There is a lovely word in the English language -- vicissitude. It is a noun and refers to the way things change. Speak of the vicissitudes of life and your audience will listen intently, aware that your tidings might mean some adaption is required in their world.
We know that much is uncertain in life, and agriculture is no exception. A year ago, this country was expecting one of its greatest maize (corn) harvests yet. It is one of the posts still read at least once a day on this website in 2015. Now, this year, as a result of a drought, we are warned about possible food price rises.
Across the world in the USA, the news this morning is that gains made in corn futures are being capped by crop-friendly weather. The weather means ideal conditions for developing corn and soybean crops, so we expect to pay the farmer less for our food. This weather comes after three months of heavy rains. Today, in the same broadcast, we read about a 50-mile stretch (80 kilometers) along the Illinois River closed to traffic after that state's wettest June on record. The weather is one reason that US wheat is currently more difficult to market in Egypt and other countries, being $50 per tonne more expensive than wheat shipped out of the Black Sea region (Russia and the Ukraine).
How does the person of the soil cope with the Weather in running the business? Risk management and Commodity trading are two of the 180 chapters in The Agri Handbook which cover strategies of adapting to the vicissitudes of farming.
We apologise for the delay in printing the next edition of the publication, and have made the 5th edition a free download (see here). Much patience is required each time the publication comes together -- it is not an in-house project and some of the processes are outside of our control. We are confident that the edition to come will delight you, once again.
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Monday, 6 July 2015
Half a century
The Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) is the umbrella body representing those with an interest in range and pastures. Of course, that covers a wide range of disciplines including ecology, botany, zoology, range and
pasture science, animal science, soil science and genetics.
Our very best greetings to them: the organisation turns 50 this month! The annual congress will be held at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from the 21 - 23 July.
The GSSA is relevant to several chapters in The Agri Handbook, including Rangeland/veld, Forage & pastures and Seeds & seedlings.
Find the review of The Agri Handbook which appeared in the GSSA's African Journal of Range & Forage Science here.
Our very best greetings to them: the organisation turns 50 this month! The annual congress will be held at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from the 21 - 23 July.
The GSSA is relevant to several chapters in The Agri Handbook, including Rangeland/veld, Forage & pastures and Seeds & seedlings.
Find the review of The Agri Handbook which appeared in the GSSA's African Journal of Range & Forage Science here.
Monday, 8 June 2015
Gauteng farmers sought for Nguni cattle breeding project
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
has called on aspirant famers to apply for participation in the Nguni cattle breeding project.
In
partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation, the Nguni
cattle breeding project involves the loaning of 30 pregnant Nguni
heifers and one bull to emerging
black farmers for breeding. After
a period of five years, participating farmers are expected to return
the same amount of cattle, offspring or an equivalent rand value. This is the second intake of qualifying black farmers who want to form part of the project in Gauteng.
The
main objective of this project is to reintroduce the Nguni breed of
cattle into the province in large numbers, focusing specifically on
emerging black farmers. The project is aimed at empowering these farmers with livestock farming skills and developing their entrepreneurship abilities. The Nguni cattle have been chosen specifically because they are an indigenous breed and can thrive under difficult conditions.
- The criteria to participate in the project includes providing proof of being South African citizens and residing in the Gauteng province.
- The applicants must be “black” as defined in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003.
- Any applicant already owning cattle, must provide a health certificate issued by the local veterinarian with particular emphasis on the bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis status of the existing herd.
- Applicants must provide proof of having access to land suitable for cattle farming, a minimum of 500 hectares in size, with sufficient grazing as per carrying capacity of the land and the expansion of the herd.
- The aforementioned land must be improved with basic infrastructure - for instance, perimeter and internal fences, suitable handling facilities, adequate water facilities, dipping facilities, feeding equipment for supplements and camps
Applications close on 30 June 2015. Farmers can visit
www.gdard.gpg.gov.za for application forms.
Read overviews of Indigenous breeds, beef cattle and animal improvement & breeders in The Agri Handbook.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Skills Handbook Pre-order Edition Now Available
The need for training was where the Agri Handbook had its origin. The call centre of which I was a part received several calls for hydroponic and other agricultural training. I set off to do some research since agriculture was not featured in the early skills publication ... and that research became the National Agricultural Directory and, after four editions, The Agri Handbook for South Africa!
