ProAgri BNZ 06

ProAgri B otswa n a / N am i b ia/ ia / Zim b ab w e

No 06

Free

HSD improves efficiency

Upgrade your workhorse Botswana p 33

www.agri4all.com

Namibia p 35

Zimbabwe p 41

www.proagri.co.za

Letter from the Editor

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black swan is a rare event that can be classified as unpredictable and catastrophic and having a disruptive influence on a significant number of people. The Coronavirus 2019 is a classic example. This insignificant disease from somewhere far away in China suddenly spread across the world and caused the world economy to go through a sudden and very sharp dip due to the uncertainty it brought. Furthermore, the ripple effect of the shutdown of worldwide economic activities will be dire. Some economists reckon that China, which depends heavily on their manufacturing industry that involves a lot of human activity, will never recover completely. Mind you, the dozen or so countries on the top of the list will also be severely affected. It is peculiar but very saddening that the first death in the BNZ-countries is the 30 year old Zororo Makamba, a famous Zimbabwean television journalist. We send our deepest condolences to his family. When going to print, Zimbabwe (3), Namibia (7) and Botswana (0) are still three of the few countries where the

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number of cases is nominal and the increases slow-moving. Touch wood. The border closures and restrictions on movement are a pain though. We can only hope that the economy and our activities will spring back to normal after the crisis is over. Besides South Africa, it seems as if Southern Africa overall is going to be minimally affected. We also had the advantage of hindsight after we saw what happened in China and how they responded. With diligence, their disaster management and medical industry brought it back to manageable numbers. They did a really fantastic job in ensuring containment in their country at last. The governments of the BNZ-countries acted in time. This is reassuring and when followed diligently, the spread will be minimal. We can also only hope that the virus doesn’t slip undetected past our containment and precautionary measures to cause havoc among the vulnerable of our populace. Our health care systems will struggle to cope. The other challenge, which is less of a possibility and more real, is the immediate future of the foreign trade from especially China. Southern Africa depends on China for many manufactured products, and our commodities need to be exported to a country that reduced their economic activities. Let’s hope circumstances in China will be back to normal soon. Please stay home as much as possible during the following month or two and rather read our magazines. WhatsApp your name, surname, country, main agricultural activity and e-mail address to +27(0)84-041-1722 in order to receive the magazine on WhatsApp. It will be less than 15 MB per issue. Farm smartly! Du Preez de Villiers dupreez@proagri.co.za

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Content 3. Isuzu expands their D-MAX 250 series with auto boxes 5. Falcon: 35 years of our innovation for your success. 6. Agrico’s High Speed Disk pays itself in one season 7. Standard Bank: Farmers, understand your business risks 8. How to handle your beef cattle, Part 5. 13. Bayer offers tailored and profitable solutions to farmers 14. AGCO discusses harvesting and storage 15. Soil, the farmer’s most important asset, Part 5. 18. What livestock farmers need to know about climate change 24. Water wise farmers build earth dams, Part 4. 29. Spray to protect your crops, Part 6. 33. Botswana’s latest disaster: A locust outbreak 35. Saving Namibia’s livestock industry, Part 2. 41. John Deere invests in Zimbabwe’s agriculture

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

Cover Isuzu did amazing upgrades to their DMax series. It is worth considering this tough and reliable Japanese pick-up when you go for your next trade-in. Read more about its new features on page 3.

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

577 Russouw Street Die Wilgers, Pretoria, South Africa +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 Du Preez de Villiers > +27 82-598-7329 dupreez@proagri.co.za Reporters Jaco Cilliers > +27 71-893-6477 jaco@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 79-524-0934 xander@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 Manager 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 Izel Zeelie > +27 12-803-0782 izel@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

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YOUR SHIFT MADE EASY

WITH THE 2020 ISUZU D-MAX 2.5 AUTOMATIC RANGE!

EXTENDED CAB X-RIDER DOUBLE CAB HI-RIDE DOUBLE CAB LE DOUBLE CAB Model/s differ. E&OE. 2 shown may

ProAgri BNZ 06

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Contact any Isuzu Dealer Partner or call 08000 ISUZU (47898)

Isuzu expand their D-MAX 250 series with auto boxes by Dirk Gallowitz

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suzu Motors South Africa recently expanded their D-MAX-pickup series by fitting five models of the 250 turbo diesel range with automatic gearboxes. When General Motors, then distributors of the Isuzu pickup in South Africa, withdrew from the RSA in 2017, Isuzu owners feared that their well-loved pickups might disappear. However, Isuzu Motors South Africa, an independent Japanese company, took the gap and merged the production lines of their pickups and trucks in Port Elizabeth. Over the past two years the merger progressed by leaps and bounds. The new generation Isuzu D-MAX, long awaited by Isuzu enthusiasts, is earmarked to become available in South Africa later in 2021. Isuzu Motors South Africa announced an investment of 1,2 billion in the Port Elizabeth plant, towards the manufacturing of the next generation pickup. This will include manufacturing and distribution of the vehicles, developing a local supplier network, and also manufacturing of the full spectrum of components and accessories. Isuzu Motors SA is one of the few pickup manufacturers to test their models extensively under local conditions and develop them specifically for Southern African conditions. The new five-speed automatic gearbox has been developed and adapted to be specifically suited to the performance and output of the 2,5 litre intercooler turbodiesel engine. According to Dominic Rimmer, Senior Vice-President: Technical Operations of Isuzu Motors SA, the increasing preference for automatic gearboxes over the past number of years made it imperative that the D-MAX 250 series should also be fitted with them without harming the proven reputation for depend-

ability and excellent fuel efficiency of the vehicles. The proven 2,5 turbo diesel engine delivers a maximum output of 100 kW at 3 400 rpm and 320 Nm peak torque between 1 800 and 2 800 rpm. The official fuel consumption for the automatic models is given as 8,1 ℓ/100 km based on a mixed cycle of city and off-road driving. Similar to the D-MAX 250 manual gearbox models, those with the automatic version can also tow a maximum of 2 100 kg on a trailer with brakes, while the load compartment can handle a load of 1 000 kg. We only drove the X-Rider top model D-Max 250TD 4x2 Automatic during the launch. The exterior of the 2020 X Rider version appears sporty, functional and, with the beautiful 16 inch rims and General AT Grabber tyres, the XRider is more than ready for a lifestyle of adventure and outdoor sport! The top model is well-equipped for driver and passenger comfort. This includes climate control, sound and communication systems – which can connect with Bluetooth and is controlled via an 8” touchscreen – plus USB ports and much more. Keyless access and start/shutdown control are standard, as well as the ultrasonic alarm system and cruise control. Passenger safety is a high priority with electronically controlled anti-lock braking, distribution and braking assistance, traction and stability control, hill-holder control, and downhill acceleration control. Airbags for driver as well as front passenger is a standard feature. All this may be very nice, but there is question: How does the 5-range autobox perform in the D-MAX 250TD 4x2 X-Rider? After more than 500 km, including city driving, open road touring, dirt road rallying and mountain pass climbing, I was surprised by the excellent combination of the 5-range automatic gearbox with the 2,5 ℓ turbodiesel engine. I never felt a need for extra power

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

or better performance. Gear-changing was smooth, and when I attacked the hairpin bends of the mountain passes and dirt roads, I merely had to tap the manual mode switch and then control the gear-changing manually. To summarise – after the time spent in the X-Rider Auto, I was pleasantly impressed; so much so that I am convinced that the D-MAX 250TD Automatic 4x2 X-Rider is the best pickup one can buy for less than R500 000 if you want a stylish, affordable and economical family vehicle that can serve for various requirements – workhorse, church buggy and adventure roadster! Price during launch: D-MAX 250 1,5 cab Hi-Ride Auto R403 200 D-MAX 250 Double Cab Hi-Ride Auto R435 300 D-MAX 250 Double Cab LE Auto R459 000 D-MAX 300 Double Cab Hi-Ride Auto R464 100 D-MAX 250 Double Cab X-Rider Auto R474 700 All Isuzu D-MAX models are sold with the Isuzu Complete Care benefit, which includes a standard 5-year/120 000-km bumper-to-bumper warranty, Isuzu road assist service, a 5-year no-limit kilometre anti-rust guarantee; as well as a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. Additional cover may be purchased for road-assist, a service plan as well as a maintenance plan. Visit your nearest Isuzu dealer for a test drive.

