ProAgri BNZ 15 by ProAgri

ProAgri B otswa n a / N am i b ia/ ia / Zim b ab w e No 15

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Veggie tunnels:

Fresh produce all year round

Botswana page 33

Namibia page 39

Zimbabwe page 47

Control disease this wet season

Focus on perfection www.agri4all.com

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More than 100 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; service

Letter from the Editor

he year 2020 is drawing to a close. It will probably be remembered in history as the year that we were forced to adapt to a new way of interacting with one another. The year of global lockdown, masks, sanitizer and social distancing. Many were affected by the adverse circumstances that dominated this year, but we were reminded time and time again how resilient the farmers are. The fact of the matter is that people need to eat, and farmers are the ones that keep feeding the global population. Agriculture was one of the few economic sectors that kept functioning. In many countries it was only the agricultural sector that kept the economy alive. This reminded governments of their dependence on a thriving agricultural sector. There are many examples of how governments expanded the aid provided to farmers, especially in the emerging farmer category. South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land

Reform and Rural Development announced that her department would allocate R1 billion to support 75 000 emerging farmers in South Africa, thus stimulating the sector’s growth. The Namibian government, through its Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has procured funds from the African Development Bank which they intend to use for the Namibian Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Project (NAMSIP). In Botswana, the government announced various subsidies to farmers for planting and producing livestock. These are just a few examples of how African governments have taken initiative in supporting the farmers who feed the people. The manner in which these programmes will be implemented, the level of integrity shown by the government officials handling the funds, and the transparency of the process will determine the success of each of these programmes, and can benefit or damage the people’s view of their particular government. ProAgri Media remains dedicated to supporting the farmers of Southern Africa by providing them with free information on the best and latest agricultural technology in the industry. We wish all our readers a blessed festive time, and a very prosperous new year. We shall be back with more articles, product reviews and training series in January 2021. Farm smartly! Jaco Cilliers jaco@proagri.co.za

Content 3. Talbert is the farmer’s irrigation ally 5. Ctrack support ensures Client satisfaction 6. Goat production guide Part 4(i): Common diseases that can infect your goat farm 9. Tal-Tec’s circular force pens: Turn farming into a breeze 10. Make your own veggie tunnel garden 13. Spray to protect your crops Part 13: Safety: Storage and disposing of chemical containers 17. Produce profit on your pastures with Reinke Irrigation 19. Orion Irresistible Pecans: Plant productive pecan nuts in Southern Africa 21. Pivot irrigation: Superior design, structure and quality makes Valley the obvious choice 23. Maschio Gaspardo's Dracula Hydro: Enjoy effective cultivation to form a perfect seedbed 24. Guidelines for livestock production during the drought 27. Tamanet gives real value to your bales 28. SOIL: The farmer’s most important asset Part 11: Ground water (iii) 33. Pig production guide Part 8: The value of keeping detailed records 36. Irrigation Principles Part 8: Irrigation efficiency 39. Bulldoze your way to improved pastures 47. Protect your crop Part 3: Choose between trailed, hitch or self-propelled sprayers

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Cover Talbert prides themselves on high quality products and lasting relationships with their clients.

ProAgri B ot s wa n a/ a / N a m i b i a/ a/Zimbabwe

577 Rossouw Street, Die Wilgers, Pretoria +27 (0)79 515 8708 www.proagri.co.za Copyright © 2019. All rights r eserved. No m aterial, text or p hotographs may be r eproduced, copied or in any other way t ransmitted without the written consent of the publisher. O pinions expressed are not n ecessarily those of the publisher or of the e ditor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their r espective o wners. ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

ProAgri Editor Jaco Cilliers > +27 71-893-6477 jaco@proagri.co.za Reporters Du Preez de Villiers > +27 82-598-7329 dupreez@proagri.co.za Benine Ackermann > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za Marketing Manager Diane Grobler > +27 82-555-6866 diane@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 62-391-6507 xander@proagri.co.za Candice Rieger > +27 83-292-3150 candice@proagri.co.za Tiny Smith > +27 82-698-3353 tiny@proagri.co.za Anelda Strauss > +27 74-424-0055 anelda@proagri.co.za Johan Swartz > +27 71-599-9417 johan@proagri.co.za Gerhard Potgieter > +27 74-694-4422 gerhard@proagri.co.za Creative Director Christiaan Joubert > +27 72-419-3990 christiaan@proagri.co.za Design Michelle Kruger & Esta van Niekerk Enquiries Engela Botha > +27 12-803-0782 engela@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Schluter > +27 12-803-0782 accounts@proagri.co.za Distribution Janita du Plessis > +27 12-803-0782 janita@proagri.co.za Managing Editor Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za Business Manager George Grobler > +27 83 460 0402

GENUINE BALING PERFORMANCE FOR GENUINE FARMERS

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL JOHN DEERE DEALER FOR MORE DETAILS 2

ProAgri BNZ 15

Talbert is the farmer’s irrigation ally A

A strong centre A lot of attention is given to the strength and stability of the centre tower, as this is the heartbeat of any centre pivot. The weather-proof control panel is designed to control the system safely and efficiently. Built-in sensors switch the pivot off if the water pressure drops too low. Quality approved industrial gearboxes drive the pivots, and if needed, gearbox spares are readily available nation-wide.

centre pivot is supposed to ease the workload of a farmer and not add to the problems that farmers need to deal with every day. This means that the provider is as important as the centre pivot itself. Talbert centre pivots were developed 28 years ago on the farm, and were designed and manufactured with Southern African circumstances in mind. Here are a few reasons why you should choose Talbert pivots: Special design In sandy soil or heavy clays, from giant maize circles to a small patch of lucerne, Talbert understands the farmer’s needs and makes sure that his centre pivot will suit his unique requirements. The ultimate goal is increasing production and profits. The Talbert irrigation system is designed to be userfriendly and durable. Only the best materials Talbert incorporates the latest technology and highest quality materials to ensure the efficiency of their centre pivots. All steel components are galvanised and strongly adhere to SABS 763 standards. The pipe walls are 3,5 mm thick and the heavy-duty A-frame structure ensures structural integrity even in extreme conditions. Talbert manufactures each centre pivot in their own South African

factory. This ensures the highest quality standards and the prompt availability of parts and accessories. No blockages A valuable standard accessory on all Talbert pivots is the sand catcher. This ensures that the sprayers do not clog and also facilitates the cleaning process. Irrigate at night A bright light on the final tower enables the farmer to irrigate at night and therefore limit the effect of evaporation. Tower couplings The unique tower couplings are made of a high-quality rubber and remain completely covered to protect them from the harmful UV-rays.

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Quick service Talbert irrigation systems are supported by a wide dealership network in order to ensure a quick response time. “Just as the centre pivots keep working on the farm, we keep working with the farmer. Should a centre pivot stop for maintenance or repairs, we always get it working again as soon as possible,” says Jannie Steyl, founder of Talbert.

Find out more about Talbert products by phoning Douw Steyl on +27(0)-82-451-3754, Arno Steyl on +27(0)-72-344-0683, the office on +27(0)- 51-435-7778, or send an e-mail to douw@talbert.co.za or arno@talbert.co.za. Also visit the website www.talbert.co.za.

Always Visible

Agri Solutions Ctrackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tracking solutions help farmers save on costs and improve performance through better planning and decision making regardless of crop type, farm or fleet size. By providing critical information about your equipment, you can efficiently

manage your assets, time and money investment. Our suite of GPS tracking devices are built for the often rough and remote conditions in South Africa so you can rest assured that your agricultural equipment will always be properly monitored.

Features: Machine usage (operating hours)

Real-time alert (geo zones)

Pattern of use (direction when used)

Potential asset theft or tampering alerts

www.ctrack.co.za | sales@ctrack.co.za | Call Centre: +27 (0)860 333 444 4

ProAgri BNZ 15

Ctrack support ensures Client satisfaction C

lients benefit from the best possible services from Ctrack’s Central Support Centre in our Bureau, Fleet and Technical Support divisions because the Centre is split into smaller departments. Ctrack’s Bureau Service is the full outsourcing of fleet control room activities, backed by highly proficient hindsight, insight and foresight data analytics and reporting. Dedicated fleet controllers meticulously monitor vehicle movements, incidents, alerts and alarms from our 24/7 Central Support Centre and provide real-time support to optimise fleet operations. Our highly experienced fleet consultants analyse and interpret vehicle data to provide the insights and actions needed for future cost reductions and operational improvements. By outsourcing these tasks, you save on cost and can focus on your core business. Bureau agents are skilled in investigating and interpreting alarms or the combination of alarms to act swiftly. They are able to distinguish between primary and secondary alarms for enhanced client safety. Regular training ensures you receive the best possible service and response times. Empowered with knowledge, our agents respond appropriately to recovery activations or medical emergencies. Strict security measures are also in place. We do not give out personal information to anyone and our clients’ movements and personal information are always secured. Furthermore, Ctrack employees are subject to regular security screening to ensure that your assets and personal safety are never compromised. Our agents are also subject to daily, weekly and monthly quality checks.

We have mastered the art of reducing risks, through accurate alarm monitoring and quick recovery response, nationally and across borders. There is always direct and continuous feedback between Ctrack agents, recovery teams and you, the client. The bureau service can be adapted to suit the operational needs of each client and is supported by a thorough service level agreement. Ctrack Fleet Ctrack Fleet includes 24/7/365 fleet monitoring, emergency response and the provision of panic and tamper alarms. We monitor driver behaviour and fuel consumption and optimise travel routes. We also provide vehicle immobilisation, stolen vehicle services and bodyguard/vehicle escorting services. Ctrack Fleet is designed to ensure continued uptime, client support and assistance while taking full advantage of the Ctrack Fleet Management solution. Ctrack Fleet provides weekly reports indicating vehicles that are active, non-active or due for repairs. Weekly contact is made with our client control room to confirm necessary installations, maintenance and repairs. The nearest Ctrack branch is then contacted to ensure bookings are assigned and completed where applicable. With dedicated fleet controllers for your entire fleet, we perform daily health checks and incorporate fleet management software and rich fleet analytics in Ctrack Fleet. Ctrack Technical Support Ctrack Technical Support consists of dedicated staff who are responsible for vehicle and driver setups and the creation of vehicle profiles and busi-

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

ness groups. This team creates cost centres, performs unit testing, schedules reports and sets up and manages message forwarding. In addition, Ctrack Technical Support provides software usernames and passwords, handles technical and software queries, sets up points of interest, geozones, waypoints and no-go areas with appropriate alarms. By utilising the best software available, combined with a fall-back system in case of GPS signal jamming, we are able to give total peace of mind. Since we actively monitor rollover and severe G-forces, our agents are able to determine when an accident occurs before dispatching emergency services, should you be unable to. And because Ctrack has 24/7/365 access to EVAC24, our clients can rest assured that all it takes is a phone call to dispatch the closest ambulance and have your employee taken to the most appropriate hospital for treatment. Ctrack’s Central Support Centre means your most precious assets remain Always Visible!