Find the Agricultural education & training and Careers & employment chapters in The Agri Handbook, two of the 180 chapters in the publication.
Good news for those in charge of Human Resources and training at agri-food (and other) companies is that the new Skills Handbook pre-order edition is now available. Read about it here. Some agricultural trainers like Buhle Farmers Academy, Agri Skills Transfer and Skills for Africa have a presence in that publication, as well as in both the current and forthcoming editions of The Agri Handbook.
Find the Agricultural education & training and Careers & employment chapters in The Agri Handbook, two of the 180 chapters in the publication.
Good news for those in charge of Human Resources and training at agri-food (and other) companies is that the new Skills Handbook pre-order edition is now available. Read about it here. Some agricultural trainers like Buhle Farmers Academy, Agri Skills Transfer and Skills for Africa have a presence in that publication, as well as in both the current and forthcoming editions of The Agri Handbook.
Sunday, 31 May 2015
Western Cape announces search the top agri professionals
The Western Cape, one of South Africa's nine provinces, this week officially launched the search for the 2015 Farmworker of the Year. The event is co-sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Shoprite.
Winners will be chosen in 11 categories, including best irrigation
specialist, agri-processing specialist and technical operator. Over 6000
agriculture employees have entered the competition since 2002. Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, said the competition was aimed at honouring excellence in the sector.
“Like we celebrate the heroes of our sportsfields, we need to celebrate the heroes of our economy. Our agri-professionals play a vital role in ensuring that the produce delivered to our shelves, and to outlets across the world, is of a very high standard. They are helping us to grow this sector , and together, we are building a sustainable economic future.”
Jerome Thompson, the 2014 winner, said he has had a busy schedule since he scooped a top prize last year. Thompson beat out stiff competition from more than 1 000 entrants in 15 regions.
Part of his win included a cash prize and an overseas trip. Thompson, a manager at a farm in Kanonkop, will be travelling to France to meet with agri-businesses in the next few months.
“Since I won the competition, residents in my area recognise me and people turn to me for advice. My goal is to start my own business. I also want to make a real difference in my area and would like to start a centre for development,” said Thompson.
This year regional competitions will be held in the following areas:
Labour and agriculture is one of the opening chapters in The Agri Handbook. Find it here.
“Like we celebrate the heroes of our sportsfields, we need to celebrate the heroes of our economy. Our agri-professionals play a vital role in ensuring that the produce delivered to our shelves, and to outlets across the world, is of a very high standard. They are helping us to grow this sector , and together, we are building a sustainable economic future.”
Jerome Thompson, the 2014 winner, said he has had a busy schedule since he scooped a top prize last year. Thompson beat out stiff competition from more than 1 000 entrants in 15 regions.
Part of his win included a cash prize and an overseas trip. Thompson, a manager at a farm in Kanonkop, will be travelling to France to meet with agri-businesses in the next few months.
“Since I won the competition, residents in my area recognise me and people turn to me for advice. My goal is to start my own business. I also want to make a real difference in my area and would like to start a centre for development,” said Thompson.
This year regional competitions will be held in the following areas:
- Berg River
- Breede Valley
- Horsemanship
- Durbanville
- Elgin, Grabouw, Vyeboom, Villiersdorp
- Franschhoek
- Hexvallei
- Klein Karoo
- Koup (Central Karoo)
- Langeberg
- Olifants River
- Overberg
- Piket-Bo-Berg
- Stellenbosch
- Swartland
- Witzenberg
Labour and agriculture is one of the opening chapters in The Agri Handbook. Find it here.
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Rhodes and skelms in Africa
Note for our international readers: "skelm" is a South African word meaning "scoundrel" or "worthless fellow".
Were you aware that the month of May is "Africa Month"?
Government has been encouraging South Africans to participate in the celebration, which will culminate in Africa Day on 24 May at the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria. President Jacob Zuma will lead the celebrations under the theme: “We are Africa – Opening the doors of learning and culture from Cape to Cairo”.
