TWK Radius │ Apr 2016 - Mei 2016

Apr • May 2016

Kruipvoerbestuur onder die sog Pine trees: Make that long-term commitment Voorbereiding vir 2016 se jagseisoen Voorkom insekte in opgebergde graan R35.00 VAT incl/BTW ing

AgTag is jou persoonlike skakel met relevante en wetenswaardige landbou-artikels, video’s en klankinsette van oraloor. ’n Uitgebreide verskeidenheid artikels oor

Blaai deur die opsommings en kies gedetail-

gewasse, lewendehawe, toerusting, water en

leerde artikels oor insette, tegnologie, navor-

grond, vrugte en groente, produkverwerking

sing en tegniese advies deur spesialiste.

en algemene onderwerpe word gedek en deurlopend op datum gehou.

Gebruik die soekfasiliteit vir vinnige toegang tot spesiďŹ eke onderwerpe, of boekmerk arti-

Selekteer die onderwerpe wat jou interesseer

kels vir later. Jy kan ook die artikels deel met

om op hoogte te bly van die jongste inligting.

vriende via e-pos of sms-skakels.

Laai AgTag vandag nog gratis af, en word deel van meer as 7 000 toep-gebruikers!

www.agtag.co.za

Beskikbaar vir:

FCB CAPE TOWN 10006728CT/E

Agritrac Super Universal. ’n Veeldoelige smeerolie wat verseker dat jou plaaswerktuie meer tyd in die veld en minder in die werkswinkel sal spandeer.

Beskikbaar by The Oil Centre, goedgekeurde verspreiders en voorste koĂśperasies.

Klante-dienssentrum: 08600 36436

Met ons is jy Nommer Een

world-class service that reects professionalism and

Contact Details:

Email: kredietafdeling@twkagri.com Ofce: +27 (0)17 824 1000 TWK Agri Head Ofce 11 De Wet Street, Piet Retief

NCRCP: 6849

Contents/Inhoud

DISCLAIMER TWK Agri (Pty) Ltd and/or Radius nor any of its officials, members, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders or directors shall not be liable for any loss, damage or any liability of whatsoever nature which may arise to the reader as a consequence of this publication of any article or advertise ment in this publication or as a result of the reader or any other person acting on the strength, accuracy or correctness of the content provided in this publication.

Radius makes no representation, furnish no warranty or guarantee, actual or implied or otherwise that the content, information or data in this publication are free from errors, omissions or inaccuracies. No information, ideas, opinions, views or other data available in this publication should be regarded as professional advice or the professional opinion of Radius or any of its members, employees, agents, representatives, or shareholders and all readers are informed to obtain professional advice before taking any course of action relating to anything contained in this publication.

AFSTANDDOENING TWK Agri (Edms) Bpk en/of Radius of enige van sy beamptes, lede, werknemers, agente, verteenwoordigers, aandeelhouers of direkteure sal nie aanspreeklik wees vir enige verlies, skade of verpligting hoegenaamd uit hoofde van die publikasie en wat mag ontstaan vir enige leser van die publikasie uit enige advertensie of die plasing van enige artikel in die publikasie of as gevolg van ‘n leser of enige ander persoon wat reageer of optree op sterkte van die akkuraatheid of korrektheid van die inhoud vervat in die publikasie.

Radius maak geen voorstelling, lewer geen waarborg of vrywaring, hetsy direk of indirek dat die inhoud, inligting of data in hierdie publikasie foutloos, vry van onjuisthede, of sonder weglatings is nie. Geen inligting, idees, opinies, standpunte of enige inligting beskikbaar in hierdie publikasie moet as professionele advies of die professionele opinie van Radius of enige van sy beamptes, lede, werknemers, agente, verteenwoordigers, aandeelhouers of direkteure beskou word nie en die lesers moet hul eie professionele advies inwin voordat enige aksie in verband met enige inligting in hierdie publikasie geneem word.

Redaksie Publisher and editorial team/ Uitgewer en redaksionele span: Big Door PO Box 2779 Brooklyn Square 0075 Posbus 2779 Brooklyn Square 0075 258 Brooks Street/-straat Brooklyn 0181 Tel: 012 362 1385 Fax/Faks: 012 362 0113 Copyright: All rights reserved Kopiereg: Alle regte voorbehou Cover/Voorblad: TWK Agri

For advertisement bookings or tariffs contact Sonet Bergh or Maxine Robbertze on 012 362 1385 during office hours or send an e-mail to sonet@bigdoor.co.za or maxine@bigdoor.co.za.

Vir advertensiebesprekings en tariewe skakel Sonet Bergh of Maxine Robbertze by 012 362 1385 gedurende kantoorure of stuur ‘n e-pos na sonet@bigdoor.co.za of maxine@bigdoor.co.za.

Kalium (K)

4

Die aanlynverhandeling van beeskarkasse nuwe bemarkingsgeleenthede

6

Integrated fire management at industrial forestry plantation level

8

Pine trees: Make that long-term commitment

10

Kruipvoerbestuur onder die sog

12

Instandhoudingskwessies in ‘n deeltitelskema

14

Tyre expiry

15

How to benefit from the new tax rates

16

Voorbereiding vir 2016 se jagseisoen

18

High volume vs low volume spraying

20

Voorkom insekte in opgebergde graan

22

Tips on wireless printers

24

Introducing the new Toyota Hilux 2016

26

What to do in your garden in winter

28

Company News

30

Eienaar: TWK Agri (Pty) Ltd • Tel: 017 824 1000 • E-pos: twk@twkagri.com • www.twkagri.com Kontakpersoon: Imke Nel, tel: 017 824 1014, e-pos: radius@twkagri.com TWK aandeleverhandeling: www.twkshares.com TWK Youtube-kanaal: http://bit.ly/twkvideos

3

Kalium (K) Diederick Scholtz, Harmonie Kunsmis, Landboukundige (PriSci Nat)

Foto’s Shutterstock

KALIUM SE ROL IN DIE MENSLIKE LIGGAAM Kalium is ‘n baie belangrike mineraal vir die behoorlike funksie van alle selle, weefsel en organe in die menslike liggaam. Dit is ook saam met natrium, chloried, kalsium en magnesium ‘n elektroliet, ‘n stof wat elektrisiteit gelei in die liggaam. Kalium is noodsaaklik vir hartfunksie en speel ‘n belangrike rol in die skelet- en gladde spiersametrekking, dus is dit belangrik vir normale spysvertering en spierfunksie.

KALIUM SE ROL IN GEWASSE Kalium word as die ‘kwaliteit voedingstof’ in gewasproduksie beskryf. Kalium verhoog die proteïen-inhoud van plante, die styselinhoud van grane en knolle, en die vitamien C en opgeloste vastestowwe in vrugte. Dit verbeter ook vrugkleur en -smaak, verhoog die grootte van vrugte en knolle, en verlaag die voorkoms van peste en siektes. Kalium verhoog storingsvermoë en verskepingskwaliteit en aktiveer meer as 60 ensieme en koënsieme, en beheer die opening van die stomata (reguleer dus die waterbalans).

diffusie (78%) en massavloei (20%). Kalium is baie mobiel in die plant en word maklik opwaarts en afwaarts getranslokeer.

SIMPTOME BY ‘N TEKORT AAN KALIUM ‘n Kaliuminhoud van minder as 1,2% in droë materiaal kan op ‘n tekort dui. Die simptome van ‘n kaliumtekort is aanvanklik nie op die oog af sigbaar nie en staan soms bekend as ‘n versteekte honger.

Eers neem groei af, dan word die plant se blare grysgroen. Blaarrante kry aanvanklik wit of geel spikkels wat later oorgaan in randskroei. Stamme is dun en verkort.