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ProAgri BNZ 06

35 year s of our innovation f or your s ucces s T

his year, Falcon celebrates 35 years of innovation, quality and reliability. With a wide dealer network and a passion for serving our customers, our business is focused on your success. We are really excited to be forging into 2020 with our celebration of 35 years of innovation, quality and reliability. Our anniversary reminds us of the passion we have always had for serving our customers, in order for them to achieve their own success. We recognise that we live in a society obsessed with “throw-away” and “replace rather than fix”, and where businesses increasingly build their revenue models on planned obsolescence and product life-cycles, yet we are proud that these have never been considerations in our business. The longevity and durability of our implements are unique and should be celebrated. We pride ourselves on this “built to last” reputation and the reliability Falcon implements have delivered to farmers for over three decades. This solid reputation in the industry as the benchmark for quality, durability and safety as well as our reputa-

tion of operating ethically. The utmost respect and professionalism, are elements which underpin our business and form our DNA. This is what makes us Falcon, and we will continue to deliver this to our customers for decades to come. Since its establishment in 1985, the company has seen significant change, growing from a small family business to one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of highly innovative agricultural implements. With a strong footprint in SubSaharan Africa, we successfully export our products to more than ten other African countries. In South Africa, we have an impressive network alone of over 350 authorised dealers, of which approximately 110 are dedicated mechanisation dealers. The Falcon and Locust ranges of implements are locally manufactured in South Africa with an ongoing programme of innovation and improvement to ensure consistency in satisfying customers’ ever-changing requirements.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

We also import a range of implements to complement the locally manufactured ones. These include Amazone, the leaders in German innovation, with a range of spreaders, sprayers, mowers and tillage implements as well as Votex shredders (from the Netherlands). Falcon runs its own spare parts division and is the exclusive supplier of all Falcon Original and Amazone spare parts through our network of authorised dealers. This enhances the dependability of our implements and minimises downtime for the farmer. Looking to the future, Falcon will continue to develop new products and services in response to the changing needs of the African agricultural industry. Our priorities are focused on maintaining our professional approach to business, while adopting and evolving new technologies, innovations and ways of doing business that keep us relevant in a changing marketplace. We look forward to continued success and growth as a local manufacturer, importer and distributor. The next 35 years are sure to be just as exciting – if not more so – than the first.

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Agrico High Speed Disc pays itself in one season by Du Preez de Villiers

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eeing is believing. Alwyn Rautenbach of the farm Rooipoortjie in the Lichtenburg district heard about his neighbour’s new implement that greatly improved productivity, and decided to investigate. Alwyn says: “I went to look at the green machine working at breakneck speed next door. I could almost not believe what I was seeing and climbed through the fence for a closer look. What I saw was the Agrico High Speed Disc (HSD), which impressed me so much, I bought one immediately and a second one within two months…” Alwyn says he already had excellent relations with Agrico as a customer using their centre pivots. The purchase of the HSD from Agrico was made an even easier decision, based on what his neighbour illustrated. Alwyn bought his HSDs in August and September last year. “I plant wheat in winter and seed maize or sugar beans in summer – all of it under the Agrico centre pivots. Multi cropping gives me little time for soil preparation between crops – a time-consuming, but essential job for the sensitive seed maize. I cannot really spray weed killer. Instead I work my fields three times. First I work the plant rests of the previous crop in and simultaneously loosen the soil. I then irrigate the field to force the weeds to germinate as quickly as possible before I disc them into the soil. After some time I do a third cultivation to work

more of the emerging weeds into the soil and prepare a seedbed.” He now uses the two HSDs for these operations and the job is being completed much quicker than previously. The seedbed is also much better prepared and the fields are more level. “The soil contains between 25 and 30% clay. I disc 15 cm deep at 14 km/h and can now finish off a 30 hectare centre pivot field in a day. Another reason why I bought the HSDs is for growing wheat. I use a spreader to apply the seed. Previously I followed it with a harrow to work the seed in, but the harrow tines leave little furrows into which the seed falls, eventually not being covered with soil and dying soon after germination.” “I did a comparative trial with the harrow and the HSD and the difference was dramatic! With the HSD, almost no seed was to be seen on top of the soil and the seedbed was much more

Alwyn Rautenbach believes that he should harvest 10% more wheat this year with lower input costs. He banks on the assistance and support of Agrico and the Agrico HSDs.

The team members whose support ensure that the productivity of the AGRICO HSDs remain at a high level, are Paul Burger, Agrico Mechanical Engineer, Shadrack Tswala, Tractor Operator, Alwyn Rautenbach, Farmer, Abraham Dinake, Tractor Operator and Jan-Hendrik Strydom, Implement Production Engineer of Agrico. 6

level,” says Alwyn. It is easy to adjust the working depth of the HSD so that the discs do not work the soil too deep. He did the HSD trial in June. Germination was much more even and the plant stand vastly improved. “It looks like my yield will be improved by at least 10%. On top of this I use much less fuel and save a lot of time, which means that I will pay for both HSDs in the present season, laughing all the way to the bank,” says Alwyn. “I think the reason for the HSD’s success is the aggressive angle at which the discs work, running on triple-sealed, self-aligning ball bearings mounted in shock absorbing rubber rings. Here and there I have rocks in my fields and when the HSD hits one, the mechanism is such that it yields easily, the discs break away individually and the machine suffers no damage. The rear roller, which is used to set the working depth, finishes the seedbed off beautifully and breaks the lumps to manageable sizes.” “It will be interesting to see the result when cultivating maize seed. I believe there will also be a dramatic difference,” says Alwyn. Since September last year the two HSDs have now cultivated 650 hectares three times and they are still performing without a single problem. Alwyn is also impressed by the fast assistance of the Agrico team, even when insignificant little problems crop up. Invest in an efficient, South African manufactured agricultural implement. Contact Alfred Andrag on +27-82-824-1214 (cell), +27-21-950-4111 (landline) or send an e-mail message to alfred.andrag@agrico.co.za.

ProAgri BNZ 06

Farmers: Understand your business risks F

armers face various uncertainties that can put their agribusinesses at risk if they are not well prepared. Every day, you make decisions that impact on your farming operations, but you cannot accurately predict how every decision will turn out. This creates risks for your business. Risks can also increase as your farming operation grows. In order to reduce and better anticipate these risks, you should understand what these risks are and what risk management strategies you should incorporate into your agribusiness. Risk 1: Production and technical risk Examples: Rainfall or temperature variability or extreme events, pests, disease outbreak or contamination. Effects: Lower yields, loss of productive assets or income, or disruption in marketing programme. The weather, pests and diseases will all impact on the performance of your livestock and crops. Farmers have experienced this first-hand during the recent drought, which forced them to cull productive animals due to insufficient grazing. Besides the lower yield that a drought or reduced rainfall produces, heavy rains can also cause damage to crops, or even wipe them out completely. Pest outbreaks can also result in major losses of crops and livestock. You cannot accurately calculate how much rain will fall or whether there will be thunderstorms occurring during a planting season. Pests and diseases can also not be predicted and might have a devastating impact on your yield. Another source of risk during the production stage, is the risk of equipment failure. If your tractor or combine

You work the land

harvester breaks down during the production season, you may not be able to harvest your entire crop in time, which will affect your yield. Similarly, if you’re sharing or hiring equipment, it might not always be available for when you need it. Risk 2: Price risks Examples: Low prices, market availability (supply and demand) volatility. Effects: Lower prices, loss of income guidelines. The price of anything produced on a farm is affected by the supply and demand for that product, along with the cost of production. Severe drought forces farmers to cull their livestock more frequently, which subsequently increases supply of red meat in the market, and lowering the price of animals at auctions. Conversely, when the supply slows down, the price goes up.

that you can’t honour your repayment obligations, talk to your Relationship Manager as soon as possible. Standard Bank has various tailormade Bancassurance solutions for the Agribusiness market that will help protect your business against unforeseen losses. Bancassurance is the insurance distribution model where insurance carriers and banks join forces to supply insurance products to customers. Talk to your Relationship Manager or Standard Bank Insurance Brokers for further assistance.

Risk 3: Financial risks Examples: Loans, interest rate volatility, bad debt. Effects: Further debt and financial distress. There are financial risks associated with borrowing to finance your farming operation or acquisitions, particularly with uncertainty in the future of interest rates, lender ability and willingness to continue lending, and your own ability to generate enough income to cover loan repayments. Lower yields of produce or lower market prices can also contribute to making debt repayments difficult to meet. To avoid financial difficulties or defaulting on loan repayments, borrow from a bank that best understands your business needs. Should you realise

Gerhard Mukuahima, Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank Namibia.

For more information, please visit your nearest branch or e-mail the Standard Bank Agribusiness team Agri.BusinessInfo@standardbank. com.na or visit our website www.standardbank.com.na.

