Agribulletin 160729

Julie 2016

Macadamia world record broken

DuxAgri and DR Mattison Farms Group set a new world record of sound macadamia kernel Read more about it on page 3

Mr Charlie Bender (left) is seen here with Dr Jason Holohan, a director of Plant Health Care (UK), who has flown in to congratulate the DuxAgri team on their success.

Timber trade blooms

P2

Landbou se hartklop

Bl7

The extra mile

P6

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Julie 2016

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The local timber industry is meeting the demand Eucalyptus timber stays an excellent commodity in the economics of Tzaneen and Limpopo, although hectares under production showed a significant decline over the past decade.

The General Manager of Merensky Hardwoods in Politsi, Mr Sakkie Claasen, said the timber trade in the area is well balanced, with production of quality material meeting the demand. He added, however, that during his 28 years in the timber business in the Tzaneen area he could see how forest land made way for other agricultural products such as avocado and macadamia orchards.

Northern Timbers is seen as the flagship for Merensky Timber in Tzaneen, caring for 11 000 hectares of plantations and 4 000 ha of indigenous and conserved forests. Its sustainable volumes of production are 130 000 cubic metres of saw timber (wetmill intake), with poles and mining timber making up 80 000 cubic metres. Saw timber is grown for 25 years and poles for ten years.

The main species grown here are Eucalyptus grandis and related hybrids. The Eucalyptus trees

are cultivated and planted by Merensky Hardwoods in Tzaneen and have proven to be highly successful in tropical and subtropical areas.

Much of the timber being processed at Northern Timbers Sawmill is kiln dried for various purposes, with the rest being sold as pallet material and mining timber. The dry mill is used for the production of board products for application in furniture, joinery and mouldings. There is also a lamination

plant to produce laminated door stiles and desk tops, making up a notable portion of the total sales volume.

Merensky’s Eucalyptus products are FSC® certified. FSC® certification is intended to provide a credible guarantee to customers that products sold with a specified FSC® certificate originate from well-managed plantations, a renewable resource managed under strict FSC® guidelines.

Claasen indicated that the company not only thrives on supplying quality hardwood lumber and related products, but also adds value to the larger community of the area through employment and local community initiatives.

Merensky Hardwoods is part of the Hans Merensky Holdings (HMH) group of companies and is a member of Forestry SA, the body representing the forestry sector in the province and the rest of the country.

More information is available at: www.merensky.co.za and www.hmh.co.za.

FSA controls South Africa’s forests

Forestry in Tzaneen and surroundings is a large component in the well-being of Limpopo, ensuring employment to a vast number of people.

It is also an important contributor to mining and the building industry, with the production of quality eucalyptus and pine yields over many decades.

Apart from corporates and commercial farmers there are also many small-scale growers who will become prosperous foresters in the future. With technical assistance in the fields of land reform, research and timber grower development the estimated 20 000 small-scale foresters are expected to rise to the occasion.

The majority of them are members of Forestry South Africa (FSA), a non-profit organisation formed in 2002

after there was a political imperative to create a single, all inclusive organisation that represented all private timber growers. This was the amalgamation of the SA Timber Growers Association (SATGA) and the Forest Owners Association. The FSA include 93,4% of SA’s corporate groups, commercial farmers and small-scale growers.

Mr Roger Godsmark, the operations director of FSA, said in an overview this month that planted forests cover 1 265 811 hectares in SA. Fourteen corporate companies manage the majority of 883 600 ha, while commercial enterprises such as timber farmers (1 300) and four coops own 253 790 ha. Approximately 20 000 small-scale growers occupy 45 000 ha of timber, of whom many are in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu/Natal.

Godsmark’s overview pointed out that FSA has an income of more than R38,7 million, of which nearly 80% are levies contributed by members at a levy of R1,93 per ton timber sold. They also get an income through donations, sponsorships and partnership funding from the DAFF. Their human resources consist of permanent staff, outsourced staff such as consultants, partnerships such as Kwanalu and AgriSA, and assistance of members.

