weaker against the US dollar and 9,5% weaker against the euro, compared with the average rate at the previous sale, which meant the market weakened 3,1% in US dollar terms, according to Cape Wools. Amidst the current nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19), the first ever electronic sale in South Africa was held for the bales already in brokers’ stores that had already

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been valued and tested. Although the sale was regarded as successful, it was not without teething problems, for example, it took longer than the traditional open-cry selling system. As the volumes were limited, the sale only consisted of 5 382 bales of mixed-length long and medium wool bales. There was better demand for fine micron categories with some of the stronger micron wools experiencing downward pressure, with hesitancy evident from buyers, Cape Wools said. The major buyers were Lempriere SA (2 528), Standard Wool SA (1 028), Stucken & Co (612), and Modiano SA (499). The largest increase of 13,1% was

in the 18-micron segment. The highest price of R152,30/kg on the OVK auction was achieved for a two-bale DL lot of 16,2 microns, from the clip of PWB Uys of Wakkerstroom, which was bought by Modiano. Although wool sales had resumed under strict conditions, the receiving of wool in brokers’ stores was still prohibited due to the total lockdown, said OVK’s operational manager for fibre, Heinrich Victor. It was still unclear what the implications of the Level 4 lockdown restrictions would be on the transportation of wool, he said. – Roelof Bezuidenhout

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NEWS FEATURE COVID-19 Crisis Funding

Crisis funding for farmers Government and the private sector have launched various measures to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and various industries. Glenneis Kriel reports.

espite food production being deemed an essential service, many farming businesses have been negatively affected by measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. According to Omri van Zyl, executive director of Agri SA, commodities associated with wine, beer, liquor, game ranching and fibre production were in full or partial lockdown, and producers were also unable to cash in on tourism opportunities, which for many has become an important income stream. “And, of the businesses that can operate, many are adversely affected by the closure of fresh [produce] markets, street vendors and restaurants, as well as the impact of the poor economy on demand.”

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Government has set up various funding schemes to support struggling businesses. The majority of agricultural businesses, however, will have difficulty benefitting from these initiatives, as most prioritise the health industry, to ensure the industry is able to cope with the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on health resources, as well as social services aimed at ensuring that people have enough money to buy food. In addition, where other industries are accommodated, most of the application documents specify that priority will be given to previously disadvantaged individuals, with women, the youth and people with disabilities enjoying preference. The COVID-19 Agricultural Disaster Support Fund for Smallholder and Communal Farmers, for example, targets 18

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smallholder and communal producers with a turnover of between R20 000 and R1 million per year, specifically the groups mentioned above, who produce either poultry, vegetables, fruit, livestock and winter crops. Besides this, funding is based on a voucher system, limited to R50 000 per farming operation. Farmers do not receive cash, but vouchers to procure specified inputs, based on the crop they produce. Applications for this support already closed on 22 April, but the National Emerging Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (NERPO) requested an extension, arguing that the lockdown made it difficult for producers to apply, as many did not have access to computers or the Internet, or required assistance with submitting documentation. Producers who have lost income generated from tourism, could qualify for the COVID-19 Tourism Relief Fund, but this fund is also capped at R50 000. Wiaan van der Linde, deputy president of the Wildlife Ranching Association of South Africa, said R50 000 would not alleviate the distress some game ranching businesses were experiencing, but it could be of significant assistance to smaller operations. “It still is too early to quantify losses, but in 2016, Absa estimated that the industry contributed R20 billion to the economy annually. Roughly 75% of this is likely to disappear this season as a direct result of hunting and traveling restrictions alone.” Van der Linde said he would have liked to see more support for farmers, but said the social relief measures would help to alleviate economic pressure. “The R500 billion, of which

R100 billion will go towards social relief schemes, will make a big difference in the lives of the recipients. Ten rand on the street to buy food and stimulate the economy is much better than R1 million in the bank. Farmers, especially food producers, will benefit indirectly.”

PRIVATE FUNDING

Of the privately managed funds, applications for the Sukuma Relief Programme, to which Johann Rupert donated R1 billion have already closed. The programme reportedly received applications from over 10 000 businesses within the first four days after it was launched at the start of April. Applications are still open for aid from the South African Future Trust employer relief fund, an independent trust set up by Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer, in partnership with the South African government. By 23 April, the trust had already approved interest-free loans to 5 764 small, micro and medium enterprises, amounting to R638 million. Applications can be submitted through various South African banks. But as with the Sukuma Relief Programme, the fund is aimed at mitigating job losses, with payments being made directly to the employees of qualifying SMMEs. Online retailer, Naked Wines, have pledged US$5million (about R94 million) to support winemakers affected by the pandemic’s disruption. The fund will be used to purchase stock that was previously destined for restaurants, tasting rooms and traditional retail stores, and the stock will then be diverted to its 500 000 ‘angel customers’ in the US, UK and Australia. The funding is available to

Producers can also approach their banks for additional relief. Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB, said banks could help in at least two ways: “We can either give a threemonth loan payment holiday, in which case interest would still be charged, or re-negotiate the length of the term. It is important to contact your banker as soon as possible to discuss the various options that would suit your business the best.” He warned farmers to only make use of these options when really in need, since conditions could still become much tougher over the next few months. “The problem is that many agricultural businesses were already in financial dire straits before the lockdown, due to the drought and the foot-andmouth disease outbreaks.” The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has also allocated R100 million to the Land Bank to assist farmers in financial distress. To qualify, applicants need to be existing Land Bank development clients with an annual turnover not exceeding R10 million. The benefit is capped at R2 million per client. Distressed accounts due to reasons other than COVID-19 and over-indebted customers, are excluded from this support, but account holders may apply using normal credit criteria.

WORKER COMPENSATION

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has launched the COVID-19 temporary/employer relief scheme (C19 TERS) to enable businesses to pay employees who were temporarily laid-off due to the crisis. According to Jan Truter,

SUPPLIED SUPPLIED

BANKS

managing director of Labourwise, the directive initially only applied to businesses that closed down during the lockdown, but was later amended to also cover partial shutdowns. Payouts are calculated based on a sliding scale, ranging from 38% WIAAN VAN DER LINDE of the salary of high earners to 60% for the lowest earners. The benefit is capped at R6 730 a month, with the minimum payout being R3 500 per month. “Business owners are able to top up payments, which could result in workers earning their normal salary. But they are not allowed to earn DAWIE MAREE more than they would have under normal conditions,” said Truter. The benefit may also be used to remunerate workers, who were forced to take leave because of the lockdown, to allow them to take leave later. Unlike traditional UIF claims, there are no restrictions on how long JAN TRUTER people should have contributed to UIF to qualify for the benefit, as long as they were registered by 15 March 2020. Payouts will also not affect UIF points and, in effect, employees’ access to other UIF benefits after the C19 TERS has run its course. Business owners are able to make submissions for groups of employees, with funding being paid directly into their accounts so that they can SUPPLIED

independent winemakers all over the world, with the opportunity to turn it into a permanent listing. For more information visit nakedwines.com/covidsupport.

pay it over to the employees. Businesses then have to show proof of payment to qualify for support in the month thereafter. So far, the benefit will only be available for a period of up to three months, but thereafter workers themselves will be able to apply for the UIF reduced working option, which was launched in 2018 to accommodate workers who have to work shorter hours, or ordinary UIF if they have lost their jobs. Essential workers also qualify for special leave and are eligible to claim ‘illness benefits’ if they have to be quarantined for 14 days or longer during the lockdown, irrespective of whether they have contracted the virus or not. Proof, however, is needed that the workers contracted the virus at their place of work, which in this case would be a farm or agribusiness. The UIF will pay out benefits for a period of 14 days. “Where an employee contracts the virus in the course of his/ her employment, it must be treated as an occupational disease and reported as such. The employer continues to pay 75% of the employee’s salary, because pay-outs from the Compensation Fund can take a considerable time [to be released]. The employer may claim this amount back from the Compensation Fund,” Truter said.

TAX RELIEF MEASURES

SMEs with a turnover below R50 million are eligible for a tax subsidy of R500 per month for the next four months for every employee earning below R6 500 under the Employment Tax Incentive, with payments being accelerated from twice a year to monthly. The SMEs will also be allowed to delay 20% of their employees’ tax liability of the next four months, and a portion of their provisional corporate income tax payments without penalties or interest. • For more information, visit treasury.gov.za or sars.gov.za. 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

MANAGING FOR PROFIT

Beware of the black swan Any manager worth his or her salt takes the necessary action to mitigate damage from normal business risks. But how well will your farming operation cope with a wholly unexpected emergency?

BY PETER HUGHES Peter Hughes is a business and management consultant with 30 years’ farming experience. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Managing for profit.

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armers, particularly those in South Africa, carry more than their fair share of risk. Agricutural pests and diseases, adverse weather, see-sawing market prices, unpredictable foreign currency rates, soaring input costs, and politics are all frequent threats. But then, like business people everywhere, farmers face the occasional ‘black swan’, a rare, unpredictable event that has severe consequences. You seldom forget the arrival of a black swan. Think of 9/11 and those horrific images of airliners being flown into the World Trade Center in New York. Nearly 3 000 people were killed that day and the US stock exchange lost more than 7% of its value in the aftermath. As the world was on the road to recovery, another black swan flew in: the global market crash of 2008. This was caused by greedy and corrupt executives of leading banks who made loans to people to buy overpriced houses they couldn’t afford. When investors realised the risks of what was happening, the global sell-off of shares triggered a market collapse.

VOLCANIC ASH AND FRESH PRODUCE

Do you remember the first TV images of the Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupting in April 2010? Ash rose 8km into the atmosphere, disrupting air travel across the whole of Western Europe and preventing the delivery of highly perishable products, such as flowers, fruit and vegetables. From a global perspective, it was certainly a lesser black swan event, but for producers and exporters of these products in Southern Africa, it was a disaster. We are now experiencing what might be the most damaging black swan event in living memory, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. At this point, panic and overreaction to the virus appears to have caused far more damage than the disease itself. Time will tell if this reaction is justified. Black swan events are unpredictable, but one thing is certain: they will be here again. In all likelihood, they will take one or more of the forms listed below, and you need to do your utmost to ensure that your business can survive them:

• Natural disasters Storms, drought and fire are common risks faced in South Africa, but are you prepared for a prolonged heatwave or a devastating cold snap? • Disease We’ve been warned for years about the risk of new, antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We’re facing a virus pandemic at the moment, but how will you bulletproof your business to survive one that affects not only humans but animals as well? • Financial markets The regulation of international markets by fallible humans has no chance of preventing another calamity. Will you be adequately diversified to absorb a black swan-sized knock?

DO YOUR UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT YOUR BUSINESS CAN SURVIVE A BLACK SWAN EVENT • Politics Toxic and unpredictable politics make for dangerous times, and black swans will rise up. There is little need to remind anyone in South Africa of the dire political risks we face. • Energy Over the past 25 years, the oil price has swung between US$20/ barrel (about R350/ barrel) and US$165/ barrel (R2 900/ barrel). The risk of major supply line disruption is ever-present. As for electricity, there is little to add to what we all know. Have you explored the possibility of getting your own energy source? • Technology Inventiors of new technologies seldom grasp the enormity of the changes they set in motion. The steam engine, dynamite, the car, radio, aircraft, the satellite, the Internet and the explosion of digital technology have changed the world. In the process, businesses that had been in existence for generations have been destroyed. Will your business be able to cope with developments like these? It’s a tough world out there. Stay calm and carry on, but for goodness’ sake, be prepared. FW

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FIELD NOTES FROM A NEW FARMER

COVID-19: a farmer’s perspective The agriculture sector was declared an essential service and given the green light to operate normally during the COVID-19 lockdown. Nonetheless, many farmers have suffered losses due to trade disruption.

he impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been felt worldwide as governments have implemented stringent measures to protect their citizens. Many businesses have also felt the severe impact that COVID-19, and trade and movement restrictions put in place to slow down the spread of the disease, have had on their bottom lines. The general assumption is that because people need to eat and farmers produce food, farmers would never find themselves in a situation where they have to close shop. The food value chain has, after all, been declared an essential service. But as a crop farmer, my experience proves that farmers have not been as unaffected as many might believe.

SLOW DEMAND FOR FRESH PRODUCE

BY MBALI NWOKO Mbali Nwoko is a young, award-winning agricultural entrepreneur. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Field notes.

It is easy to assume that the COVID- 19 lockdown would result in an increase in demand for fresh produce, as more people are cooking from home and trying to eat healthily. The reality, however, is quite the opposite. The Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, which is normally visited by thousands of daily buyers procuring fresh fruit and vegetables, has been hard hit by the epidemic. Since the lockdown was enforced, market agents have confirmed a reduction in sales, especially due to the sudden closure of the hospitality industry. Farmers who send their produce to the fresh produce markets are directly affected by this. When produce is ready to be harvested, it cannot simply be left on the land for another week or two. Farmers are forced to harvest and deliver to a market that is experiencing low demand, and as a result, an oversupply of produce. In addition to the effect experienced on the market, the closure of schools has also had a negative impact on farmers who produce primarily for school feeding schemes.

REDUCED FARM REVENUE

The low sales have resulted in reduced income for farmers, making it very hard to continue operating, paying salaries and suppliers, and ensuring general maintenance and upkeep on farms. Despite efforts from a number of institutions offering COVID-19 relief funding to businesses, not all farmers meet the eligibility criteria to be considered. For example, not all farms are 51% blackowned (management control), and some small-scale farmers are unable to quantify their revenues as they do not produce annual financial statements to prove how the pandemic has affected their farms. Furthermore, funding excludes farmers who are not registered as taxpayers and for UIF.

THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS HAS AFFECTED FARMERS WHO PRODUCE PRIMARILY FOR SCHOOL FEEDING SCHEMES The situation is extremely worrisome for farmworkers who are remunerated on a daily rate and for contract workers who are in demand during peak harvesting times. Because of the low demand for fresh produce, resulting in low sales, farmers cannot afford to keep staff employed. Moreover, with there being a shortage in protective clothing and facial masks across the country, the need to ensure the safety of workers by providing protective clothing puts added pressure on the already strained farm cash flow. With strained finances and reduced income for many farmers, there is a great deal of uncertainty about whether or not farmers should plan for production over the next few months. Right now, no one can predict when demand will return to normal.

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

BOTTOM LINE Agricultural Economics

How agricultural economics keeps up with the times The evolution of agricultural production and value chains requires that agricultural economics adapts quickly to remain relevent and helpful. Prof Theo Kleynhans, head of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, spoke to Lloyd Phillips.