We work the numbers

Specialised support for the Agribusiness Value Chain. To help your agribusiness grow, our experts work in close collaboration with you to provide tailored solutions that meet your specific needs. Additionally, our financial experts are on hand to provide any financial services you may require, such as wealth creation and estate planning. / Production and Working Capital / Vehicle and Asset Finance / Bancassurance

/ Term Loans / Investments

To join the team, contact Standard Bank Agribusiness on +264 (0)61 - 294 - 2684, Gerhard.Mukuahima@standardbank.com.na Alternatively e-mail: Agri.BusinessInfo@standardbank.com.na

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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How to handle your beef cattle Part 5: Scales- a weighty issue

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ProAgri BNZ 06

To measure is to know and therefore you will not be a successful farmer if you don’t weigh your cattle on a regular basis. This is the fifth part in our beef cattle handling series and this month we look at scales and the importance of weight record keeping. We thank the ARC Institute for Agricultural Engineering in South Africa who made their manual on handling facilities available to ProAgri BZN so that our readers can benefit from their research and knowledge.

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ufficient and accurate knowledge is the first prerequisite for effective decision-making. This also holds true for cattle husbandry, may it be stud farming or beef production. Regular weighing of cattle is necessary to tell the farmer whether he is still on the right track and to warn him in time to make rectifications if needed. Great demands are placed on scale operators, and psychological and physical exhaustion gives rise to inaccurate results, rough handling of the animals and mistakes on the information gained. Special attention must therefore be given to the choice and placement of a scale to ensure easy and effective handling of animals. There are basically four categories of scales, namely: • • • •

Spring balance scales Hydraulic scales Oil bath scales Electronic scales

Position of the scale in the handling complex Depending on the specific set-up, a scale can be placed in the working area. This is the cheapest option, as an additional passage is not required for weighing. Ensure that the scale has a locking mechanism, to prevent the scale from being subjected to unnecessary shock loads when cattle move over it for other purposes. It is however strongly recommended that the scale is removable, meaning it should be able to be moved out of the crush when animals are not being weighed. This will lengthen the life of the scale. Wheels or a sliding rail can be used for removal of the scale. If the calf crush is next to the main crush, one scale can be used for both by moving the scale to and fro. In a feedlot set-up, cattle are usually weighed and processed after arrival. This is a consecutive action and the mass of each individual animal is determined. When cattle are treated in a crush, it is mainly for weighing and the scale can be permanently installed. The

scale can also be placed in a separate weighing crush. Some feedlots prefer large scales on which more than one animal can be weighed at once. Figure 24 shows a typical mass scale. General suggestions for the placing of a scale: • Ensure that sufficient shade is pro- vided for the scale operator. • Ensure that the scale is placed on a hard, level (preferably a concrete slab) surface. This will prevent inaccurate readings. • Place the scale in such a way that animals that have been weighed can move to either the loading platform or the holding pen. Access gates Access to the scale can be controlled in different ways: • Access gate that swings outwards: The disadvantage of this gate is that it is opened into the face of the approaching animal. To prevent this, animals can be held back in the crush with the aid of a crossbeam. If the animals are used to this type of access gate, they will leave sufficient space for the gate to open. • Trapdoor: This type of gate does not take up much space, but the operation of the gate can be an exhausting exercise because it has to be lifted with a rope. A counter mass can however be affixed to the gate to make it easier to operate.

Figure 24: Typical mass scale. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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Figure 1: Cheap suspended scale. • Pipe: Instead of using an access gate, a pipe can be affixed in the crate at a point which can be adapted to the size of the animal. This pipe is held in position with hooks in the side beams. The choice of control at the entrance depends largely on the conditions on the farm. Body clamps and crates Some crates are provided with swinging body clamps that serve two purposes: • To adapt the width of the crate when calves or smaller animals are handled. • To keep an anxious, unwilling animal tightly against the side of the crate so that the mass can be determined accurately. These body clamps work satisfactorily if the locking mechanism is designed in such a way that accidental unlocking is prevented. The body clamp must also run the entire length of the crate to prevent calves from landing on the wrong side of the clamp. Exit gates There are mainly two types, namely: • Open-beam type exit gate It enables the animal to see past the beams and be reassured that it will not enter an enclosed space. The gate swings open to the outside. • Gate with neck clamp This type of gate, combined with a neck clamp to a scale, can also be used for veterinary purposes. The neck clamp must be designed to control animals safely, and it must be provided with an easy-release mechanism. It is essential that the mass measuring mechanism of the scale should be disconnected when the steel crate is used for dosing, branding or dehorning. Crate floors Most scale crates have hard wooden floors. Cross bars on the floors prevent animals from slipping and getting injured. The bars must remain firmly in position at all times.

Some scales have floors made of thick steel. These are durable and are also fitted with cross bars. The farmer must examine the bars beforehand for sharp edges. Anxious animals that stamp about on the steel floors often create a noise that may upset all animals. A thin layer of sawdust can be strewn on the floor to prevent this. Slippery floors must be prevented at all times. If manure or urine collects on the scale, it must continuously be removed during the weighing action. It can be swept away, flushed away or covered with sand. Ensure that the scale is “zeroed” before each mass reading. High, solid sides (approximately 450 mm high) on a scale will prevent animals from stepping sideways and hurting themselves. High walls will also make it easier to weigh calves. Installation of a scale It is essential that the scale is calibrated at regular intervals. Scales must then be tested with masses of the same size as the average animal to be handled. Bags of cement, fertiliser or grain can be used for this purpose, if their masses have been determined on an accurate platform scale. Re-calibration can be done as follows: • Set the system on nil. • Place the mass on the platform and get the correct reading. • Remove all dirt from the platform and do necessary adjustments. Maintenance The general requirements must be adhered to in order to ensure maximum performance from a scale for as long as possible: • The scale must be kept clean to prevent a build-up of dirt and manure, as this can influence the performance of the parts. • The authenticity of the readings must be examined regularly for re-calibration. • Use the correct type of oil in the dashpot. • The spring balance and reading column must be removed after

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

weighing. • The spring balance must be mounted carefully so that the parts can move freely. • The wooden floor and scantlings must be examined regularly to ensure that there are no breaks or cracks. • In the case of an oil bath scale, the oil level in the container must be checked regularly. • Bearings and hydraulic pressure cells (where applicable) must be examined regularly. • Ensure that a lightning deflector is coupled to the scale. • Make provision for wheels on the scale to make it portable (if applicable). • New-born calves can be weighed with a simple, cheap suspended scale, as shown in figure 1. Next month we shall look at loading platforms, tilting tables, hoof-lifting crates and dipping facilities.

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Published with acknowledgement to the ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering for the use of their Beef Cattle Handling Manual. Visit www. arc.agric.za for more information. 11

Bulldock® - A cost effective insecticide with a long residual action and registered on numerous crops. It is an emulsifiable concentrate contact insecticide which controls cutworm, stalkborer, Chilo, American bollworm and Fall Army Worms. Belt® - An insecticide for Lepidoptera pests. Also an ideal solution for fall army worm, Tuta absoluta and diamond-back moth.

Confidor® - A solution for control of sucking insects and termites. Protects crops from effects of abiotic and biotic stress.

Nativo® - Ideal fungicide for early blight, rust, mildew, leaf spot and Grey leaf spot.

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ProAgri BNZ 06

Science for a better life

Ba y e r o ff e r s t a i l o r e d a n d prof i t able solut ions to f arme rs

B

ayer puts everything behind the research they are conducting to improve the lives of crop farmers. Bayer products - insecticides, fungicides and herbicides have solved many challenges faced by farmers and result in peace of mind. This world-renowned company continuously develops new innovative products that are target pest specific, less harmful to beneficial pests, the environment and users.

• • • •

sults in rapid and long lasting nematode control at low application rates. Velum has a favourable eco-toxicological profile. Low dosage makes it convenient to transport, store and apply. Velum results in improved root health and consequently better nutrient uptake Velum results in improved yield and quality giving excellent returns on investment.

Auxo • Post-emergent maize herbicide for control of both grasses and broadleaf weeds. • Flexible application window. • Ideal in crop rotation/multi-cropping systems (no waiting periods) • Rainfast and no additional adjuvants required Nativo • Broad spectrum fungicide registered on cereals, maize, potatoes and vegetables. • Systemic and contact modes of action. • Unique mesostemic action with favourable environmental profile. Fall army worm control on maize.