Visit www.ctrack.co.za to find your closest representative.

Goat production guide Part 4(i): Common diseases that can infect your goat farm S

ick animals do not produce as much as healthy ones. That is why it is vital for a farmer to keep an eye out for disease in his flock. Apart from expensive medicines, the loss of production, or loss of the animal and its genetic potential in case of mortality, are things that farmers would rather avoid. Prevention is definitely better than cure. There are vaccinations available to inoculate your flock against the most common diseases. You need to consult a veterinarian to find out which diseases are most prevalent in your area. The vet will then also be able to assist you in compiling a vaccination schedule for your animals. A number of common diseases affects goats, and farmers need to know how to prevent and/or treat them. Heartwater Signs of heartwater in the live animal: The organisms that cause heartwater are transmitted by bont ticks, which are mainly found in hot, dry bush areas. Heartwater can result in death within 24 hours, but some cases survive 2 to 5 days. Affected goats have very high temperatures, and show nervous signs: high-stepping jerky gait, shivering, walking in circles. Later, jerky, paddling movements with the legs and the head pulled backwards when the animal goes down.

Dosage rates: Adult goats: Inject 5 cc daily for 3 days (intramuscular injection). For a kid administer 2,5 cc daily for 3 days. Dosage rates will vary depending on the brand of the medicine that you buy. It is always important to follow the veterinarian’s instructions along with the instructions found on the product label. Some farmers prevent heartwater outbreaks by treating young goats with a dose of long acting antibiotic when they are going to be exposed to ticks. This is called blocking. Abscesses An abscess is a swelling caused by bacterial infection. It is hot, red, and painful. It can be caused if a thorn or a tick breaks the skin and the bacteria then enter the wound. Control excess ticks and maintain general hygiene. If an animal has several very bad abscesses or gets abscesses often, it should be culled to prevent financial losses.

Open and drain the abscess when it has a yellow spot on it or when it softens. This can be done by cutting a cross over the soft spot. Use a boiled razor blade to cut the abscess. Then inject warm (boiled) water with a lot of salt in it (1 tablespoon of salt in a cup of water) or iodine into the wound. The wound must be kept opened and it must be flushed daily with warm salt water to remove pus. Use gloves when handling the abscess. Bury or burn the material used to wipe the pus. This can infect other animals and people. Always boil the razor blade before using it. The goat can also be injected with an antibiotic to aid recovery. Diarrhoea Signs of diarrhoea Diarrhoea can be the symptom of a disease. There are many different causes of scour, and each one can cause a different kind of runny stomach. They can include: • Smooth, yellow diarrhoea

Signs of heartwater in the dead animal: The dead animal will have excessive fluid in the heart sac, lungs, chest cavity and abdominal cavity. To prevent heartwater, try to maintain the animals’ immunity by letting a small number of ticks stay on the animals all the time. However, when there are visibly many ticks on the goats, dipping about once a month may be necessary. Goats that have grown up in a heartwater area are more resistant to the disease. If an animal dies of heartwater, dip it to kill the ticks on its body. The ticks are infected with heartwater and will infect other animals if they bite them. Vaccination against heartwater is possible, but it is complicated and expensive, so, speak to your veterinarian about this. Treat the animal early before nervous symptoms show. Use short-acting Terramycin three days in a row, or the new drug, Doxycycline. Use an intravenous injection if you can, otherwise intramuscular. 6

ProAgri BNZ 15

• • • •

Smooth, white diarrhoea Whitish diarrhoea with lumps of thin skin in it Red or brown diarrhoea, which may mean blood in it Scours can be caused by a change in food source or diet

Regular treatment for worms will prevent scours caused by worms. Where scours are caused by nutritional changes, feeding some sort of nutritional supplement in winter will help with prevention. A good general treatment is a mix of one tablespoon salt, and 8 tablespoons of sugar in one litre of clean, warm water. For young animals that have not been weaned, feed this mixture twice a day instead of milk (but not for more than three days). Only when there is blood in the diarrhoea, do you inject with a long acting antibiotic or give a dose of Terramycin powder mixed with water. Hi-Tet 200 LA dosage: Intramuscular injection. 1 ml/10 kg live mass. Repeat after 3 days if necessary. Terramycin powder dosage: Mix with water and give as a drink. 1 level teaspoon powder/7 kg live mass. Repeat daily for 3 to 5 days.

Imodium tablets for 3 to 5 days: half a tablet per day Coccidiosis Coccidiosis is a disease that mainly affects kids and lambs. It is caused by an organism known as coccidia which is most commonly found in communal drinking water. Older animals can become infected, however due to immunity they develop over time, clinical signs do not show. Older animals are normally the source of infection for the younger animals as they are carriers of the disease.

is important for preventing outbreaks of coccidiosis. Pens must be clean and dry. Kids should not mix with older goats, and should not have access to contaminated feed and water. Coccidiostats such as Rumensin can be fed at times when disease outbreaks are common to prevent the disease. Give Sulfazine 16% as a drink. Sulfazine 16% dosage: Initially give 14 ml/10 kg live mass. Then give 7 ml/10 kg daily for two days. Where there are outbreaks, treat all females and kids with Sulfazine.

Symptoms of coccidiosis in the live animal: This disease normally affects young animals. It attacks and destroys the mucus of the intestines, which leads to animals having diarrhoea and an inflamed intestinal linings. This is different from scours. An outbreak is characterised by a short period of diarrhoea and then animals die quickly. Symptoms include: • Diarrhoea • Dehydration • Anaemia • Lack of appetite • Loss of condition • Rectal straining (this may lead to prolapse) • A rough hair coat

Other treatments: Immodium for 3 to 5 days (0,5 tablets per day)

Signs of coccidiosis in the dead animal: Tiny, greyish white spots are often visible in the mucous membrane of the small intestine. Guts are filled with fluid and blood. Sick animals should be separated from the rest of the flock to prevent spread of the disease. Hygiene

The information in this article is credited to Mdukatshani, Heifer International South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development who published the Goat Production Handbook in 2015.

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Vecoxan: 1 ml/2,5 kg live mass body weight at about 4 to 6 weeks of age for all kids. The goat should also be given water with electrolytes to prevent dehydration. A good general treatment is a mixture of one tablespoon of salt and 8 tablespoons of sugar in one litre of clean, warm water. For young animals that have not been weaned, feed this mixture twice a day instead of milk, but not for more than three days.

ProAgri BNZ 15

Tal-Tec’s circular force pens:

Turn farming into a breeze Tal-Tec’s Circular Force Pen designs are simple to understand, user friendly and easy to move.

ny task becomes pleasant and hassle-free when you use the right equipment. Livestock farming can be a very tough and demotivating career when the animals are stubborn and wild. It is therefore even more important to use the right equipment for every job. That is why Tal-Tec is there to help farmers with the best equipment, to get the job done in no time. The Cattle Circular Force Pen and the Sheep Circular Force Pen are both top sellers and have made many a farmer’s life easier. With this equipment and many more available at Tal-Tec, farmers need minimum labour when working with their livestock.

The Tal-Tec Circular Force Pens help the farmer to channel livestock through a crush, ensuring an easy handling experience. This unit can be disassembled and moved to another farm, as it is only the centre pole that needs to be planted into the ground. The rest of the components are bolted together to form the perfect handling facility that is strong and durable. The animals are simply driven into the circle part of the unit, and once it is full, you push the gate forward to force them into the crush section. A brake mounted on the forcing gate prevents the animals from reversing

Minimum labour is required to operate the Cattle Circular Force Pen from Tal-Tec.

and pushing the gate backwards. Once all the animals are in the crush section, the gate can be opened again to let the next batch of animals in. Cattle Circular Force Pen The Tal-Tec Cattle Circular Force Pen is eight metres in diameter and the circle section can handle up to 30 head of cattle at a time. The Circular Force Pen has four rounded segments made out of round tube to form a half-moon. The forcing gate can swing 360 degrees, which will allow you to push the gate forward instead of backwards to insert in the next batch of animals. Sheep Circular Force Pen The Sheep Circular Force Pen has a diameter of 6,2 metres and can handle up to 50 sheep at a time. The solid gates prevent the sheep from being distracted or intimidated by their surroundings. This allows them to simply follow the sheep in front of them. The forcing gate gets pulled back to open the circle section for the next batch of sheep to be let in. Since your herd will grow larger or your needs will change, Tal-Tec’s modular design will always allow you to add equipment, components, or sections to your existing layout, like a scale, loading ramp, spray-race or clamp. All these items are moveable and easy to assemble.

Do not suffer from sleepless nights worrying about working with your livestock. Buy Tal-Tec today, work tomorrow and sleep at night. Contact Tal-Tec at +27(0)12-250-2188 or +27(0)66-299-7939 or sales@taltec.co.za. Visit their website at www.tal-tec.co.za for more information.

The solid walls of the Sheep Circular Force Pen will prevent the animals from being distracted or startled by frightening elements.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Make your own veggie tunnel garden Dr S Laurie

any people, particularly children, are suffering from malnutrition. The cause is high reliance on starchy foods, lacking intake of important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc. People should take note of the importance of eating vegetables, especially those rich in vitamins and minerals. Planting your own vegetables will allow easy access to these nutrients, and it will also be cheaper at the end of the day. One of the options is a tunnel garden. A netted tunnel of 5 x 6 m, adding adjacent 3 x 6 m open field production (total area 6 x 8 m) can be set up. In a small area, a variety of nutritious vegetables are planted, following good crop rotation practices, and using bio-extracts such as moringa and chillies for controlling pests and diseases. The net is also able to keep out some animals. A drip irrigation system may be employed for water use efficiency.