I obtained my BScAgric and Honours in Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University [SU] in 1981, followed by an MScAgric from Natal University (Pietermaritzburg) during my second year of military service in 1983, and a PhD (Agric) from SU in 1991.

INCREASING COMPLEXITY REQUIRES MORE SPECIALISATION I started lecturing in the Department of Agricultural Economics at SU in 1984 when I had to choose between full-time farming or part-time farming in combination with an academic career. I chose the latter. Due to my interest in farmland value, I qualified as a professional property valuer and do farm valuations once in a while.

What courses does your department now offer?

Like other departments of the AgriSciences Faculty at SU, it offers a four-year BScAgric, with agricultural economics as one of the majors, in combination with subjects such as agronomy, horticulture, animal science and viticulture. Agricultural economics also combines with subjects offered by the Economic and Management Sciences Faculty, such as economics, financial accountancy, financial management, marketing management, investment 22

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management, and logistical management, either as part of the fouryear BScAgric, the three-year BCom (Agricultural Economics), or the three-year BAgric (Agribusiness Management). Ten years ago, we introduced a combination PROF THEO KLEYNHANS of agricultural economics and food science to train managers for a career in the food processing industry or to enable them to process their own commodities on their farms. The department also offers an honours programme in agricultural economics and management following the three-year degrees, a master’s programme following the four-year degree, and a PhD or DSc programme after the master’s degree.

SUPPLIED

Tell us about your career in agricultural economics.

Why is the agricultural economics profession important?

Agricultural economics is the only social science offered by the Faculty of AgriSciences at SU. In essence, it’s economics and financial management applied to agriculture. The combination of agricultural economics with the plant and livestock production courses provides knowledge and insight into the systemic nature of agribusiness management in farming, farm inputs, agri-processing and marketing. It combines production and financial aspects

in the decision-making process with a focus on sustainability and competitiveness. Agricultural economics also provides analytical skills and insight for agricultural policymaking and analysis, including international trade policy.

What have been key developments in agricultural economics during your career?

From the early 20th century, production economics as a sub-discipline of agricultural economics began providing important principles for optimal use of agricultural inputs to maximise profit. Technological progress caused agricultural output growth to exceed population growth in many industrialised countries, putting pressure on agricultural commodity prices; so much so, that farm income shrank in those countries (the so-called ‘farm problem’). Agricultural economists were actively involved in policymaking to implement farm income support policy measures such as fixed prices and quotas. Later, they analysed the disruptive effect of these measures on resource allocation, paving the way for a free-market environment. Agribusiness and agricultural supply chain management and environmental economics became more popular as the demands of modern, complex supply chains and environmental degradation, due to unsustainable production intensification, became clearer.

What factors are shaping agricultural economics now and in the foreseeable future?

Increasing complexity in both the agricultural policy and management domains requires policy analysts and agribusiness managers to become more specialised. A clearer distinction between the two streams in agricultural economics is needed. In future, policy analysisoriented modules will cover more complex analytical methods and so-called ‘big data’ analysis. The mathematical and statistical components supporting economic analysis will be expanded. On the agribusiness management side, management accounting will be added next year as an elective to complement agricultural economics, and additional subjects needed for the international Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualification, such as mercantile law, taxation and auditing, will be offered as electives. Knowledge of physical and biological resources is integrated with an economist’s way of thinking in terms of optimisation, identification of the most limiting factor, and seeing the bigger picture for effective strategic positioning. The addition of management accountancy and supporting subjects should contribute competencies such as

ABOVE: Updating the study of agricultural economics has given graduates the skills to take on a variety of management roles in the agricultural value chain. FW ARCHIVE

the ability to interpret financial statements and develop business plans, skills required by a production manager, financial manager or general manager of an agribusiness company. Agricultural economics is already seen as an important subject to combine with the crop and livestock production sciences in order to develop the managerial capacity of graduates. The challenge for our department is to be aware of growing needs in the agribusiness environment. As an example, experienced managers requested a course that combined agronomy, soil science, animal science and agricultural eonomics for farmers and input suppliers involved in pasture/ small grain-based livestock production systems. The course was created four years ago.

Is agricultural economics a popular career choice?

Approximately 400 students graduate annually in South Africa with agricultural economics as a major. SU contributes approximately 15% of this total. The agricultural economics programme also delivers 15% of the total number of graduates of the AgriSciences Faculty of SU. We see a growing awareness of the importance of agricultural economics among students in other programmes, for example

crop science, animal science, viticulture and oenology, and food science. As it’s difficult to fit agricultural economics modules into the timetables of the other programmes, we’re developing an online module in agribusiness management for students in the other programmes that they can study in their own time.

How does your department ensure that its courses remain relevant?

We continually re-evaluate the ever-changing requirements of the policy and management domains, inter alia with opinion surveys and discussions with experienced practitioners, to orientate ourselves and create or adapt courses to address these needs. International co-operation has to be planned carefully to find common ground, due to differences between policy issues in South Africa and Northern Hemisphere countries. Active co-operation with researchers abroad helps everyone keep track of the latest research themes and methods, allows for postgraduate student exchange, and provides access to data for comparative studies. • Phone Prof Theo Kleynhans on 021 808 4758, or email him at tek1@sun.ac.za. Visit sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/ agricultural-economics. FW

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8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

LIVESTOCK Drought Recovery

Rebuilding a livestock enterprise after a drought In this article, Dr Louis du Pisani, national manager for production advice and development at the National Wool Growers’ Association, explains how to carry out post-drought recovery and reconstruction of a livestock enterprise to achieve optimal, lasting results.

rought, especially if prolonged, leads to a decline in veld condition, livestock numbers and the financial situation of a livestock enterprise. Once the drought breaks, the livestock farmer faces a burning question: what are the best practices for repairing drought damage and rebuilding the farm to its former level of productivity? But before answering this, the farmer has to answer another question: which comes first, the veld, the livestock or the finances? The answer is that all three should be repaired simultaneously as they are interdependent. But implementation is not that simple.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The following should be borne in mind when carrying out the recovery and rebuilding process: • A drought-stricken farm, like a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU), needs treatment that produces positive results from the start. There is no time for experimenting or taking risky decisions. The right medicine is often bitter, but essential. • Seek the advice of a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts in grazing management, animal husbandry and agricultural economy. This team should determine the condition of the farming concern in the ICU and develop a comprehensive turnaround

BELOW: To speed up veld recovery, try to keep animals on non-veld resources, such as maize stubble, where possible. PHOTOS: FW ARCHIVE

strategy. It is all well and good to hope, but hope on its own is akin to gambling. • Base all decisions on a sound plan and good judgement. A clear head and self-discipline are also crucial. Sentiment, poor farming practices, emotion and impulsiveness should be avoided at all cost. • Remember that there are no quick fixes; the process takes time. • Focus fully on the turnaround strategy during the repair and reconstruction process and make timely adjustments when necessary. • The most important pillars in the process of recovery and reconstruction are precision farming and sustainability.

SUPPLIED

VELD RECOVERY

Veld in a good condition is a major profit driver in livestock farming. It has four advantages over veld in a poorer condition. Firstly, its soil-available water content is substantially higher, even though both receive the same DR LOUIS DU PISANI amount of rainfall. Secondly, the plants that dominate good veld produce substantially more grazing material with the same amount of water, with a resultant higher carrying capacity. Thirdly, the plants that dominate veld in good condition have a better BELOW: It is best to let veld nutritional value than those rest and recover growing on poorer veld. Lastly, after a drought. However, if no good veld produces substantially planted pasture or better profit per hectare. other alternatives When carrying out veld are available, Dr Louis du Pisani recovery, follow these guidelines: suggests that a • Synchronise the recovery farmer start off by grazing those of livestock numbers with the veld types that are rate at which the veld is least susceptible to grazing damage. recovering. Take care that the

FAST FACTS

• During the recovery phase of a livestock enterprise after a drought, it is important to focus on trusted methods, rather than experimenting with new, untested approaches. • Recovery entails balancing the demand of rebuilding the veld, restocking the herd or flock, and getting one’s finances on an even keel. • When determining a financial plan for recovery after a drought, a farmer should remember to take personal finances into consideration as well.

carrying capacity of the veld and the livestock numbers match. The carrying capacity of the veld will be weakened at the end of the drought and will improve gradually as the veld recovers. • Try to keep the animals on nonveld resources, such as planted pastures, for as long as possible after the drought is broken. If this is unavailable, start off by grazing those veld types that are least susceptible to grazing damage, while giving more vulnerable and valuable veld types an opportunity to recover. More robust veld types are usually found on mountains and ridges, and paddocks with a large proportion of less palatable plants on shallow and rocky soil. If no such veld is available, select a number of

paddocks and ‘sacrifice’ them while resting the remainder of the farm to full recovery. The damage done to these paddocks during the recovery phase can be repaired later by giving them special treatment, such as a full season’s rest. • Whatever you do, avoid throwing open the gates and allowing the livestock to graze indiscriminately everywhere on the farm during the recovery phase. This the worst possible action. Livestock are selective in their grazing habits and will therefore graze the more palatable plants and plant parts first. The result will be damage to the more palatable plants while they are not yet fully recovered, and the livestock will waste energy going after these plants.

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farmer’s weekly

LIVESTOCK Drought Recovery • Return to the normal grazing system as soon as the veld has recovered fully. If you did not have a good rotational grazing system in place before, now is a convenient time to implement one. • Undesirable invader woody plants will use the favourable conditions after the drought to increase their numbers. Eradicate them while they are still young, as they are much easier and hence more affordable to remove at this stage than as adult plants.

RECOVERY OF THE HERD AND LIVESTOCK NUMBERS

Farmers often struggle with deciding whether to rebuild their herd or flock from their own breeding stock, or to purchase animals. Many factors determine the answer to this age-old dilemma. The correct decision will depend mainly on its effect on cash flow and the rate at which the veld recovers. The key factors to consider when planning this part of the turnaround strategy are: • The number and age of the animals left in the core breeding herd after the drought, and the condition of those animals; • The purchase price of breeding animals; • The availability of animals that were moved to other farms during the drought. Animals brought in from other properties pose a biosecurity risk. • The availability of the capital of the animals sold during the drought and invested

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techniques and financing models. The planning horizon of the budgets should be long enough to clearly indicate the progress until the farm has recovered fully. Don’t forget to take personal finances into consideration as well. Then compile a complete business plan that clearly outlines all the components of the turnaround strategy.

elsewhere. Remember that liquidation of this capital may have income tax implications. The rate at which a herd can be recovered is directly correlated with its reproduction rate, regardless of whether you buy the stock or use your own animals for herd recovery. The turnaround strategy should therefore focus on achieving maximum reproduction rates through precision reproduction management strategies. This includes precision management of the flock, nutrition and health.

THE RIGHT ‘MEDICINE’ IS OFTEN BITTER, BUT ESSENTIAL

FINANCIAL RECOVERY

When drafting the financial part of the turnaround strategy, use the following guidelines: • Make sure the business is solvent. • If it is, determine the farm’s ability is to cover its financial responsibilities. A simple calculation is to divide all the farm’s financial obligations (operating costs, debt repayments and your remuneration) by the number of breeding ewes that can be carried. This figure will show whether the breeding herd can service these obligations. A burden of R2 500/ ewe/year, for example, is not feasible. • If it turns out that the herd or flock will be unable to service the farm’s obligations, determine how much of your own capital can be used to reduce the obligations to an acceptable level, for example a beach property. • Develop a series of scenarios employing cash flow budgeting

BELOW LEFT: If the farm did not have a wellorganised rotational grazing system in place before the drought, it is a good idea to start implementing one as soon as the veld has recovered. BELOW: During the recovery phase after a drought, a farmer should adopt a three-pronged approach, focusing on the condition of the veld, the livestock, and the finances of the operation.

• Visit your bank manager with this business plan. A bank manager may not have much confidence in a farmer’s business plan, particularly if that farmer has failed to stick to his or her plans in the past. If this is true for your situation, make sure that the bank manager understands you are committed to adhere to this business plan, otherwise you may not get the help you need. Even the best of plans go awry. For this reason, monitor the course of the turnaround strategy and make timely adjustments. To get help with this, you will probably need an independent adviser who can quickly identify problems, even before they occur. This person can also act as a management coach and assist you to execute the turnaround strategy. • Email Dr Louis du Pisani at louis@nwga.co.za. FW

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PROMOTIONAL ARTICLE

Pressure regulators: the key to pivot irrigation efficiency In an irrigation system, optimal water pressure is crucial to achieving distribution uniformity and proper flow. Pressure regulators can play a major role in achieving this, as well as saving water.

rops require the right volume of water at the right time, and pressure regulators help ensure that this happens. Today, the most efficient pivot irrigation systems use lowpressure sprinklers and pressure regulators that provide significant savings in energy and water costs. Low-pressure sprinklers, such as Senninger Wobblers or LEPA bubblers, irrigate with larger droplets, which are more resistant to wind and evaporation than those using high pressure. Pressure regulation is particularly important in lowpressure systems, where a slight pressure variation can have a significant impact on application rate. For example, a pressure variation of 0,14 bar on a sprinkler designed to operate at 0,69 bar is equivalent to a 20% pressure variation. This alters the flow by 10% (see diagram).

TEST YOUR REGULATORS ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS Although pressure regulators can last for years, the accuracy of regulation will change over time as internal parts begin to wear. Some experts recommend replacing a regulator when it reaches 10 000 hours of operation. Factors that contribute to wear include poor water quality, unflushed chemicals in the pipes, and long operating hours. A malfunctioning pressure regulator can be difficult to identify. Some emit water through the sides when they fail structurally, and a squealing noise may be heard.

Design pressure 0,69 bar

RIGHT: In a low-pressure irrigation system, a marginal change in water pressure will affect the flow rate significantly.

Design pressure 2,76 bar

0,69 bar design pressure

-0,14 bar +0,14 bar 20% pressure 20% pressure variation variation

2,76 bar design pressure

-0,14 bar +0,14 bar 5% pressure 5% pressure variation variation

18,9ℓ/min design flow

+10% -10% flow change flow change 20,8ℓ/min 17ℓ/min

18,9ℓ/min design flow

-2,5 % flow change 18,5ℓ/min

Underwatering

+2,5 % flow change 19,4ℓ/min

Overwatering

SUPPLIED

A faulty regulator can result in sprinkler pressure that is too high. A sprinkler emitting a finer spray or rotating faster than adjacent sprinklers may indicate a regulator operating above its nominal rating. If a regulator is operating below its rating, the sprinkler will produce larger droplets, rotate more slowly, and wet a smaller diameter.