A previous figurehead who used the phrase "Cape to Cairo", of course, was Cecil Rhodes who dreamt of a British empire spanning the length of Africa. Lately one would be hard pressed to find a proponent of the erstwhile colonialist and skelm, whose statue at the University of Cape Town was pooed on and became the subject of national invective before being bundled out of sight.
It is easy, with hindsight, to see what was inappropriate and politically incorrect. At the time, Rhodes was feted and had all sorts of honours bestowed on him. Streets and buildings, universities -- even a country (Rhodesia) were named after him. He was regarded as self-made man, hero and so on (unless you were indigenous, black or boer, and had had your land pinched). It makes one wonder what figures of today, currently praised, will be vilified tomorrow. What figures, put down today, will have their star rise -- perhaps after they have gone?
Empires rise and fall, and have done so for as long we have records, and probably before that too. They bring with them legislative frameworks and economic systems. They build roads and other infrastructure and leave us speaking the same language, sometimes literally. They bring a sense of purpose and unity, including for those who oppose the empire. And then the empire is replaced, sometimes by another one. Sometimes its passing is also the passing of the common denominator that held its opponents together and that those who were united now fall out amongst themselves. It can be that what follows the empire is nothing to really write home about, and those left behind mill around, dimly aware that something significant has passed. But we digress.
“The unity of the continent is driven through the African Union’s programmes to attain its vision as articulated in the Agenda 2063. The continent guided by its citizens will strive for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,"says the press release. "The Africa month theme 'We are Africa' is a declaration and celebratory statement of pride, which fosters inclusivity from all role-players and stakeholders".
We need campaigns and programmes like this. We need to know that there is more in common than what separates us. When this is accepted, we can move on to earning a living and putting food on our plates, something we have made a grim enough task for half the people in this country and some 795 million people globally.
Find the chapters on Africa and Food security in The Agri Handbook.
Were you aware that the month of May is "Africa Month"?
Government has been encouraging South Africans to participate in the celebration, which will culminate in Africa Day on 24 May at the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria. President Jacob Zuma will lead the celebrations under the theme: “We are Africa – Opening the doors of learning and culture from Cape to Cairo”.
A previous figurehead who used the phrase "Cape to Cairo", of course, was Cecil Rhodes who dreamt of a British empire spanning the length of Africa. Lately one would be hard pressed to find a proponent of the erstwhile colonialist and skelm, whose statue at the University of Cape Town was pooed on and became the subject of national invective before being bundled out of sight.
It is easy, with hindsight, to see what was inappropriate and politically incorrect. At the time, Rhodes was feted and had all sorts of honours bestowed on him. Streets and buildings, universities -- even a country (Rhodesia) were named after him. He was regarded as self-made man, hero and so on (unless you were indigenous, black or boer, and had had your land pinched). It makes one wonder what figures of today, currently praised, will be vilified tomorrow. What figures, put down today, will have their star rise -- perhaps after they have gone?
Empires rise and fall, and have done so for as long we have records, and probably before that too. They bring with them legislative frameworks and economic systems. They build roads and other infrastructure and leave us speaking the same language, sometimes literally. They bring a sense of purpose and unity, including for those who oppose the empire. And then the empire is replaced, sometimes by another one. Sometimes its passing is also the passing of the common denominator that held its opponents together and that those who were united now fall out amongst themselves. It can be that what follows the empire is nothing to really write home about, and those left behind mill around, dimly aware that something significant has passed. But we digress.
“The unity of the continent is driven through the African Union’s programmes to attain its vision as articulated in the Agenda 2063. The continent guided by its citizens will strive for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,"says the press release. "The Africa month theme 'We are Africa' is a declaration and celebratory statement of pride, which fosters inclusivity from all role-players and stakeholders".
We need campaigns and programmes like this. We need to know that there is more in common than what separates us. When this is accepted, we can move on to earning a living and putting food on our plates, something we have made a grim enough task for half the people in this country and some 795 million people globally.
Find the chapters on Africa and Food security in The Agri Handbook.
Monday, 4 May 2015
What value do you place on agricultural land?
What do you like about farm life? Most people would mention the sense of space and sky that stand in contrast to the urban living conditions.