Omdat kalium baie mobiel is word dit uit ouer blare onttrek en dui ouer blare dan ‘n tekort aan. Tekorte kan ook in jong blare voorkom by hoë-opbrengs, vinnig rypwordende gewasse soos katoen en koring. Strooisterkte verswak en plante word ook meer vatbaar vir siektes. Plante is minder droogtebestand. Gewasse bevat minder koolhidrate en vrugte is kleiner en van swak gehalte.

Die belangrikheid van kalium in die gehalte van opbrengs is afkomstig van die rol in die produksie van fotosintaat en die vervoer daarvan na die stoororgane soos vrugte, graan en knolle. Dit bespoedig ook die omskakeling na stysel, proteïen en olies.

TOKSISITEITSIMPTOME Toksisiteite kan voorkom veral op sanderige gronde met herhaalde hoë toedienings van kalium, sonder om magnesium ook toe te dien. Simptome is dus tipies magnesiumtekortsimptome.

Die konsentrasie K in plante wissel tussen 0,5 en 5%.

KALIUM SE ROL IN DIE GROND Kalium is ‘n monovalente katioon (K+) wat ongeveer 2% van die aardkors uitmaak en in minerale gebind is. Kalium bind aan die hoofsaaklik negatief gelaaide kleideeltjies

Plante absorbeer K in die vorm van K+.

Kalium word deur plante opgeneem deur

4 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

of kan tussen die plaatjies van sommige klei-minerale vasgelê word. Kalium se toe ganklikheid word deur die aktiwiteit van K+ in die grondoplossing bepaal. Daar bestaan ‘n ewewig tussen K+ wat in oplossing is, dié wat geadsorbeer is aan die kleideeltjies en die wat vasgelê is. Kaliumloging kan wel plaasvind, veral in hoë sandgronde.

ALGEMENE BRONNE VAN KALIUM %K %N %S %Cl SI KCl

50

47

K2SO4 42 KNO3

38

18 13

Vervaardiging

114

K+ + HCl = KCl + H+

46

K+ + H2SO4 = K2SO4

74

K+ + HNO3 = KNO3

SI – Soutindeks teenoor NaNO3 = 100

Die soutindeks van ‘n kunsmis is ‘n uitdrukking van die osmotiese potensiaal daarvan in die grondoplossing. Wanneer ‘n kunsmis die osmotiese potensiaal van ‘n grondoplossing uitermatig verhoog, word plantselle beskadig deur die onttrekking van water.

Die internasionale uitdrukking van kalium is K2O. In Suid-Afrika word persentasie kalium gebruik en bereken deur die persentasie K2O met 0,833 te vermenigvuldig.

Vir meer navrae kontak Diederick Scholtz by diederick@harmonie.co.za.

Timber Risk Transfer Traditional Plantation Insurance TWK Short-term Brokers are fully accredited to provide clients with plantation insurance solutions.

This cover mitigates risk against ď€ re and allied perils pertaining to the plantation industry including harvesting costs, debris removal and aerial water-bombing costs.

Non-conventional Approach TWK Corporate Insurance offers specialist expertise to timber farmers, with non-conventional insurance solutions. With our risk management partners which extends from tree to wood chips, TWK Corporate Insurance is able to mitigate the risk of your timber losses, which supports our approach to your speciď€ c insurance solution.

Head Ofď€ ce: +27 (0)17 824 1000 / insure@twkagri.com Kobus Stapelberg: +27 (0)17 824 1510 / kstapelberg@twkagri.com TWK Agri (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Financial Services (FSP 45055) and registered Credit Provider (NCRCP 6849).

DIE AANLYNVERHANDELING VAN BEESKARKASSE Nuwe bemarkingsgeleenthede Luan van der Walt, Departement Landbou-ekonomie, UV

Die bemarking van beesvleis is besig om ‘n nuwe dimensie in te beweeg met die ontstaan van die nuwe karkastermynkontrakte wat verhandel onder die JSE se Landbouprodukte-divisie, of beter bekend as Safex.

Die verhandeling ontlok verskeie vrae uit verskillende segmente van die bedryf wat na onsekerheid lei oor die implementasie en gebruik van hierdie kontrakte. Die onsekerheid oor die werking van die mark maak in baie gevalle die moontlike deelnemers aan die mark baie skepties om die mark te gebruik.

DIE KONTRAK Die huidige kontrak wat verhandel op Safex is ‘n A2/A3-karkaskontrak met twee sye per karkas en ‘n konformasie van twee tot vyf.

Een kontrak is gelyk aan 1 000 kg en die pryse word in rand per kilogram (R/kg) gekwoteer. Die vier verskansingsmaande vir die kontrak is Maart, Junie, September en Desember. Die hoofdoel van hierdie kontrak is prysrisikobestuur. Daar vind geen fisiese lewerings op hierdie kontrakte plaas nie en dus dien die kontrak slegs as ‘n finansiële instrument wat deur middel van kontantlewering ‘toegemaak’ kan word. Om ‘n kon-

6 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

trak op ‘n kontantbasis toe te maak beteken dat indien jy ‘n kontrak verkoop het op die Safex-mark, jy net weer dieselfde kontrak moet terugkoop op die mark voor ‘n sekere tyd en andersom. Die finale leweringsprys ten einde van die kontrakvervalmaand vir hierdie kontrakte is ‘n tweeweeklikse geweegde, gemiddelde verkoopprys van A2/A3 karkasse. Die prysinligting word verkry vanaf die Rooivleis Abattoir Ver eniging (RVAV).

DIE MOONTLIKHEDE Die verhandeling van die beesvleis termynkontrakte stel die verskillende rolspelers in die beesvleiswaardeketting in staat om beter bemarking toe te pas op hul produkte. Die bemarking van die produkte deur gebruik te maak van hierdie karkastermynkontrakte kan nou alreeds maande voor die fisiese verkoop van die produk geskied en nie net meer tydens die fisiese verkoop daarvan nie.

Boere en ander rolspelers in die bedryf kan deur gebruik te maak van die termynkontrakte hul marges beter bestuur, omdat hulle alreeds vir hulle pryse kan vasmaak in die toekoms vir wanneer hulle hul diere verkoop in die fisiese mark.

MEER PRAKTIESE VERDUI DELIKING Gestel dit is Januarie en ‘n boer weet dat hy slaggereed kalwers in Junie gaan hê om te verkoop. Die boer kan dus in Januarie reeds met die bemarking van hierdie diere begin. Die boer kan die pryse waarteen hy bereid sal wees om te verkoop in Junie vas maak deur die karkastermynkontrakte te gebruik. Die boer kan in Junie termynkontrakte verkoop en sodoende verseker wees van die prys wat in Junie ontvang sal word, ongeag die beweging van die mark tot en met Junie. Die boer is dus beskerm teen prysrisiko en hy moet net sorg dat sy kalwers groei tot en met Junie.

‘N KORT BEREKENING In Januarie is die Junie termynprys vir A2/ A3 karkasse byvoorbeeld R35/kg. Die boer kan dan kontrakte verkoop teen R35/kg en dus is dit dan die prys waarteen hy vasgemaak het vir lewering in Junie. Indien die boer in Junie sy fisiese slaggereed diere verkoop aan die abattoir en die fisiese prys vir A2/A3 karkasse het gedaal tot R32/kg sal die boer vir sy fisiese diere R32/kg ontvang in die fisiese mark. Die boer moet dan nogsteeds sy termynkontrakte toemaak deur

C

M

Y

Foto’s Shutterstock CM

MY

CY

die kontrakte terug te koop op die termynmark. Hy sal dus die CMY kontrakte terugkoop teen ‘n prys van R32/kg en sal ‘n R3/kg wins K maak op die termynmark. Die wins wat hy in die termynmark maak sal die verlies in die fisiese mark opmaak en die netto prys sal weer op die oorspronklike prys uitkom, waarteen hy vasgemaak het. Dit is belangrik om in ag te neem dat die onderstaande berekening nie transaksiefooie in ag neem nie, maar slegs die fisiese prys en die prys soos verhandel op die skerm.