HOW TO SPOT PROBLEMS

During the irrigation season, observe sprinkler performance early or late in the day when the sun is low and it is easier to spot any differences. Keep in mind that on a centre pivot, the number of hectares affected will be greater if regulators on the outer spans are worn, as these spans cover a larger area. At the end of the season, remove the pressure regulators and check for any obstructions causing

flow restrictions or distorting the sprinkler distribution pattern. Test the regulators at least once every three years by attaching a pressure gauge on each side of the regulator. For the regulator to function, the inlet pressure should be at least 0,34 bar above the pressure rating of the regulator. The gauge on the outlet side should match the preset pressure printed on the device, allowing for slight variation due to flow. Senninger’s pressure regulators, in their distinctive black and white colours, are renowned for their accuracy and reliability. Recognising the importance of maintaining correct system pressure, Senninger introduced the first in-line pressure regulator to the industry in 1966. A number of models have been developed down the years to meet installation needs such as mechanised systems, nurseries, greenhouses and open fields. • Phone Gerhardus Bouwer, regional manager for Africa at Senninger, on 079 557 0512, or email him at erhardus. bouwer@senninger.com. 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

Livestock Sussex cattle

Breeding a resistant and resilient Sussex stud herd John Viedge of the Lehana’s Pass Sussex Stud has been breeding cattle that survive in some of the harshest redwater disease areas in South Africa. Wayne Southwood spoke to him about how he manages animal health, breeding and selection in his resilient Sussex stud. Fast Facts

• John Viedge breeds smaller-framed Sussex cows that are better suited to mountainous regions. • As part of his strategy to breed animals with greater resistance to Asiatic heartwater disease, Viedge allows some ticks to remain on his cattle. • Sussex cattle are non-selective grazers that forage in all types of terrain.

John Viedge

ohn Viedge of the Lehana’s Pass Sussex Stud run his animals on the farm Highfield, 10km south of Maclear in the Eastern Cape. The property consists of 2 200ha of very hilly terrain, at an altitude of 1 500m; average rainfall is 700mm with the occasional snowfall. Viedge is the second generation of the family on the farm. His father, Robert, started farming here in 1931, and launched a Sussex enterprise when he bought four Sussex heifers from Bruce Evans of the Shackleton Stud in Viljoenskroon in 1962. Viedge joined the family business in 1964 after having studied at Cedara Agricultural College. The family was intially predominantly sheep farmers, running a flock of about 2 000 ewes. However, stock theft on their farm, which borders the former Transkei, escalated to such an extent in the late 1990s that they were forced to sell all their sheep. Viedge then bought Sussex cows from Robin Greene of The Start Stud in Karkloof and from the Huntersvlei Stud in Viljoenskroon. “We’ve tried farming here with some other breeds, but I can’t see any benefit of crossbreeding,” says Viedge. “The Sussex breed works for us and that’s why we’ll stick with them.” According to him, Sussex cows make excellent mothers. They are non-selective grazers that forage in all types of terrain, can handle the harsh Eastern Cape winters well, and are resistant to tick-borne diseases.

grazing

According to John Viedge, one of the characteristics that make Sussex cattle ideal for his area is their ability to handle the harsh Eastern Cape winters well. photos: wayne Southwood

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Viedge describes his veld as ‘super sourveld’. It can be tricky to manage and must be kept fairly short in summer. If it grows too tall, it becomes moribund and unpalatable. He burns half of the farm every year, which helps keep the grass palatable. The Lehana’s Pass herd comprises 60 stud and 450 commercial Sussex cows.

Patlong

rompsburg

ringfontein

ulie

Mohale’s Hoek Smithfield

Zastron

Rouxville

Quthing

Qacha’s Nek

Amanzimtoti Kingsburgh uMkomaas Scottburgh

Ixopo Umzimkulu Franklin

Matatiele Cedarville Kokstad

Harding

Sezela Hibberdene

The calving season runs from the examinationSea shows Nek Park the lungs are Mount Fletcher BrooksCollectively, Lady Grey Oviston Aliwal North Port Shepstone they sell 45 beginning of July until the end of riddled with tumours,” he says. Venterstad Rhodes Uvongo Bizana bulls, most of October. During this time, cows Calves are dosed twice for Margate Mount Frere Munster Halcyon Drift Barkly East them going to internalRamsgate parasites and injected with Burgersdorpare kept close to the farmhouse Port Edward Maclear Flagstaff commercial and have access to maize Multimin (a supplemental source Jamestown Ugie breeders and stover, hay and a protein lick. Barkly Pass of zinc, manganese, selenium a few to stud Some 50ha of Eragrostis and and copper) at two months Elliot Lusikisiki Dordrecht Molteno breeders. Sericea lespedeza (‘poor man’s and then again at weaning. Indwe They are lucerne’) is cut and baled for In the early 1980s, the Transkei Libode Sterkstroom Mthatha kept on veld winter feeding. The farm also has Port St. Johns cattle herd was decimated by Lady are Frere up to three months beforehand, 70ha planted to maize, which African redwater disease. after which they are fed to get rented out, but Viedge can use In later years, this area Queenstown them into sale condition. Before the stover to graze his animals in suffered an outbreak of Asiatic Coffee Bay Tsomo TarkastadIn early spring, the cows the sale, they are all tested for winter. redwater, and Viedge lost 18 Idutywa vibriosis and trichomoniasis. are given an energy lick with cows in one day to the disease. The best of the young, twosome extraSada molasses if necessary. “The cattle died so fast that Willowvale Cathcart Butterworth year-old bulls are used in the stud if I didn’t treat the sick ones breeding and on the commercial heifers. immediately, they’d be dead by Seymore Heifers calve for the first time atStutterheim Komga “I believe it’s better to sell a morning. Once an animal started Hogsback Bedford three years, and those that fail to proven, three-year-old bull to shivering, you could forget Kei Mouth Adelaide Kei Road Alice conceive are culled. Cows that do clients rather than a two-yearabout saving it,” he recalls. Fort Hare ookhouse Fort Beaufort Bisho Chintsa not produce King a calf are also culled; Berlin old youngster that might not be The situation became so William’s Town Beacon Bay otherwise they are kept until they up to standard,” says Viedge. serious that stockmen carried East London Potsdam are 10 years old before being sold. sachets of Berenil with them. Kidds Beach The breeding season lasts for They mixed it on site and Grahamstown Bell four months; bulls are put in Hamburg injected all animals that looked Alicedale with the cows at the beginning of even slightly sick, together Paterson Bathurst October until the end of January. with a dose of Terramycin. Alexandria Young bulls service 25 cows Viedge used live blood vaccines Port Alfred Colchester Kenton-on-Sea at a time, and older bulls up to from Onderstepoort with great ga 35. When Viedge buys a bull, he success, but nevertheless battled lizabeth looks for a shorter-legged, stocky for years with the disease while merstrand male with a good hindquarter. the cows built up immunity to it. He must also be deep-bodied. “The solution is to have The stud and commercial When he considers selection and some ticks on the cattle cows receive exactly the same replacement heifers and the traits at all times,” he says. treatment, except during he wants to improve, he focuses Calves that are four months the breeding season, when on the udder in particular. old receive a preventative dose they are run separately. Coats are an advantage in of 2ml of Berenil, usually at For breeding, Viedge selects a extreme winter. Viedge has the beginning of December. smaller-framed cow weighing many clients in Barkly East, Viedge says that if he does between 500kg and 550kg, and the coats are important in not do this, many calves will whereas breeders in the Free this cold, mountainous area. become infected with Asiatic State usually breed Sussex At the same time, the cattle redwater by six months of age. cows weighing 600kg to 650kg must be able to shed the coat Viedge has long used a plunge each. Smaller-framed cows are fast when summer arrives. dip to control external parasites, more suited to the farm’s hilly He is also considering dipping early in December until terrain and harsh winters. acquiring polled genetics. the beginning of May. When The herd inter-calving period the region experiences mild Animal health is 410 days and the calves average winters, he and his team dip Viedge doses all animals for liver between 35kg and 40kg at birth. the animals in June as well. fluke and inoculates for black The average weaning weight is He admits that he is concerned quarter, contagious abortion and about 220kg at seven months. the ticks are becoming lumpy skin disease once a year. Of the 30 stud bulls born every resistant to the dips. For this He has had a number of cases year, only the top 15 will be reason, he has decided to start where lumpy skin disease selected to be sold as stud bulls. experimenting with pour-on affected the animals’ lungs. The others are slaughtered. and injectable remedies. “There are just a few lumps Viedge markets his bulls at • Phone John Viedge on 045 932 1931 visible on the skin, but when a local, annual, multi-breed or 073 798 2016, or email him at animals die, the post-mortem sale with three other breeders. johnviedge@gmail.com. FW

For breeding, viedge selects a smaller-framed cow weighing between 500kg and 550kg

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8 May 2020

farmer’s weekly

CROPS Macadamias

Latest technology improves macadamia quality output Achieving the near impossible, Dian Pretorius reduced unsound kernel recovery in his macadamia crop from 6% to 1,7% over just one season, adding R1,7 million to his profit in the process. He spoke to Lindi Botha about the technology that helped him achieve this improvement.

acadamia farmer Dian Pretorius from Brondal, Limpopo watched as his unsound kernel recovery (USKR) percentage rose year after year. Averaging under 3% in the late 2000s, it steadily climbed to reach 5% and then over 6% in 2018, causing his profits to dwindle. Then, in a single year, Pretorius dramatically reversed the decline, so much so that he received a quality award at his local processor, Green Farms Nut Company, for the 2019 season. In the macadamia industry, the 5% USKR mark is regarded as critical; once farmers exceed it, they very seldom recover. Instead, it tends to rise steadily thereafter. Barry Christie, group agricultural technical manager at Green Farms Nut Company, notes studies where farmers’ USKR was measured over five seasons. “In general, growers who ended under 5% USKR in 2018 came from a slightly higher USKR, whereas those that had 5% USKR or higher only got worse. It’s statistically unlikely to get out of the trend once you exceed 5%, unless you change something drastic.” He adds that the orchard will never be completely free of pests, but once a farmer has a high pest load, it becomes difficult to manage. “If you have 90% control of 10 insects, as opposed to 90% control of 100 insects, you’re that much better off. Once you get to a critical mass of pests, it becomes very hard to control.” Knowing the make-or-break point all too well, Pretorius set about investigating his pest control 30

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FAST FACTS

• With a high-value crop such as macadamia nuts, the slightest dip in quality can have a significant effect on a farmer’s bottom line. • Farmers should ensure that their pest control programmes are adequate. • Technology can play a major role in managing macadamias optimally.

regime on his family’s farms Beitbridge spread across the Lowveld in the Musina Brondal and Kiepersol areas. The macadamia orchards, which cover 150ha, contain trees Tshipise that vary in age from one year Alldays old to 15 years old, and of seven varieties: ‘788’, ‘816’, ‘Nelmak 2’, ‘Nelmak D’, ‘Beaumont’, ‘842’ Thohoyandou Vivo and ‘849. A separate management Louis Trichardt programme is required for trees of each age, complicating Giyani matters. About 50ha are fully Dendron matured, while the rest are in Morebeng varying ages of production. Pretorius says that tree age is Duiwelskloof the main obstacle in management, Tzaneen Phalaborwa and older trees, in particular, Polokwane Haenertsburg require considerable pruning. Ofcalaco As far as pests are concerned, Mica ane stinkbugs are the main culprits behind Lebowakgomo high USKR, which Hoedspruit Zebediela prompted him to start his Penge investigation by examining Roedtan his chemical spraying Ohrigstad programme. Marble Hall

Pilgrim’s Rest

SPRAYING

Graskop

Skukuza

Hazyview Reaching over Xai-Xai Sabie Kiepersol Lydenburg 6% USKR was Groblersdal Winter a wake-up call White River Brondal for Pretorius. Komatipoort Dullstroom Mbombela “Looking back Malelane at everything Machadodorp Waterval Boven we did on Belfast Middelburg nkhorstspruit the farm Barberton to Witbank reduce our Maputo Badplaas “Pruning the trees shorter was USKR, technology played rush in to fill the gap. Regrowth Ogies Carolina Vandyksdrif also important. I trimmed them the biggest role in reversing control thereafter is just as mas Hendrina down from 8m to 5,5m because the bad quality,” he says. important to prevent a dense Kriel my spray cart can reach only 6m. Pretorius receivedBreyton his first outer canopy from forming.” Mbabane Leandra eye-opener when he bought a Lothair I did the pruning mechanically Pretorius bought two more Evander OPPOSITE PAGE: Davel Manzini with an all-cutter because there Secunda drone Bethal Ermelo and flew it over the spray sprayers, which reduced his Barry Christie (left), technical manager Amsterdam was just too much pruning cart while it was in operation. turnaround time, and carried of Green Farms that needed to be done. In “Previously, I’d walk behind out tests with fluorescent tracer Sheepmoor Nut Company, reylingstad explains to farmer future, I’ll do hand-pruning.” the spray cart to check that the dyes to measure penetration. Dian Pretorius that Kosi Bay Standerton Christie advises that when trees chemicals were being applied The results of these showed when trees are Amersfoort Mkhondo are pruned down, the highest properly. From that vantage point, a great improvement in pruned, a leader branch should iNgwavuma branch must be left protruding, it appeared as if the entire tree penetration after the pruning. always be left Cornelia while the others areLake cut.Sibaya was being covered. But when I behind to prevent competitive growth Wakkerstroom TRACKING “If the whole top of the tree is looked at the drone footage, I could Volksrust Paulpietersburg from new shoots. Vrede Pongola Jozini Technology such as the GPS removed, new shoots will start immediately see that we weren’t TOP:Louwsburg tracking system FarmTrack, competing to get to the top and reaching the top of the trees. Mkuze Stinkbug damage which is attached to a tractor the regrowth will be vigorous “I also saw that the sprayUtrecht Memel is the main cause and tracks its movements in the and vertical. By leaving the penetration wasn’tNewcastle sufficient. Vryheid of high unsound Warden Verkykerskop orchard, has enabled Pretorius to tallest branch as a central leader Even at a row spacing of 7m and Kingsleykernel recovery Nongoma in macadamias. switch all his chemical application structure, it sends a hormone an inter-row spacing of 3,5m, Hluhluwe Dannhauser ABOVE RIGHT: to night-time spraying. signal to the rest of the tree that I realised that I had to prune Christie (left) Glencoe “Previously, it was only during there’s already a branch there each tree heavily to open Dundee up the and Pretorius. Lake St Lucia Harrismith uLundi PHOTOS: LINDI BOTHA the flowering season that we and the new shoots don’t need to centre for better penetration.