Dark green leafy vegetables are also known to supply other minerals (iron, zinc, et cetera.). All vegetables provide fibre to the diet. Moringa is called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;miracle treeâ&#x20AC;? due to abundance of proteins, vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals and medicinal properties. Moringa extracts have an antifungal effect and can be used for biological control of diseases. Setting up the tunnel Plusnet supplies components for a tunnel, consisting of hoops which are set up, and then the net is pulled over them and tied.

Choice of crops Dark green leafy vegetables (Swiss chard, mustard, amaranth) and orange/yellow vegetables (carrot, orange sweet potato) are good sources of vitamin A. Beans are a good source of vegetable protein, while tomato is most known for vitamin C and lycopene. Sweet potatoes and potatoes are good sources of carbohydrates, but also contain folate, vitamin C and minerals.

Prepare the plots Divide the tunnel into three and prepare three long beds. Divide each bed into two plots. Prepare four similar sized plots on the outside, thus having ten plots in total 1,3 m wide and 3 m long. Crops can be allocated to the plots as indicated below: Table 1 Mustard

Beans

Swiss chard

Squash

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Carrots

Amaranth

Sweet potatoes

Moringa

Table 1: Layout of crops for the tunnel garden. Seedling preparation Seedlings can be prepared in seedling trays filled with growth medium for crops such as tomato, Swiss chard, mustard, amaranth and chillies. Beans, squash, and carrots are seeded directly. Sweet potatoes are planted from vine cuttings and potatoes from potato seed tubers. Fertilisation and transplanting Generally, 10 kg of 2:3:4 fertiliser mix can be applied to the soil before planting. Chillies are planted on plot borders as a biological control method.

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From a small area a variety of nutritious vegetables can be harvested over a period of four months whereafter new crops can be established. On the same plot follow a crop rotation system: leafy crops (amaranth, Swiss chard), then Solanaceae (tomato, potato), then root crops (sweet potato, carrots), then brassica (mustard), then legumes (beans). Squash can be added after any crop. Moringa grows on the same plot and can regrow after light frost.

Tomato seedlings. Maintenance Weeding is particularly important since weeds can overgrow vegetable crops and compete for nutrients and water. Irrigate frequently. Crops such as sweet potato and amaranth are hardier. Spray weekly with chilli spray or moringa spray. LAN fertiliser is applied

Fresh carrots harvested from a veggie tunnel. after harvesting leafy crops and for other crops 2 to 3 weeks after planting. Cut the moringa frequently, keeping it to a small tree.

We thank the ARC South Africa for providing this information to the readers of ProAgri BNZ. Dr Sunette Laurie is a senior researcher at the ARC crop production division.

Orange sweet potato

Carrot

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

January

Crop

February

Table 2: Crop spacing and planting time

Spacing between rows (cm)

Spacing between plants (cm)

Nr of rows

Plot borders

100

H Swiss hard/ Mustard

Butternut squash

Amaranth

H Tomatoes

P H H

Chillies

P H

Potato

P H

Beans

P H

Moringa P=Planting; H=Harvesting ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

ProAgri BNZ 15

Photo: storeplan.net.au

Spray to protect your crops Part 13:

Safety: Storage and disposing of chemical containers Compiled by J Fuls (Pr Eng)

ou can identify a neat and disciplined farmer by the way he manages his scrapyard and his waste. Empty chemical containers are a significant waste product. Since chemicals can be harmful to humans and animals, it is therefore even more important to discard empty containers in the right manner. Handling spraying chemicals Always consider chemicals to be dangerous! Consult your extension officer regarding the intended application and other safety aspects according to the label.

Store it alone and away from children in a lock-up room or cabinet.

Be careful not to spill any chemicals.

Consult your extension officer regarding the intended application and other safety aspects according to the label.

Clean your equipment properly after use and store it in the lock-up cabinet ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

ProAgri BNZ 15

Do not dump empty containers just anywhere. Children may find it handy to play with or to use as water containers.

Do not use empty containers for anything else. Empty the last chemicals into your sprayer and spray it out in the field.

Rinse the empty container three times.

Now punch holes into the container and bury it well. Next month we shall look at the special care we should take during spraying. Published with acknowledgement to the ARC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

THE

RAINMAKER www.reinke.com

Patrick Ellis

+27 (0)31 350 4525

patrickellis@reinke.com

ProAgri BNZ 15

Produce profit on your pastures with Reinke Irrigation by Jaco Cilliers

Reinke was by far the better choice and I liked the sturdy structural design,” rrigation is the gateway to unlocksays Rennie. He uses the ReinCloud™ ing Africa’s agricultural potential. Management system and his pivots are The Food and Agriculture Organisation powered by 45 kW motors equipped (FAO) published an article many years with variable speed drives. ago (1997) that estimated Africa to Rennie believes that four compohave the ability to increase agricultural nents on his pivots should be checked production by 50% simply by investing regularly: “If your tires are in good in irrigation systems. condition, the electrical components Reinke has answered Africa’s need are sealed watertight, the gearfor irrigation by investing in the conboxes are oiled, and the bearings tinent. The Reinke Depot situated in are greased, there is no reason why the South African port city of Durban something should break on the pivot. keeps enough stock to supply the conYour investment will last for decades to come, and pay itself tinent with superb many times over.” centre pivot irrigaRennie uses tion systems. The technology that Reinke Their expert uses, from their structural water from the Limpopo river to staff members materials and design to the irrigate his crops. travel wherever electronic management “Because the river they are needed, water contains and even dursystems, is simply in a high quantities of ing the COVID-19 class of its own. debris, we filter it travel restrictions, before it is pumped were able to assist through the pivot. I clean filters and technicians in various African countries check for blockages on the sprinklers remotely. on a regular basis,” Rennie explains. Rennie de Wet owns the farm KwalaLawrence van der Westhuizen is the ta in the Tuli Block of Botswana where irrigation expert at Pula Dynamic, the he produces lucerne pastures for the Reinke agent for Botswana. Lawrence game on his farm. Rennie installed the says that Reinke South Africa provides first Reinke pivots in Botswana on his excellent support to their agents in farm in 2017. He erected three 30-hecother countries. “Our technician went tare pivots. to the Reinke depot in Durban for train“We decided to buy Reinke pivots ing on how to properly erect a Reinke after comparing price, quality, parts pivot. Apart from this we have an exavailability, and agents in our area.

“

„

One of the three 30-hectare pivots that make a vast difference on Rennie de Wet’s farm, Kwalata, in the Tuli Block of Botswana.

Rennie de Wet uses his Reinke 5-tower pivots to irrigate pastures on his game farm. cellent relationship with Patrick, Jaco, and Paul, and they are always available to help us if we have a problem or a question,” says Lawrence. Pula Dynamic started their relationship with Reinke in 2017. Lawrence explains why they wanted to be an agent solely for Reinke: “The technology that Reinke uses, from their structural materials and design to the electronic management systems, is simply in a class of its own,” says Lawrence. Lawrence and Rennie are both very satisfied with the after sales service that the team from Reinke in South Africa provides. “I can contact them directly, and Jaco Scheepers, the Reinke engineer in Durban, is always available to talk me through any process over the phone,” says Rennie. Centre pivots are a relatively new sight in Botswana. Rennie and Lawrence are doing their part to introduce irrigation systems to the farmers of Botswana. “Many people visited the farm to look at the pivots and to find out how they work,” says Rennie. “People are often sceptical due to the initial capital investment, but once they see the difference that a Reinke pivot makes to a farm’s production, they are convinced,” Lawrence added. Reinke Irrigation provides a unique solution to suit the needs of every farmer. They can provide any size pivot from a single tower, engine-driven mini pivot ideal for remote locations with unreliable electricity supply, to multi towered models for vast fields. Contact Patrick Ellis, Director of Reinke South Africa, on +27(0)31-350-4525 for any further enquiries, or send an e-mail to patrickellis@reinke.com.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Rhino 300

Patrick Moonga

Rainmaker 200

Lusaka

Mobile: +260 (0) 978 386660 Office: +260 (0) 211 241286 moonga@saroagri.co.zm

Rainmaker 200 4x4

Clubman 100

Greenkeeper 200

Sportsman 120

Cane Master 300

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Hose Master 50/100

ProAgri BNZ 15

Orion Irresistible Pecans:

Plant productive pecan nuts in Southern Africa by Hannes van Zyl

Johnson Mothibedi is in charge of maintaining the nursery at Orion Irresistible Pecans.

he right location, cultivar, land preparation and cultivation programme are crucial to ensure the best yields, profits, and sustainability of your pecan nut operation. Pecan trees like dry conditions, but they also require wet roots, and prefer short, cold winters and long, hot summers. Pecan trees need 285 days a year for growing, with warm nights. The trees can handle frost, as the low temperature ensures the tree goes into complete dormancy, which ensures even growth in spring. Production in drier areas are around three to five t/ha. These areas also tend to produce bigger nuts, which result in higher prices. The average nut-in-shell (NIS) price paid to farmers is $4,5/kg to $5,3/kg, with larger nuts from the hotter, drier regions fetching above $5,3/kg. While pecan trees can grow in shallow soil, it should be between at least 100 cm and 150 cm deep for profitable commercial production. Pecans are normally planted 10 m x 10 m apart, resulting in 100 trees/ha. As the trees are widely spaced, finding enough land for an economic unit is a challenge. Some farmers plant at a higher density initially, and then thin out once the trees have reached full maturity, which allows greater yields in the years before the trees reach full maturity. However, the cost involved with plant-

The Wichita is an extremely popular pecan nut cultivar in Sub Saharan Africa.

ing the extra trees and then later removing them does not make this a viable option. Alternate bearing is a technique to maximize yields in difficult seasons. It is a given with fruit trees. With proper management, extreme differences in yield from one year to the next can be reduced. This involves reducing the yield in an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;on' year so that the tree has extra reserves for an 'offâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; year. Nutrition In the case of fertiliser, soil and leaf analysis could help farmers determine what their trees need. The presence of nitrogen and phosphates are important on these analyses. Phosphates are essential to promote root growth and stimulate the plant to produce active root hairs, which eventually become feeder roots. Zinc is also essential to pecan trees and spraying five to six times per season in the night or early morning is essential. Pests and diseases High-humidity areas are susceptible to scab, therefore farmers in such areas

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

should be on the alert and employ their sprayers timeously. A crop protection programme is crucial to ensure maximum growth and crop health. The protection programme is different for every region. Harvesting Harvesting takes place from May to July. Pecans are shaken off the trees mechanically and collected by labourers. Farms are now starting to mechanise, but the cost of the machinery is still quite high. However, as mechanisation increases in the industry, economies of scale will make the machines cheaper to import. Looking ahead Southern African pecans are quite popular in China because our harvest time is between May and July. While America's harvest comes in between November and January, China's festival days and highest use is in the region of October to November. That gives Southern Africa the benefit of delivering fresh pecans to Chinese markets during the peak consumption period. South Africa exports 80% of its crop NIS (nut-in-shell). Another 10% is processed and exported as kernels, while the remaining 10% is processed for the local market. NIS is preferred by farmers as they do not have to pay for processing costs. The pecan price is expected to increase in the future. Global production is expected to increase drastically in the next five to ten years due to the growth in plantings and the fact that Russia and India are also becoming potential markets. The Americans have spent a lot on expanding the market for pecans, which is something we have to do here, as well as to ensure we have demand for the increased supply.