The main issues handled by FSA are land reform, forest protection, research, labour (legislation), afforestation and water issues, the environment, transformation, transport and skills development. Future emphasis is now directed at grower development for small-scale timber producers.

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Julie 2016

South African Macadamia farmers break world records A local company from Tzaneen, DuxAgri (Pty) Ltd and the DR Mattison Farms Group in Port Edward set a new world record with the production of a 50,4% sound macadamia kernel. A sound kernel is the percentage of palatable nut that can be sold.

DuxAgri belongs to the brothers Charlie and Gregory Bender, who own a macadamia farm in Hamawasha.

The break-through is achieved by applying the Harpin technology through the product Messenger at the correct physiological time and triggering a false alarm throughout the plant, leading it to think it is under a major pathogen attack. It naturally increases its photosynthesis and nutrient uptake ability to improve the amount of oil and quality in the nut. This leads to a better nut-to-shell ratio for the next offspring/generation.

The product can be applied every 21 days from pre-flowering with a minimum of four applications for recordbreaking results.

In 2013 local researcher Mr Charlie Bender started with trials at Mr Richard Mattison’s farm near Port Edward. The two knew each other from studying

together at Lowveld College (Nelspruit) and became good friends when they discovered their fathers used to be in the same SA clay pigeon team.

The Messenger trials started on small blocks on the farm testing the product on different macadamia varieties, as Messenger had never been tested before on macadamias worldwide.

A protocol was drawn up, showing times of application and dosage to see which dose and time worked best. With trial

and error the results came back showing an increase in crack-out versus untreated plants and the trees were much healthier.

Mattison has over 600 ha of macadamias and plans to start using the product on all his production blocks.

In 2014 Mattison used Messenger again and saw his crack-out get even better.

The results were so good it earned him a world record in 2015. He now uses four applications of 150 g per ha and is achieving incredible crack-outs and is really impressed how Messenger has helped improve his profits and tree health. He has also noticed the application of Messenger on young trees helps with vegetated growth getting trees into production quicker.

Messenger, a plant health regulator, is the first product of an entirely new class of crop production technology.

It offers growers a highly effective and environmentally sound tool to improve yields and regulate overall plant health. Harpin, the active ingredient in Messenger, is one of a class of proteins produced in nature by certain bacterial plant pathogens. The Harpin protein binds to a plant’s early warning receptors, stimulating the plant to act. The

plant responds by sending a signal (or message) throughout itself, initiating a sequence of physiological and biochemical reactions.

These reactions activate both growth and stress-defense pathways within the plant. By triggering this false alarm throughout the plant, the plant starts to produce seeds/nuts for its offspring/next generation. This false alarm causes the plant to naturally increase its photosynthesis and nutrient uptake ability to improve the amount of oil and quality in the nut.

Messenger has been extensively tested on more than 40 crops in hundreds of field trials and thousands of greenhouse studies. The manufacturers are Plant Health Care and all their products are made in the USA with over 180 million dollars spent on development and research. They have over 35 different patents protecting its technology.

DuxAgri has always focused on grain crops in the past where the majority of research was done, but are now leading the way with huge results in subtropical crops, citrus, pecan nuts, vegetables and macadamias. They are looking forward to other exciting crops such as pineapples.

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Julie 2016

Saadmielies word staatmaker Saadmielies is die produk wat groenteboere in Limpopo aan die gang hou, ten koste van boere aan die Hoëveld wat met koue toestande sukkel.

Pampoenprodusent Carel Minnaar van Letsitele sê hy het die afgelope drie jaar nie pampoene en botterskorsies geplant nie weens prysskommelings wat dit ongunstig gemaak het. Die groot faktor was waterskaarste.

Hy het oorgeskakel na die verbouing van saadmielies vir geregistreerde maatskappye, omdat die

China welcomes SA macadamias A bright future for macadamia nuts from South Africa is expected in China over the next few years, after a successful seminar was held in Shanghai by SAMAC last month.