Phuthaditjhaba

Mtubatuba

Ladysmith

Pomeroy

Melmoth

St Lucia River View

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

CROPS Macadamias applied chemicals at night; we did this to protect the bees in the orchards. But now I spray only at night, regardless of the time of year, because there’s less wind at night than in the day.” Pretorius says that spraying at night had been problematic as he could not be present in the orchard all night long to monitor the process. With FarmTrack, he can check up on progress by smartphone, viewing the rows sprayed and the precise speed and location of the tractor. “For those few hours when I’m not physically in the orchard, I can still see exactly what’s happening.” According to Christie, night-time spraying has also significantly improved the efficacy of the process; pests can be more accurately targeted, as they tend to be stationary at night when the temperature is lower.

‘CHECK WHETHER THE SPRAY PENETRATES THE TREES PROPERLY’ The cooler conditions also result in less evaporation of the chemicals, while the lower temperature and lack of sunlight ensure that the active ingredients in the chemicals stay effective for longer. Pretorius has also achieved greater efficiency by reducing the volume of water in the spray tanks. “We started with 2 000ℓ/ha and now we’re on 3 000ℓ/ha for the mature trees. We’ve done tests on 4 000ℓ/ha and 5 000ℓ/ ha and this resulted in a lot of wastage. Much of the chemical just drips off the leaves and drenches the soil at these high rates. I use a mister to ensure that the droplet size is smaller, so it’s more likely to stay on the plant.” He adds that he and his neighbour try to spray at more or less the same time; this helps prevent pests from retreating to adjacent orchards and then returning later. 32

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Another weapon in Pretorius’s arsenal has been a weather station that he erected on the farm. This has had a major impact on reducing USKR, as his spraying programmes are better executed and more cost-effective. “Previously, we would have a tractor driver arrive for his night shift, only to find that clouds had started gathering. He’d then sit and wait to see if it was going to rain and if the night shift should be cancelled. By 8pm, if it still hadn’t started raining, he would mix the chemicals in the tank. Then the first drops would begin falling, and he’d be forced to stop work, go back home and return the next day. By then I’d paid for a night’s work and lost a tank of chemicals, but nothing had been achieved. “The weather station helps us monitor wind and rain predictions, and plan the best time for spraying.”

WINNING RESULTS

After just one season, Pretorius’s plan to remedy his high USKR has borne fruit. By taking his USKR from 6,5% in 2018 to just 1,7% in 2019, he added R1,7 million to his bottom line.

ABOVE: According to Barry Christie, farmers can suffer losses of R2 150/t for every 1% increase in unsound kernel recovery. However, losses grow exponentially because processing costs rise as the quality of nuts deteriorates. GETTY IMAGES

Christie explains that if 5% of a theoretical 150t crop is unsound, about 21,5t is discarded, which is 15% of the crop. “This is because ‘unsound’ is expressed as the total unsound kernel, which is a percentage of nut-in-shell (NIS). The average crack-out [kernel recovery] in South Africa is probably around 35%. At a price of R75 000/t of macadamia NIS, the farmer loses about R2 150/t for every 1% increase in USKR.” Pretorius says that while the technology he has implemented has been a great help, it has not been prohibitively expensive. His advice to farmers struggling with rising USKR is to investigate their spraying regime. “Check to see if the trees are being completely covered and penetrated. If you’re not spraying correctly, you can’t tackle the pest load properly. Make sure your spray cart is effective and that trees are not higher than 6m. Test sprayers on your own farm before you buy. And look at what technology you can use to assist you in your operations.” • Email Dian Pretorius at pretoriusdian@gmail.com, or Barry Christie at barry@gfnc.co.za. FW

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LISTEN TO THE

SPECIAL COVID-19 REPORT

THE WEEKLY WRAP PODCAST SERIES LISTEN AT: farmersweekly.co.za/podcast Starts at episode 4

PROMOTIONAL ARTICLE

A new approach to soya bean cultivar categorisation In this article, Dr Antony Jarvie of Podsquad, and independent consultant to Corteva Agriscience, explains the new approach adopted by Pannar to better align the categorisation of soya bean cultivars with the needs of South African farmers. He also reviews some of Pannar’s latest soya bean cultivar releases.

he restrictions on gatherings and movement associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) pandemic came at a time when agronomists around South Africa were preparing to host field days for farmers at which they could demonstrate the new products for the 2020/2021 planting season. Seed group Pannar Seed, which is owned by Corteva Agriscience, was unable to go ahead with a number of its planned farmers’ days. To cater for those farmers who could not attend farmers’ days this year, Pannar released a video series that captured the essence of their field demonstrations. Having viewed the videos and reviewed the data prepared for the demonstrations, I am impressed with the way that the Pannar brand has chosen to group their soya bean varieties into growth classes.

CATEGORISATION BY GROWTH CLASS

The conventional way of categorising cultivars is to use the international maturity group (MG) scale. In South Africa, the applicable maturity groups are MG 4 through to MG 8, and this 34

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method can be used to describe the cultivar accurately. The problem with this description in South Africa, however, is that cultivar adaptation patterns broach the maturity groups. For example, a farmer looking to choose the best MG 5 variety will inevitably end up selecting a variety with a relative maturity group of MG 5,8 or MG 5,9, which is very nearly an MG 6. Having set out to choose a cultivar from the lower side of the spectrum, the farmer will then be drawn by adaptation patterns into choosing a variety that falls more into the medium growth class. Pannar has found a solution to this problem by consolidating the MG 4,5 to MG 5,4 groups into an ‘early’ growth class, the MG 5,5 to MG 6,4 varieties into ‘medium’, and MG 6,5 to MG 7,4 varieties into ‘late’. The difference in maturity between an MG 5,9 and MG 6

ABOVE: With Pannar’s reorganisation related to the implementation of growth classes, PAN 1454R indirectly made way for PAN 1555R (pictured here) in the cultivar range. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

remains unchanged, but the break between the growth classes set up by Pannar places the crossover from one growth class to another in the correct place on the MG scale. This simplifies the characterisation and categorisation of cultivars and makes cultivar choice easier.

NEW CULTIVAR RANGE

The soya bean cultivar range offered this season by Pannar is anchored by an exceptional product. PAN 1521R has dominated the market in a way that only PAN 1664R and Prima have done in the past. The cultivar range has the correct mix of old and new cultivars, an important consideration if the aim is to drive genetic gain and still maintain stability and familiarity on the market. Last year, Pannar decided to retire two cultivars, namely PAN 1454R and PAN 1623R, even though there was still no direct

replacement for PAN 1454R. With reorganisation related to the implementation of growth classes, PAN 1454R indirectly made way for PAN 1555R in the cultivar range. Although PAN 1623R was still commercially competitive, Pannar retired the cultivar to make room for PAN 1663R and PAN 1644R in its range. The way in which Pannar has positioned the medium growth class means that approximately half of the national soya bean crop is derived from this class. The cultivar PAN 1521R currently does a sterling job in delivering a large part of the national crop, but this is too large an area to commit to a single genotype. PAN 1555R has therefore stepped off the bench to assist. This new release has a strongly branched architecture and is well suited to tough environments and unpredictable weather conditions.

GROWTH CLASSES MAKE CULTIVAR CHOICE EASIER FOR FARMERS Another new release, PAN 1663R, also falls into the medium growth class, but has a role at the higherpotential end of the production spectrum. It has excellent standability and can tolerate the high plant populations associated with irrigated environments. As noted above, PAN 1644R entered the Pannar range at the expense of PAN 1623R. Removing a cultivar is always disappointing, but based on my observations, I can confidently say that PAN 1644R is a worthy replacement. It is versatile and can perform in all the soya bean production regions. This versatility enables the variety to endure unseasonal and unexpected weather conditions that are recurring more frequently due to the impact of climate change.

ABOVE: Pannar’s new soya bean cultivars, PAN 1663R (left) and PAN 1644R (right), replaced PAN 1623R in the brand’s cultivar range.

IN THE PIPELINE

This year, Pannar introduced producers to two new varieties, PAN 1479R and PAN 1575R, which have been put into limited strip testing. By my estimation, they are about a year away from commercial launch. With these varieties, Pannar appears to be concentrating its immediate efforts on bolstering the earlier-season spectrum of its commercial range, as it already has impressive firepower in the later half. PAN 1479R is a true MG 4 that will fill the void left by PAN 1454R in the early growth class, while PAN 1575R is expected to bring ruggedness and strong vegetative growth to this sector. PAN 1575R is much like PAN 1555R, but reaches maturity several days sooner.

A NEW PROJECT

I have been involved with an exciting new soya bean project for the Corteva group in South Africa, which includes both seed and crop protection products. The CE3 project involves the deregulation of a new transgenic soya bean trait package combined with the deregulation of associated new herbicides. The deregulation is a rigid, slow, meticulous and costly process and cannot be

hurried, but we are excited by its prospects. Multi-year, multilocation data are a standard requirement for a responsible release in new environments, but the good news is that this process is already well underway. CE3 combines two insectresistance genes with three herbicide genes in a transgenic stack that is at the leading edge of this technology. If the deregulation takes place as planned, South Africa will be on the market with this stack before some of the major soya bean-trading countries. One of the reasons this project was considered for South Africa was the promise of an end-point royalty (EPR). Despite the soya bean production area in South Africa having swelled to around 700 000ha in recent years, for all practical purposes, the seed industry has been catering to an unsustainable seed market equivalent of around 120 000ha due to the practice of using farm-saved seed. The EPR has taken 12 long years to materialise, but the collateral effects of its implementation have already stimulated research that will place the country in the forefront of global soya bean development with CE3 and other technologies. • Visit pannar.com. 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

back to basics

LIVESTOCK

When performance fails to live up to breeding values Discrepancies between estimated breeding values and livestock performance have led some farmers to doubt the accuracy of these values. They are, in fact, excellent indicators, but animals may not be able to reach their genetic potential. Using estimated breeding values (EBVs) is crucial in animal selection. Well-adapted, genetically superior animals perform better and are more efficient. Even though the environment plays a large role, it is the genetic value of a trait that determines the true potential of the animal. Some farmers, however, are convinced that breeding values cannot accurately determine an animal’s genetic merit. A common enquiry is: “The progeny of a bull with average- or below-average breeding values perform well on my farm. Why is this superior performance not reflected in the bull’s breeding values?” There are a variety of reasons for this. To begin with, an animal may fail to reach its 36

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genetic potential because the environment does not allow it. In other words, an animal on your farm might have a lower breeding value than a similar animal in a herd elsewhere, but end up performing better because it is in a more favourable environment. These conditions enable it to reach its genetic potential, unlike the animal in the other herd.

variations in progeny

There are also a number of genetic factors that account for these anomalies. These are based on the way that DNA, the molecular hereditary material of all organisms, operates. The DNA of an animal must undergo random recombination

ABOVE: A bull contributes a far larger portion to the total gene pool of the herd, as one bull can have many offspring in a single calving season, while cows can have only one each. But half of an animal’s genetic make-up still originates from its dam. FW ARCHIVE

and then divide equally into two parts. This means not all of an animal’s progeny receive the same combination of DNA material. To understand this principle, fill a bowl with 10 red, 10 blue and 10 yellow balls. Now close your eyes, mix them together, and randomly select 15 balls. Theoretically, you should have drawn five balls of each colour. In practice, however, this is very rarely the case. In this simple example, there are only 30 balls in three colours. Imagine the vast number of combinations that are possible out of billions of basepairs in DNA coding strands! Young animals without any measurements receive a midparent breeding value; this is the average of its parents’ values and makes the assumption that the half passed onto the progeny is the same in all offspring. In reality, this does not happen, and breeding values therefore change once measurements of the offspring are known. These reveal the combination of genes that the animal actually received. It is possible, simply by chance, that the progeny on your farm may end up with more favourable genes than those of the progeny in another herd. This result is more likely to happen when the number of progeny is low.

The forgotten dam

Breeders often lose sight of a very basic truth of reproduction: half of an animal’s genetic make-up originates from its dam. It is true, of course, that a bull contributes far more to the total gene pool of the herd, as a single bull can have many offspring in a calving season, while a cow produces only one. Nonetheless, each of a bull’s offspring will still have only half of its genes! So the genetic merit of the dam will dilute or enhance the merit of the sire’s contribution to produce inferior or superior offspring. Looking at the herd as a whole, if the average genetic value of the dams of herd A is superior to that of the dams of herd B, its

progeny will be superior, and this might not be reflected in the breeding values of the sire.

LARGER VS SMALLER HERDS

Superiority is relative. A bull with average or below-average breeding values can produce calves that are superior in your herd if the herd’s current level of performance is also below breed average. The offspring of these animals might be superior to those of their herd mates, but they will not be higher than breed level. This situation occurs mostly in smaller herds, where selection criteria cannot be very strict as a larger proportion of the herd must be retained, and the owner is unlikely to be able to afford the best possible bull.

A FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT WILL ENABLE AN ANIMAL TO REACH ITS GENETIC POTENTIAL Herds differ from each other; the superior animals in one herd might not be superior to those in another herd. This does not necessarily mean the animals are poor or the selection decisions wrong. Although overall breed performance can be a useful benchmark for herds, your personal resources and preferences will set your own breeding objectives. Use animals that you can afford, and that best suit your breeding objectives. To sum up, farmers sometimes notice disparities between EBVs and the performance of livestock on their farms, as well as discrepancies between progeny of the same bull on different farms. This, by no means, negates the value of EBVs. On the contrary, they are trustworthy tools for the selection of animals. • Source: Steyn, Y. ‘Contradictions between EBVs and performance’. SA Stud Book. Retrieved from studbook.co.za/a25/general-articles. FW

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ABOVE: Soya rust can be identified by the yellow and bronze discoloration of the leaves. USDA ARS

PLANT DISEASES

Dealing with soya rust Soya rust is spread by windblown spores and results in significant crop losses in many soya bean-growing regions of the world, including South Africa. Soya rust is caused by two types of fungi, Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P meibomiae. Infection starts off with a yellow mosaic discolouration on the upper surfaces of older leaves. At this stage, the disease is usually difficult to identify, as the symptoms are not easy to see; expert confirmation may be required. As the disease develops, the entire leaf undergoes yellowing and bronzing. Numerous pimple-like uredia develop in the lesions, mainly on the lower leaf surface, and release urediniospores through a central pore. This process, which can be seen through a magnifying glass, distinguishes soya rust from other lesions. The spores are released between 10 and 12 days after infection. In cases of severe infection, clouds of spores may form over infected lands.

