Farmer's Weekly

As the South African economy limps its way through the various lockdown levels, all of which are aimed at slowing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate, we’re getting to learn more about the fragile links that enable the various sectors t

IFU Fruit Juice Conference, Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch. Visit ifu-fruitjuice.com/event/ JuiceConference2020. The Royal Show, Pietermaritzburg.Visit royalshow.co.za. (Previously 12 to 15 May) Nampo Harvest Day, Bothaville.Visit grainsa.co.za/pa

EDITOR Denene Erasmus (denene@caxton.co.za) MANAGING EDITOR Janine Ryan (janiner@caxton.co.za) NEWS EDITOR Julinda Schroeder (julindas@caxton.co.za) ART DIRECTOR Vian Roos DESIGNER Louis Kruger CHIEF COPY EDITOR Paul Sulter COPY EDITOR Fanie de

Due to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council has announced a nationwide lockdown until 30 April, resulting in many events in the Farmer’s Diary being cancelled or postponed. At the tim

Send your letters to: Farmer’s Weekly, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123, SA, fax 011 889 0862, or email farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. The views and opinions expressed on the letters page do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly or Caxton. Reader

According to the 2017 Hortgro Tree Census report, South African producers planted 12 265ha to pear trees in 2017. Thirty-seven percent of these were planted in the Ceres Valley, followed by Langkloof at 14%. The most popular varieties grown in South

In countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya where partial or nationwide lockdowns were implemented in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the initial responses were met with some

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic gears up to reveal its full strength in South Africa and around the world, life as we know it has already changed dramatically. Among these changes is people’s consumption behaviour, mainly due to the co

While digital auctions are not new to the industry, the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and subsequent ban on ‘open-cry’ auctions, forced role players to search for alternative solutions to preserve the transparent price-making nature of au

Difficult conditions have forced the Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA) to increase its pollination tariff just over 15% for this year, recommending that the annual pollination cost in the Western Cape for 2020 should be R980 plus VAT. Acco

Father-and-son team Dirk and Herman Janse van Rensburg of Pauciflora Farming and Arlington Steelworks, recently distributed 250 bags of maize meal to the needy in the town’s local township. Herman said they had been doing this for the past number of

To offset a slump in demand of up to 80%, Belgians have been urged to eat more potato chips to help potato farmers and processors that are struggling during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a Reuters report. As the world’s la

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has had a significant impact on the purchasing behaviour of consumers. “Through all the restrictions and lockdown measures, it seems that consumers have penned the word ‘canned

Iran exported about 7,1 million tons of agricultural and food products valued at over US$5,8 billion (about R109 billion) in the financial year ended 19 March, the head of the agriculture ministry’s planning and economic affairs department, Shahrokh

Nestlé has signed a memorandum of understanding with the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, as part of the Grown Sustainably in Africa (GSA) programme. The three-year partnership aims to support 25 000 farmers and 50 small and medium enterprises (SMEs

Receiving a loan with a six-month repayment delay, such as the recently announced coronavirus disease (COVID-19) loan guarantee scheme, could greatly assist in improving cash flow for qualifying agribusinesses. However, the sheer size of the agricult

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a very significant impact on the Namibian agricultural industry, and the Swakara industry in particular. This was according to Piet Gous, president of the Namibia Agricultural Union. He told Farmer’

It is estimated that billions of dollars worth of food is going to waste in the US as farmers are faced with massive surpluses in production due to disruptions to the supply chain. According to a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition report, the

The South African summer grains and oilseed harvests are set to be the second largest on record, with the country to remain a net exporter of 2,5 million tons of these commodities. This was according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, who

Small-scale milk producers could start their own artisan cheese-making businesses for a capital outlay of just R24 000. This was according to research by Dr Faith Nyamakwere of the Department of Animal Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU). Nyamak

It has been a rough first few months of the year for the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank). The bank, a wholly government owned development finance institution, was experiencing a liquidity shortfall following two cre