Fisiese prys = R32/kg Termynmark = R3/kg wins Netto prys ontvang = R32/kg + R3/kg wins = R35/kg GEVOLGTREKKING Die verhandeling van die karkastermynkontrakte skep aan die rolspelers in die beesvleiswaardeketting die geleentheid om hul bemarking te verbeter en langer voor die tyd te begin. Dit dien ook as ‘n goeie bestuursmeganisme om prysrisiko te bestuur wat nooit voorheen in die mark beskikbaar was nie. Tans is daar slegs karkaskontrakte wat verhandel en die speenkalfkontrakte is nog in bespreking.

Dit bly egter belangrik om te onthou dat dit nie nodig is om van hierdie termynkontrakte gebruik te maak indien jy nie goed vertroud met die werking daarvan is nie. Die ontstaan van die termynkontrakte dien as ‘n goeie geleentheid om meer te leer oor die werking van termynkontrakte en die verskansingsmoontlikhede.

Vir meer inligting kontak vir Luan by vanderwaltL1@ufs.ac.za.

Integrated fire management at industrial forestry plantation level Cornelis de Ronde, Silva Forest Services

FIRE PROTECTION PLAN MAINTENANCE It is recommended that fire protection plans are checked and adjusted annually. It is also important that all major wildfires that have occurred are mapped annually on fire protection maps, and that prescribed burning programmes are adjusted accordingly.

This applies equally to regional maps and working plans. Proper annual plan mainte nance has been found to be playing a key role in maintaining a successful fire protection plan strategy in southern Africa.

HOW TO GET STARTED It is important to state that the whole regional strategy and outcome, including its products, will form the basis for further, more detailed work at plantation level. This includes the regional strategy, broad fire hazard assessment and mapping, as well as regional-scale buffer zoning.

Further work might mean a more detailed combination of studies, such as fire history, fire hazard assessment at plantation level and ‘tuning-up’ of more detailed structuring of buffer zones within the separate plantation units, but the basic fire protection strategy should not differ significantly from the regional strategy plan.

The regional plan and strategy that is implemented can form a useful Introduction and Methods section for the Integrated Fire Management (IFM) plan to be provided per Plantation Working Unit (PWU), but other wise normal plantation maps (with compartment detail) can be used to create fire hazard and fire protection working maps.

EVALUATION PHASE

Fuel modelling, fuel classification and fire hazard rating To arrive at a suitable fuel classification database for each PWU, the use of a scale

8 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

ranging from 1:10 000 to 1:30 000 will be used in a typical plantation working mass.

This will include a range of age and species combinations of the tree stands, and outside plantation blocks, a suitable classification of all other man-made fuels (eg sugar cane, montane grassland by age classes and savannah grassland), to arrive at a representative fuel model file.

This process can be regarded as the first step towards fire hazard assessment at a more detailed level, which can be used during the evaluation process (de Ronde, various fuel model files).

Fuel models should be developed and tested with the NEWMDL and TSTMDL modules of BEHAVE (Burgan and Rothermel, 1984), and fire behaviour characteristics must also be further illustrated with the assistance of certain BehavePlus4 options (such as surface, size and spot). This will enable ranking of these fire parameters according to standardised performance for typical wildfire conditions: • flame length (m) • rate of fire spread (m/min) • fireline intensity (kW/m) • heat per unit area (kJ/m²) • maximum spotting distance (km).

Evaluating existing fire protection measures Based on the fire hazard rating assessment results, long-, medium- and short-term programmes are developed. In this process some of the issues that must be addressed are the following: • the placement of existing firebreaks • riparian zone requirements • nature conservation requirements, such as special regimes for natural heritage sites, wetlands, etc • financial constraints, and the costeffectiveness of the recommendations

• adjustments required in the working plan and changes to silviculture and harvesting policies.

This process follows immediately after the fire hazard rating evaluation process described in the previous paragraphs, and begins with a detailed inspection on the ground, sometimes with the assistance of aerial studies. During the process, all fire protection units should be visited and, if in doubt of effectiveness, better alternatives should be considered.

The basis of these decision-making procedures will be existing buffer zones, which will now have to be planned in detail on a smaller scale, as well as the outcome of the fire hazard evaluation programme. All aspects such as ecological requirements, financial constraints and fuel management programmes other than fire protection, will then have to be considered. In some cases, it may be necessary to re-stimulate wildfire along specific firebreak routes and specifications until all involved are satisfied that the best option has been adapted.

APPLICATION PHASE

Placing buffer zone systems The finer detail of this programme can only be dealt with after completing the Evaluation Phase, and once the broader scale routes of zones are considered at smaller scale maps. This will provide more detail regarding tree stands or compartments (in the case of industrial plantations), grazing camps (in agriculture) and the fuel mosaic pattern or wildfire history in nature reserves and mountain catchment areas.

Where a lack of fuel management options or prescribed burning restrictions occur, alternative routes may temporarily have to be considered until such time that the fuel status of these areas are more favourable

Shutterstock

for fuel reduction or fire application. More exact and final route placement may also give rise to minor deviations of buffer zone boundaries and routes.

Apart from the major regional buffer zones, other buffer zones, such as internal buffer zones, can now also be placed and described, with the emphasis on natural protection lines, such as wetlands and artificial alter natives such as public roads and areas with restricted fuel levels. The main aim will be to reduce the area at risk within manage ment units, and to fill gaps in the creation of continuous fire protection lines.

EXTERNAL FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS Once the buffer zone systems have been placed in the landscape, attention should be given to other external fire protection, property boundaries and management units such as plantation blocks. In most areas in the summer rainfall region, the main objective should be to provide maximum protection to the dangerous western and northern boundaries, taking economics into consideration.

Annual burning of grassland still remains one of the most viable options in southern Africa, particularly where these fire protection units are bordering densely populated rural settlements, wattle jungles, irregularly-burned grassland or eucalyptus plantations, with accumulated forest floor and slash levels.

In many cases attempts have been made to strengthen annually prepared firebreaks with fuel-free plantation roads, tree compartments – bordering external firebreaks – that were clear-felled and slash-burned, or so-called ‘prescribed burning chains’ to ensure maximum protection along dangerous boundaries.

In contrast, along eastern and southern boundary lines, only minimal fire protection should be provided, unless these border dangerous fuels or hazardous land. A single burned tracer line may sometimes prove to be adequate for protection and to mark the boundary, while plantation roads can be utilised as an advantage in the same manner to ensure maximum protection at minimum cost along these lines.

REDUCING AREA AT RISK This applies to the area within external boundaries and can include industrial plantations with compartment/block or farms subdivided into different camps/ cultivated lands. It can also be applicable to subdivided nature reserves, hunting farms, rural areas, mountain catchment areas or other forms of natural grassland, bush or forest.

It is important that the area at risk within a fire management unit is reduced as much as possible to restrict free spread of wildfires, which either originated within the unit or from outside its boundaries. This can be done by identifying effective, continuous, fire protection lines, which can be used as part of the internal fire protection system.

Natural protection lines should be used for this purpose where possible, extending them with additional firebreak sections where these lines are not continuous, or where they present gaps. In natural vegetation, existing wetland lines, rivers and mountain ridges should be used where possible to achieve this.

PRIORITISING PRESCRIBED BURNING PROGRAMMES In many cases, prescribed burning programmes can only be completed if long burning seasons are experienced with a maximum number of suitable prescribed burning days.