CONTROL STRATEGY

Currently, the only way to control soya rust is to apply a chemical fungicide, such as Punch C, Punch Xtra, Capitan 250EW, Folicur 250EW, Bayfidan 250DC, Shavit 25EC or Score 250EC. Preventative spraying is far more effective than curative spraying, and is recommended for areas where the disease has previously occurred. If the crop is not sprayed timeously with a suitable chemical, rapid defoliation can occur about 21 days after infection. However, you should spray only if soya rust has been confirmed to be in the area. As with all chemical applications, follow the application rates on the labels of the containers with care. • Source: ‘Identification and control of soya rust’. Agricultural Research Council – Grain Crops Institute. Retrieved from arc.agric.za/arc-gci. FW

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8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

vegetable production

Mildew: a major threat to lettuce

n general, the most common lettuce disease that growers have to contend with is downy mildew. This appears as a whitish-grey fungus under the leaves, and yellowish blotches on the corresponding areas on the upper surfaces. The disease starts on the lower, older leaves of the plant, as these are more susceptible. In addition, being on or just above the ground, they are in a moist micro-climate that is ideal for development of the disease. In many cases, older leaves become infected when the plant is close to maturity. This usually causes little damage, and as long as the wrapper leaves are not infected, there is no need to spray.

When downy mildew is very severe, it can become systemic Low air temperature and high humidity favour development of downy mildew. The pathogen also requires free water on the leaves to enter the tissues of the plant. Heavy dew may be all that is necessary, and the longer it is present, the greater the possibility of infection. Under cool, moist conditions, you should therefore avoid irrigation until the leaves are dry, as this extends the period that free moisture remains on the leaves.

prevention

Disease-resistant varieties of lettuce are available, but there are a number of downy mildew races, and the disease in any case evolves rapidly to overcome plant resistance. For these reasons, controlling downy mildew is always a battle. Your best weapon is to acquire a feel for the conditions that favour downy mildew, and this 38

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comes from observation and experience. When you suspect that the conditions are right for the disease, start spraying before symptoms develop. Use a dithiocarbamate fungicide or copper-containing fungicide, and apply thoroughly to all surfaces. Ideally, you should alternate with a product that has a different mode of action. Severe downy mildew can become systemic and cause damage in the head of the lettuce. The mildew releases spores in the early morning that can survive for 15 hours, giving it ample opportunity to infect the plant. If free moisture is present, the plant can become infected within three hours. The spores are dispersed by rain, irrigation splash and light wind. Apply systemic products only when necessary. Ask a pest control representative about the best product for your area.

ABOVE: Powdery mildew manifests as a greyish fuzz on the underside of the lower leaves. bill kerr

Hot, dry conditions

Powdery mildew

A second type of mildew that can attack lettuce is powdery mildew. Growers sometimes get confused between the two types. Downy mildew attacks

the underside of the leaf only (the yellowish blotches on the upper surface are simply the reverse side of the damaged leaf section). Powdery mildew, in contrast, attacks both surfaces of the leaf. For further confirmation, use a magnifying glass to have a close look at the fungus. In the case of downy mildew, it looks like miniature bushes; with powdery mildew, it looks like a string of beads.

bill kerr

Powdery mildew does not need free water for the spores to germinate and develop; it prefers hot, dry conditions. Because lettuce is seldom planted in these areas, powdery mildew is not as common as downy mildew. The disease can flare up in a hot, dry spell in summer. Under these conditions, don’t assume you are dealing with downy mildew; take a closer look to make certain. This is important, as different products are used to control each type. • Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and breeder. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Vegetable production. FW

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ON THE MARKET FLOOR

Product differentiation As a farmer, you would naturally want your produce to get top prices and enjoy demand from buyers and consumers. One of the ways of achieving these goals is to introduce product differentiation, as is done so successfully with the many varieties of apple and citrus. But to better illustrate differentiation, I’d prefer to use the lowly cabbage as an example, precisely because it is such an unremarkable product.

ORDINARY, BUT SPECIAL

Let’s be realistic; cabbage doesn’t enjoy the heady accolades of shiny apples or sweet ‘easy peeler’ citrus. This may seem rather unfair for a crop that has nourished us for thousands of years, but it’s the truth. So, what can you do to set your cabbage apart from the rest?

What innovation can you introduce to make it stand out on the market floor, with buyers clamouring for more? As always, the leading cabbage growers show us the way. Many size their cabbages and pack them into separate nylon netting bags, and some even use a different colour bag for each cabbage size. This is just one way to ensure product differentiation. There are other low-cost options, limited only by the farmer’s imagination and target market.

STICKERS AND LABELS

Another affordable, yet effective, packaging used by some farmers is to offer selected cabbage heads in shrink-wrap adorned with a brightly coloured brand sticker. This provides an ideal opportunity to add advertising

MICHAEL CORDES

or product information, such as a couple of lines about the farm, the care taken by the farmer, or the nutrient value of the product. Yet another trick, especially if using a netting bag, is to include a tag with a recipe or two to add value to the product. My point is that even a modest, everyday product such as cabbage can be elevated to new heights through good product differentiation. The value of cabbage does not, of course, justify expensive, ‘glamorous’ packaging, as is sometimes used for apples, avocadoes or asparagus. But ordinary fruit and veggies have more potential than we appreciate, as long as the quality is right. • Michael Cordes is an agricultural journalist, consultant, trainer and former farmer. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Market floor. FW

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machinery & implements

John Deere joins the fight against COVID-19 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of John Deere engineers have expanded their search for innovation from making farmers more productive to keeping employees safe. Denene Erasmus reports.

ohn Deere is one of many companies around the world that has responded in a creative way to helping safeguard communities against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “The current environment has presented some huge challenges, and we saw some opportunities to help keep our fellow employees safe,” said Craig Sutton, manager of Technology Innovation Strategy at John Deere, in a statement.

3D printed clips

A group of John Deere engineers worked together to develop a 3D-printed clip that can be affixed to a standard protective cap and used to hold a face shield in place. Explaining how the idea was conceived, Dr Eric Johnson, technical leader in John Deere’s Additive Manufacturing division, said in the statement that thanks to the company’s investment in 3D printing and readily available skill sets at their technology centres and factories, a small group of engineers was able to “jump on video calls and figure out how to affix a face shield to a baseball cap quickly and inexpensively”. The design includes the clip that can be affixed to a standard baseball cap; three clips are used to hold the protective face shield in place. 40

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Kurt Bechthold and John Vieth of John Deere’s Waterloo Works factory in the US came up with the design, and the company is now manufacturing the plastic clips in-house, using its own 3D printers. Working from home, Bechthold used his own 3D printer to test five increasingly improved iterations of the clip. “Every John Deere 3D printer, and a lot of John Deere engineers in North America

ABOVE: John Deere engineers have developed a 3D-printed clip that can hold a protective face shield in place. BELOW: Jose Martinez, a UAW Moline Seeding Group factory worker, assembles brow foam and elastic to the inside of the face shield lens. PHOTOS: John Deere

who have their own 3D printers are making these clips around the clock,” Johnson said. The company plans to share the 3D printing specifications free of charge online. “Anyone who wants to provide these clips to their own employees or employees in their communities will be able to download the specs and manufacture their own,” said Sutton. He cautioned that the design for the face shields was not intended for a medical environment, but for an industrial or commercial workspace.

Other projects

Other projects underway by the company include a hand-held, pocket-sized device that can be used to open doors and push buttons without bringing the user’s hand in direct contact with either, and clear plastic screens to separate production employees at their work stations. • For more information on the equipment in this report, email Denene Erasmus at denene@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Equipment. FW

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horse talk

Your horse and lockdown The national lockdown poses a problem for horses and riders. As a result, the South African Equestrian Federation is in negotiation with relevant stakeholders, says Dr Mac.

t the end of March, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would go into a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The coronavirus is part of a large family of viruses affecting animals and humans. Most are not transmitted between humans and animals. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are the only current examples of coronaviruses that crossed from animals and spread to people. The origin of the novel coronavirus is still being investigated, but there is no evidence to suggest that people can transmit the disease to dogs, cats or horses. However, the national lockdown means that people may only leave their homes to seek medical care, purchase groceries or collect medicines. Those that provide essential services are allowed to travel to and from work. This means that if your horse is stabled away from your home, you are not (legally) able to travel to and from the yard to visit or exercise your horse. In this instance, you should arrange with the stable owner/ manager, or the person who lives on the property, to exercise your horse for you. If your horse is stabled at a DIY yard, you will need to ensure that there is enough food and shavings available for a period of time. If your horses live on your property, but you need to selfisolate after showing symptoms of COVID-19 or coming into direct contact with someone infected with the virus, you need to arrange with family members or friends that live with you or

near you to care for your horses. Self-isolation means that you should not leave your home for any reason. As the virus can survive on various surfaces for days or even weeks, you should refrain from touching any animals or surfaces that may be touched by other people. Remember, it is in your best interest, and the interests of the animals and people that depend on you for their care, that you remove yourself if you are showing symptoms of COVID- 19, as you may also spread the virus through coughing or sneezing.

ABOVE: Farriers are now considered essential workers, and are permitted to see horses that haven’t been shod for seven weeks or longer. clint budd

Farriers and vets

New regulations

The South African Equestrian Federation (SAEF) is in the process of negotiating new regulations for horse owners with the Ministry of Sport amongst other industry bodies. The SAEF argues that the extended lockdown poses a problem to animal welfare, as horses, even if they are non-competitive, need routine exercise. The SAEF is therefore hoping that these negotiations will result in horse owners being able to move from their homes to the yards where their horses are stabled during lockdown Level 4. In the event that this is allowed, the SAEF proposes that riders

not share equipment or tack, that they maintain their distance from other riders/people at the yard, and that they not linger at the yard after riding. The SAEF and the relevant stakeholders are also still discussing whether coaching will be allowed.

Dr mac

Due to the lockdown, veterinary services may be compromised. While veterinary services are deemed essential, it may become more difficult to get a vet to come out to see your horse. In this case, your vet may be prepared to consult with you telephonically, and decide whether he/she needs to consult in person. If you, for whatever reason, need to take your horse to the vet, you will need a movement permit, which you can get from your vet. Farriers are now also considered essential, and are allowed to see horses that have not been shod for a minimum of seven weeks. They will need to organise movement permits through a vet. Vets and farriers must wear masks and observe biosecurity. They also have to keep a list of dates, names and addresses of people whose horses they see. • Dr Mac is an academic, a practising equine veterinarian and a stud owner. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton. co.za. Subject line: Horses. FW

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8 may 2020

farmer’s weekly

LIFESTYLE Sweet & Savoury SAVOURY

A fluffy cheese soufflé Soufflés have a reputation for being difficult to make, but this easy recipe will have you baking this tricky French classic in no time. Serves four WHITE SAUCE 60ml (4 Tbsp) butter 60ml (4 Tbsp) cake flour 250ml (1 cup) full-cream milk 1ml salt Black pepper SOUFFLÉ 4 eggs, separated 250ml (1 cup) white sauce (see above) 250ml (1 cup) Cheddar, grated 15ml (1 Tbsp) Parmesan Pinch of red pepper WHITE SAUCE 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and mix well. 3. Add the milk slowly, and cook for three to five minutes over low heat until the sauce is smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper. SOUFFLÉ 1. Beat the egg yolks and add to the white sauce. 2. Add the cheeses and red pepper and mix. 3. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, then fold into the white sauce mixture. 4. Divide the mixture between four medium-sized ramekins (do not grease). 5. Place the ramekins into an oven dish, and fill the dish with water until the bottom halves of the ramekins are immersed. 6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

RING THE CHANGES For a sharper taste, replace the Parmesan with a blue cheese, such as Stilton.

SWEET

Mango cupcakes These cupcakes are a tropical delight that will have children and adults asking for more! Makes 12 CUPCAKES 1 extra-large egg 125ml (½ cup) caster sugar 60ml (4 Tbsp) oil 187ml pulped mango 30ml (2 Tbsp) milk 250ml (1 cup) cake flour 5ml (1 tsp) baking powder 1ml baking soda Pinch of salt DECORATION 30ml (2 Tbsp) soft butter 500ml (2 cups) icing sugar, sifted 75ml (5 Tbsp) mango pulp

CUPCAKES 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake liners. 2. Using a stand mixer or electric beater, beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the oil, and continue beating. 3. Add the mango pulp and milk and mix well. Set aside. 4. Sieve the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. 5. Mix the flour mixture with the mango mixture. Divide the mixture amongst the holes in the tin. 6. Bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cupcakes comes out clean. Allow to cool completely. DECORATION 1. Cream the butter and half of the icing sugar until fluffy. 2. Add the remaining icing sugar and mango pulp and beat well. 3. Spread the icing sugar over the tops of the cooled cupcakes, and decorate as you desire.

These recipes were first published in Vrouekeur. 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

LIFESTYLE Crossword

Crossword 364 1

Crossword 359: 6 March 2020

ACROSS: 1. Calamari; 5. Pangolin; 10. Records; Caribou; 12. Inane; 13. Warthog; 14. Polenta; 15. Night; 16. Overdo; 17. Faunal; 20. Lea; 22. Needle; 24. Raisin; 25. Gum; 27. Brumby; 30. Dredge; 33. Pumas; 36. Lateral; 38. Hogwash; 39. Issue; 40. Nagging; 42. Rallied; 43. Saturate; 44. Dynastic.