The s talwar ts available to be pick ed out of Bayer ’ s complete solutions catalogue are:

Confidor • A systemic water dispersible insecticide for the control of termites in maize, aphids, red scale, thrips, leaf miner and psylla on citrus trees, aphids on cotton, potatoes, cucur-

Belt • A foliar insecticide with a new mode of action. • It controls caterpillars in a wide range of crops such as vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, maize and tobacco. • Belt is especially very effective on Tuta absoluta and fall army worm and it has a favourable environmental ecotoxicological profile.

bits, tobacco, cruciferae, roses, woolly aphid on apples, tobacco slug on tobacco, whitefly on tomatoes and mealybug on grapes. • Has a unique benefit of added crop shield due to the unique structure of its active ingredient. Gaucho • A systemic insecticidal seed-dressing product for the control of various pests in maize, sorghum, sunflower and wheat. • Effective in controlling the maize streak virus vector. • Has a stress-shield effect. Aviator Xpro • A fungicide for cereals specifically designed for an efficient anti-resistance strategy. • Excellent control of key cereal diseases boosting yield through high disease control and positive impact on plant physiology. Prosaro • A cereal fungicide offering an economic and effective solution for the control of wheat and barley diseases. • Systemic action offering protective and curative control. Decis Forte • Insecticide for effective control of cutworms in all crops and caterpillars in various crops. • Low dosage rates. • Fast and effective action with reduced risk to user and environment • Low pre-harvest intervals.

Bulldock • An insecticide which is very easy to use and has a long residual action. • It is an emulsifiable concentrate contact that works in the stomach of the insect to control cutworm, stalkborer, Chilo and American bollworm. • The active ingredient is Beta-cyfl uthrin (pyrethroid): 50 g/ℓ, and it is registered on numerous crops. • It is very cost effective due to the low dosage rates and long protection period. (up to 58 days). Velum Prime • Environmentally friendly and gives excellent protection against a wide spectrum of nematodes on tobacco and potatoes. • It has a novel mode of action that re-

Spodoptera eridania control in tomatoes.

Thunder • Unique dual mode of action, both contact and systematic action. • Quick knock down effect. • Residual long lasting control. • O-TEQ formulation for enhanced plant protection.

Cabbage Looper control.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

Contact Bayer Zambia at +260964-177-069 or send an e-mail to geoffrey.matutu@bayer.com. You are also invited to visit them at Plot No 10103, Mumbwa Road or their website at www.bayer.com for more information. 13

The final step in successful crop farming:

Harvesting and storage

I

n the previous articles of this series we have covered crop establishment, crop nutrition and crop protection. It’s befitting then to end this four-part series with a look at activities during harvest time. A healthy crop in the field will yield good revenue for the farmer. But getting the crop off the field and to the market must happen at the optimum harvest time for best returns. In this article, we shall focus on grain harvest as grains are primary summer crops in the Southern Africa region. Manual harvesting In most of Sub-Saharan Africa, the common harvesting practice for maize by smallholder farmers is by hand. Maize is left to partly or fully dry on the field. However, farmers should avoid delayed harvesting as it can lead to damage by pests and diseases, or favour the spreading of aflatoxins, especially when it rains whilst the crop is still on the field. Shelling can be done manually, however smallholder farmers now have increasing access to small shelling machines. It is recommended to shell cobs immediately after drying to reduce pest damage. After shelling and cleaning, the grain is ready to be

Harvesting by hand can be time consuming and labour intensive depending on the size of the field and type of grain that needs to be harvested.

Most commercial farmers use combine harvesters to get their crops off the field and into storage. either sold or stored for later use or sale. Combine harvester Combines are very versatile machines, with a range of adjustments to enable them to harvest a wide range of crops. They “combine” the previously separate activities of harvesting — cut, thresh, separate, and clean. A combine harvester can harvest a variety of crops, including a wide range of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds such as maize, wheat, barley, rice, soya beans, peas, beans, and sunflowers. Grain storage The key benefit of crop storage is to have the flexibility to attract a higher price at a later stage. However, there are some risks and costs associated with storage. The biggest threat to stored crop quality is excessive heat and moisture as they create the perfect environment for pests and diseases. Another risk factor is the volatility of markets as prices might drop while in storage. It’s therefore imperative to select post-harvest storage environments and practices that maximise quality and minimise losses. Some examples of common smallholder grain storage

facilities include traditional granaries, plastic drums, metal, wooden or mud silos, and hermetic bags. In conclusion, it is perhaps the persisting threat of food security that makes the risk and cost of storage worthwhile. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that post-harvest losses for all crops amount to about 37% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these are due to unnecessary losses along the crop production and storage chain.

Grain can be stored in silos like these until the market price is higher. For more information, please contact Benard Ngwene at Benard.Ngwene@agcocorp.com.

AGCO Future Farm in Lusaka, Zambia provides smart solutions for farmers, giving them access to tools that will allow them to use fewer resources more efficiently and creating a more sustainable food production system. TRAINING INCLUDES: Agronomy Crop establishment Harvesting Crop storage Crop nutrition Farm business management Crop protection

Mechanisation Tractor fundamentals Tractor driving introduction Tractor maintenance & basic operation

For more information on training solutions offered at the AGCO Future Farm, please contact: Kalongo Chitengi | +260 979701936 | info_agcofuturefarm@agcocorp.com 14

ProAgri BNZ 06

SOIL: The farmer's most important asset

PART 5: Physical properties of soil (1)

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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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. In the next three articles in the series, the most important physical properties of soil will be discussed. However, the interaction of soil and water, which also falls under soil physics, will be dealt with later. Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State in South Africa Particle size distribution (texture) The texture of the soil refers to the ratio between the various particle size fractions, viz. sand, silt and clay, as they occur in the soil. A soil that mainly comprises sandy material, has a coarse texture, while a soil that is dominated by clay, has a fine texture. Soil is classified into texture classes according to the specific combination of sand, silt and clay. The texture triangle (Figure 1) is used to subdivide a specific soil sample into a specific texture class, for example, clayey loam, silty loam, silty clay, sandy loam, loam, clay and sandy clay loam. The diameter of sand is between 2 mm and 0,02 mm, that of silt is between 0,02 mm and 0,002 mm, while particles smaller than 0,002 mm in diameter are classified as clay and other colloidal material. The relative sizes of these particles to each other are indicated in Figure 2. Soil texture has a major influence on the usability of soils for crop cultivation, specific activities such as tilling practices, irrigation, plant fertilisation, water retention capability and engineering aspects. Texture is a very stable characteristic and changes with great difficulty, if at all. For that reason, a sandy soil remains a sandy soil and clay remains clay. Texture is therefore the normal starting point in investigating soil problems. Clay normally has a high water retention capabil-

ity, is aerated poorly, has poor drainage (as little as <1 mm/hour), has a higher organic material content than sand, it warms slowly during spring, offers resistance to underground compaction, offers resistance to wind erosion, is a good provider of nutritional substances, is a good buffer against pH changes, has delayed leaching of water, is hard when dry, but sticky when wet, has a changeable swelling/ shrinkage ability, is chemically and physically active and has a high cation exchange capacity (depending on the clay mineralogy). Specific surface The specific surface of soil refers to the total surface of all the soil particles per mass. The standard unit in which it is expressed, is m2/gram of soil. Fine sand usually has a relatively small specific surface of about 0,1 m2/gram, that of fine silt is about 1 m2/gram and the specific surface area of clay usually varies between 10 and 1000 m2/gram, depending on the clay mineralogy. Adsorption of water, various plant fertilisers and attraction forces between soil particles, are all dependent on the surface area of the soil. For that reason, the surface area has a major influence on the various soil properties. Gross density The gross density refers to the mass of a specific volume of undisturbed dry soil.

Figure 2: The relative sizes of fine sand, silt and clay.

Figure 1: The texture triangle 16

It is usually expressed as gram/cm3 or as kg/m3. The typical gross density of a fine sandy soil under natural conditions is about 1,5 gram/cm3 or 1 500 kg/m3. A fine and well-structured clay has a typical gross density of 1,3 gram/cm3 or 1 300 kg/m3. Compacted sub-soils can have a gross density of more than 2,0 g/cm3. The growth of most plant roots is handicapped when the gross density is greater than 1,6 g/cm3. The structural units of certain clayey soils can have a very high gross density, for example 2,2 g/cm3 in prismatic B-horizons. When soil is tilled, the gross density is reduced and the porosity is increased. This promotes water infiltration, air movement and root penetration. The main problem of compaction due to tractor and land vehicle traffic, the so-called plough soles or plough compactions, is precisely an increase in the gross density to levels higher than those plant roots can deal with. The presence of more organic material usually lowers the gross density of soils. When soils are tilled, the organic material of the soil also decreases over about 10 to 20 years to levels of about 40% to 50% of the original levels. The result is that the gross density also degrades together with the organic material levels.