The Afrikaans agricultural weekly magazine Landbouweekblad reported last week that the world's largest cattle farm is on the market. Situated in Southern Australia, Anna Creek Station is 23 000 km² (12 427 mi²), the size of South African province KwaZulu-Natal. For anyone who enjoys that feeling of space that farming gives, this one definitely takes the cake!
It made us wonder about the general size and price of agricultural land on the globe, and we found that The Irish Farmers Journal had just done some homework in this regard. Drawing on information from the World Bank, it compared land in countries mostly from the developed world, with two agricultural heavy weights thrown in. The comparisons make for interesting reading.
Look at the names of these countries for a moment: USA, Brazil, Argentina, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Where do you suppose agricultural land would be the most expensive? The cheapest?
Where would you expect more of the country's land to be given over to agriculture?
Land price ranked reads: UK [€10,840 per acre], Ireland [€9,890 per acre], New Zealand [€9,410 per acre], France [€5,790 per acre], Argentina [€4,000 per acre], USA [€2,600 per acre], Australia [€1,020 per acre], Brazil [€778 per acre].
An acre is just over 0.4 of a hectare. You will have an idea of the average price in your own country (if it isn't listed here), and be able to work out where you would fit on the list.
Land given over to agriculture: UK (71%), Ireland (66%), Australia and France (53%), USA (51%), New Zealand (50%), Argentina (49%), Brazil (33%).
There is a correlation between price and the size of the country. The money you pay for land also depends on its fertility ... and profitability. In the USA, the price of agricultural land varies for the following activities: wine region, €14,900/acre; corn, €8,288/acre; dairy, €4,845/acre; wheat belt, €4,526/acre; cotton, €2,969/acre; sugarcane, €2,370/acre; pastureland, €2,245/acre.
Find a sample of South African prices here. The question of agricultural land value in South Africa is a loaded one. Commercial agriculture has pointed out repeatedly that enough land passes through the market every year for government to have met its land reform target long ago. The problem is: if word got out that government was about to buy land on this scale, the price of agricultural land would go through the roof! And so our land reform progresses slowly, chugging along ...
Let's just hope this was not too high a price!
The Afrikaans agricultural weekly magazine Landbouweekblad reported last week that the world's largest cattle farm is on the market. Situated in Southern Australia, Anna Creek Station is 23 000 km² (12 427 mi²), the size of South African province KwaZulu-Natal. For anyone who enjoys that feeling of space that farming gives, this one definitely takes the cake!
It made us wonder about the general size and price of agricultural land on the globe, and we found that The Irish Farmers Journal had just done some homework in this regard. Drawing on information from the World Bank, it compared land in countries mostly from the developed world, with two agricultural heavy weights thrown in. The comparisons make for interesting reading.
Look at the names of these countries for a moment: USA, Brazil, Argentina, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Where would you expect more of the country's land to be given over to agriculture?
Land price ranked reads: UK [€10,840 per acre], Ireland [€9,890 per acre], New Zealand [€9,410 per acre], France [€5,790 per acre], Argentina [€4,000 per acre], USA [€2,600 per acre], Australia [€1,020 per acre], Brazil [€778 per acre].
An acre is just over 0.4 of a hectare. You will have an idea of the average price in your own country (if it isn't listed here), and be able to work out where you would fit on the list.
Land given over to agriculture: UK (71%), Ireland (66%), Australia and France (53%), USA (51%), New Zealand (50%), Argentina (49%), Brazil (33%).
There is a correlation between price and the size of the country. The money you pay for land also depends on its fertility ... and profitability. In the USA, the price of agricultural land varies for the following activities: wine region, €14,900/acre; corn, €8,288/acre; dairy, €4,845/acre; wheat belt, €4,526/acre; cotton, €2,969/acre; sugarcane, €2,370/acre; pastureland, €2,245/acre.
Find a sample of South African prices here. The question of agricultural land value in South Africa is a loaded one. Commercial agriculture has pointed out repeatedly that enough land passes through the market every year for government to have met its land reform target long ago. The problem is: if word got out that government was about to buy land on this scale, the price of agricultural land would go through the roof! And so our land reform progresses slowly, chugging along ...
Let's just hope this was not too high a price!
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