Harvest time is a terribly busy time at Orion Irresistible Pecans. Source your certified pecan trees from Orion Irresistible Pecans and Nursery, based in South Africa in the Free State province between Wesselsbron and Bothaville. Contact Hannes van Zyl at +27(0)82-572-5635 or e-mail hannesvanzyl.hvz@gmail.com, or hannes.vanzyl@orionirresistiblepecans.co.za. Visit their website at www.orionirresistiblepecans.co.za

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T REPLACE, RE-PIPE DURABLE PRODUCT AND SUPERIOR SERVICE FROM VALLEY

Namibia

Andre Haasbroek +2783 458 7999 +264 61 228 061 Janine Kotze

Botswana

Zimbabwe

Landline Kevin Williams

Gary Grubb Larry Noble

Ross O Donoghue

+263 430 5728 +263 772 601 791 +263 772 419 410

Cobus Vermaak Marnus Boshoff

+27 82 450 8823 +27 83 701 3605

+263 772 601 195 +263 772 601 792

ProAgri BNZ 15

Pivot irrigation:

Superior design, structure and quality makes Valley the obvious choice by Jaco Cilliers

he best way of protecting your farm against the risk of drought is investment in irrigation technology. A centre pivot irrigation system from Valley Irrigation will allow you to guarantee your harvests year after year without fail. It will also enable you to plant both winter and summer crops and have two harvest seasons every year, doubling your annual income. Frik Vreken from Vreken Boerdery near Dundee chose to partner with Valley Irrigation twenty years ago when he bought a second-hand Valley pivot. This particular pivot, now 37 years old, still works and looks as good as ever after generating an income that allowed Frik to acquire no less than 20 additional Valley pivots over the years. “If you look at the bow and truss rods, they are still in perfect condition after 37 years,” he points out. Frik is not only a farmer, but he is also an irrigation expert with more than 25 years of experience. “After I concluded my studies in 1990, I worked for the Department of Agriculture in Silverton where I conducted research on irrigation systems in use on South African farms. Valley was simply a cut above the rest due to their superior design, structure and quality,” says

Frik Vreken farms near Dundee and is an irrigation expert with more than 25 years of experience. Frik. One of the things he likes about Valley is that they manufacture their own gearboxes specifically designed for pivot application, and carrying a fiveyear guarantee. Frik is in the process of replacing all his older pivot management systems with the new Valley Icon 5 management system. “The Icon 5 enables me to control all my pivots remotely with my cell phone, no matter where I am in the world. This especially helps me when I need to restart the pivots after load shedding.” The Icon 5 is user friendly and saves a lot of time by allowing the farmer to control pivots remotely. There is no need to travel to every pivot on the farm to start or program them. All the pivot functions are accessed through the app on your smart phone. Apart from excellent quality and design, Valley also back their products with excellent service. Frik’s local Valley agency, Spilkon Besproeiing, stocks all the important spare parts that you may need to service and restore

The Valley Icon 5 management system allows Frik to control his centre pivots from anywhere in the world using his smart phone. Frik is systematically replacing all the older management boxes with the Icon 5 version. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

your pivot. “If the farmer cannot fix the problem himself, there are three trained Valley technicians ready and eager assist you,” Frik says. Valley agents are not just sales representatives. Pivots are expensive equipment. Therefore, Frik follows a strict maintenance plan to protect his investment. His pivots are serviced after every harvest. All the sprinklers are checked regularly and replaced every ten thousand hours along with the pressure regulators. “Pivots are not cheap, but they increase the value of your property, and gives the farmer peace of mind. It also enables you to produce crops all year round,” Frik explains. Frik’s advice to farmers planning to invest in a centre pivot irrigation system is: • Buy the best structure available. • Do not try to save on the pivot and underground pipes; buy the largest diameter you can afford. • Buying cheap, substandard pivots might save money on the initial cost, but you will pay more for electricity and maintenance for the next 40 years.

Valley agents build lasting partnerships with the farmers, providing them with superior quality products, excellent service, and technical expertise, for they understand the need for uninterrupted irrigation. For more information, contact Spilkon Besproeiing on +27(0)83-284-1025, or send an e-mail to besproei@trustnet. co.za, or visit the website www. spilkon.co.za. To find a Valley dealership near you, visit www. valleyirrigation.com.

A A FULL FULL RANGE RANGE FOR FOR EVERY EVERYANEED NEED FULL RA

MASCHIO GASPARDO FULL RANGE MASCHIO GASPARDO FULL RANGE FULL R Discover our equipment for tillage, seeding and planting, fertilization, cropMASCHIO protection,GASPARDO green mainteDiscover equipment for tillage, seeding and planting, fertilization, crop protection, green maintenance andour haymaking. Discover our equipment for tilla nance and GASPARDO haymaking. has the right solution of every farmer’s needs! MASCHIO nance and haymaking. MASCHIO GASPARDO has the right solution of every farmer’s needs! MASCHIO GASPARDO has the

Golden Pastures Agri Trading CC 22 Martin Ritter: +264 817 904 197 / namritter@googlemail.com

ProAgri BNZ 15

Maschio Gaspardo's Dracula Hydro:

Enjoy effective cultivation to form a perfect seedbed

Dracula Hydro is the combined cultivator of Maschio Gaspardo that stands out for sturdiness and productivity. Thanks to the combination of discs and tines, Dracula Hydro handles - crop residues, soil aeration, levelling, and preparation of the seedbed – in a single pass. The double row of front discs cuts the crop residues and mixes it with the soil, for faster decomposition. The discs’ working depth can be adjusted hydraulically while moving. Once the soil and crop residues are properly mixed, it is better aerated. This improves the biochemical properties of the soil and, in colder climates, it speeds up the seedbed heating to support quick plant emergence.

Dracula Hydro’s discs are made of boron and high strength steel, and guarantee a homogeneous seedbed. The purpose of the rows of tines in the central section is to break the deeper and more compacted stratum, remix the surface and create porosity in favour of aeration. The new Hydro version is equipped with hydraulic pistons replacing the

traditional dual spring absorbers. This improvement guarantees efficiency on tough grounds as the tines are now firmly in place up to maximum 900 loading kilograms against 700 kilograms of the previous version with double springs. This strength, unique in the category of combined cultivators, ensures a constant performance in all conditions, avoiding the risk of cultivating some areas shallower than others. Working depth is hydraulically adjustable and can vary from 8 to 30 cm. The inclination of the tines has been designed to allow better penetration, also in tough soils, while the high clearance of the frame ensures a perfect flow of soil and residue. The final section consists of a set of inclined discs that remove possible ridges left by the tines. The rear roller breaks the big clods, levels and consolidates the ground, and prepares an optimal seedbed as the final refinement. Dracula Hydro notched discs have large diameter of 610 mm and are 6 mm thick. They are made of boron and high strength steel, and guarantee homogeneous work. The concave shape performs a better mixture of soil and residues. The mounting angle of 22°, the shape and the spacing between discs guarantee an excellent cutting quality and residue burial, even under the most difficult conditions. The positions of tines and discs have been developed to complement one another along the entire working width to form a perfect, homogeneous seedbed. The deeply grooved rings of the large rear roller (600 mm diameter) break down clods, level the soil, and form an

Model

Working width (cm)

Transport width (cm)

Weight (kg)

Discs (no)

Tines (no)

Working depth (cm)

Tractor power (kW)

Dracula Hydro 430

430

300

8 450

8-30

280-360

Dracula Hydro 630

630

300

10 590

8-30

330-550

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

even, firm seedbed perfect for planting. Large tungsten carbide coated scrapers enables the roller to work even in non-optimal soil conditions. Dracula Hydro can easily run on the road. During transport, its 3-metre width and tyre dimensions (700/60R22.5) ensure excellent manoeuvrability. The hydro-pneumatic drive of the three sections allows immediate and accurate tractor adjustment with the possibility to use the machine in different conditions and for different purposes. The unnecessary elements can indeed be easily excluded. The final good news is that DRACULA HYDRO is now available in versions with a free axle, with a pneumatic braking axle and with a hydraulic double-line braking axle, the last two versions complying with the specifications of the European Mother Regulations.

The new Hydro version is equipped with hydraulic pistons replacing the traditional dual spring absorbers.

For more information, visit the website www.maschio.com, or contact your local Namibian dealer, Golden Pastures Agri Trading CC on +26-481-7904197, or send an e-mail to namritter@googlemail.com.