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Figure 3: Stains and the movement of iron indicate waterlogged conditions. Porosity or pore volume The pores in the soil are of great importance for water retention capability, water movement, air movement, aeration, microbe life, biochemical reactivity and root development. Almost all the chemical and biological processes take place in the water in the pores. Oxygen is also usually needed, and therefore the right amount of pores is important for optimal plant growth. When soil is irrigated or wetted during a rain shower, almost all the pores are filled with water immediately thereafter. As the water moves deeper into the profile, the largest pores are emptied first and are once again filled with air. Later, the smaller pores are emptied and are filled with air. As the plant roots withdraw the water, the increasingly smaller pores are drained and filled with air. In this way, the soil becomes drier, but also more aerated. Porosity refers to the percentage of the soil volume which comprises pores. An undisturbed soil under natural conditions will have a typical porosity of about 50%. This means the soil comprises 50% pores and 50% soil particles. When soil is compacted, the porosity decreases. The porosity of deeper soil layers is usually lower than that of the surface soils. The lower the porosity, the fewer the pores that can be filled with water. Soils with a low porosity also tend to become waterlogged, as there is less space for air. Another interesting characteristic of pores is pore size. Sandy soils usually have more large (macro) pores than clay, while clay therefore has more smaller (micro) pores. The total pore volume of well-structured clay is usually in the region of 50% to 60%, while that of sandy soil is often less than 45%. Compacted sub-soils can have a porosity of as little as 25%, which leads to poor aeration and high resistance to root penetration. Water and air move more readily

through macro-pores. In contrast, the micro-pores in a damp soil are largely filled with water, which restricts air flow in and out of the soil. Aeration Aeration of the uppermost portion of the soil profile is necessary for the growth of the majority of plants. It is specifically oxygen that is used during respiration to release energy, while carbon dioxide is released. Bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes in the soil also use oxygen. The microbes that break down plant residue in the presence of oxygen are the greatest users of oxygen in soil, regardless of whether there is plant growth or not!

These respiration processes lower the oxygen levels in the soil to levels lower than those in the atmosphere and raise carbon dioxide levels to higher levels than those in the atmosphere. This tendency increases with depth in the soil profile. The existence of the difference in oxygen levels between the atmosphere and the soil air, is known as a gradient, and causes oxygen to move into the soil and carbon dioxide to move out of the soil. This process is the core of gaseous exchange between the soil and the atmosphere. If the soil is â&#x20AC;&#x153;collapsedâ&#x20AC;?, the gas exchange is negatively affected and the growth of seedlings in particular is hampered by this. The cultivation of such a piece of soil restores the gas exchange. When the oxygen levels decrease to a very low level during wet conditions, the microbes use sources other than oxygen, e.g. nitrate and iron, during respiration. Substances that are toxic for plants may be formed in the process. These soil layers usually develop a speckled appearance, which may be used as an indication of water saturation. Under these oxygen-lacking conditions, iron moves from the parts without oxygen to the richer oxygenated areas, where it precipitates as red and yellow stains (Figure 3). As a result of the poor water movement, such soils should preferably not be irrigated. In contrast, well-aerated soils are red in colour (Figure 4) as a result of the presence of oxidised iron (red rusted iron). Such soils should preferably be chosen for crop cultivation and especially for irrigation. REFERENCES The following sources have been used extensively during the compilation of this article: Brady, NC 1990. The nature and properties of soils. 10th ed. Macmillan publishing company, New York. Du T Burger, R. 1979. Soil Science 115. Unpublished class notes for GKD115. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Marshall, TJ & Holmes, JW 1979. Soil Physics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Van Huyssteen, CW 2009. Soil Ecology. Unpublished class notes for GKD214. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. ProAgri BZN acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain.

Figure 4: A profile with a red colour indicates good aeration

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

For further information, please contact: Martiens du Plessis: martiens@nwk.co.za Cornie van Huyssteen: vanhuysteencw@ufs.ac.za 17

What livestock farmers need to know about

climate change

by Dr Louis du Pisani

T

he agricultural press is full of doomand-gloom stories about climate change, with little advice on whether the perceived negative effects can be mitigated, and if so, what are the management adaptations livestock farmers need to implement. There are two schools of thought when it comes to climate change: the believers and the sceptics. Change (read as variability) in the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s climate has been with us since the dawn of time. So, it is really irrelevant on which side the reader of this article is. What is relevant, though, is to know in what phase of the change or variability of the climate we are, as that will determine what mitigation measures need to be put in place by farmers. Before one can start a debate on how to adapt to a variable or changing climate, it is important to take note of the climate fluctuations that have been predicted over the last 30 to 40 years and which of these predictions have finally realised or are realising. There were broadly three major predictions of the changing climate that have relevance to the current generation of livestock farmers. The first prediction was that the 18

world would become warmer. The latest measurements show that the average annual temperature over Southern Africa has increased by about 1°C over the recent past. This prediction thus seems to be coming true and farmers will have to plan for it. The second prediction was that the

Photo: Tumiso, Pixabay. quantity and distribution of rainfall would change, with an initial expectation that the western parts of the RSA would become drier and the eastern parts wetter, and that more extreme

A very popular prediction is that climate change will cause more extremes in weather patterns. Photo: enriquelopezgarre, Pixabay.

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weather patterns could be expected. The latest scientific observations show a marginal decrease in rainfall during the autumn months over the central and north-eastern parts of the RSA, but the annual total rainfall has not changed significantly. Another observation is that the average number of rainy days per year has decreased over the central and north-eastern areas. If the total rainfall remained the same but the number of rainy days decreased, it is logical that the rainfall intensity increased and that the wetter periods become wetter and the dry periods drier. Thus, the prediction of more extreme weather conditions seems to be realising, and farmers must take that into consideration in their management plans. There is currently no consensus among scientists on the future changes in rainfall patterns across South Africa. Since the early 1800s, the CO2 concentration in the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s atmosphere has increased from about 275 parts per million (ppm) to over 400 ppm and it is still rising. There have been similarly high levels of CO2 in the geological history of the earth, but these are actually irrelevant in terms of the current situation. What is relevant, is that the current generation of farmers are experiencing high levels of carbon dioxide and they must consider that in their management systems. Debate 1: What are the consequences of the increased CO2 levels for livestock farmers? Plants absorb carbon dioxide and utilise it for plant growth through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon, along with hydrogen and oxygen, makes up about 96% of the dry mass of plants. One can therefore expect that with more CO2 in the atmosphere, plants will grow better. The latest field research indicates an average increase of 17% in above-ground plant production and about 30% in root growth due to the higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations on earth. There are a few factors that regulate the effectivity of the increase in plant growth due to increased CO2 in the atmosphere. The first factor is the specific photosynthetic pathway of the plant. There are three types, namely C3 (Produces 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) or 3-carbon acid as the first product during the CO2 fixation), C 4 (Produces oxaloacetic acid (OAA) or 4-carbon compound as their first stable product) and CAM (Collects CO2 in arid conditions during night time by a process called Crassulacean acid metabolism). Cool season plants follow the C3 pathway and include plants like shrubs, trees and cool season grasses. Tropical plants, such as tropical grasses, follow the C 4 process, while succulents follow the CAM route.

One observation on climate change is that the total rainfall will stay the same, but the rainy days will decrease. Image: Linda Russ, Pixabay.

The CAM-process. Photo: khanacademy.org.

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It is mainly the C3 plants that are most favoured by an increase in CO2 levels, while C 4 plants' response is less than half as well. Nevertheless, increased CO2 levels benefit both C3 and C 4 plants' production. This is known as CO2 fertilisation. The second factor that plays a role in the response to CO2 fertilisation is the availability of nitrogen. A lack of nitrogen limits the CO2 growth response, while good N provision enhances the effect. Consequently, C3 legumes like thorn trees are particularly favoured by the increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations, which leads to increased bush encroachment. Thirdly, increased CO2 levels improve the water use efficiency (WUE) of plants. Carbon dioxide is absorbed via plants' stomata. When the stomata open to absorb the carbon dioxide, the plant loses water to the atmosphere. With higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, a plant can absorb high quantities of CO2 through stomata that are less open and a resultant lower loss of water to the atmosphere. This then leads to the improved WUE. Increases of between 5% and 20% are reported in the literature. The negative outcomes of CO2 fertilisation and how to deal with it Carbon dioxide fertilisation increases bush encroachment.

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The South African Environmental Observation Network has reported dramatic changes in the botanical structure of the savanna, grassland and fynbos biomes of South Africa over the past 100 years. According to them, the savanna areas are expanding into the adjacent grassland areas, while the existing savanna areas are experiencing a marked increase in bush densities. In fact, it is turning into so-called thickets that are almost impenetrable to humans and animals. These changes are even observed in the drier savanna areas. The grasslands bordering the savanna biome are being invaded by trees and shrubs, while the rest of the area of the grassland biome experience increased densities of smaller bushes and shrubs, for example Adder bush (bankrupt bush). Even the drier grassland areas are not excluded. In parts of the fynbos areas, the increase of alien invasive plants such as red wreath acacia, pine trees and wattles takes place. Savanna and grassland are estimated to provide about 81% of the total available grazing capacity from veld in the RSA (37% in the savanna biome and 44% in the grassland biome according to Paul Avenant of the Department of Agriculture). Managing the bush encroachment problem is therefore a very high priority in these areas. In the

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The landscape of Southern Africa changed dramatically over the past 100 years. Image: Kon Karampelas, Pixabay.

availability, which further enhances the productivity of veld in good condition. These benefits of veld in good condition are much more reason why livestock farmers should strive towards veld in excellent condition in order to derive maximum benefit from CO2 fertilisation.

savanna areas, farmers lean towards game farming as a means of relieving the problem, but the success of this strategy is questionable as only the so called mega browsers, such as elephants and rhinos, have a significant suppressive effect on brush. That leaves most livestock farmers with only two possible management tools: fire and herbicides (arboricides).