Unfortunately, in some years, only a restricted number of suitable burning days can be used, particularly if less rain falls at the beginning of the dry season.

In the summer rainfall regions of southern Africa, in areas dominated by natural dynamic grassland, the following burning priorities are normally used (de Ronde, 2000a): • main (regional) buffer zones – always top priority • external firebreaks on dangerous boundaries, especially northern and western boundaries • fire protection along public roads • fire protection under power lines • internal buffer zones • fuel management around settlements and houses • external firebreaks along less dangerous boundaries to the east and south • other conservation burning programmes.

For more information contact Pieter Keeve, bestuur.bosbou@twkagri.com.

To calculate the results of internal fire protection improvement, the area of individual areas at risk should be calculated (in ha) before and after fire protection adjustments have been applied, to arrive at an average area at risk before and after improvement measures are implemented.

9

Photo Brooke Jeffries/flickr.com

Pine trees: Make that long-term commitment Bruce Trebble, Timber Marketer, TWK Agri

Photo Lane B/flickr.com

Frequently at a social gathering of farmers the question will arise, ‘Why do you plant pine trees?’ There will be statements like ‘you will wait forever to get the return on your investment’.

As with any investment, there are short, medium and long terms, each with its own risks and benefits.

SITE PREPARATION Site preparation is very important. Cutting corners to lower costs will not produce the same yield as a well-prepared site. The better you prepare the site, the better the initial growth of the seedlings will be. Once the seedlings are well established, it is important to follow up with the correct silviculture procedures.

• Ensure the correct amount of pressure is used to close the seedling in the pitting hole – too much pressure will cause Jrooting.

Planting pines is very similar to raising children – everyone has his/her own opinion.

Discipline them, don’t discipline them. Let them do homeschooling, don’t let them do homeschooling. Rip before you plant your seedling, don’t rip before you plant. Prune to five metres, rather prune to seven metres.

To each his own, and there is no right or wrong answer. There are however a couple of guidelines that I believe need to be adhered to when making this long-term commitment with a pine compartment, so as to not throw good money after bad.

SPACING For sawlog production a wide spacing is used.

For example 2,7 x 2,7 m – this will result in a stem count of 1 372 stems per hectare.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT SPECIE • If the soil is compacted, it is best to rip where possible to give the young roots place to expand.

• Decide on your line spacing, as well as your inter-row spacing.

• Do the necessary weeding to avoid competition for nutrients and water.

• Thin and prune at the correct age to optimise growth.

• Use the correct equipment to do each operation – for example, use a half-bow saw for two metre pruning, not a cane knife.

10 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

Pine trees are very forgiving. They are often planted on very poor soil and terrain, and still produce a good yield. The big secret is to not be slack on the silviculture.

In the Piet Retief area, pine growers thin for the first time between eight and nine years to approximately 800 stems per hectare. The second thinning will take place at 15 years to 500 stems per hectare, the third thinning at approximately 18 years to between 300 and 350 stems per hectare (some believe in a final stem count of 250 stems per hectare for veneer logs), and clear fell at 25 years.

PLANTING Attention to detail is very important when planting. It is important that the silviculture team is well trained and familiar with the planting of seedlings. Ensure that the seedling plugs are removed carefully from the tray, and when the seedlings come in plastic sleeves, that the sleeves are removed prior to closing the pitting hole.

PRUNING The first pruning is a two metre prune at about four years. The second prune is at

10 years, up to seven metres. Some growers do a five metre pruning as well, especially with P. patula which has more and thicker branches than P. elliottii.

It is important to wait until after the first frost to start pruning. Once the season has changed and there is no longer frost in the mornings, it is advisable to stop all pruning operations. This is to prevent the trees from getting any pests or diseases.

Branches must be cut off flush with the stem of the tree. A good rule of thumb is that the tree must always have at least one third of its branches left after being pruned.

For any questions contact Bruce Trebble, btrebble@twkagri.com.

SPECIE SELECTION P. patula – This tree grows faster than the other pine species, however, it is more susceptible to damage by fire as well as hail.

P. elliottii – This is the hardiest of the pine species and can withstand fire and hail damage better than the other species.

P. taeda – The most demanding of the pine species in terms of climate and soil requirements. This specie is not so popular amongst timber farmers. It is commonly used to prevent erosion on the dunes at the coast.

Martin Luther, when asked what he would do if he knew that the world would come to an end tomorrow said, ‘I would plant an apple tree’. Even though it takes longer for pine trees to mature than eucalyptus or wattle, it stays worth your while to plant this longterm investment. If you look after these trees, they will in due time look after you.

Kruipvoerbestuur onder die sog

Die ongespeende varkie se spysverteringstelsel is onderontwikkel en die ontwikkeling van die varkie se spysverteringstelsel is meestal in ooreenstemming met die gewig van die varkie en nie met die ouderdom van die varkie nie. Hoe swaarder die varkie met speen is hoe: • beter is die vertering van die speenrantsoen; • beter is die voerinname ná speen met gevolglike verbetering in groei; • gouer sal hulle geslag kan word; • meer kan daar bespaar word op voer en spasie.

Gelukkig vir die varkprodusent het die klein varkie ‘n enorme potensiaal om te kan groei, maar die beperkende faktor is onvoldoende melk- of alternatiewe voedingstof-inname. Dit is die varkprodusent se plig om te verseker dat die klein varkies genoeg voedingstowwe inneem om maksimum groei voor speen te bereik. Die vraag is hoe kan die varkprodusent hiertoe bydra?

• Maak seker dat die sog genoeg kolostrum produseer met ‘n hoë voedingswaarde en gehalte sodat passiewe immuniteit aan die pasgebore varkie oorgedra kan word. Die sog se gesondheid, haar tydsperiode in die varkeenheid en haar voer in die laaste 15 dae voor jong is van belang.

• Stimuleer voorspeense kruipvoerinname van die varkies. Hoe vroeër die produsent begin om die inname van kruipvoer te stimuleer, hoe meer sukses sal hy behaal om die teiken van 400 tot 500 g per varkie vir week vier te behaal. Sien Grafiek 1 wat die potensiële kummulatiewe voerinname van die varkie oor die periode van 28 dae aangee. Indien jy in ag neem dat die voer omsetverhouding van ‘n varkie op hierdie ouderdom 1:1 is (gegewe daar goeie kruipvoer aangebied word) – dat die varkie in die periode 600 g kan byvoeg tot sy speengewig, komende van die kruipvoer.

• Verskaf goeie gehalte produkte in terme van roumateriale/ formulering/tegniese voorbereiding.

12 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

600 4 weke: 400 - 500 g/week

500 400 300 200

3 weke: 150 - 170 g/week

100 0 √

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Grafiek 1

• Begin vroeg – sewe dae na geboorte.

• Bestuur in klein hoeveelhede – maak seker die voer is altyd vars.

• Maak seker die varkie bereik ‘n minimum van 400 tot 500 g voerinname in die laaste week voor speen. Hier is dit ook belangrik om te verstaan dat die sog se melkproduksie na die derde week nie meer voldoende is om te voorsien in die hoeveelheid wat die varkie in die laaste week (week vier) nodig het nie.

• Grafiek 2 hieronder dui aan waar die behoefte van die varkie die sog se melkproduksie oorskry: Hoeveelheid melk verskaf en behoeftes (kg/dag)

Genetiese vordering in die varkbedryf het bygedra tot suksesvolle verhoging van die fekunditeit van die sog. Dit kos die varkprodusent egter baie geld om die beste genetika te bekom. Die enigste manier om dié belegging die moeite werd te maak is om te verseker dat die werpsel oorleef. Saam met groot werpsels is dit onvermydelik dat speengewigte dienooreenkomstig afneem. Hierdie artikel kyk na die basiese beginsels in kruipvoerbestuur by voorspeense varke.