Guidelines for livestock production during the drought D

rought is the livestock farmer’s worst nightmare, especially if he is relying on natural pastures only to feed his animals. Here are a few guidelines to help you mitigate the effects of scarce grazing material (natural pasture) on veld due to drought. The following guidelines may help to prevent mortalities and reduce financial losses: • Ensure that cash flow is maintained judiciously. • Safeguard the core breeding livestock. After the drought, these females must generate income again. • Where still possible, provide strategic supplementary feeding on the veld. • Reduce the number of livestock that are dependent on feed sources on the farm by selling surplus animals or temporarily removing them from the veld to a kraal or planted pasture. • Restrict movement of livestock by confining them to small paddocks with shade trees or other protection from the elements. This provides better control over the quantities of feed provided daily to the animals. • Ensure that all animals have free access to clean drinking water. • Separate the stronger and weaker

•

• •

animals to reduce competition at the feed troughs. Prevent thin livestock, especially cattle, from becoming too emaciated and lie down because of poor feeding conditions. Do not feed animals ad lib over a long period. Ration the feed according to the required production levels, for example survival or maintenance (maintain body mass) or lactation. Do not waste feed by tossing it onto the ground – use appropriate feed troughs or conveyor belts. Provide the rationed feeds every second or third day. Most animals will receive enough feed if you do

so. It will also reduce competition at the feed troughs. What can be fed? The basis for ruminants is roughage, be it on the veld or in the trough. Coarsely ground roughage is always better utilised (less waste) than in the long form. The energy content can be increased with an appropriate source (for example ground maize) and balanced with an appropriate crude protein source. The intake of minerals is then balanced according to the requirements of the animals. Feed pellets are merely convenient (transport, handling, less waste) but coarsely ground roughage

•

ProAgri BNZ 15

• •

(properly balanced) can adequately meet the requirements of animals. Restrict the daily intake of salt (NaCl) for sheep to 5 to 10 g and cattle to 50 to 60 g.

Core herds/flocks • Herds/flocks must be grouped according to age and production status. Determine pregnancy in cattle as soon as possible after the current mating season. With sheep and goats, females can be scanned to determine if they carry twins/ triplets to adjust their nutrition level. • In addition to pregnancy, the condition of teeth must also be assessed, especially for older cows and ewes. Pregnant cows must still be able to graze until the next calving and specifically be able to wean the unborn calf. Females with worn teeth can still complete their production in a kraal, but this practice will carry a price tag. • Create an inventory of all available veld and other feed sources. This

planning. When grazing material on the veld is scarce, animal licks will not help – often too much supplementary feeding is provided under such conditions on the veld. Decide in good time when to remove animals from the veld and feed them strategically in small paddocks. Plant material may still be available along roads and can be cut and baled. Thornless prickly pear leaves can also be used as a good feed source – whole cladodes for cattle and coarsely chopped cladodes for sheep and goats. During droughts we cannot be too choosy about the quality of feed sources which can mean the difference between life and death for livestock. If poor quality roughage such as veld grass hay or crop residues or cactus pear cladodes are available, animal nutritionists can use it as a basis to formulate diets to meet the minimum requirements of livestock.

•

The ruminant The plant material selected during droughts on poor and dry veld contains

•

• •

•

information is needed to determine the number of animals that can be maintained well into and after the next summer. Reduce the number of animals dependent on the feed sources by marketing surplus animals or removing them temporarily from the veld. Note the reproduction records and weaning mass of the progeny of females. In each age class, the less productive animals must be culled. The principle of “cutting your losses” applies and all expenses must be weighed and discounted against expected income over the short to medium term. Take caution against selling younger breeding animals at a premium because they are in good condition and pregnant. You will need them later on. Seek veterinary advice regarding any changes in the internal and external parasite control.

General The situations of farmers differ – seek professional assistance with strategic

little crude protein. The digestive system of ruminants and the symbiosis with microbes in the reticulo-rumen offer the opportunity to supplement crude protein with a non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source such as feed grade urea. The microbes in the reticulo-rumen break down cellulose (fibre) and produce new nutrients (volatile fatty acids and microbial protein). The complex four compartment “stomach” develops gradually from the suckling phase (basically still monogastric) to that of a physiological mature ruminant. In younger calves and lambs/kids the reticulo-rumen is still in the process of developing. Therefore, it is better to use natural and higher quality protein sources instead of NPN; bypass protein may also be supplied strategically. Supplementary feeding (licks) It is important to address some critical questions regarding a supplementary feeding programme. • What is the aim with the supplementation? Must protein, energy, a combination of protein and energy, or minerals be supplemented?

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

•

Should animals gain condition or must dry animals maintain mass (maintenance) or must lactation be supported? Animals in different production phases require specific types and quantities of strategic supplementary feeding. How can the aim be achieved best? Have the less productive animals been removed to make all grazing available for the remaining livestock? This option is still not used to the best advantage and can make a huge contribution to improve efficacy and also lower the cost of supplementary feeding to the remaining animals. Can it be ascertained whether the aim has been reached? Most well-intended programmes to improve animal performance fail in this regard, because the recommended level of supplementation is seldom achieved. Intake of supplementary feeding varies and is affected by feeding space (number of animals per trough), access to troughs (dominance between animals), level of supplementation and how often the troughs are being re-filled. Unless the provision of supplementary feeding is managed, some animals will consume too much while others ingest too little to benefit at all. Do not feed animals aimlessly on the veld. A range of products are available. Seek advice from a professional animal nutritionist regarding the options and products to be considered. Animals may experience a moderate loss (10 to 15%) in body mass, but then only over a relatively long period and under control of judicious feed management.

In closing Production and reproduction of cattle is usually lower during droughts, and animals get sick more easily – the extent will depend on the severity of the drought conditions. Lactating cows, late pregnant heifers and weaners are the most vulnerable, because of higher nutrient requirements. A thorough understanding of these factors are needed for a cost-effective management strategy to mitigate the effects of droughts on animal production, reproduction, and health.

Article compiled by Prof HO de Waal Pr. Sci. Nat., Anim. Sci., Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, e-mail: deWaalHO@ ufs.ac.za.

PRECISI

DRAINAGE AGRICULTURE WATER MANAGEMENT

Planning, design and installation

of subsurface drainage, leveling and farm land improvement. Contact us for more information Johnnie van der Walt +27 82 672 1182 | johnnie@precisiondrainage.co.za Chris Green +27 81 433 2444 | chris@precisiondrainage.co.za OfďŹ ce +27 87 285 1183

ProAgri BNZ 15

Tamanet gives real value to your bales M

aking a round bale is, in essence, making food or a bed for your animals. The better the bale is protected, the lower the crop loss, making each bale go further when finally used, and therefore providing a greater return in value. Tamanet Netwrap provides you with real value. Everyone makes a bad bale now and again, but what does it actually mean to you and, more importantly, to your business? When netwrap took over from fine twine for binding round bales, the higher quality of the bales being made became obvious. Quality in this respect was the protection the netwrap was able to provide to the valuable crop within. This was in contrast to the inability of twine to do anything more than hold the bale together. Round bales do provide a certain amount of weather protection by themselves, due to the roof-effect of

Now that netwrap is the recognised way of binding round bales, it has become easy to spot those that have been badly wrapped. This may be a result of incorrect baler set-up or, more likely, that the chosen netwrap is not able to fully cover the bale. Whatever the reason, the result is bad for the baler operator, especially so if baling for a customer on contract, but also bad from the point of retaining the value of the baled material. This latter point is, surely, the most important as this is why you make the bale in the first place. Consider this: Exposed edges of 10 cm each side means 15% of the bale width is not covered. Therefore, the netwrap is only doing 85% of its job! This is the equivalent of three bales in every 20 not being protected at all, which is quite an alarming statistic. Larger diameter bales are even more critical, as the greater bale circumference puts more of the total crop volume at risk. The diagram below is a stark reminder of how much crop is contained in the outer layer of a bale.

33% in the outer 15 cm 26% in the next 15 cm 20% in the next 15 cm 13% in the next 15 cm 8% in the inner 15 cm the crop stems being layered over and flattened against themselves, all in the same direction, almost like a thatch roof. Netwrap further enhances protection from rain of course, first by surface area covering and also from capillary action of water tracking down the strands of netwrap on the bale.

This is equally important, or even more so, in silage baling. After all these years the myth remains that ‘any net will do for silage baling’, thinking that it is not necessary for the net to fully cover the bale for silage, because it will eventually be wrapped in film giving it the protection. This is completely incorrect. Good fermentation comes from eliminating all the air from the bale. Any uncovered parts of the bale width will create fluffy shoulders on the bale. These become a natural ‘trap’, collecting air within as the crop is folded down by the wrapping film. Added to this is the risk that the exposed shoulders may contain tough stalks or stemmy material that can easily puncture the film, allowing yet more air inside the bale.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

“Minimising losses is key to ensuring home grown supplies last the winter and achieve the livestock performance producers are looking for,” says Research Scientist and forage specialist, Rhun Fychan, of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth. The remedy is simple: “Make the best silage you can,” he urges. “But even that needs to be done well to achieve the best results. Using edgeto-edge netwrap to achieve a consistently shaped bale, with square, edged shoulders is vital to achieving both the tonnage and quality of forage desired.” Mould growth leads to spoiled forage, less nutritional value per bale and ultimately the need for more bales to see you through the winter. In the quest to make the highest quality winter forage, the choice of a good netwrap is as important as any other element in the process. Longer length rolls bring about efficiency in operation, but the actual quality of performance of the netwrap is the most important factor. Many netwraps look alike when packaged and on the pallet. It is impossible to know how good they are at protecting your valuable forage until you begin to use it … and by then it may be too late. With Tamanet you know you get the best quality – every time.

Contact Ernest Thompson at +27 83-286-4147, +27(0)22482-2788 or ernest@eft.za.net. Also visit www.eftproducts. co.za for more information.

Botswana

AFGRI EQUIPMENT BOTSWANA

John Deere dealer of the year 2020

info@afgriequipment.co.za

ProAgri BNZ 15

SOIL: The farmer’s most important asset Part 11:

Grond

Soil is the most fundamental resource for the farmer, without which food and natural fibre cannot be produced. This article forms part of a series to highlight this resource.