The seminar was initiated by Ms Bonnie Buthelezi, the market development manager of Subtrop in Tzaneen. Over a hundred major Chinese importers and distributors as well as media representatives participated in the event.

Mr Walter Giuricich, the chairman of SAMAC, and Mr Barry Christie, operations manager, introduced the planting, export and trade of macadamia nuts from South Africa. The country is the biggest exporter of macadamia nuts globally and production is still developing at a rapid pace, with an increase of 1 500 hectares per year. It is produced by just over 500 nut farmers, of whom more than 470 are grower members.

During the past twenty years, SA macadamia nut production increased from 1 211 tons in 1991 to 46 000 tons in 2015. Sales have increased from R32 million to R4 billion. The number of trees have increased from a million in 1996 to 6,5 million in 2016, covering 21 500 hectares.

Due to the drought of the past months, production could decrease by 15 percent and the negative influence might last until 2017. Christie said that scientific research has to increase to combat these challenges.

South African macadamia nuts have started to enter mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and far eastern countries since 2009, with sales in this region constituting half of SA production and standing at over 20 000 tons. Thanks to the fast development of the Asian market, exports of nuts have enjoyed a tenfold increase over the past six years. America and Canada remain the largest kernel market, with Europe, the Middle East and Japan following.

klimaat in Limpopo gunstiger is vir die kweek van sekere variëteite.

Die mielies staan groot in gestalte langs die pad tussen Letsitele en Gravelotte.

In die Harmonieblok wend groenteboere hulle ook tot saadmielies, want die grondtoestande en klimaat is uiters geskik vir die verbouing daarvan. Mnr Gideon Goosen se groot leidam was ‘n paar maande gelede feitlik dolleeg, maar ‘n naweek se goeie reën het die dam laat oorloop. Nou staan sy saadmielies geil in die plek van ander groentesoorte.

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Julie 2016

CGA voorspel korter plukseisoen

Running the extra mile The first UD truck took its legendary test drive of 3 000 km 75 years ago, with a vision through mountain roads for thirteen days, before bringing it to the market.

The founder took the wheel himself, as he wanted to produce trucks with Ultimate Dependability.

This passion to make that extra effort is their gemba spirit. The gemba is the front line, where the real action is. Here value is created from manufacturing plants to dealerships and customer sites.

This philosophy of going the extra mile was passed on as part of their heritage and can be seen in the products they make. Like the groundbreaking UD engine in the 1950’s that gave them the name appearing on their trucks ever since. The powerful 6TW truck equipped with the UD engine is another proof of the ultimate dependability of those times.

The same aspiration led them to launch their heavy duty champion Quon and became the first truck maker in the world to commercialisize the “Urea SCR system”, the convention breaking technology which was first met with skeptisism but is now a global standard solu-

tion to meet today’s environmental challenges.

In growth markets around the world, customers face the challenges of increasing fuel prices, high competitive pressure and a need for dependable payback on their investments. To meet those needs the manufacturer launched Quester, a truck made to go the extra mile.

They offer modern and efficient trucks with smart design. Vehicles with first-class fuel efficiency, reliability and durability, which combined with that extra mile support means uptime and low operational costs.

UD is the smart customer’s smart choice. In the end, the real winners are the ones who keep on running and who can go the extra mile.

It hasn’t been an easy race, but bumpy and winding, running into canyons and creeks, but as fighters they were always climbing up again to the top of the hill.

Now, combining the best of three worlds, the developers have what they need to deliver the trucks and services the world needs today. This comes with the mindset of their Japanese heritage ensuring craftsmanship, quality and service.

‘n Korter seisoen word vir sitrusuitvoerders voorspel, omdat sekere streke se pluktyd soos die OosKaap nie vanjaar deur reën onderbreek is nie.