Kummulatiewe voerinname per varkie (g)

Marietjie du Toit, Algemene Bestuurder, Coprex

20,0 17,5 15,0 12,5 10,0

Melkbehoeftes te voorsien (werpsel van 12 varkies) Melktekort

Melkproduksie

7,5 5,0 2,5

Voorspeense kruipvoerinname is belangrik

Grafiek 2

• Onthou die ongespeende varkie het ook waterbehoeftes wat nie ten volle deur die melk voorsien word nie.

Foto’s: Shutterstock

Voerinname Groei 28 - 36 dae 28 - 36 dae Varkies sonder kruipvoer

Voerinname Groei 37 - 62 dae 37 - 62 dae Varkies met kruipvoer

Grafiek 3

Tabel 1 hieronder toon die voordele in terme van gewigstoename oor die varkgroeisiklus: Met ‘n speengewigverskil by 21 dae van

1,0 kg

Gewigverskil by 28 dae sal wees

1,2 kg

Gewigverskil by 42 dae sal wees

1,6 kg

Gewigverskil by 70 dae sal wees

2,3 kg

Gewigverskil by 160 dae sal wees

4,8 kg

Die voordeel deur te verseker dat die ongespeende varkies toegang tot goeie, vars kruipvoer het, kan in Grafiek 3 gesien word.

In die volgende artikel sal daar klem gelê word op die voedingsbestuur van groeivarke vir die periode tussen speen en slag.

1 kg verskil by 21 dae = 4,8 kg verskil by slagting

Trusted process PEOPLE

PEDIGREE

PASSION

PURPOSE

PROCESS

PROMISE

Meadow’s nutritionists use the foremost formulation software to optimise least cost, balanced animal diets at a nutrient level. Raw materials are sourced from accredited and rigorously approved suppliers to reduce risk and ensure consistent quality from source. Seven well situated milling and mixing facilities incorporate automation and control systems which allow our operators to blend the right ingredients at the formulated inclusion level.

meadowfeeds.co.za

Instandhoudingskwessies in ‘n deeltitelskema TWK Agri Versekering*

Instandhouding van ‘n deeltitelskema kan eenvoudig lyk.

Onderhoudskwessies kan egter tot geskille lei, meestal weens die ingewikkelde verhouding wat bestaan rondom noue leefomstandighede en gedeelde eienaarskap.

DIE REG TEN OPSIGTE VAN VERANT WOORDELIKHEID

Deeltiteleienaar Die deeltiteleienaar is aanspreeklik vir die instandhouding van en herstelwerk aan sy eenheid. Die eienaar moet ook toelaat dat ‘n gemagtigde persoon op ‘n redelike tyd en nadat kennisgewing verskaf is (behalwe in die geval van nood in welke geval geen kennis benodig word nie), sy eenheid betree vir die inspeksie, instandhouding, herstelwerk of vervanging van pype, drade, kabels en afvoerpype wat gedeel word met ‘n ander eenheid of die gemeenskaplike eiendom.

Regspersoon Die regspersoon is aanspreeklik vir die instandhouding van en herstelwerk aan die gemeenskaplike eiendom. Indien ‘n lekkasie afkomstig is van pype wat gebruik word deur meer as een eenheid en geleë is in die skeimure tussen hierdie eenhede, vorm hierdie pype deel van die gemeenskaplike eiendom.

Die eienaar is verplig om die warmwaterinstallasie wat sy eenheid bedien te onder hou of waar die installasie meer as een eenheid bedien, moet die betrokke eienaars die installasie pro-rata onderhou, ongeag die feit dat die installasie geleë mag wees op die gemeenskaplike eiendom en verseker

14 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

word deur die regspersoon. Die regspersoon is verantwoordelik om die geboue van die deeltitelskema teen brand en sodanige ander risiko’s te verseker. ‘n Gedeelte van ‘n deeltiteleienaar se heffings word gebruik om die versekeringspremie te betaal.

DIE REG TEN OPSIGTE VAN VERSEKERING Indien ‘n deeltiteleienaar skade lei weens byvoorbeeld ‘n waterlekkasie sal hy geregtig wees om te eis vir die herstel van die skade. Die deeltiteleienaar sal die trustees moet vra om die eis namens hom in te dien, aangesien die versekering in die naam van die regspersoon sal wees. Die versekeringsmaatskappy sal bewys van die herstelwerk van die deeltiteleienaar wat die skade gelei het of die regspersoon wat die herstelwerk uitgevoer het, verlang, voordat hulle die bedrag vir die skade aan die eenheid sal uitbetaal.

Afhangende van die versekeringspolis van die regspersoon, kan sekere bates ingesluit of uitgesluit word. Byvoorbeeld, as jy ‘n eenheid onderstebo draai sodat die dak aan die onderkant is, sal al die besittings wat op die dak val in die algemeen nie gedek word deur die versekering van die regspersoon

nie. Dit beteken dat skade aan meubels of toerusting nie deur die polis gedek sal word nie, omdat dit nie deel van die geboue vorm nie.

Daar is egter sekere versekeringspolisse wat voorsiening maak vir wat dikwels na verwys word as ‘gevolgskade’. Hierdie tipe klousule in ‘n polis kan die skade wat aan plafonne of matte veroorsaak word, deur byvoorbeeld ‘n waterlekkasie, dek. Dit is dus belangrik vir ‘n deeltiteleienaar om seker te maak hy verstaan die versekeringspolis van die regspersoon en om moontlik selfs te oorweeg om sy eie versekering uit te neem vir die inhoud van sy eenheid.

Vir meer navrae, kontak TWK Versekering by 017 824 1000 *TWK Agri (Edms) Bpk is ‘n gemagtigde Finansiëlediensteverskaffer (FDV 45055)

Tyre expiry – this specific tyre was manufactured in the tenth week of 2001, which makes it pretty old in tyre years (photo: Wikipedia.org).

Tyre expiry Are your tyres past their prime?

You may think your vehicle’s tyres are still in good shape, because you have only driven 20 000 km in the last five years. But like many things in life, tyres have a ‘best before’ date.

T YRE EXPIRY Vehicle tyres have a four year validity period from their Date of Manufacture (DOM). Thereafter, the tyre expires and may burst whilst in use, especially in hot weather. The rubber component of the tyre hardens over time and may crack.

How to find out whether your tyre has expired? Check for a stamp like this: (*2603*) There is an asterisk at the beginning and at the end of this serial number.

The first two numbers – 26 – will tell you which week of the year it has been manufactured. One year has 52 weeks. The second two numbers indicate the year – 2003.

Check all your tyres for safety purposes. Do not use expired tyres!

GENERAL ROAD SAFET Y AND ASPECTS OF T YRE SAFET Y Studies of tyre safety have shown that maintaining proper tyre pressure, observing tyre and vehicle load limits, and inspecting tyres for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tyre failure, such as tread separation or blowout and flat tyres. These actions, along with other care and maintenance activities, can also: • improve vehicle handling • help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents • improve fuel economy • increase the life of your tyres.

For a free check contact the Protea tyre experts Protea Ermelo Protea Piet Retief Protea Vryheid Protea Kimberley

017 811 5825 017 826 0052 034 981 5303 053 841 0017

Sandy Martin Paula Valerie

Tyre weather crack – the rubber component of the tyre hardens over time and may crack (photo: Wikipedia.org).

How to benefit from the new tax rates Dupie van Rensburg, Manager, Payroll Services

Minister Pravin Gordhan’s recent budget introduced a number of changes to the personal income tax rates. These rates, together with the retirement reforms and Employment Tax Incentives (ETI), will affect you and your business directly. If utilised correctly, you and your company can enjoy some tax relief.

RETIREMENT REFORMS

Before

New date

What is the intention behind the change?