GROUND WATER (III)

GROND:

Grond Insette/Produksie

DIE PRODUSENT SE D = deep percolation (drainage BELANGRIKSTE past the rootBATE zone) or capillary

oil water management is of cardinal importance in crop production. The purpose of soil water Deel 11: Grondwater (III) management is to continuously comply with the plant’s water needsNWK asBEPERK wellENas MARTIENS DU PLESSIS, GRONDKUNDIGE, PROFone CORNIE VAN HUYSSTEEN, DOSENT: GRONDKUNDE, UNIVERSITEIT VAN DIE VRYSTAAT can. Too little water places moisture stress onmees the plant, hulpbron lowering the crop Grond is die fundamentele vir die produsent waarsonder voedsel en natuurlike veseltoo nie geproduseer word nie. yield. Conversely, much kan water causes wateris logging conditions. InDie doel Grondwaterbestuur uiters belangrik in gewasproduksie. van grondwaterbestuur om deurlopend so goed moontlikwill in die this article soil iswater management se waterbehoeftes voldoen. Téof mínthe water plaas beplant discussed inte terms soilvogstremming water op die plant wat opbrengs verlaag; té véél water veroorsaak weer verbalance equation. suipingstoestande. In hierdie artikel bespreek ons grondwaterbestuur aan die hand van die grondwaterbalansvergelyking.

The soil water balance equation Grondwaterbalansvergelyking The soil water balance equation can be Die grondwaterbalansvergelyking kan wiskundig soos volg voorgestel word: mathematically described as follows: ΔW = (P+I) – (R±D+E+T) [equation] Waar: ΔW =∆W verandering in grondwaterinhoud Where: = change in soil water P = presipitasie oftewel reënval content I = toevoeging deur besproeiingswater R =P afloop = precipitation / rainfall vanaf die grondoppervlakte of dreinering verby die wortelsone D =I diep = perkolasie supplementation via irrigation E = verdampingsverliese vanuit die grond T = transpirasie water deur plantgemeenskappe op die grond R = run-off from the soil surface

rise from a water table E = evaporation losses from the soil Die grondwaterbalansvergelyking word skematies in Figuur 1 voorgestel. T = Transpiration by plant communities on the soil Verandering in grondwaterinhoud (ΔW)

Die grondwaterinhoud is dinamies oor tyd en veranderinge word deur ‘n The reeks faktore gebring. Die grondwaterinhoud vir die soil teweeg water balance equationis is grondgebruiker in die landbou van groot belang omdat dit waarskynFIGURE 1. beïnvloed. Die droëlik presented die grootste enkelein faktor is wat plantegroei landprodusent poog om die fisiese en morfologiese grondeienskappe só aan te wend dat dit reënwater optimaal opgaar en om dit dan weer Change indiesoil (∆W) in die nie-reëntye aan plante water beskikbaar tecontent stel. Die besproeiings produsent dieselfde doelwit, maar met dieisvoorbehoud dat oortolThe het soil water content dynamic over ligetime water nieand in die changes wortelsone opbou en die plante “versuip” nie. are brought about

a series of factors. Dieby verandering in grondwaterinhoud kan The volgenssoil ‘n paarwater metodes gemeet word, waarvan metodes direkte en ander to indirekte content is ofsommige major importance the metings is.

soil user in agriculture because it is greatest single factor Metthat die gravimetriese metodeplant word diegrowth. nat grond vooraf geweeg, influences The dry gedroog en weer geweeg. Die verskil in massa verteenwoordig die land physiwater wat inproducer die grond was. tries Dit word to dan utilise as ‘n fraksiethe van die droë grond uitgedruk. Wanneer die brutodigtheid van die of grond cal(g/g) and morphological properties beskikbaar is, word dit as ‘n volumebasis uitgedruk (mm/m) en word soil in such a way that it stores water na die volumetriese waterinhoud verwys. Laasgenoemde is meer optimally it available the verkieslik omdat ditand maklikmakes na die waterinhoud van die to profiel omgeskakel word deur dit met die te vermenigvuldig. plantskanduring non orgronddiepte low rainfall times. The irrigation Indirekte metings producer has the same Dieaim, eerste metode met behulp ‘n neutronwatermeter. Dit berus but iswith thevanproviso that excess op die beginsel dat ‘n neutronbron via ‘n toegangsbuis in die grond water does not build up in the root laat sak word. Die neutronbron straal vinnig bewegende neutrone uit and themet soil then become watzone na ‘n aantal botsings waterstofkerne vertraag word.water ’n Teller meet die verhouding tussen vinnige en stadige neutrone, wat in verlogged. houding met die waterstofinhoud van die grond is. Dit is belangrik dat The change in soil water content die neutronmeter reg gekalibreer is, anders word foutiewe lesings verkry. can be measured in a number of ways, of which some methods are direct and Tensiometers meet die matrikspotensiaal (suigspanning) in die grond indirect measurements. en others is ‘n aanduiding van die arbeid wat ‘n plant moet verrig om water probably the Direkte metings

vanuit die grond te onttrek. ‘n Keramiekkop word aan die onderkant van ‘n watergevulde buis gekoppel en in die grond geïnstalleer. Bomeasurements aanDirect die buis word ‘n drukmeter gekoppel wat die suigspanning meet wanneer die the droë grond die water deur die keramiekkop suig. With gravimetric method, the wet

soil is weighed beforehand, dried, and

Verskeie elektroniese toestelle is deesdae op die mark wat elke dag die then weighed The in water meet (selfs op verskeieagain. dieptes) en via SMSdifference of ander tegnologie, diemass data na ‘nrepresents rekenaar stuur. Diethe verandering in waterinhoud word water that was dan grafies oor tyd voorgestel. Dit is ‘n wonderlike hulpmiddel vir bein the soil. It is then expressed as a sproeiingskedulering.

fraction of the dried soil (g water /g soil). When the bulk density of the soil

Julie 2010

Presipitasie oftewel reënval (P)

Figuur 1: ‘n Skematiese voorstelling van die grondwaterbalansvergelyking.

A schematic representation of the soil water balance equation (the .ppt)

Vir die droëlandprodusent is reënval ‘n gegewe en deel van die is like available, it canhy be as die a natuur hulpbronne waarmee werk.expressed Die uitdaging is om

Vervolg op soil) bladsy and 36 volume basis (m3 water /m3 is then referred to as the volumetric water content. The latter is more pref-

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

erable as it can easily be converted into the water content of the profile by multiplying it by the depth of the soil. Indirect measurements The first method is with the help of a neutron moisture meter. This is based on the principle that a neutron source is lowered into the soil via an access tube. The neutron source radiates rapidly moving neutrons that are slowed down by a number of collisions with hydrogen nuclei (present in water). A counter measures the relationship between the fast and the slow neutrons which is related to the water content of the soil. It is important that the neutron meter measurements are correctly calibrated with the soil’s water constants, otherwise incorrect readings will be obtained. Tensiometers measure the matrix potential (suction tension) in the soil and is an indication of the work a plant must do to withdraw water from the soil. A small ceramic head is connected to a water-filled tube and installed into the soil. A pressure gauge is attached to the top of the tube in order to measure the suction tension when the dry soil sucks the water through the ceramic head. These days there are a number of electronic appliances on the market that measure the soil water contents on a daily basis (even at various depths) and send the data to a computer via SMS or other technology. The change in water content is then presented graphically over time. This is a wonderful aid for irrigation scheduling. Precipitation / rainfall (P) For the dry land producer, rainfall is a gift and part of the natural resources that he works with. The challenge is to convert the rainfall into a marketable product, such as grain, fibre, and meat, in the most effective way. In the soil water balance equation, it is the main source of water that wets the soil and therefore positively changes it. Accumulation of run-off water in low-lying places in fact increases the precipitation in those places. The addition of rain water can be managed by planting in such a way that critical growth periods correspond with periods with the highest likelihood of rainfall. Addition via irrigation water (I) Irrigation refers to the artificial addition of water (rainfall is thus excluded) and therefore brings about an increase in the soil water. P + I are the only water gains in the water balance equation. The soil water balance equation can be artificially influenced by farming practices to the advantage or disadvantage of the operations. 29

mm/uur

Botswana

Run-off from the soil surface (R) Run-off is the first loss of water in the water balance equation. It is directly influenced by infiltration. Water that does not infiltrate, remains standing on the surface of the soil or it runs off and is therefore lost for dry land production. Limitation of run-off losses is one of the most important aspects of the water balance equation that can be managed by the producer, in that practices must be focused on increasing water infiltration. When the topsoil is dry and is then wetted, the initial infiltration is very quick due to the low matrix potential and the water is in fact sucked into the soil. The infiltration rate decreases rapidly as the first pores are filled with water and it must then be conducted deeper. With time the infiltration rate decreases further until it reaches a point where it is constant, which is known as the final infiltration rate of that specific soil. This is equal to the saturated hydraulic conduction of the soil. In sand this is relatively quick (>100 mm/hour), but in silty and clayey soils this is much slower (<1 mm/hour). When the precipitation exceeds the infiltration rate, run-off will take place. One of the best known methods to increase water infiltration is to loosen the soil surface through mechanical methods, thus making it more receptive to the retention of water. The disadvantage of this is that a large excess of oxygen is introduced into the soil which increases microbe activity and, in turn, breaks down organic material more rapidly. The effect thereof is that micro-aggregates break down, the soil disperses and then closes up, which once again lowers the infiltration and increases the run-off.

The build-up of organic material in the topsoil is intended, amongst others, to increase infiltration. This happens when microbe activity forms water-stable aggregates on the surface, with relatively large pores in between, through which the water can infiltrate rapidly. Furthermore, plant remnants on the soil surface reduce the impact of the raindrops and slows down the flow of water, leaving the water more time to infiltrate. Chemical problems can also cause the topsoil to disperse and close up, thus reducing infiltration. The best known is sodium which is associated with the soil becoming brackish. Too much magnesium (>35% of the CEC) has the same effect. Both can be improved with the addition of agricultural gypsum.

Deep percolation or drainage past the root zone (D) Soil types differ greatly from each other where the ability to retain free water in the profile against deep percolation is concerned or, on the other hand, to allow it to percolate deeply past the root zone. Soil types with restricting layers retain the water against deep percolation and then make it available again to plant roots in the soil, often through capillary rise. The external drainage of these soils is poor. The well-known water-table soils of the Western Free State are perfect examples of this. In the water balance equation, D then has a positive value and is therefore a water profit. These types of soil are usually not the first choice for irrigation. On the other hand, some types of soil have no restricting layers and allows the water to flow through to the underlying geology. These are typically the deep well drained soil types. A significant amount of water can be lost to plant production in these soils. Because it is inherently a soil property, the land user cannot manipulate it. What is of importance though is that the land user must know what types of soil occur on his or her farm and only then the soil types can be utilised according to its drainage propThe relationship between infiltration rate and time of erties and full water provision (the .xls) potential.