WUE, then CO2 fertilisation will even further enhance their WUE and growth. He has also demonstrated that the better the veldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condition, the higher the water infiltration and ground water

The negative outcomes of extreme weather conditions and how to mitigate it There are two negative outcomes at play, to wit more intense rainstorms and a decrease in rainfall frequency, which result in droughts of higher intensity, not necessarily more or longer droughts. Higher intensity rainstorms can lead to higher rainwater run-off and soil erosion. The best counter measure is veld with a high basal cover. The higher the cover the lower the quantity of rainwater run-off as well as soil erosion (see video that can be accessed via the following website address (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZohI2YR7wQ4&t=9s). The research of Hennie Snyman corroborated this claim, showing that the run-off from veld in good condition is 3,5% of the annual total rainfall, while veld in poor condition loses on average 8,71% of the total annual rainfall to run-off. He furthermore demonstrated that

The positive outcomes of CO2 fertilisation Carbon dioxide fertilisation improves the growth of grazing plants while using less water due to improved WUE, provided that sufficient nitrogen levels are available in the soil. Prof Hennie Snyman's research over many decades has indicated that grass veld in good condition contains significantly higher N levels in the topsoil than veld in a poor condition. Therefore, if one considers that the benefit of CO2 fertilisation is affected by N availability, it is important to ensure that the veld is in excellent condition. The poorer the condition of the veld, the lower the nitrogen content, and the less the benefit of the CO2 fertilisation. Snymanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research also showed the plant species that dominate in good condition grassland have a significantly higher WUE than grasses found in poor veld. If the plants growing in good condition veld have a naturally high ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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Badly managed veld will suffer under serious erosion. Photo: agric.wa.gov.au.

the soil erosion rate of veld in good condition is 0,41 tonnes of topsoil/ha/ year, while the figure is 3,55 tonnes/ ha/year for veld in poor condition. Research by Dr Mias van der Westhuizen has shown that veld in good condition offers the best protection against drought. For example, veld in poor condition in the central Free State has a 12 times greater chance of fodder shortages than veld in good condition. Similarly, poor veld in the drier Kalahari areas has a 4 times greater chance of fodder shortages. Proper and pro-active drought planning is a prerequisite for improved drought mitigation. Du Pisani has demonstrated in his book Smart drought management for livestock farmers that this is possible and achievable. Outcomes of an increase in temperature and how to manage it The latest scientific data shows an increase in the average temperature over South Africa of 1 °C. Livestock will thus be subject to more heat stress. South Africa's livestock industry has the ability, technology and breeding material to select for animals that can better handle heat conditions. The increased heat can also lead to further improvement of the productivity of our grazing plants, provided that sufficient water is available. For example, the research of Prof Beatrice Conradie demonstrated that, as long as enough water is available in the soil profile, increased air temperature had a positive effect on the production of lupins. As already mentioned, the better the veld’s condition the higher

Select for animals with a higher heat tolerance. Image: Falco, Pixabay

the soil water availability. Again, veld in good condition is a prerequisite to mitigate the detrimental effects of heat stress on plants. The take-home message It is important for livestock farmers to take note of both the dark side of the climate’s variability, but also the opportunities it offers and how to adapt to the change. The sustainability of livestock farming from veld rests on two pillars, namely veld that is in excellent condi-

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

tion, and the control of bush encroachment. Farmers need to be creative and innovative and readjust to a temperamental climate if they want to survive and thrive. Prof Leon C Megginson, the author of Small Business Management, said:

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those who can best manage change.” Contact Dr Louis du Pisani at ldupisani@gmail.com for more information. 23

Water wise farmers build earth dams

Part 4: Foundations and seeping lines by Jan van Heerden, M.Eng Tec

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T

he quality of the earth under a dam is of utmost importance. Careful surveying of the nature and depth of the topsoil and subsoil must be done by drilling or sinking test holes (especially at higher walls) over the foundation floor, the basin and the area downstream of the wall. The results of the survey, that is the type of soil and geological condition, will determine whether an earth dam can be built on a specific site and will influence the design thereof.

Preparation of the base of the wall • Plough the floor width at least 0,15 m to 0,25 m deep. • Remove the humus-rich and false top layer, vegetation and ant heaps from the entire foundation surface. • The key trench is excavated to at least 0,6 m deep in a dense layer with minimum side slopes of 1:1 for the entire length of the wall. • Plough the base area once again, moisten and consolidate. • If the foundation is marshy, re-

Requirements for a good foundation • The soil below the wall must be of a dense nature to be compacted economically. The dense material must be at least one metre deep and must preferably be the same as the building soil of the wall. • It must be able to bear the weight of the structure safely. • Avoid plastic clay, expanding clay or marshy types of foundations. Also, avoid foundations of turf and highly dispersive soil. • Avoid porous foundations, for example sand, gravel, and deep layers of pebble stone, to prevent large-scale seepage. • Saturating (seepage) of the foundation material reduces stability and increases the tendency for the topsoil to slide.

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•

•

move that portion as a whole down to good foundation material. If it is not removed, the soft material will be extruded by the weight of the wall. The wall will sag; cracks will develop through which water may flow and wash the wall away. A shallow, porous top layer, for example sand, gravel or other permeable material, must be removed over the entire base area of the wall up to the dense soil, clay layer or rock. Over dongas, the side walls must

Figure 1: Excavations for a dam wall.

25

•

•

•

be sloped down to a slope of 1:1. Remove all loose material from the floor of the gulley and provide the wall with a key trench. Ensure a good bond between all the materials and build the earth wall up horizontally (Figure 1). The same procedure is followed with the repair of a break in the earth wall and where terrace forming banks occur on the floor of the dam wall. Deep porous top layers of sand and/or gravel must be consolidated in a wet condition and the dam is provided with a core or blanket up to the rock or clay. If a part or the entire foundation is a rock ridge, it must be cleaned thoroughly. All cracks and crevices must be filled with cement mortar and the dam wall must be provided with a concrete key wall.

The wall The wall must be dense and stable. Soil for building the dam • Gravel: Mass and stability is good, but it is porous and lacks cohesion. • Sand: Unstable, porous and without cohesion. • Loam: Dense but permeable and unstable, and usually contains an undesirable high percentage of organic material. • Silt and clay: Dense but permeable and unstable. It expands when damp and shrinks when dry. It therefore cracks easily. It is good for building the centre wall area and pit walls. • Turf and highly dispersive/sodium affected soil is unsuitable for dam building. • Good building soil must be heavy and well graded to ensure minimum hollows and maximum density after consolidation. The desirable clay content is from 20% to 40%. The clay content can be determined in the field as follows: ◊ Take a handful of moist soil, kneed it and roll it in the hands to form a “sausage”. The relation between the sausage and clay content is given in Figure 2. • If ungraded soil and soil that shrinks and swells with increase or decrease of moisture content needs to be used, place it in the inner area in the rear, where it is subject to minimum moisture changes and is under a load. • Sufficient amounts of suitable building soil should be close at hand and easily accessible. It should preferably be available in the dam basin. Cross section through the main dam wall The cross section of an earth wall is in 26

Figure 2: Relation between the “sausage” and the clay content. the shape of a trapezium. The following factors mainly determine the cross diameter of an earth wall: • The height of the wall • The soil or soils from which the wall is built • Nature of the foundation • Construction method • The extent of the water surface area when the dam is full • Position of the wall in relation to the prevailing winds • Paving of the wall or not Possibility of seepage of water through the dam wall (Figure 3) If a dam is built with permeable soil, it is possible that the saturation line of the water may reach the surface against the back slope of the wall, or in the soil directly beneath the downstream toe of the wall. If this occurs, there is a danger that the water that

The extent of the water surface area when the dam is full determines the cross diameter of a wall.

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Figure 3: Flow lines through wall and foundation.

seeps through the wall can tunnel back from the rear and thus eventually lead to failure of the wall. Slip (slip circles) and subsidence of the wall can also occur. The same dangers exist if seepage occurs through the foundation. The nature of the building material in the wall and the nature of the foundation determine the degree of seepage through the wall. The position and slope of the saturation line through the wall is determined by: • Water permeability of the wall material and foundation material. • Position and amount of groundwater flow at the site. • The type and design of key walls and cut-off walls. • The presence and position of drainage structures in the rear of the wall.