• The retirement reforms are set in place by government to encourage savings through retirement funds and ensuring that members receive an income after retiring.

• It also closes the gap of employer Provident Fund contributions that is not currently subjected to tax.

Previously allowed retirement fund deductions • 7,5% of Retirement Funding Income (RFI) allowed for pension deductions.

• 15% of non-retirement funding allowed for retirement annuity deductions.

• No tax deduction allowed for Provident Fund deductions.

Deductions allowed from 1 March 2016 • All retirement fund contributions will enjoy a tax relief of 27,5% of taxable remuneration.

• The 27,5% contribution will be limited to R350 000 (taxable remuneration of R1 272 727 per year).

Pay-out on retirement

1/3 paid as lump sum 2/3 paid as annuity

1/3 paid as lump sum 2/3 paid as annuity

Provident Fund The proposed retirement reform changes will affect Provident pay-outs. Previously the full value of the Provident Fund could be paid out as a lump sum.

The retirement reform will however limit the lump sum value to one third of the fund value, and the remaining two thirds should be annuitised. These changes are subject to certain exclusions that will be discussed below.

Before

New date

The pay-out upon termination changes have been postponed and the implementation date will be confirmed by government.

Pension/retirement annuity The change in the retirement reforms will not affect the pension funds or retirement annuities, since these funds will still pay out one third as a lump sum upon retirement and annuitise the remaining two thirds.

16 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

Full amount paid as lump sum

1/3 paid as lump sum 2/3 paid as annuity

Shutterstock

Exclusions • Members older than 55 years at effective date will not be required to annuitise two thirds of their provident.

• All contributions made until the effective date will not be subject to the new changes.

• Members with a lump sum of less than R247 000 at the effec tive date, will not be required to annuitise their lump sum.

• Members can still receive their lump sum in cash upon resignation, retrenchment or dismissal.

• Deemed rate per kilometer increased from R3,18 to R3,29 • Subsistence allowance for incidental costs from R109 to R115 • Subsistence allowance for meals and incidentals from R353 to R372 • Retirement lump sums and severance benefits are unchanged (R500 000 still exempt).

EMPLOYMENT TAX INCENTIVE (ETI)

What is ETI? ETI reduces your company’s PAYE liability. It is also known as the Youth Wage Subsidy because it is meant to encourage the hiring of younger employees to help them become skilled. If your company is registered for PAYE, you can claim ETI for employees.

PROPOSED TAX CHANGES FOR 2016/2017

Rates of tax for individuals 2016 tax year (1 March 2015 - 29 February 2016)

Employees that can claim ETI

Taxable income (R)

Rates of tax (R)

0 - 181 900

18% of each R1

181 901 - 284 100

32 742 + 26% of the amount above 181 900

284 101 - 393 200

59 314 + 31% of the amount above 284 100

393 201 - 550 100

93 135 + 36% of the amount above 393 200

550 101 - 701 300

149 619 + 39% of the amount above 550 100

701 301 and above

208 587 + 41% of the amount above 701 300

Primary rebate = R6 137,50 2017 tax year (1 March 2016 - 28 February 2017) Taxable income (R)

Rates of tax (R)

0 - 188 000

18% of taxable income

188 001 - 293 600

33 840 + 26% of taxable income above 188 000

293 601 - 406 400

61 296 + 31% of taxable income above 293 600

406 401 - 550 100

96 264 + 36% of taxable income above 406 400

550 101 - 701 300

147 996 + 39% of taxable income above 550 100

701 301 and above

206 964 + 41% of taxable income above 701 300

• An employee with a valid South African ID, Asylum Seeker permit or an ID issued in terms of the Refugee Act • Is 18 to 29 years old • Is not a ‘connected person’ to the employer • Was employed by the employer or an associated person to the employer on or after 1 October 2013 • Is paid the minimum wage applicable to that employer or if a minimum wage doesn’t apply, is paid a wage of at least R2 000 (where the qualifying employee was employed for 160 hours in a month) and not more than R6 000.

How is ETI calculated?

Primary rebate = R6 250

Other rate changes • Medical aid tax credits Per month (R)

2017

2016

For the taxpayer who paid the medical scheme contributions

R286

R270

For the first dependent

R286

R270

For each additional dependent(s)

R192

R181

• ETI for an employee during the first 12 months is 50% of their monthly remuneration up to a maximum of R1 000. Also, between R4 000 and R6 000 per month of remuneration, the ETI starts diminishing from R1 000 to R0.

• The second 12 months will be half the above.

• Employers can claim for a period of two years for each employee that qualifies for ETI. TWK Payroll Services offers an affordable professional payroll service that will ensure that you utilise all of the above tax benefits to comply with the latest statutory requirements.

For more information relating to the TWK Payroll Services, please contact 082 782 7325 or twkpayroll@twkagri.com.

17

Voorbereiding vir 2016 se jagseisoen Henk Snyder, Verhurings, TWK Agri

Die jagseisoen lê om die draai en baie entoesiaste put groot genot uit die jag- en sportskietbedryf. Kruit word gebrand, wildsvleis word vir die pot geskiet en biltong word verwerk en opgehang. En moet nie van die adrenalien-inspuiting vergeet nie! Om te skiet is ‘n uiters hoë adrenalien-ervaring.

Indien jy ‘n fout maak kan jy nie 2 700 voet per sekonde terugdraai nie.

Hier is ‘n paar wenke ter voorbereiding vir die voornemende jagter of skut:

Shutterstock

vuurwapen reg te stel, byvoorbeeld ‘n dop wat in die kamer afbreek. Soos vroeër genoem, oefen met die ammunisie waar mee jy veld toe gaan, sodat jy weet hoeveel jy moet kompenseer of watter verstellings jy op die teleskoop moet maak.

WETGEWING Kry alle jagpermitte soos nodig in orde voordat jy vertrek. Sorg dat jy al jou vuurwapens wat saam met jou die huis verlaat se lisensiekaartjies byderhand het.

STOF AF Stof letterlik die stof af. Maak jou wapen skoon nadat jy dit die vorige keer gevuur het. Indien jy dit geolie en gebêre het na verlede jaar se seisoen, maak seker jy trek ‘n droë lappie of ‘BoreSnake’ deur die loop om potensiële skade te voorkom. Vee ook die teleskoop en ander optiese toestelle se lense skoon.

AMMUNISIE Toets die ammunisie waarmee jy gaan jag in jou wapen. Maak seker jy groepeer na wense om optimale akkuraatheid in die jagveld te verseker. Onthou dat ligter of swaarder punte verskillend sal groepeer.

Indien jy self ammunisie herlaai, skiet deur ‘n chronograaf om snelheid te bepaal, met die doel om met fabriekspesifikasies te vergelyk. Onthou dat ligte punte ‘n platter trajek, maar vinniger snelheid tot gevolg het met dieselfde hoeveelheid kruit en totale lengte van die patroon. Skiet ook op verskeie afstande om te verseker dat die ammunisie na wense presteer.

WAPENMANIPULASIE Skerp jou vaardighede op deur die skietbaan te besoek. Kry die basiese vaardighede weer onder die knie soos byvoorbeeld asemhaling, druk van die sneller en skietposisies. Leer ook hoe om moontlike probleme met jou

18 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

Lynae Zebest/Flickr.com

VEILIGHEID Vier baie belangrike reëls geld: • Hanteer altyd ‘n vuurwapen asof dit gelaai is.

• Maak elke keer wanneer jy die wapen hanteer seker, deur die slot of sluitstuk oop te maak, dat die wapen veilig is.

• Moenie die vuurwapen in die rigting van iets/iemand wys wat jy nie bereid is om te vernietig nie.