18 19

22 23

27 28

28 30

ACROSS

1. Limbs of a tree (8) 5. S ugar found in honey and fruit (8) 9. C aterpillar that walks by forming itself into a curve then stretching out with each step (6) 10. D evice that provides the optimal conditions for seeds to begin growing (10) 11. M ost ferocious (8) 14. M ark left after a leaf has been detached (4) 17. Flower with showy, radiated heads that are white to lilac-blue or purple (5) 18. Common name for shrubs of the Cistaceae family, especially Helianthemum (4,5) 19. C olour imparted by chlorophyll in plants (5) 20. Cultivates; works (the land) (5) 22. E asily caught, small, carp-like freshwater fish of the Gobio genus (7) 23. A mount of fish caught by a boat in one trip (5) 25. T alkative (5) 27. T o position facing east (9) 28. Worm_____ are spiral heaps of earth voided by small, burrowing creatures (5) 30. C oniferous tree with needle leaves (4) 32. P lant related to the primulas, with nodding flowers and bent-back outer petals (8) 34. Viral disease of sheep and cattle transmitted by mosquitoes (10) 35. Small bar or restaurant (French) (6) 36. R osaceous (8) 37. D etermines the extent of (8)

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

DOWN

1. Large, leaping, croaking amphibian (8) 2. Growing from childhood to maturity (10) 3. Solid-hoofed ungulate with flowing tail and mane (5) 4. V ision (5) 5. T racts of land used for cultivation and pasturage (5) 6. Difference in tone between light and dark areas (8) 7. Vent or opening allowing escape of something (6) 8. Owners’ tags attached to animals’ ears (8) 12. C ollectively, seeds of cereal plants (4) 13. Privacy; solitude (9) 15. F lightless bird found in New Guinea, closely related to the emu (9) 16. M editerranean aromatic herb used in cooking, from the American Spanish for wild marjoram (7) 21. H ydrometer for testing the relative density of milk (10) 23. C limbing plant with long, cylindrical fruits used as salad vegetables (8) 24. I nstitution for treatment of the sick and injured (8) 25. C alf’s flesh as food (4) 26. W ooden (8) 29. B ushes with little or no trunk (6) 31. Name of many large birds of prey of the Falconidae family (5) 32. O ily substance that rises to the surface of milk (5) 33. Snake that can dilate the skin of its neck to resemble a hood (5)

DOWN: 1. Corkwood; 2. Lucerne; 3. Marched; 4. Resign; 6. Accept; 7. Gorilla; 8. Lebanon; 9. Neurally; 11. Gaggle; 18. Rheum; 19. Oddly; 20. Fried; 21. Utile; 22. Leg; 23. Arm; 26. Abalones; 28. Utmost; 29. Methodic; 31. Uptight; 32. Barrier; 34. Regalia; 35. Diarist; 36. Plight; 37. Sherry. MYSTERY WORD: Calabash

Sudoku Solutions: 1 May 2020 MEDIUM 3

DIFFICULT 6

Hillbilly Homes LIFESTYLE

Jonno Smith is a registered architect. Email hillbilly@eca.co.za, or phone 082 313 1701 or 082 412 4459. Visit hillbillyhomes.co.za. Please provide details of the proposed development.

JONNO SMITH

A simple yet spacious home built in stages Dear Jonno, I have an opportunity to build a home on my parents’ farm in Ndola in Zambia. Please could you help with a cost-effective design that could be built in stages? I’d like something with two en-suite bedrooms and an adequate living area.

Dear Chipamu, Thanks for the detailed request for your new home. I’ve prepared a layout that can be built in three stages, and marked each in a different colour: Stage 1 in red, Stage 2 in green, and Stage 3 in yellow. • Stage 1. This will include the main and second bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen/dining room and lounge. Note that visitors must have access to one of the two bathrooms. • Stage 2. As the family grows, the bedroom wing with bedrooms 3 and 4 can be added.

The house will have about nine people living in it. The style should blend in with the natural surroundings. Please could you keep it as simple to build as possible? I’d appreciate any help. Kind regards, Chipamu Jr

• Stage 3. With most of each day being spent in the living area, the lounge can be extended and an activities room added as well. This will create space for nine or more people. Shown dotted is the extended roof, which will be at a lesser pitch than the stages 1 and 2 roofs of about 22° and will extend to the veranda. The glass folding doors can be removed and reinstalled in the extended lounge-to-veranda wall. The mono-pitched roofs allow for easy and cost-effective installation.

Three-phase floor plan: Phase 1: 127m2 (red) Phase 2: 56m2 (green) Phase 3: 57,6m2 plus veranda (yellow)

The heightened gables, as shown, can incorporate high-level windows to provide light to the Stage 1 kitchen/lounge area. This additional light will be particularly important when the Stage 3 addition is built, as the glass folding doors, which let in light, will now be located further away. You requested that the house should blend in with the natural surroundings. As can be seen in

the perspective drawing, the outer walls will be built of concrete blocks in random configuration. The walls will then be bagwash-plastered with a pigment of earthy colours such as red, rust and yellow. The roof can be of sheet metal, with an overlay of waste timber off-cut planks. All this will be detailed in your final working drawings. Kind regards, Jonno 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

LIFESTYLE

THE HITCHING POST

HOLISTIC HEALTH

I am a woman with a golden heart who has so much love to give to the right man. You should be older than 66 and have a very good heart. This has to be a permanent relationship that leads to marriage. It would be a bonus if you love travelling and I can have the chance to see more of the world. I am looking for someone who will give me his heart and love in every way, someone who is understanding and can take care of his woman financially as well. I may not be a beauty queen or have a great figure anymore, but my heart is loving and beautiful. I am not looking for a handsome, slim man. You can be just the average guy, and even if you have a weight problem, we can get healthy together. If you are disabled, that’s fine, too. Write soon and supply your phone number. No smokers, please.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both effective for pain relief and reducing fever. Their actions and side-effects are not the same, however. Ibuprofen is generally preferred for muscle pain, such as back pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with cramps, and osteoarthritis, according to the British Medical Journal. (The mood swings, water retention and cramps of PMS can be addressed by a combination of magnesium and Vitamin B complex. Take it at least a week before menstruation is due.) If you have problems with general bleeding, or bleeding in your gastro-intestinal system, such as a stomach ulcers, rather use paracetamol. People with liver problems should avoid taking ibuprofen, and anyone with a heart condition, who has had a stroke, or who suffers from a peptic ulcer should use it with care, as it thins the blood slightly.

Soul Mate, 6065

Ek is ’n blanke, tweetalige dame woonagtig op die Oos-Rand. Ek lyk goed vir my jare en het my goed opgepas. Ek is nie ’n roker of ’n drinker nie. Ek huur in ’n aftree-oord en is eensaam, sonder kind of kraai om my. Ek verlang ’n opregte Christenman van tussen 70 en 77 jaar met goeie waardes wat ’n vrou kan waardeer.

Jesus Kind, 1619

I’m a 69-year-old widower, 1,75m tall, weighing 80kg, and I’m tired of being alone. I love nature and outdoor life and appreciate

Paracetamol or ibuprofen?

sincere friendship. I believe in honesty and integrity and am kind-hearted, with a good sense of humour. I’m looking for a lady friend who loves life, art and the small things in life. She will be loved, treasured, protected and cherished. Ladies between the ages of 65 and 70 are welcome to write to me. Photo and contact number with first letter would be appreciated.

Country Life, 9922

I am a respectable, 73-yearold gentleman who enjoys conversation, correspondence and travelling. I would like to hear from a lady who enjoys similar interests.

Aquarius Berea, 2198

I retired after serving as a game ranger in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) for 35 years. I like braaiing, swimming and walking, as well as watching sport and movies. I enjoy travelling, especially by road. KZN Wildlife gives me 10 nights of accommodation a year and my next trips will be to the Okavango in Namibia, Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls. My favourite places are the Drakensberg, the bush and the beach. I’m going through a divorce and am able to relocate. I have two children (one in Johannesburg and one in Howick), and own two beautiful border collies. I don’t drink or smoke.

IBUPROFEN AND COVID-19

Lone Ranger, 3291

How to place a post: The service is free, confidential and open to those over 18. Posts or replies cannot be written on behalf of someone else, and you must supply a pseudonym. Posts must not exceed 50 words and your address must be legible. Sign with your name and surname. Send your post to Hitching Post, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123 or email hitchingpost@caxton.co.za. How to reply to a post: Send a response in a sealed, SA-stamped envelope and write the pseudonym of the person to whom it should be sent on the front cover in pen. Place this into a second SA-stamped envelope and send it to Hitching Post, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123. 46

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

JOHANITA LOUW

With the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ibuprofen has been in the news, with the World Health Organization changing its stance on the medication. After initially advising that patients with COVID-19 symptoms should avoid using non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, it updated its advice, saying it did not recommend against using these drugs, as there were no studies showing that they worsened the condition of COVID-19 patients. • Johanita Louw has had a lifelong interest in holistic nutrition. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Holistic health. FW

▪

Books LIFESTYLE

Trees, veggies and suspicious gifts THE STORY OF TREES by Kevin Hobbs & David West (Laurence King, R700) This handsome hardback is far from cheap, but it’s beautifully illustrated, and its polished précis of how approximatly 90 important trees have changed our lives will intrigue many more than the steadfast tree fans. Who wouldn’t want to drop into conversation the fact that cork bark is now used to insulate spacecraft? Unfortunately, no trees from South Africa are featured; most of the trees described come from Australia, India and the Americas. Moreover, the list of world botanic gardens and arboreta names has only Kirstenbosch listed for the country, despite the fact there are 11 national botanic gardens in the network, as well as extra and important independents

such as Durban Botanic Gardens, which is not only free to enter but also Africa’s oldest surviving botanic garden. THE VEGETARIAN KITCHEN by Prue Leith & Peta Leith (Bluebird, R499) One of Prue’s secrets to success is keeping a shrewd eye on trends and catching the wave as it breaks rather than too early. Vegetarian eating, for instance, has been moving from fringe to mainstream for some decades, but health and environmental concerns are currently helping it flourish. Prue admits veggies were at best an afterthought in her South African childhood, but she was captivated first by their versatile use in Europe and then by her niece Peta’s lifelong vegetarianism.

Together, they have produced a beautifully presented collection with strong influences from Italy and Britain (think puddings!), full of great ideas for vegetarian family and friends, and including helpful notes on adapting the recipes for vegans. THE BOOK OF GIFTS by Craig Higginson (Picador Africa, R285) Family life and family holidays form the core of the action in Higginson’s latest novel, but despite his optimistic-sounding title,

there are no rose-coloured spectacles here. As the characters enjoy luxurious stays in Umhlanga and Mauritius, lies and betrayals re-emerge from a generation ago, or embed themselves to haunt the new generation. A web of deliberate and unplanned conspiracy has to be unravelled, and Higginson deviously suggests that one should beware of both strangers and the familiar bearing gifts. • Farmer’s Weekly’s book reviewer, Patricia McCracken, is a features and investigative journalist. FW

▪

Online Farmer LIFESTYLE

Get a helping hand on the farm Free State farmer Pietman Heyns decided he needed a simple program that enabled him to record data where it would be easily accessible and help him better organise farming tasks. The result was the Farmhand app, a handy farmer’s management tool. It operates solely from farmhandapp.co.za. Before you can use the program, you will need to register and create a password for your profile. The program costs R80/month and has a 30-day free trial period. Once registration is completed, you are taken to the landing page. This is divided into farms and camps, herds and animals, and rainfall. To input your farm’s details, click on ‘Farms and camps’.

Here you can assign a name to a farm and create a camp. This is done by selecting an area with markers, which can be adjusted to accurately define the camp if needed. Next, select ‘Add crop’.

COMPREHENSIVE GREG MILES

When defining an area, you have a choice of a polygon or circle, the latter being handy for farmers with pivots. The app automatically works out the area in hectares. ‘Crop actions’ is used to record all the activities and work done for a specific crop, such as fertilising or baling. For animals, click on ‘Herds’, then ‘View details’, which records handling, movements,

specific animals, matings and deaths. (By adding a death, the total of the specific camp is reduced automatically.) For sheep, shearing dates and all records can be added to the wool and shearing data. The rainfall section allows for rainfall records to be recorded for specific farms, and data graphs can be created.

TUTORIAL

Farmhand is certainly one of the simplest and most promising farm management apps to date. Visit bit.ly/farmhandapp for a video tutorial on how to use the app. • Greg Miles is a livestock farmer and Internet marketer. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Online farmer. FW

▪

8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT

Moving from ‘cheap’ to premium beef Wagyu South Africa is investing heavily in research and technology to ensure that South African beef can enter the lucrative, high-value beef export markets.

he Farmer’s Weekly article, ‘2020 and beyond: a vision for the South African beef industry’ (15 September 2017), explained that if the country’s beef industry wanted to become a serious global player, it needed to export at least 10% of its meat production, as well as focus on high-value cuts, rather than cheap commodity products. It added that South African beef is, on average, 30% cheaper than that of its international competitors, such as the US and Australia, and that its prices can be compared to Pakistan or other emerging markets in which foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is the norm. The industry, it was argued, needed to “take ownership” to fund itself properly through an increased levy, and invest in traceability and research and development projects, such as meat grading in its classification system. While South Africa has made some gains in the export of beef, much can still be done. Between 2001 and 2010, South Africa exported less than 5 000t of meat (frozen and fresh). In 2012, exports of fresh beef jumped to 10 000t and peaked at 20 000t in 2016. For this trend to continue, interventions are required.

A WORLD STAGE

When a number of Wagyu South Africa’s breeders visited Gulfood in Dubai last month, they received a reality check. 48

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

Gulfood is the world’s biggest annual food, beverage and hospitality expo; it is host to over 5 000 exhibitors and attracts more than 100 000 visitors. The large meat-producing countries use Gulfood to exhibit the best that they have to offer. Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland have large pavilions to exhibit their meat and associated meat products. Umbrella bodies, which collectively market the product, draw attention to the high standards they have in their respective countries; these include full traceability (from birth to slaughter), grading systems that measure marbling, and hence juiciness and taste, and significant research and development in their industries and product.

ANIMAL DISEASE

To get into the high-value export markets will require an improved rating of South

ABOVE: Elandri de Bruyn, financial officer at Wagyu South Africa, demonstrates the Wagyu MIJ camera, which accurately measures the marbling and rib- eye area of a cattle carcass. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Africa’s health status. Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, says the recent outbreak of FMD will cost the industry between R6 billion and R10 billion. It is critical that the industry, working with government, thus implement a recognised, internationally credible livestock traceability system. Many African countries, including Namibia, have implemented traceability systems using funding from the EU or World Bank. Ethiopian beef exporters, for example, noticed that they were being outmuscled by other international meat exporters to enter the more lucrative markets, and thus drove the process to implement their traceability system.

WORKING TOGETHER

Countries that successfully market meat internationally have realised that it takes a

offered by competitor countries, and Wagyu South Africa firmly believes that this differentiates South African Wagyu beef from its competitors over the long run.