Evaporation losses from the soil (E) A significant amount of water evaporates annually from the soil surface. When the soil is hot and dry and a light shower of rain (<5 mm) falls on the soil, it easily evaporates again within a day or two. During a year there are a number of showers like this that, without follow-up showers, the water will evaporate entirely. Also, of each larger shower of rain or rain period, 10 mm easily evaporates. In a fallow system, when land lies fallow for an entire year in order to accumulate water, about 60% to 70% of the total annual rainfall evaporates. When there is a crop on the land, this is considerably less, but nevertheless between 30% and 50 % of the rainwater is lost to evaporation. Evaporation is one of the factors that can be managed through agricultural practices. Plant residue on the soil surface plays an important role in providing shade for the soil and, as a result, less solar energy falls on the soil thus restricting the evaporation. This role is applicable as long as the soil surface is wet or moist. When the uppermost more or less 100 mm of the soil has already dried out (as is the case during most of the year), the effect of the plant residue and shade is very small, as the rate of water loss is subject to the rate of capillary rise. Under well-drained conditions this supplementation from the underlying layers of soil is very slow, about 0,1 to 0,2 mm water per day. The supplementation of water from shallow water tables (<600 mm from the soil surface) is, however, rapid and therefore the evaporation losses can be significant. The management of evaporation losses offers the innovative producer major opportunities as better management thereof will have a great influence on yield returns. Transpiration by plant communities (T) When the humidity of the atmosphere is lower than in the leaf of the plant (which is normally the case), there is a moisture pressure gradient between the inside of the leaf and the atmosphere. Water moves out of the leaf to the atmosphere (and cools the leaf). The leafâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moisture state is supplemented again from the soil. When the atmospheric demand is higher than the rate of supplementation from the soil, the plant wilts, it is under stress and photosynthesis is halted. When the soil is wet, the water is freely available and the plant roots can easily absorb water to provide it to the leaves. The plant remains turgid and photosynthesis is optimal. The drier the atmosphere, the higher the atmospheric evaporative demand and

ProAgri BNZ 15

the more the plants transpire. This is often the case in the western grain producing areas of South Africa. In the cooler and moister eastern grain areas the evaporative demand is much lower and the plants use much less water. Additionally all the water in the soil should only be used by the crop. There should therefore be no unnecessary transpiration losses via weeds. Excellent weed control is therefore the first control measure of the grain producer to restrict transpiration. Furthermore, the choice of crops and cultivars, as well as plant density, is important. As an example, unproductive shoots amongst maize may be seen as undesirable, as they pump an unnecessary quantity of water into the atmosphere. A plant density which creates too great a leaf area on the land without increasing the harvest returns, is unnecessary and simply increases transpiration. Transpiration must therefore be managed by the grain farmer in such a way that it optimises the harvest. Unproductive transpiration must also be eliminated. Interception When there is a crop on the land and a light shower of rain falls, the plants get wet without much of the rain falling on the soil. This water on the leaves of the plant evaporates rapidly

without making a contribution to the water balance equation. This loss is defined as interception. Fortunately, in totality it consists of a small percentage of the total rainfall, but with every shower of rain this loss is there. The producer cannot do much about it. References Bennie, ATP. 1981 Soil Science 354. Soil and water management. Unpublished class notes for GKD354. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Bennie, ATP. 1985. SA Co-op, Vol 5, Nr 1. Brady, NC. 1990. The nature and properties of soils. 10th ed. Macmillan publishing company, New York. ProAgri BNZ acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain.

A water table in a sandy soil with poor external drainage

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Pig production guide Part 8:

The value of keeping detailed records F

arming is a business. No business can survive without good administration. Keeping detailed records of your pig farming business is essential to remain profitable, avoid losses and keep control of your farm. Luckily, there are many programmes available that will allow you to keep digital records of your pig farm. You will also be able to have a visual representation of your records by receiving automatic graphs that are drawn based on the data that you enter. Investing in one of these computer programmes

will definitely regenerate the initial cost over time. Many types of records need to be kept on a pig farm. You need to stay updated with financial records, feed records, reproduction records of individual sows, and stock taking. Physical records should include the individual registration numbers of each pig for the stud farmer. Being organised is essential for timing insemination accurately. Use this information to develop your own records for effective service routines.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Setting up and following an effective heat detection and service plan for your farm helps you to: â&#x20AC;˘ Detect the signs of heat accurately â&#x20AC;˘ Schedule insemination at the optimum times This is essential for optimising breeding performance and achieving the best results. Review and adjust the routine periodically and develop an effective routine based on current best practice and information recorded on your farm. 33

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ProAgri BNZ 15

It is also important to make allowance for variations. Make sure you record this information for each female: • Tag number (weaning to oestrus interval) • Date and time of proestrus • Date, time, and duration of oestrus • Date and time of first standing heat • Date and time of all inseminations • Projected and actual return dates • Any other observations Include details such as: • Number of days between weaning and oestrus • Oestrus duration • Variations in the number of days between weaning and oestrus, and oestrus duration • Seasonal changes (such as increased returns or more days to service) • Weaning day • Weaning to service interval for your breeding herd (day of the week your sows exhibit first standing heat) • Duration of heat Clear records and coloured marks make it easy to know what is happening with each female and what the next step needs to be. Use different coloured spray markers and/or the position, shape, or number of marks, to clearly show the status of each female. It is extremely important to keep everyone informed and to provide training for relevant staff. A step-bystep manual can help everyone to follow the routine on the farm. Use record books to help ensure key information follows the routine on the farm. This will ensure that feed is ordered on time, heat observation and mating is done efficiently, and increase the number of litters annually.

All the effort of keeping records will be useless if you do not use the information to improve the management practices on your pig farm. The farmer should review recorded information regularly to determine any trends for the farm or for individual females. In doing so, the farmer can determine whether his herd is generally a two or three day standing heat herd, and tailor the insemination routine accordingly. In order to ensure a balanced feed Month

Number of sows

Number of replacement gilts

• • • •

Cost per kilogram of porkers produced Cost per kilogram of baconers produced Cost per actual kilogram of lean meat produced Margin over feed cost

Below is an example of a monthly female breeding animals stock register as it appeared in the Pig Industry Handbook of 1997.

Number of sows and replacement gilts that farrowed

Total number of piglets born alive

Number of litters weaned

Number of piglets weaned

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total budget, certain aspects of feed record keeping require special attention. Feed conversion ratios, monetary costs and cost of gain must be calculated for each group of pigs. Feed costs should consider: • Cost per kilogram of weaners produced

This table will allow you to keep track of the number of sows in the herd and how productive the sows are. If a sow does not produce enough piglets to meet the minimum average, she can be identified and culled. This will minimise feed wastage on unproductive individuals.

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Tel: +27 927459 4999 Cell:(0)53 +27 (0)82 9451 Cell: judy@nosering.co.za +27 (0)82 459 9451 E-mail: judy@nosering.co.za www.nosering.co.za www.nosering.co.za PO Box 1806, Vryburg, 8600, South Africa

Namibia

Irrigation made easy Part 8:

Irrigation efficiency

rrigation efficiency is a term used to describe how much of the water that is applied through an irrigation system gets stored in the soil within the root zone of the plant and becomes available to the plant. Efficiency is determined by: • How well water is distributed across the irrigated area. • The effectiveness of scheduling operations. • The effect of wind. Wind can have a significant effect on sprinkler performance. Spray patterns change, fine water droplets are blown away and 36

•

evaporation losses in the air are increased. Farmers should, where possible, avoid irrigating when strong winds are blowing. And, the impact of losses.

Atmospheric losses can be significant. With heat, water that is exposed to the air evaporates. Spray droplets in the air, especially small droplets that are suspended in the air and easily transported by wind, evaporate before they reach the plant or infiltrate into the soil. On hot, windy days these losses can be significant. It is often technically better to irrigate at night, or avoid

irrigating during the hottest times of the day. This is, however, difficult if the farmer lives some distance from the field. Evaporation from the soil surface is reduced when plants provide a full shade canopy, or when a mulch layer is

ProAgri BNZ 15

Sprinkler ve al y v ne pl i l p S u rag d to t en m ch ta t a

Evaporation from canal

Seepage W

it t

Crop root zone

Wasted water

in place. Good irrigation management includes the management of atmospheric losses. Conveyance losses occur between the water source and emitter. While some of these losses canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be avoided, leaks should be repaired as quickly as possible. Soil losses are inevitable. The nature of irrigation is such that the perfect distribution of water is never

achieved. If enough water is provided in the drier areas of the field, some water in wetter areas will pass below the root zone of the crop and not be available to plants. Systems are designed to keep these losses to a minimum. Distribution patterns will, however, change as emitters wear. The way in which water moves through and is stored in the soil is also affected by tillage and land use

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

practices. When individual types of irrigation systems are discussed in more detail in later sections, typical ranges of irrigation efficiency are given. These graphs represent the normal range of efficiencies measured in field tests. Further variations can occur as a result of local soils or climatic conditions. Field tests and systems evaluations can help a farmer to improve maintenance and management, increasing efficiency and production. Farmers should aim to achieve the best possible water use efficiency for their systems. Less efficient systems have reduced crop yields and waste water, energy, fertilisers and labour.

Next month we shall look at flood irrigation. This series is published with acknowledgement to the ARC Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals. Visit www.arc. agric.za for more information.

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ProAgri BNZ 15

Bulldoze your way to improved pastures

by Jaco Cilliers

f someone told a farmer that he does not need irrigation, additional seed or fertiliser to improve the quality of his pastures, but rather a bulldozer, most people will lose all faith in his credibility. In fact, bulldozing a pasture is the exact opposite of what you should logically do to improve pasture growth. However, some farmers in Namibia have found this method to be extremely effective. During 2020 ProAgri BNZ featured a series of articles on the methods that Namibian farmers can employ to improve their rangeland. Namibia will be severely affected by climate change and the Namibian livestock industry is in decline due to large-scale loss of palatable perennial grasses and widely spread bush encroachment. To counter this trend, the Department of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), together with industry partners such as the Namibian Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union, initiated and developed an innovative rangeland policy that can add N$4 billion per year to the GDP if fully implemented.