Volgens die Sitruskwekersvereniging (CGA) se uitvoerende hoof, mnr Justin Chadwick, staan pomelo’s se uitvoere einde se kant toe. ‘n Totaal van 11,9 miljoen kartonne is reeds verpak, waarvan 10,5 miljoen na die buiteland is. Die finale oesskatting is 12,9 miljoen kartonne.

Sagte sitrus se skatting is 11,4 miljoen kartonne.

Hiervan is 8,1 miljoen verpak en 7,1 miljoen is reeds uitgevoer. Suurlemoene vaar ook goed, met 11,5 miljoen verpak en 10,5 miljoen uitgvoer is.

Die geskatte opbrengs is 15,2 miljoen kartonne.

Nawels staan ook einde se kant toe. Sover is 19,2 miljoen kartonne verpak en 16 miljoen uitgevoer as deel van die geskatte 22,5 miljoen.

Nou is valencias aan die beurt, waarvan die oestyd tot in Oktober kan duur.

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Julie 2016

Vervoer is landbou se hartklop Padvervoer is deel van landbou se hartklop in Limpopo en onlosmaakbaar van die breë ekonomie in die provinsie, sê mnr Renier Reynecke van Premium Trucking in Tzaneen.

Sprake dat spoordienste vorentoe herstel en uitgebrei gaan word, sal vervoerdienste per pad nie veel raak nie, want vars vrugte en groente moet vinniger by hul eindbestemming kom as met spoorvervoer.

Die Letaba-omgewing word beskou as die groot voedselspens vir die land se belangrikste markte en groothandelaars, waar varsprodukte gereeld en betyds afgelewer moet word. Padvervoer met of sonder koelgeriewe is die praktiese antwoord.

Reynecke sê die gebied het min-

stens 250 vragmotors wat dag en nag uit die gebied na markte beweeg. As in ag geneem word dat hulle sowat R3,5 miljoen per maand aan tolgeld bestee en ‘n verdere R25 miljoen se diesel verbruik, is dit ‘n stewige deel van die provinsie se ekonomiese hartklop.

Voeg daarby die uiteenlopende werkgeleenthede op en van die pad, dan sorg dit vir inkomste aan honderde gesinne wat hul geld plaaslik bestee.

“Vervoerkontrakteurs se lot word bepaal deur die National Bargaining Council of Road Freight. Dié raad bepaal watter persentasie van duurder diesel of petrol aan die klant oorgedra kan word. Ons doen dit nie self nie.”

Hy het egter sy bedenkings oor die besteding van geld uit hul geledere vir die instandhouding van paaie en ander geriewe. Voertuie se bande is meer as nege persent van die bedryfskoste, maar die besteding daarvan is nie op die paaie sigbaar nie.

Die droogte van die afgelope klompie maande het ‘n afname in inkomste veroorsaak. Ligter vragte en kleiner verpakkings het daartoe gelei dat duur koelgeriewe onderbenut was.

Reynecke meen egter dat padvervoer in stand sal bly solank as wat die groente- of vrugteverskaffer produkte lewer. Anders as steenkool en erts het groente en vrugte ‘n beperkte raklewe en kan dit nie op ‘n treinstasie staan en wag nie!

‘n Nuwe reeks trekkers uit die Case-stal is nou in Letsitele beskikbaar as veeldoelige masjinerie op groente- en vrugteplase. Die Farmall JXM-reeks by Laeveld Case & Implemente is ‘n aanvulling vir die JXTmodelle en het meer krag in die lyf. Dit is veral geskik vir spuit- en sleepwerk. Mnr Nandus van Gass, die bestuurder van Laeveld Case, sê die nuwe Farmall-reeks is op versoek van verspreiders aan Case International in Italië en Turkye vir Suid-Afrikaanse toestande aangepas. Dit sluit ‘n outomatiese trurat in, asook bykomende veranderings wat die werkverrigting versterk. Die JXM-reeks verskyn in ‘n hoogs mededingende mark van landbou in Suid-Afrika en is volgens Van Gass goedkoper as sy naaste mededingers.

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Julie 2016