If it is known where the saturation line cuts the rear end of the wall, provision is made in the design to eliminate seepage. Seepage lines All earth walls that store water develop a seepage line (Figure 3). The average hydraulic slope of the saturation line through the dam wall is S = H/L. S = Slope of seepage line H = Height of FSL (Full Supply Level) L = Length from FSL to toe For dense, well-consolidated soil, S is steep, namely 4:1 average. For soils that are not dense or poorly consolidated soil, S is flat, namely 7:1 and flatter.

Requirement The seepage line must cut the wall within its base. In order to comply with this essential requirement, the following must be done: • The wall must be built with dense impermeable soil. • Build the middle-third area with the densest soil and the outer thirds with permeable soil, or build the key wall with concrete that stretches from the dense foundation or rock to at least the FSL. The latter is the most efficient method to prevent seepage through the wall and underneath the structure. Polypropylene sheeting can also be used for this purpose. • Enlarge the base of the wall by making the rear slopes flatter. • Where seepage occurs through or underneath the wall, drain the toe and/or build an upstream blanket in the basin.

Next month we shall look at the crest width of a dam wall. Published with acknowledgement to the ARC Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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Botswana

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ProAgri BNZ 06

Spray to protect your crops Part 6: Using the knapsack sprayer

Compiled by J Fuls (Pr Eng)

Picture: extension.unh.edu

R

ain is a blessing, but it may also stimulate an overcrowding of weeds between your precious crops. The knapsack sprayer will be your right hand tool when these times arise. It is therefore very important to know how to use it properly. This month we shall look at how to use the knapsack sprayer for optimal spraying results. Know your sprayer As with any tool, it is important to know the knapsack sprayer. Study the manual that came with the sprayer and be sure you understand how to use it and what the purpose of each part is. Maybe someone can help you by making sure it sits comfortable on your back. One cannot do a good job if the sprayer does not sit comfortable. Practice before you spray in the field. First practice how hard you must pump, this is, what pressure does one

Fill the tank with water and adjust the shoulder straps until they fit well. Also feel the handling of the pumping lever while you spray.

need. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pump correctly, you will not get the right shape of spray or droplet size from the nozzle.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

Fill the sprayer with water and practice on a piece of clear and dry soil. Note how uneven this spraying is. Practice how to hold the spray lance while walking at a comfortable pace. 29

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Get a good feeling for the correct pressure (pumping speed) and keep to this speed for all the work with the sprayer. It is not as easy as it might seem to spray evenly. The chemicals that you are about to spray are expensive, so one does not want to waste it by spraying too much on some spots. Too much chemicals can also kill your crops.

Even a small piece of dirt, like a piece of grass, can cause problems. So, even when you are using clean water, keep the filling strainer in place when filling the tank.

Also try tying a string from the end of the spray lance to the shoulder strap. This may help you to keep the nozzle steady and at a constant height above the ground. Always use clean water The pump inside the spray tank does not like dirty water. Dirt may prevent the valves from working well. A little sand in the water will cause wear and tear on the pump cylinder and piston. The hole in the nozzle tip is also very small and can easily get clogged. So always use clean water in your sprayer.

Next month we shall look at the various nozzles to use for different applications. If you don't have clean tap-water, cover a bucket with a good cloth and pour the dirty water from the river through the cloth to clean it. Then use the clean filtered water in your knapsack sprayer.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

Published with acknowledgement to the ARC Institute for Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information. 31

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ProAgri BNZ 06

Botswana’s latest disaster:

A locust outbreak

A swarm of locusts can consume enough food for 35 000 people in a single day, robbing farmers of the grass they saved for their livestock.

A

fter the drought in Botswana was broken by heavy rains, the next disaster struck. The locust pest came and ate the grazing that the farmers had carefully saved for their livestock. In February 2020 Botswana's Ministry of Agriculture and Security announced that Southern Africa has been invaded by migratory locusts. Botswana is believed to be the first Southern African country to register the locust outbreak. But later the whole East Africa and Yemen, as well the Gulf States, Iran, Pakistan, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, India and South Africa were invaded by locusts. Unlike most grasshoppers, locusts can form large swarms (80 million locusts) that fly rapidly across great distances. Swarms can travel between 5 km and 130 km, or even more, in a day. They live about ten weeks and aerial spraying is considered the only effective control. Velleminah Pelokgale, Chief Plant Protection Officer, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Division of Plant Protection, Botswana, informed farmers that there was an outbreak of migratory locusts in Ngamiland in the northern part of the country.

She appealed to the public to report sightings of the locusts to the nearest agriculture office. Meanwhile, analysts at Moody International Services have announced that the locust infestation is credit negative for agriculture-dependent countries. According to Moody, rain over the next six months could compound the crisis, given the locusts' sheer numbers and voracious appetite for important crops. The UN Humanitarian office in Geneva estimates that a small swarm of locusts can consume enough food for 35 000 people in a single day. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the situation in East Africa is “extremely serious” and an “unprecedented threat” to the food security and livelihoods of those in the Horn of Africa. The UN says about $80 m is needed to control the outbreak that threatens to worsen a famine situation for millions of people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and elsewhere in the region. “This has become a situation of international dimensions that threatens the food security of the entire sub-region,” FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, said in a statement.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

Sources: www.businesslive.co.za/bd/ national/2020-02-03-why-eastafricas-devastating-locustoutbreak-is-unlikely-to-hit-sa/ www.xinhuanet.com/english/202002/18/c_138796335 www.apanews.net/en/news/swarms -of-locusts-invade-botswana

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ProAgri BNZ 06

Saving Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s livestock industry: Part 2

Different rangeland approaches or case studies/best practices T

he Namibian livestock industry is in decline. There is a large-scale loss of palatable perennial grasses, widely spread bush encroachment, and Namibia is regarded as a country that will be severely affected by climate change. 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 annually add N$4 billion to the GDP if fully implemented. ProAgri BNZ will publish extracts from the policy document to make sure that all farmers understand this plan that can help them to survive the next drought. The best practices presented in this section are intended to give an idea of methods available and how they have been applied. Farmers need to consider how these practices can be best applied on their farms, and to learn from the presented best practice approaches in order to formulate a plan for their particular farming conditions. Once a selected approach has been chosen, the farmer needs to ensure that the principles are being applied and that progress is monitored over time.

January and April of each year, he tries to allow between 60 and 90 daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recovery of each camp. He combines this approach with bush thinning to optimise production. According to Hendrik, there are two key strategies to increase production: bush clearing and a four to six camp rotation that allows for a recovery or rest period of 60 to 90 days. He believes that in order to obtain an increased sustainable stocking rate, soil condition needs to be enhanced to increase biodiversity. Initially, bush clearing may be achieved mainly by

aerial spraying, followed by arboricide applied to tree stumps. He budgets for bush control annually. His grazing management has resulted in a steady increase in perennial grasses with a resultant increase in sustainable stocking rate. He advised that farmers should increase stocking rate based on the quantity of grass The visible changes achieved by Hendrik Botha by applying the eight camp method with variable recovery periods depending on the season.

Case study 1: Eight-camp flexible rotation combined with bush thinning Okahandja farmer Hendrik Botha started controlling bush encroachment and improving his livestock and rangeland management in 1996. He now has 40 camps with nine herds, each using four to six camps on his farm, Agagia, north-east of Okahandja. Between ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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available, but that they must also focus on animal fertility and animal production. According to Hendrik, the higher the stocking rate on the farm, the better the rangeland and overall management must be. “Critical monitoring of animals and rangeland is important all year round. If animals graze more than the predetermined height of the grass, they should be moved, likewise when new grass shoots are eaten or if the lick supplement intake becomes too expensive. A good time to assess grass is in May when animal numbers should be adjusted for the non-growing season.” Principles of grass root development 1. Recovery of grass can only take place within the rainy season. 2. Root development is negatively correlated to above ground growth. 3. Root development is most active in early spring and late summer. 4. Roots cannot grow in dry soil and the loss of root mass is double that of above ground loss as a result of degradation. 5. The more severe the defoliation, the greater the root die-off and the longer the recovery needed. 6. A full year’s rest increases production in the following year.