Shutterstock

JAGPLAAS REËLS EN ORGANISASIE Vergewis jouself met die vereistes wat deur die eienaar van die jagplaas gestel word (byvoorbeeld minimum kaliber, enige spesifieke voorwaardes rondom teeldiere) om jouself en jou beursie te beskerm. Bevestig akkommodasie en geriewe wat die plaas bied.

NOODHULP Maak seker jou noodhulptassie is volledig.

Toerusting om ‘n persoon van ‘n hoofpyn tot frakture, en selfs lewensgevaarlike ontberings soos ‘n slangbyt of ‘n skietwond te kan bystaan word benodig, totdat professionele hulp in uiterste gevalle ontbied kan word.

Matt Artz/Flickr.com

• Hou jou snellervinger weg van die snellerarea tot jy gereed is om die wapen op ‘n teiken te vuur.

Vir meer navrae kontak vir Henk Snyder by 072 438 9894 of Sandra Stapelberg by 082 410 3805.

TWK Charcoal is manufactured by using invasive trees which are harmful towards our indigenous ecosystems.

Get your bag of TWK Charcoal today.

Braai has never been this easy.

We produce and trade with: Braai charcoal Industrial charcoal For any orders or queries: Pieter Pretorius Ofď€ ce: +27 (0)34 980 0898 Cell phone: +27 (0)82 851 0665 Email: twkbioenergie@vodamail.co.za

High volume vs low volume spraying Marius Ras (M.Eng)

The focus into improving biological efficacy of agrochemicals by improving application techniques and apparatus has never been more intense.

Risking oversimplification, there seems to be primarily two schools of thought that need to be considered when spraying chemicals:

• Winter oil sprays to break the rest cycle, has the actual objective to ‘wake up the tree by strangling it momentarily’, also requires the bark to be drenched.

1. Improving biological efficacy by increasing application volumes.

2. Improving biological efficacy by reducing application volumes and increasing chemical concentrates.

LOW VOLUME, HIGH CONCENTRATES The science of effective application of agrochemicals has the sole purpose of optimising the recovery of active ingredients on the target area. The proper distribution uniformity on the target and throughout the total target area, is of equal importance.

It is imperative to understand that neither of the above is intrinsically ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. What is important though is to understand which strategy would be beneficial to the biological outcome in which circumstance.

CIRCUMSTANCES FAVOURING INCREASED APPLICATION VOLUMES 1. Applications where the ‘active ingredient’ has no or very little chemical activity.

• Winter and summer oil applications, with no second active with a chemical activity for controlling the first instar larvae for red scale. In this approach the functionality of the oil is physically to suffocate the dormant red scale.

The principle is simple – although it is possible to drown in a cup, it is much more likely to drown in the sea. In this case the more water/oil is gushed into the target area the chance of control will increase.

20 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

The above applications are not technically spraying operations, but rather drenching, and has very little science built into it, achieving high levels of coverage by the mixture, but very little chemical recovery.

This constitutes a huge amount of waste and environmental contamination, at great cost to the producer. It should be restricted to the minimum.

This new nozzleless sprayer uses one-half to twothirds less spray to achieve superior coverage and penetration of the tree canopy (USDA photo by Rob Flynn/Flickr.com).

2. Applications where chemical activity is the driver.

• Insect vectors hiding behind bark and/ or protected by their own natural structures can pose a virtually impos sible situation to get active ingredients into their environment to affect them.

Again, this category requires drenching the environment in a quest to achieve contact.

This has been shown in numerous trials between 2009 and 2015 to be far better achieved by a reduced volume and a prorata increased concentrate to keep the active ingredient per hectare constant. This has been demonstrated in vineyards, apples and citrus through independent research.* The reason is simple: A certain surface area will only be able to ‘carry’ a certain amount of atomised solution before run-off will commence. At that point we have exited spraying and entered drenching. *For more information contact mariusr@rovicleers.co.za.

Sprayer Heads for Orchards

Avocado or Macadamia or Citrus trees

Various Orchards

Various Orchards

Voorkom insekte in opgebergde graan Leon Putter, TWK Agri Mkondo-silo

Graaninsekte speel steeds ‘n baie groot rol in die berging van graan en kan reuse skade aanrig indien dit nie reg bestuur word nie. Weens die wêreldwye handel in kommoditeite soos graan word dieselfde soorte insekte bykans orals aangetref.

Daar is twee vername groepe waarin insekte verdeel kan word wat verliese vir graanprodusente kan veroorsaak.

In die eerste groep ontwikkel die larwe en papie ín ‘n enkele graanpit en ontwikkel die volwasse insek ín die saad waaruit dit sal uitbroei. Hierdie groep insekte kan graan reeds op die land besmet, omdat die insek goed beskerm is teen verskillende elemente tydens die oes en hantering daarvan. Die mieliekalander (Sitophilus zeamais), gewone

Gewone boontjiekalander (foto: Udo Schmidt/ Flickr.com)

boontjiekalander (Acanthoscelides obtectus), groot en klein graanboorders (Rhizopertha dominica) is van die insekte wat in dié groep voorkom.

In die tweede groep ontwikkel die onvolwasse insek in die spasie tussen die sade en is dit nie beperk tot ‘n enkele graanpit nie. Die roesrooimeelkewer (Tribolium castneum),

22 RADIUS Apr • Mei 2016

malkopkewer (Tribolium confusum), plat graankewer, (Cryptolestes pusillus), Indiese meelmot (Plodia interpunctella), tropiese graanskuurmot (Ephestia cautella) en graanluis (Psocids) is van die insekte wat in dié groep voorkom.

Daar is verskeie metodes om plae soos hier bo genoem te bestry. Aluminiumfosfied is die vernaamste produk wat gebruik kan word.

Die produk is in verskeie vorms beskikbaar waarvan PH3 pille meer gewild is. Die fosfiengas wat vrygestel word is effens swaarder as lug en versprei dus vinniger deur die gebergde graan as ander berokingsmiddels. Fosfien beskadig nie die ontkiemingsvermoë van plante nie. Dit dood insekte deur inaseming en nie kontak met die huid nie. ‘n Fosfienpil stel 0,2 g gas in 48 uur vry en die dosis is 11 pille per ton in die geval van mielies. Graan wat met fosfien berook is moet 14 dae lê voor dit versend mag word.

Nog ‘n metode is deur middel van direkte bespuiting met ‘n kragspuit, maar dié metode word nie deesdae so gereeld gebruik nie.

Graan wat direk bespuit word moet 21 dae lê voor dit versend mag word. Daar is sewe geregistreerde spuitmiddels vir direkte toediening op een of meer graansoorte.

Organofosfate kan byvoorbeeld nie op olie sade toegedien word nie, aangesien dit vry moet wees van residu wat dit ongeskik maak vir menslike en dierlike gebruik. Die maksi-

Geperforeerde bodem van ‘n silo

Klein graanboorder (foto: Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series/wikimedia.org)

Roesrooimeelkewer (foto: Peggy Grab, www.ars.usda.gov/wikimedia.org)

Indiese meelmot (foto: entnemdept.ufl.edu)

mum afstand tussen die spuitpunt en mengpunt, dit wil sê waar die graan van die vervoerband afgegooi word, is agt meter.

Die rede hiervoor is omdat die klein hoeveelheid vloeistof baie gou van die graankorrels afdroog op die bewegende band en wanneer die afstand groter is, kry die spuitstof nie kans om aan die onbenatte graankorrels af te vryf nie.

Sou spuitpunte in awegaars gemonteer word, sal dit veroorsaak dat baie van die vloeistof teen die kante afloop en graan wat daarteen verbybeweeg meer toksies sal wees as die res en dit kan gevaarlik wees vir menslike en dierlike gebruik.