An area that was taken over by dense bush is flattened with the bulldozer and rollers that Koos has been using since 2017.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

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ProAgri BNZ 15

These proposed methods to rebuild Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rangeland differ greatly from one area to the next, as each region has a unique set of circumstances and challenges. Therefore, each article in the series examined a different approach that could be applied if the circumstances permitted it. One farmer that took these regenerative practices to heart was Koos Briedenhann from the farm Buffelhoek in the Otjiwarongo region of Namibia. Koos had a serious problem with bush encroachment on his farm. He found that bulldozing the bush is not only regenerating his pastures but is also profitable. Koos explains how it works. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We use a bulldozer and heavy rollers to flatten the bush. The larger pieces of wood are then chopped into smaller pieces and burned in a kiln to make charcoal. The charcoal is sold to recover the operating cost of the bulldozer. The smaller twigs and leaves are left on the ground surface to protect new growth from overgrazing. It also helps to prevent moisture loss through evaporation and

The larger pieces of wood are burnt in kilns to produce charcoal that can be sold to recover the operating costs of the bulldozer. releases natural carbon into the soil as it deteriorates over time. The seeds from previous seasons that lay dormant in the soil can germinate with the first rainfall of the season.â&#x20AC;? Once this initial natural rangeland growth is stimulated, it is up to the farmer to ensure that he regularly rotates the animals feeding in the camps to prevent overgrazing. The results are that a farmer can regenerate the natural rangeland on his farm, without having to plant or irrigate, or apply fertiliser. To learn more about this method of regenerating natural rangeland, contact Koos Briendenhann on +264(0)81-297-7607 or send an e-mail to koosbrnn@gmail.com.

A site that has been cleared of all the larger pieces of wood. The finer twigs and leaves are left to provide cover for new growth.

The same area as in photo 3 after eight months and 463 mm of rain. This 203-hectare camp was grazed by 125 cows with calves for 30 days during June/July 2020.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

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ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Zimbabwe

Use fertilisers from FSG Zambia for a successful crop yield. Soil Requirements • Cabbage can be grown in well drained soils, provided they are adequately fertilised and well supplied with H85 and Cosmoroot. Fertilisation • A basal dressing of 250 kg/ha SuperFert veg blend 2 (12:12:12) is recommended. • Application of SuperFert Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN 27%N) as a topdressing is recommended at a rate of 220 kg/ha. Topdressing can be done twice at three weekly intervals after transplanting.

Fert Seed & Grain Ltd +260 977 610 498 | +260 973 848 229 | +260 973 782 627

+ 263 78 271 5320 | Zimbabwe@meridian.africa

marketing@fsgzambia.co.zm | sale@fsgzambia.co.zm

74A Kew Drive, Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe

Omnia Fertilizer Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd 8 Paisley Road, Workington. Harare P.O. Box BW736 Borrowdale. Harare Tel: +263 242 781 246, 781 291, 781 304 FCT: +263 782 709 240 / 241 / 242 +263 772 142 707

PFUMVUDZA maize pack

1 plot t n a l p o t 2 Packs feed your that can r 1 year Family fo 63ha. .0 on only 0 46

ar o w h , A Z D PFUMVU tsa mhuri u hwekug

PACK CONTENTS Maize Seed

1kg

Grain Blend

OmniBoost

1kg

Ammonium Nitrate 8kg

K-Humate

1Litre

Lime

8kg 6kg

2 PACKS = 1 PFUMVUDZA PLOT

ProAgri BNZ 15

Air supported boom sprayer.

Protect your crop 3:

Choose between trailed, hitch or self-propelled sprayers I

n the previous issue we discussed different spray nozzles and the importance of making the right choice. Another choice must be made between models being drawn by a tractor, models carried on the hitch and self-propelled sprayers, but first some more information on the interesting method of using air-supported boom sprayers. Air supported boom sprayers Air-supported boom sprayers appeared in South Africa in the nineties, although the principle had already been launched abroad earlier. The principle of operation The tractor drives a fan, and the airstream is blown into a strong PVC bag or stocking. This airstream is then forced out through a series of holes at the bottom of the bag. Air speed at the outlets is approximately 50 m/second. The air volume and air speed are the same at each outlet across the length of the bag. The spray boom is mounted under the bag. The spray nozzles on the boom are placed 250 mm apart and are mounted at an angle of 30Â° to the vertical airstream. The airstream pushes the spray droplets to the plants or the soil. The air movement also ensures that the spray reaches the bottoms of the leaves efficiently. The outstanding features of the spray are that, instead of high volumes of water (250 litres/ha and more) and large droplets such as in conventional boom sprayers, the air supported boom

sprayer uses lower volumes (30 to 75 litres/ha) and smaller droplets being pushed by a strong vertical air stream towards the soil. Some of the farmers who purchased the sprayers are satisfied that they apply herbicides and pesticides very effectively. They particularly emphasised the following beneficial properties of the sprayers and the spraying principles:

Air supported sprayer (75 â&#x201E;&#x201C;/ha) = 37 500 litres for 500 hectares Conventional sprayer (250 â&#x201E;&#x201C;/ha) = 125 000 litres for 500 hectares The savings in the quantity of water to be supplied in the field are therefore obvious, especially where water needs to be transported over long distances to fields.

Less water At 30 to 75 litres of water per hectare commonly used by air supported boom sprayers, the cost and effort to transport clean water to the fields are immediately alleviated. Comparing the water needs of an air supported boom sprayer and a conventional sprayer for 500 hectares, the results are:

Tractor hitched sprayer.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

Zimbabwe Self-propelled sprayer. Reduction of drift When spraying in windy conditions, the downwardly directed air stream of air supported boom sprayers ensures that less spray will drift and be lost due to the prevailing wind. This improves spray efficiency. Hydraulically controlled boom The sprayer’s well designed, hydraulically controlled spray boom makes the handling of the sprayer easier. What does it cost to spray? It is important to determine what the mechanisation cost of a spray programme is above and beyond the cost of the spraying itself. Factors determining the mechanisation cost are the purchase cost of the spray tractor and the sprayer, the speed at which the sprayer works, and the width of the spray. In this regard, the Mechanisation Guide of JP le Roux is very handy to read the cost per hectare or per hour. In table 1 the cost for different sprayers is linked to four-wheel drive tractors from 60 to 65 kW. The guide gives all the information on spray costs with tractors from 30 to 90 kW and a series of sprayers. More and more self-propelled sprayers are seen on farms, and these sprayers can cover large areas per

day, because they also work at a higher speed. A further benefit is that the technology with which they are equipped makes the calibration process much easier. The cost of these sprayers is shown in Table 2. With the sprayer properly checked, the correct nozzles selected, the correct spray applied as prescribe on the label, the sprayer correctly calibrated,

Self-propelled sprayers with engines from 100 to 150 kW Boom width

Speed km/hour

Cost R/hour

Cost R/ ha

24 m

2 546,78

157,21

24 m

2 713,14

125,51

24 m

2 767,40

102,50

Self-propelled sprayers with engines from 150 to 210 kW Boom width

Speed km/hour

Cost R/hour

Cost R/ ha

30 m

3 764,03

185,88

30 m

3 792,59

140,47

30 m

3 621,15

113,22

Self-propelled sprayers with engines from 210 to 260 kW Boom width

Speed km/hour

Cost R/hour

Cost R/ ha

36 m

4 074,90

167,69

36 m

4 146,30

127,67

36 m

4 203,42

103,79

Tractor 60 – 65 kW 4WD Speed Km/hour 8,5

Cost R/hour

Cost R/ha

400/600 ℓ 3pt

Working width 3,6 m

314,70

158,22

800 ℓ 3pt

7,2 m

8,5

331,69

83,38

800 ℓ 3pt

12 m

8,5

331,69

50,03

2 800 ℓ trailed

12 m

8,5

1 397,51

210,79

2 000 ℓ air supported booM

16 m

8,5

1 031,85

116,72

and also with knowledge of the cost of spraying per hectare, you are ready to start spraying.

Table 2 Cost of self-propelled sprayers.

Table 1 Spraying costs for tractor sprayers

Type of sprayer

Trailed sprayer.

To summarise A good sprayer is paramount in a successful crop production operation. Where farmers are increasingly switching to no-till operations, a good sprayer is indispensable for success. With thanks to JP le Roux, compiler of the Mechanisation Guide. The Mechanisation Guide can be ordered from Koos le Roux at +27 82-828-9531 or koosleroux@ live.co.za.

ProAgri BNZ 15

RUBIN 10 HIGH EFFICIENCY. HIGH ACREAGE. HIGH YIELDS.

RUBIN 10 - its superior clearance and 25” discs allow the Rubin 10 to work and control a greater amount of organic matter. Its symmetrical arrangement of discs is unique in the industry and ensures work in a straight line without any lateral offset. Working in a straight line saves fuel and optimizes GPS guidance.

■ Hydraulic depth control adjustable from the tractor cab. ■ Unique symmetrical disc arrangement for optimized GPS and fuel economy. ■ Individually mounted and guided discs with non-stop spring-loaded safety device for high speed work.

Contact your nearest dealer to find out more about LEMKEN Karel Munnik, director, 082 412 2577, k.munnik@lemken.com Blackie Swart, area sales manager, 082 404 9651, b.swart@lemken.com

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 15

THE

RAINMAKER www.reinke.com

Patrick Ellis

+27 (0)31 350 4525

patrickellis@reinke.com

ProAgri BNZ 15

ProAgri BNZ 15

Articles inside

Bulldoze your way to improved pastures

Pig production guide Part 8: The value of keeping detailed records

Protect your crop Part 3: Choose between trailed, hitch or self-propelled sprayers

Tamanet gives real value to your bales

Guidelines for livestock production during the drought

Pivot irrigation: Superior design, structure and quality makes Valley the obvious choice

Produce profit on your pastures with Reinke Irrigation

Ctrack support ensures Client satisfaction

Tal-Tec’s circular force pens: Turn farming into a breeze

Orion Irresistible Pecans: Plant productive pecan nuts in Southern Africa

Spray to protect your crops Part 13: Safety: Storage and disposing of chemical containers

Talbert is the farmer’s irrigation ally