RESEARCH

Most leading businesses realise that to make progress, one has to be prepared to invest in one’s own industry. Industries as a whole need to get away from the notion that they can always look to government for support. Reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Bank clearly show that governments’ spend on research and development (R&D) has declined markedly all over the world, and industries generally now fund the bulk of R&D spending.

collective effort to compete. The US, for example, has every actor in the value chain working together to market the US product. This even includes embassy staff worldwide. As mentioned above, it is easy to differentiate between the serious role players (Canada, US, Australia and Brazil) and the smaller entities at international trade fairs. South African Wagyu breeders have combined forces and are working with Morgan Beef to market the product in the Middle East. All products sold are part of the Certified Wagyu Beef programme and of the highest quality. Wagyu cattle are fully traceable from birth to slaughter, and exceed the most stringent international standards.

MARKETING

Ireland, Namibia and Botswana promote their beef as clean and green (hormone-free and off the veld). The US promotes a higherquality, well-marbled eating

ABOVE: Wagyu beef is traced from birth to slaughter.

experience. Australia markets its beef under the Meat Standards Australia brand, which, it claims, guarantees that it is juicy, tasty and hormone-free. By contrast, India, the world’s largest exporter of meat, simply sells by volume and markets itself as a cheap source of protein. Most of the meat is buffalo. South Africa could easily market its red meat in the same way it markets wine: a product that is of high value, as good as anything in the world, and competitive on price. The fact that South Africa has a well-structured feedlot industry is a big plus, as producers can produce a consistent A-grade product. The bottom line is that South Africa produces meat that is of high value, and should be commanding a premium price. In the Certified Wagyu Beef quality assurance programme, Wagyu breeders have a system that is better than anything else

SOUTH AFRICA’S HIGH-VALUE BEEF DESERVES TO DEMAND A PREMIUM PRICE As a rule of thumb, an industry should be prepared to invest at least 1,5% of its turnover in R&D to ensure that it remains competitive. The South African beef industry invests only 0,04%. For Wagyu breeders to compete internationally, there is no option but to invest heavily in R&D. Wagyu South Africa is leading the way to develop an international market for South Africa’s high-value meat. Competing in the commodity beef space is difficult, and one is up against countries such as Brazil and Argentina, which compete heavily with large product volumes. Nonetheless, by putting in the effort to open new markets, provide a consistent supply, and ensure that the product meets international quality standards, beef producers stand to be rewarded in the long run. • Phone Wagyu South Africa on 051 492 1852. 8 MAY 2020

farmer’s weekly

MARKET REPORT

AUCTIONS

Best livestock prices: northern Free State Price

Beef Weaner calves < 200kg

R26,50/kg

Weaner calves 200kg - 250kg

Unavailable

Weaner calves > 250kg

Unavailable

A-class

Unavailable

B-class

Unavailable

C-class cows (thin)

R18/kg

C-class cows (fat)

R22/kg

Slaughter bulls

R20/kg

Mutton and lamb Feeder lambs > 30kg Slaughter lambs Feeder ewes Fat ewes

R34/kg R34/kg Unavailable R24/kg

Goats Lambs

R27/kg

Ewes

R23/kg

JJ Farming Boer Goat Production Sale HIGHEST: (RAM) R7 100

Pretoria – The JJ Farming Boer Goat Production Sale was held on the farm Vasfontein on 14 March on behalf of Johan Nell and Jacob Strydom. The highest-priced animal of the day was a ram, which was sold to Lionel and Dennis Esterhuizen of Lichtenburg for R7 100. Rams sold for an average price of R4 978. The highest-priced ewe was sold to Andries and Heila Putter of Ermelo for R5 400. Ewes averaged R3 104. In-lamb ewes sold for an average price of R4 986, while ewe lambs averaged R1 266. Wethers averaged R2 100. The sale was held by CDP Auctioneers, with Corné du Plessis as the auctioneer. – Staff reporter

ABOVE RIGHT: The highest-priced ewe, which sold for R5 400, with (from left): Corné du Plessis (auctioneer) and Jacob Strydom and Johan Nell (sellers). RIGHT: The highest-priced ram, which sold for R7 100, with (from left): Corné du Plessis (auctioneer) and Johan Nell and Jacob Strydom (sellers). PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

To place an upcoming auction event in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact René Moonsamy on 087 087 8900 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on 087 087 8899 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za. To list auction results in this section, email Janine Ryan at janiner@caxton.co.za. 50

farmer’s weekly

8 MAY 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHONE CHRIS DERKSEN ON 082 807 5961

Auction Sales

28 April 2020

Tractors VEHICLE PRICES (ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT AT 15%)

Tractor prices MODEL

POWER (kW)

PRICE

AGRICO

Products and prices were correct at the time of going to print and reflect prices as at 1 April 2020.

MT 775 E Track

298

R5 750 000

Agrotron 180 A Cab

125

MT 743 E Track

318

R6 325 000

Agrotron 6175 G A Cab

126

R2 185 000

MT 865 C Track

375

R6 612 500

Agrotron X 720 A Cab

191

R2 645 000

232

R4 025 000

MT 865 E Track

403

R7 331 250

Agrotron 9340 A TTV Cab

4+160 (4) Cab

170

R1 752 025

MT 875 E Track

440

R8 050 000

4+200 (4) Cab

211

R2 150 500

JOHN DEERE

4+250 (4) Cab

260

R2 593 250

CHERY

4+320 (4) Cab

317

R2 991 725

RD 254 (4)

4+400 (4) Cab

410

R3 605 250

CLAAS

CASE INTERNATIONAL JXT 45

R138 920

Talos 210 (4)

R417 450

R232 690

Arion 410 CIS (4) Cab

R1 150 000

R1 944 075

5042 C MFWD

R310 766

4049 M

R530 956

5055 E

R285 774

5055 E MFWD

R376 362

5055 E MFWD Cab

R571 452

5065 E

R329 836

JXT 55

R279 766

Talos 230 (4)

R457 700

5065 E MFWD

R429 112

JXT 75

R325 497

Axos 340 C (4) Cab

R902 750

5065 E MFWD Cab

R624 202 R379 334

JXT 75 MFD

R327 750

Axos 340 CX (4) Cab

R948 750

5075 E

Farmall JX 75 MFD Cab

R558 805

Arion 430 CIS (4) Cab

R1 366 200

5075 E MFWD

R488 370

JX 80 MFD

R498 295

Arion 620 C (4) Cab

R1 437 500

5075 E MFWD Cab

R683 460

Basak 2080 N MFD

R415 854

Arion 610 T4f (4) Cab

R1 714 650

5076 E F

R594 110

Basak 2080 N MFD Cab

R474 850

Arion 630 T4f (4) Cab

110

R1 919 350

5076 E F MFWD

R631 593

Quantum 80 N MFD

R578 435

Arion 640 C (4) Cab

110

R1 703 150

5076 E

R534 530

JX 90 MFD

R533 255

Arion 650 T4f (4) Cab

130

R2 078 050

5076 E MFWD

R594 522

Farmall JX 90 MFD Cab

R686 547

Axion 820 T3 (4) Cab

135

R2 189 600

5076 E N

R717 103

JXM 90 MFD

R510 485

Axion 800 T4f (4) Cab

142

R2 655 350

5076 E N Cab

R838 118

JX 95 MFD

R553 725

Axion 830 T4f (4) Cab

165

R2 870 400

5076 E N MFWD

R760 361

JX 95 MFD HC Cab

R739 795

Axion 850 T3 (4) Cab

165

R2 777 250

5076 E N MFWD Cab

R876 325 R589 868

Farmall JX 100 MFD

R638 198

Axion 840 T4f (4) Cab

176

R2 969 300

5082 E

Farmall JX 100 MFD Cab

R708 648

Axion 850 T4f (4) Cab

184

R3 069 350

5082 E Cab

R694 776

Farmall JX 110 MFD

R694 835

Axion 870 T4f (4) Cab

199

R3 378 700

5082 E MFWD

R647 453 R747 366

Farmall JX 110 MFD Cab

R766 667

Axion 920 T2 (4) Cab

232

R4 123 900

5082 E MFWD Cab

Maxxum 110 MFD High

R1 090 051

Axion 930 T2 (4) Cab

254

R4 274 550

5085 M

R773 591

Maxxum 125 MFD V-Line

R1 035 099

Axion 950 T2 (4) Cab

298

R4 769 050

5085 M Cab

R938 781

Maxxum 125 MFD V-Line Cab

R1 170 111

Xerion 5000 T4f Trac (4) Cab

382

R7 202 450

5085 M MFWD

R859 867

Maxxum 125 MFD High

R1 082 352

5085 M MFWD Cab

R1 025 050

Maxxum 125 MFD High Cab

R1 410 135

5090 E

R645 540

Maxxum 140 MFD Cab

104

R1 393 895

3045 E

R207 000

5090 E Cab

R784 868

Puma 140 MFD Cab

104

R1 619 545

Agrolux 60

R290 375

5090 E MFWD

R703 125

Puma 155 MFD Cab

115

R1 710 855

Agrolux 60 A

R338 100

5090 E MFWD Cab

R842 451

DEUTZ-FAHR

Puma 180 MFD Cab

134

R1 938 440

Agroplus F 75 Keyline N A

R425 500

5090 E N

R852 480

Puma 210 MFD Cab

157

R2 158 320

Agrolux 4.80

R326 025

5090 E N Cab

R973 493

Puma 225 MFD CVT Cab

168

R2 376 245

Agrolux 4.80 A

R379 500

5090 E N MFWD

R899 518

Magnum MX 250 MFD Cab

187

R3 332 404

4085 E A

R552 000

5090 E N MFWD Cab

R1 015 482

Magnum MX 280 MFD Cab

209

R3 279 629

Agroplus F 410 A

R552 000

5090 E MFWD HC

R971 038

Magnum MX 310 MFD Cab

232

R4 206 076

Agroplus F 410 A Cab

R623 300

5090 E MFWD HC Cab

R1 033 827

Magnum MX 340 MFD Cab

254

R4 334 869

Agroplus F 410 A HS Cab

R634 800

5095 M MFWD

R907 272

Magnum MX 340 Rowtrac Cab

254

R4 945 691

Agrolux 90

R457 125

5095 M MFWD Cab

R1 072 457

Magnum MX 380 MFD CVT Cab

280

R4 925 987

Agrolux 90 A

R499 100

6100 D MFWD

R940 106

Magnum MX 380 owtrac CVT Cab

280

R4 880 516

Agrolux 100 A

R557 175

6100 D MFWD Cab

R1 015 154

STX 400 (4) Cab

300

R5 311 114

Agrofarm 115 G A

R681 950

5105 M MFWD

R943 563

STX 450 Quadtrac Cab

335

R5 470 271

Agrofarm 115 G A Cab

R787 175

5105 M MFWD Cab

R1 072 457

STX 500 (4) Cab

373

R5 620 922

Agrofarm 115 G A HS Cab

R830 875

6110 M MFWD

R1 100 664

STX 500 Quadtrac Cab

373

R6 166 178

5110 G A G

R916 550

6110 M MFWD Cab

R1 353 534

STX 600 (4) Cab

448

R6 450 613

Agrotrac 115.6 T A

R876 300

6115 D MFWD Cab

R1 048 927

STX 600 Quadtrac Cab

448

R6 874 403

Agrotron M 600 A Cab

R1 552 500

6125 M MFWD

R1 250 791

Agrotron 6135 G A Cab

R1 725 000

6125 M MFWD Cab

R1 503 624

Agrotron 6155 G A Cab

111

R1 955 000

6130 D MFWD Cab

R1 177 168

CHALLENGER

8 MAY 2020

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

VEHICLE PRICES Tractors 6140 M MFWD

103

R1 469 570

Solis 50

R287 500

Solis 110 DT Cab

R871 125

6140 M MFWD Cab

103

R1 675 745

Solis 60

R405 375

Landpower 125 T3 DT

R1 114 063 R1 236 250

6155 M MFWD Cab

114

R1 901 107

Solis 60 DT

R468 625

Landpower 125 T3 DT Cab

6175 M MFWD Cab

129

R2 150 668

Solis 60 N

R498 813

Landforce 125 DT

R941 563

6195 M MFWD Cab

143

R2 395 460

Solis 60 N DT

R556 313

Landforce 125 DT Cab

R1 027 813

7210 R MFWD Cab

155

R3 211 673

Multifarm 75

R438 438

Landforce 125 DT RPS

R977 500

7230 R MFWD Cab

169

R3 430 621

Multifarm 75 DT

R481 563

Landforce 125 DT RPS Cab

R1 063 750

8245 R MFWD Cab

180

R3 353 878

Rex 75 F

R524 400

Landpower 135 T3 DT

R1 178 750

8270 R MFWD Cab

199

R3 788 895

Rex 75 F Cab

R610 650

Landpower 135 T3 DT Cab

R1 408 750 R1 365 625

8295 R MFWD Cab

217

R4 124 571

Rex 75 F DT

R621 000

Landpower 135 DT Toptronic Cab

8320 R MFWD Cab

235

R4 619 192

Rex 75 F DT Cab

R711 850

Landpower 145 T3 DT

104

R1 351 250

8320 RT Trac Cab

235

R6 244 869

Super 7865

R474 375

Landpower 145 T3 DT Cab

104

R1 408 750 R1 488 675

8345 R MFWD Cab

254

R5 106 925

Super 7865 DT

R537 625

Landpower 145 DT Toptronic Cab

104

8345 RT Trac Cab

254

R6 788 989

Solis 75

R449 225

7-160 DT Cab

116

R1 694 813

8370 R MFWD Cab

272

R5 742 953

Solis 75 (8x2)

R330 625

Landpower 165 T3 DT

116

R1 394 375 R1 516 563

8370 RT Trac Cab

272

R7 333 107

Solis 75 DT

R474 375

Landpower 165 T3 DT Cab

116

9420 R (4) Cab

309

R6 940 693

Solis 75 DT (8x2)

R380 938

Landpower 165 DT Toptronic Cab

116

R1 576 075

9420 RX Trac (4) Cab

309

R7 631 288

Solis 75 N

R403 219

7-180 DT Cab

121

R1 929 988

9470 R (4) Cab

346

R6 990 990

Solis 75 N DT

R442 750

7-200 DT Cab

130

R1 997 895

9470 RT Trac Cab

346

R7 615 194

Solis 75 N DT Cab

R513 906

7-220 DT Cab

138

R2 084 375

9470 RX Trac Cab

346

R8 032 935

Super 8865

R521 813

9520 R (4) Cab

382

R7 352 765

Super 8865 DT

R572 125

MASSEY FERGUSON

9520 RT Trac Cab

382

R8 292 122

Rex 85 F Cab

R632 500

9520 RX Trac Cab

382

R8 709 863

Rex 85 F DT

R649 750

240

R301 706

9570 R (4) Cab

419

R8 043 010

Rex 85 F DT Cab

R740 600

268

R323 353

9570 RT Trac Cab

419

R8 714 911

9570 RX Trac Cab

419

R9 132 654

KIOTI

R247 588

Multifarm 90 DT

R517 500

268 (4)