In other words, if a specific camp is grazed in one growing season, it will be rested completely in the next growing season. The camps being grazed in a particular growing season are heavily utilised and therefore need a long period of one complete growing season to recover. Talking about the main principles of the strategy, he emphasised that utilising half the land and resting the other half should not be a fixed rule, as it depends on individual circumstances and the initial condition of the rangeland and what happens in a specific place. “In practice, people are utilising anything between 50% and 60% for resting, depending on the year, sometimes even resting land for two consecutive years.” Riaan says, “If you overstock, you will pay the price. Ultimately, it is about the litres of water used per kg of meat produced.” Riaan estimates that depending on soil condition, 13 to 20 kg of meat is being produced per ha

per annum in Namibia with 450 mm of rain annually, compared with 40 to 45 kg per ha in South Africa. This means that Namibia’s production can still be significantly improved. In times of drought, where the rainfall deviates more than 25% of the mean annual rainfall, livestock numbers should be adjusted by 10%. If a farmer can avoid selling when everyone else is selling due to low forage availability, then higher prices are likely to be achieved. Other considerations when choosing animals are forage structure and type and survival economics influenced by the cost of controlling predators and market requirements. In conclusion, Riaan stated that the split ranch approach he promotes is applicable in areas receiving from 100 mm to 1 200 mm of rain annually, with varied utilisation efficiencies. Grazing plans need to be flexible and animals should be moved to areas where grass is well established.

Hendrik’s sound advice is to “evaluate grazing regularly, know the rangeland management principles, apply them consistently and focus to implement all aspects in maintaining a balance between rangeland and livestock management.” Case study 2: Split ranch approach (long recovery periods) The interrelationship between vegetation, grazing animals, soil and climate is complex and dynamic. Finding and maintaining a balance between these factors for optimum, sustainable economic production has been an ongoing challenge for livestock farmers in drier climates of the world, including Namibia. Profitable livestock production entails a fine balance between forage production, utilisation efficiency, an understanding of spatial and seasonal variation in natural resources, and animal behaviour. “I do not like to talk about specific systems for rangeland management because one person can implement a certain system successfully, while another can use the same system with disastrous results,” said Riaan Dames, rangeland management specialist and farmer, at the 22nd National Rangeland Forum held in Otjiwarongo at the end of last year. That said, however, he favours the split ranch grazing approach for rangeland management, which entails resting of 50% of a farm’s grazing annually, while the other 50% is grazed.

The second approach in the Zambezi region is based on utilising an area in this growing season and resting it in the next growing season.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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Successful rangeland Dzoti Conservancy Grazing Plan Rules include the following: • All livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, horses and donkeys) should stay in the area north of the tar road from January to June, depending on water availability. • All livestock should move to the grazing area south of the tar road in July, and stay there until December. • Exclusive wildlife and tourism zones should be avoided by livestock. • Livestock from the three villages (Silonga, Malengalenga and Kakiramupepu) will stay independent from each other in the grazing areas. • An assessment of forage availability for the dry season ahead is done annually, at the end of the growing season. • The conservancy’s livestock committee will discuss options to adjust livestock numbers to available forage sources every year. • Suitable punishment will be enforced for non-compliance with the grazing plan rules. • The grazing plan is flexible and should be reviewed and adapted periodically. • The conservancy plans to install predator proof infrastructure (lion fences) in grazing areas to reduce human-wildlife conflict. • Livestock will be herded and ‘kraaled’ within the grazing area in such a way as to minimise contact/ conflict with wildlife, especially predators. • The livestock committee, under the auspices of the Dzoti Conservancy Management Committee, will oversee the implementation of the grazing plan. Case study 3: Mara Fodder Bank grazing management approach (very long recovery periods) Results from the Sandveld Research Station and Farm Donkerbos include the following: Jerome Boys, who is a pasture science specialist in the Directorate of Agricultural Research and Development (DARD) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, explained the Mara Fodder Bank grazing management approach at last year’s National Rangeland Forum: “The fodder bank grazing management approach allows for a full growing season’s rest to a certain portion of the veld on a rotational basis. In theory, this should enable the land user to build up a fodder bank to be grazed at a different time of the year.” Jerome presented this approach together with Roelie Venter, who applies this approach on his farm, Donkerbos, in the Omaheke region. The fodder bank grazing management approach

Jerome Boys (MAWF) and Roelie Venter presented the Mara approach.

started in 2004 at Sandveld and was later adopted by Roelie. Both the Sandveld Research Station and Farm Donkerbos are situated in a camelthorn savannah area with primarily sandy soils and an average long-term rainfall that varies from 350 to 400 mm per annum. The dominant woody plant species are Terminalia sericea, Senegalia mellifera, Vachellia erioloba, and Dichrostachys cinerea, of which the densities can vary from 800 to 4 000 plants per ha.

1. Perennial grasses can only rest and recover during the rainy season. 2. Every farm has its own production potential that must be realised. 3. The livestock herd must adapt to the farm’s potential, not the other way around.

1. Identify and plot different veld types of equal potential and determine grazing capacity. 2. Divide year into three seasons: growing season, winter and spring. Guidelines for implementing the fodder bank approach 1. Know that the different grass species vary in terms of palatability (consider this when determining the grazing capacity for an area). 2. Accept that animal performance is linked to sufficient quantities of palatable grasses. 3. Division of a farm should be planned to make provision for differences in the veld. 4. Maintain correct stocking rates by adapting animal numbers to predetermined grazing capacities. 5. Keep records of animal numbers and the number of days a camp was rested and grazed. Should unpalatable species increase, the stocking density should be increased to utilise the unpalatable species. Some principles applicable to any grazing approach fulfilled by the Mara Fodder Bank grazing management approach are:

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

The rest of the rangeland approaches or case studies will be discussed in our next edition. *The National Rangeland Management Policy (NRMP) was approved in 2012. In 2014, the NRMP Project was commissioned in support of this policy under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), to address the declining natural resource base in Namibia. Extract from Reviving Namibia’s Livestock Industry, Regenerative Livestock Production Trends, Key Profit Drivers, Case Studies and Recommendations, NRMP Best Practice Strategy Document (Revised edition from 2012 NRMPS), Based on Namibia Rangeland Management Policy (NRMP): A

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Christmas comes early for Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s farmers:

J o h n De e r e inve st s in agriculture

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

by Jaco Cilliers

41

Zimbabwe 42

ProAgri BNZ 06

W

ith the right tools any work is easy, or so the old saying goes. But with inadequate equipment a simple task can quickly turn into a nightmare. This is what led John Deere and the Zimbabwean government to work together in order to improve the lives of farmers in the country. Mark von Pentz, President of John Deere’s division for Africa, met with President Mnangagwa. The Zimbabwean leader explained to Mr Von Pentz that the state sees agriculture as a crucial element to earning foreign exchange in the country, but that there was a serious lack of mechanisation on Zimbabwe’s farms. John Deere embarked on a multinational effort to satisfy the mechanisation needs of Zimbabwean farmers. Through finance made available by an American bank, the government of Zimbabwe was able to secure $50 million worth of tractors and other types of equipment from John Deere. The equipment is manufactured in Europe, India and China, and then shipped to South Africa. From there it is transported by road into Zimbabwe. The equipment includes tractors, implements and harvesters that have been specifically chosen to suit the Zimbabwean markets. Antois van der Westhuizen, MD of John Deere Financial for sub-Sahara Africa, said, “The equipment destined for Zimbabwe is already in a warehouse in Durban and will reach Harare within a week.” The outbreak of the Covid-19 virus might slow down the process but will definitely not prevent it from happening. Through an initiative called the SMART-Campaign, John Deere will provide the farmers with a holistic package to improve their farms. They do not simply provide tractors and then leave the farmers on their own. John Deere is committed to training the farmers, not only on efficient use of their new machines, but also on sound agricultural business practices. The Zimbabwean government was able to secure the loan to buy these machines at good interest rates, and John Deere will ensure fairness in the distribution and application of the equipment. John Deere believes in long term partnerships and even if the first phase of this project is set to take 12 to 18 months, there is no reason why the relationship will not last for the foreseeable future. John Deere South Africa also engages with seed and fertiliser companies so that the Zimbabwean farmers can receive the much-needed help in order to improve their businesses. AFGRI will also play a role in this transaction. They are John Deere’s distribution partners in Zimbabwe and will also help to identify needs and facilitate farmer-training sessions. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

43

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ProAgri BNZ 06

The target market for these products is the A2 and commercial farmers of Zimbabwe.

“We want to see a real improvement in Zimbabwe’s agricultural production through this project,” says Antois van der Westhuizen. John Deere is committed to see an improvement in food security worldwide. This project can make a real difference in the lives of Zimbabwean farmers. The best equipment that John Deere can offer, along with the necessary after sales service, will give the farmers the means to produce higher yields on their farms. The training provided by John Deere will not only help the farmers to use their new equipment effectively, but also to plan their businesses to ensure they can continue farming. Through the partnerships with seed and fertiliser companies pursued by John Deere, the farmer will be enabled to produce improved yields. This may lead to job creation and exports that can give Zimbabwe’s economy a muchneeded boost.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 06

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