Applications are now open for the second annual GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition. Generation Africa, which launched the competition in 2019, provided support to young entrepreneurs in Africa’s agrifood sector by linking them with tools, knowled

This year, Zimbabwe will decentralise tobacco selling in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This was according to Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, during a recent televised address. Decentralising the sell

Much has been said and written about the economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. It should be remembered, however, that the global economy had already slowed down by the time the effects of the outbrea

South Africa is currently facing a shortage of garlic due to lockdown regulations to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in different countries around the world, which is slowing down imports, according to Corrie Bezuidenhout, ch

It is expected that it will take years for South Africa’s craft distillers and brewers to recover from the nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and resultant prohibition on the sale of alcohol. This emerged in a

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a serious impact on international grain and oilseed markets. Moreover, pressure on commodity prices, for maize in particular, was further compounded by massive decreases in global oil prices. Dawie

While international agreements such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety are in place, genetic modification (GM) and, more recently, genome-editing regulations, are governed primarily by national legislation. This means that each country or territo

As mentioned before, I am closely involved in a number of programmes assisting communal farmers in the Eastern Cape with holistic land and livestock management. As part of this, I collaborate with the Savory Institute, which helps us with teaching re

• The combination of the coronavirus disease pandemic and malnutrition will lead to long-term shock waves. • A multi-sectoral approach is needed to strenghthen state capacity to deal with these crises. • COVID-19 has exposed the inequitable way in

• Each province in South Africa has its own hunting legislation; hunters therefore need to obtain the appropriate permit. • Hunting in South Africa faces many pressures, including negative public perception, climate change and the threat of expropri

• Beef producer Mike Rennie bases his grazing management on the principles of the Resource Consulting Services’ Grazing for Profit School. • He uses a home-made grid sampling device to calculate the approximate dry matter mass of the grass in a graz

• Potato farmer CT van der Merwe keeps chemical usage to a minimum to produce stronger, healthier plants. • He also manages water usage with great care to ensure continued production despite low rainfall. • By using his own seed potatoes, Van der M

• Particle size is the most important physical property to consider when applying liming material. • Australian farmers are regarded as the leaders in most aspects of combating soil acidity. Much of the research done in Australia is also applicable

• Increasing resistance in insect pests has led to an increase in the need to control these pests biologically. • Two parasitoids have been identified to control the maize stem borer and fall armyworm. • It is hoped that within two to three years t

Insect pests, such as maize stem borers and fall armyworm, increasingly challenge food production around the world. Huge demands for crops have meant agricultural systems have simplified and frequently focused on single crops. In monocropping systems

In South Africa, two viruses are a particular threat to lettuce: tomato spotted wilt (TSWV) and lettuce mosaic virus (LMV). Both can be highly destructive and spread quickly via vectors such as sucking insects and thrips. One of these vectors, the gr

Who knows what the right price is for any given product for sale on a fresh produce market? It’s certainly not as simple as saying that what a buyer pays is the right price. The reason for this is that market prices are determined by numerous factors

Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin” because it is formed when the sun shines on our skin. People in cold climates, the elderly and even young adults may have a deficiency of this vitamin from working long hours indoors. Wearing sunblock also

YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY WITH SOAP. YOURSELF FROM OTHERS, AND KEEP AT LEAST 2M AWAY. AVOID PHYSICAL CONTACT WHEN GREETING OTHERS. A FABRIC MASK WHEN GOING OUT OR WHILE WORKING. YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE, USING YOUR BENT ELBOW OR A

The coronavirus disease lockdown is a learning curve for us all. It appears that handling cash is just one of several ways in which person-to-person transmission can occur. “Digital platforms provide an efficient, fast, safe and nearly instantaneous

WRITE YOUR BOOK IN 100 DAYS by Sarah Bullen & Kate Emmerson with Tessa Graham (Quickshift, R280) These authors assure you after 10 days of planning and 90 days of “solid, frenzied” writing, you will not only have completed your first draft, but als