R373 412

Multifarm 90 DT Cab

R648 644

2630 GE F

R397 765

Super 90 Cab

R575 000

2630 GE F (4)

R462 706

Super 90 DT

R668 438

275

R350 412

Super 90 DT Cab

R690 000

275 (4)

R396 412

CS 2610 (4)

R209 588

DK 5010 N (4)

R397 440

Powerfarm 90 DT

R682 813

2640

R454 250

NX 5020 M (4)

R412 965

Powerfarm 90 DT Cab

R743 188

2640 (4)

R494 500

NX 5020 M (4) Cab

R465 750

Powerfarm 90 DT HC

R711 563

290

R374 765

Powerfarm 90 DT HC Cab

R783 438

290 (4)

R435 309

Solis 90

R563 500

4708 (4)

R535 765

Solis 90 Cab

R621 000

4708 (4) Cab

R609 457

KUBOTA B 1820 DT

R168 475

B 2420 DT

R189 750

Solis 90 DT

R578 600

5708 (4) Cab

R624 842

B 2650 H DT

R267 950

Solis 90 DT Cab

R672 750

5709 (4) PS

R600 606

L 3200 DT

R236 325

Solis 90 N

R442 750

5709 (4) Cab

R667 814

L 1361 DT

R257 600

Solis 90 N DT

R467 188

5710 (4) PS

R663 827

L 4100 DT

R296 700

Solis 90 N DT Cab

R576 438

5710 (4) PS Cab

R838 824

L 1421 DT

R316 250

Rex 100 F DT

R677 063

6711 (4)

R923 450

L 1421 H DT

R374 325

5-100 H DT RPS

R888 375

6711 (4) Cab

R980 882

L 5040 DT

R364 550

5-100 H DT RPS Cab

R907 063

6711 (4) R Cab

R1 231 176

M 7040 DT

R443 325

Super 100

R544 594

6712 (4) PS

R956 800

M 7040 N DT

R460 000

Super 100 Cab

R603 750

7614 (4) Dyna 4 Cab

R1 610 000 R1 000 500

M 8540 DT

R503 700

Super 100 DT

R625 313

6713 (4) PS

M 8540 N DT

R497 950

Super 100 DT Cab

R691 438

6713 (4) Cab

R1 071 800

M 8540 N DT Cab

R556 600

Powerfarm 100 DT Cab

R774 813

6713 (4) R Cab

R1 393 529

M 9540 DT

R533 025

Powerfarm 100 DT HC

R743 188

7615 (4) Dyna 6 Cab

103

R1 796 875

M 9540 DT Cab

R632 500

Powerfarm 100 DT HC Cab

R812 188

7618 (4) Dyna 6 Cab

121

R2 137 563

M 108 S DT Cab

R770 500

5-110 H DT RPS

R862 500

7720 (4) Dyna 6 Cab

136

R2 285 625

M 130 X DT Cab

R886 075

5-110 H DT RPS Cab

R934 375

7724 (4) Dyna 6 Cab

162

R2 266 019

M 172 DT KVT Cab

125

R2 185 000

Super 110 DT

R675 625

7726 (4) Dyna 6 Cab

171

R2 653 422

Super 110 DT Cab

R744 050

8727 (4) Dyna VT Cab

200

R3 680 000

Powerfarm 110 DT Cab

R830 875

8732 (4) Dyna VT Cab

224

R3 703 000

266

R4 117 000

R537 625

LANDINI Solis 20 DT

R224 250

Powerfarm 110 DT HC

R790 625

8737 (4) Dyna VT Cab

Solis 26 DT

R261 625

Powerfarm 110 DT HC Cab

R862 500

Solis 26 DT Turf

R268 813

Powerfarm 110 DT HC RPS Cab

R948 750

McCORMICK

2-050 DT

R494 500

Solis 110 DT

R771 938

B-Max 75 (4)

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

8 MAY 2020

B-Max 85 (4)

R572 125

T 4.75 N DT

R681 260

T 7060 DT PC Cab

157

R2 755 170

B-Max 90 (4)

R668 438

T 4.75 N DT Cab

R851 805

T 8.320 DT Cab

184

R3 583 285

B-Max 90 (4) Cab

R690 000

TD 85 F

R550 275

T 8.350 DT Cab

206

R3 791 320

C-Max 90 (4) HC

R711 563

TD 85 F DT

R605 360

T 8.380 DT Cab

229

R3 996 250

C-Max 90 (4) HC Cab

R783 438

TT 4.80

R522 905

T 8.410 DT Cab

250

R4 258 105

B-Max 100 (4)

R625 313

TT 4.80 DT

R601 565

T 8.435 Smarttrax CVT Cab

279

R6 294 065

B-Max 100 (4) Cab

R691 438

T 4.85 F Cab

R834 670

T 9.450 DT Cab

298

R5 807 845

C-Max 100 (4) Cab

R774 813

T 4.85 F DT Cab

R944 265

T 9.505 DT Cab

336

R6 335 580

C-Max 100 (4) HC

R743 188

T 4.85 N DT Cab

R902 980

T 9.560 DT Cab

373

R6 728 190

C-Max 100 (4) HC Cab

R812 130

T 4.85 F DT LP Cab

R896 655

T 9.615 DT Cab

399

R7 116 545

T-Max 100 H (4) RPS

R888 375

TD 90 F DT

R626 290

T 9.670 DT Cab

447

R7 903 720

T-Max 100 H (4) RPS Cab

R907 063

TD 5.90 DT Cab

R859 970

C-Max 110 (4) Cab

R830 875

TD 5.90 DT EC Cab

R1 017 175

TAFE

C-Max 110 (4) HC

R790 625

TD 90 S

R502 895

35 DI

R181 125

C-Max 110 (4) HC Cab

R862 500

TD 90 S DT

R571 895

45 DI

R207 000

T-Max 110 H (4) RPS

R862 500

TT 4.90

R564 880

45 DI (4)

R293 250

T-Max 110 H (4) RPS Cab

R934 375

TT 4.90 DT

R645 380

5900 DI

R255 875

B-Max 110 (4)

R675 625

6610

R612 835

5900 DI (4)

R313 375

B-Max 110 (4) Cab

R744 625

6610 DT

R680 915

7502

R287 500 R299 000

G-Max 125 (4) Techno T3

R1 114 063

T 4.95 F DT Cab

R976 695

8502

G-Max 125 (4) Techno T3 Cab

R1 236 250

T 4.95 F DT LP Cab

R962 780

8502 E (4)

R350 750

D-Max 125 (4)

R941 563

TD 95 S DT

R655 270

8502 (4)

R386 400

D-Max 125 (4) Cab

R1 027 813

TDD 95 DT HC Cab

R847 090

9502 (4)

R431 250

D-Max 125 (4) OC

R848 585

TD 5.100 DT

R832 370

1002 (4)

R488 750

D-Max 125 (4) RPS

R977 500

TD 5.100 DT Cab

R926 095

D-Max 125 (4) RPS Cab

R1 063 750

TD 5.100 DT EC Cab

R1 077 090

VALTRA

G-Max 135 (4) 4E T3 Cab

R1 365 625

T 6020 DT Delta

R1 086 750

A 73 (4) Compact Cab

R316 250

G-Max 135 (4) Techno T3

R1 178 750

T 6020 DT Delta Cab

R1 184 730

A 73 (4) F Orchard

R306 648 R565 985

G-Max 135 (4) Techno T3 Cab

R1 308 125

TD 5.110 DT

R856 290

A 85 (4) Cab

G-Max 145 (4) 4E T3 Cab

104

R1 488 675

TD 5.110 DT Cab

R950 015

A 95 (4) Cab

R604 746

G-Max 145 (4) Techno T3

104

R1 293 750

TD 5.110 DT EC Cab

R1 108 830

N 134 (4) HiTech Cab

R1 373 100

G-Max 145 (4) Techno T3 Cab

104

R1 408 750

TS 6.120 DT

R928 740

N 134 (4) Active Cab

R1 428 300

X7.650 (4) Cab

112

R1 784 886

TS 6.120 DT Cab

R1 001 535

N 154 E Active (4) Cab

114

R1 835 400

G-Max 165 (4) 4E T3 Cab

116

R1 576 075

TS 6.120 DT HC Cab

R1 116 650

N 174 Active (4) Cab

121

R1 949 250

G-Max 165 (4) Techno T3

116

R1 394 375

T 6050 DT Delta

R1 174 380

T 154 HiTech (4) Cab

121

R1 782 500

G-Max 165 (4) Techno T3 Cab

116

R1 516 563

T 6050 DT Delta Cab

R1 298 350

T 154 Active (4) Cab

121

R1 840 000 R1 604 250

X7.660 (4) Cab

116

R1 868 750

T 6050 DT Plus Cab

R1 385 290

T 193 (4) Cab

140

X7.670 (4) Cab

122

R1 997 895

TS 6.140 DT

104

R1 112 510

T 194 Active (4) Cab

143

R2 241 350

X7.680 (4) Cab

133

R1 998 125

TS 6.140 DT Cab

104

R1 184 040

T 234 Active (4) Cab

173

R2 846 250

X8.680 (4) Cab

215

R4 032 188

T 6070 DT Plus Cab

104

R1 475 910

T 234 Versu (4) Cab

173

R2 907 200

T 6080 DT RC Cab

114

R1 723 620

S 274 (4) Cab

199

R3 507 500

T 6080 DT PC Cab

114

R2 101 625

S 294 (4) Cab

217

R3 622 500 R3 898 500

NEW HOLLAND TT 45

R274 620

T 6090 DT RC Cab

121

R1 776 980

S 324 (4) CVT Cab

236

TT 45 DT

R321 770

T 6090 DT PC Cab

121

R2 154 985

S 354 (4) CVT Cab

258

R4 197 500

TD 3.50 F

R396 060

T 7040 DT PC Cab

134

R2 262 395

S 374 (4) CVT Cab

272

R4 309 050

TD 3.50 F DT

R429 065

TT 3.50

R281 405

TT 3.50 DT

R332 120

TT 55 T

R331 545

TT 55 T DT

R387 320

T 4.65 V

R569 020

JHB TRACTOR SPARES SPECIALISTS IN REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR

T 4.65 V DT

R616 400

TD 65 F

R497 375

TD 65 F DT

R554 530

TT 65 T

R363 400

TT 65 T DT

R434 125

TD 75 F

R529 230

TD 75 F DT

R584 545

TT 75 T

R424 810

TT 75 T DT

R499 790

TD 5.75 DT Cab

R759 575

T 4.75 N

R631 235

T 4.75 N Cab

R760 150

FORD / FIAT / NEW HOLLAND / MF

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8 MAY 2020

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farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

C 54

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly 8 MAY 2020

8 MAY 2020

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

55 C

C 56

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly 8 MAY 2020

8 MAY 2020

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

57 C

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farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly 8 MAY 2020

8 MAY 2020

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

59 C

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farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly 8 MAY 2020

8 MAY 2020

farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly

61 C

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farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly 8 MAY 2020

minutes with ... Liza Bohlmann

, chairperson of Agricultural Writers South Africa

If you were given R30 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend it?

If you were given carte blanche to effect one major change in South Africa tomorrow, how would you use this power?

The market for alternative animal protein sources is, in my opinion, going to grow a lot in future, so investment in local companies involved in protein-rich feed and food ingredient production from fly larvae seems like a good idea. Vertical farming and the cannabis value chain would also be investments I’d consider.

Free Wi-Fi access to above-board websites and email platforms. More people need access to reliable news sources, education, reference works, government institutions and job-seeking websites. This could be a game changer for farmers, poorer communities and rural schools.

Tell us something about yourself that most people do not know.

I suffer from hay fever, and asthma in severe cases. This flares up instantly when I am in contact with animals but also pollen, hay and even silage. It’s a bit of a work hazard, but taking precautions like antihistamines and keeping my asthma pump ready are crucial when going on a farm visit.

What has been one of your most memorable moments as an agricultural journalist?

Interviewing a farmer in his milking parlour and not noticing one of the Jersey cows, fresh from the kikuyu pastures, lifting her tail. Long story short: I was covered in runny manure and had to go to a business meeting afterwards with no spare clothes. It was a short meeting.

What is your favourite South African dish, and who first cooked it for you?

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Bobotie. My dad was the first person to cook it for me, but my sister-in-law’s is better! FW

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that each row and column, as well as each of the 3 x 3 squares, contains all the digits from 1 to 9. Look out for the answers to this week’s Sudoku puzzles on next week’s Crossword page.

If you talk too much, you can’t listen. If you don’t listen, you can’t learn something new.

▪

Sudoku MEDIUM

DIFFICULT

9 6

9 5

1 9

4 8

6 9

3 9

8 3

1 2

STAY SAFE! THE FOLLOWING STEPS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND PREVENT COVID-19 FROM ENTERING YOUR WORKPLACE. SYMPTOMS

People infected with COVID-19 may experience mild to severe symptoms. These can include:

WASH

YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY WITH SOAP.

DISTANCE

YOURSELF FROM OTHERS, AND KEEP AT LEAST 2M AWAY. AVOID PHYSICAL CONTACT WHEN GREETING OTHERS.

WEAR

A FABRIC MASK WHEN GOING OUT OR WHILE WORKING.

COVER

YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE, USING YOUR BENT ELBOW OR A TISSUE. DISCARD THE TISSUE IMMEDIATELY.

AVOID

TOUCHING YOUR EYES, MOUTH AND NOSE.

• FEVER; • COUGH; • SHORTNESS OF BREATH. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure. If you have symptoms of the virus or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus over the past two weeks, ensure that you selfisolate and seek medical care.

CLEAN

AND DISINFECT EQUIPMENT AND SURFACES FREQUENTLY.

CALL THE COVID-19 HOTLINE ON 0800 029 999 OR SEND ‘HI’ ON WHATSAPP TO 060 012 3456 VISIT SACORONAVIRUS.CO.ZA

Information from the Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.