Graansuiers moet deeglik skoon gehou word en ook bespuit of berook word om infestering te probeer bekamp. Indien daar van sinkbuise gebruik gemaak word, waar die graan nie direk op ‘n sementvloer lê nie, maar op ‘n geperforeerde staalblad, sal die blad soos die buise leeg raak, uitgehaal moet word om sodoende die vloer onder die geperforeerde blad behoorlik skoon te kan maak en te bespuit. Die opeenhoping van stof en graanoorblyfsels onder die blad kan groot probleme veroorsaak en is ‘n geskikte broeiplek vir insekte. Hoe meer gereeld dit hieronder skoongemaak kan

word, hoe beter. Graan bakkiehysers se voetstukke kan ook gereeld skoon gemaak en bespuit word. Afwisseling tussen verskillende berokingsmiddels en metodes is ook voordelig en sal verhoed dat insekte ‘n weerstand kan opbou teen dieselfde tipe middel.

Tropiese graanskuurmot (foto: CSIRO/wikimedia. commons.org)

Plat graankewer (foto: Udo Schmidt/Flickr.com)

Dit is ook noodsaaklik om voor en na afloop van die graanseisoen alle sleepwaens, bakke en stropers deeglik skoon te maak en te bespuit. Let wel dat die veiligheid van personeel tydens beroking en bespuiting uiters belangrik is en dat die beroker, betrokke persone en die omgewing beskerm moet word, wanneer daar met enige gifstowwe gewerk word.

Stuur ‘n e-pos na mkondosilo@twkagri.com vir meer inligting.

Mieliekalander (foto: www.ars.usda.gov/wikimedia. commons.org)

Bronne erken: Grain Training Institute

Stroop nou ook *Sonneblom met dieselfde Gemak & Presisie as Mielies! *DRAGO se Sonneblom 'kit' word vinnig + maklik gemonteer en is geskik vir enige stropermodel.

DRAGO Series 2

Die beproefde & betroubare oorspronklike model.

Meer as 150 tafels in 3 jaar in die veld.

Nuwe Drago GT

Al DRAGO se unieke eienskappe, plus nuwe tegnologiese eerstes vir stropertafels: Dubbel 'chopper'-sisteem.

Hoë-verrigting, minimum instandhouding ratkas.

Vergrote sluk en - 'auger' vir meer effektiewe invoer van materiaal tydens hoë-spoed stroop.

(018) 632 0362 Kantoor (083) 381 1907 Anton

Beperkte Voorraad!

(082) 333 1330 Francois (082) 707 6051 Johnathan

Tips on wireless printers Eugene van Eck, Network Manager, TWK Agri Computer Services

Wireless printers are increasingly popular, because these printers are easy to share and can stand just about anywhere you wish, within reach of a Wi-Fi signal.

The majority of wireless printer installations will run smoothly if you have the details of your wireless network, and if you follow the printer’s installation procedure carefully.

Assuming that your network is up and running, the two pieces of information that you must have before you start installing a printer, are the name or SSID of your wireless network, and the password if the network is secured.

You may have to place the printer near a PC that is already part of your network, so that you can attach it with a USB cable for software installation, but only for the installation and setup.

After the installation you can move the printer to any place that is in reach of the wireless network. Make sure that there aren’t a lot of walls in-between the wireless router and the printer as this can influence the signal and give printing issues.

Printers with LCD control panels usually let you configure the wire less connection directly from them. The printer will detect networks within range and then you can select your network and enter the password.

You may also enter the network information during the normal, CDbased automated installation. If you attach the printer to the network with a LAN cable, you can configure the wireless connection using a Web browser.

Normally, your printer’s installation software will take care of the IP address, but if you have to install a printer manually, here is what you need to know.

Each network printer, connected either with a LAN cable or Wi-Fi, will need an IP address to be able to work (for example 192.168.1.120).

By default, your router normally assigns IP addresses by DHCP

24 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The addresses may stay the same, but if your network uses DHCP, there might be changes when you attach new devices to the network. You can use the Web browser to change the IP address to static so that it doesn’t change.

For more information contact TWK Computer Services, rekenaardienste@twkagri.com

Lifehacker.com has some tips on improving your Wi-Fi signal • Use up-to-date hardware. Wireless A, B and G are old and slow, and wireless N (and the even newer wireless AC) will give you the fastest speeds around. Note that you’ll need both a wireless N router and a wireless N card in your computer if you want the full speed boost.

• Routers need to be placed out in the open, elevated and not locked away in a cupboard, preferably in the centre of your home.

• Neighbours’ routers can interfere with yours. Use Wi-Fi Stumbler or Wi-Fi Analyser to find the perfect channel for your router.

• Other appliances can also interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.

Cordless phones, microwaves, and other appliances can muck with your signal as well. A dual band router can help with this.

If you don’t want to buy new hardware, you can always try to move your router further away from interfering appliances.

• Even with a password, your router can be hacked. Check and upgrade your router’s security.

• The amount of internet traffic can influence your signal. Things like video chats, online games, or services like Netflix eat bandwidth and makes the internet slower for everyone else.

• If your signal still won’t reach far enough, you can extend its range with simple DIY tricks. Reflective surfaces like tin foil or a cut open cold drink can have been found to extend the range of the signal a couple of metres.

Don’t let technology get you down, let our experts help you today.

Services include computer hardware, updates and maintenance of software.

Retail includes a large range of Computers and Computer peripherals, Printers and Printer Consumables Chatz Cell Phone Contracts on the Vodacom Network An internet café, including fax, scan to email and copy facilities.

Contact Details: TWK Computer Services Cnr De Wet & Church Streets, Piet Retief Ofce: +27 (0)17 824 1020 Email: rekenaardienste@twkagri.com

Introducing the new Toyota Hilux 2016 Nelene Botha, TWK Agri Motors

After years of anticipation the day has finally dawned – the all new Hilux 2016 has just been launched in South Africa.

South Africa’s best selling bakkie has been the market leader for 40 years and has sold more than a million units since it was launched 43 years ago. To be that popular for so long serves as a testament for the reputation the Hilux has built up over the years – that of quality, durability and reliability.

The new Hilux introduces a whole new level of sophistication and refinement. Every aspect of the Hilux received attention for the 8th generation of this iconic bakkie.

ENGINE The petrol engines remain as before with 2.0, 2.7 and 4.0 V6 derivatives, but the real excitement enters the diesel engines.

An all new modern GD (Global Diesel) has been introduced. The GD engine offers better economy and greatly improved power outputs.

26 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

The entry level diesel engine has changed from a 2.5 D-4D (75 kW/200 Nm) to a 2.4 GD (entry level 110 kW/343 Nm) and 2.4 GD-6 (SRX and SR models, 110 kW/ 400 Nm). The 2.4 GD entry level offers a 5-speed manual gearbox whereas the 2.4 GD-6 offers a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The flagship 3.0 D-4D engine in the previous model (120 kW/343 Nm) has been replaced with a 2.8 GD-6 engine (130 kW/420 Nm for manual and 130 kW/450 Nm for automatic) which also offers a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearbox. Another first is the drive mode switch offering eco and power modes that adapt the throttle response according to the driver’s prefer ence.

DRIVING COMFORT The Hilux now comes with a more rigid body supported by a newly developed ladder

frame chassis with a 20% increase in torsional rigidity, which results in a tougher and more rugged vehicle whilst improving handling, ride comfort, collision safety and providing outstanding durability in even the most extreme driving conditions. It now features pitch and bounce control which adjusts engine torque in response to road surface conditions – making for a much smoother ride and greater passenger comfort. Engine torque is increased when the nose of the vehicle dips and decreased when the nose lifts (torque on demand) which greatly reduces pitch and roll move ments whilst improving vehicle stability, particularly on corrugations.

GEARBOX The new 6-speed manual gearbox features a world first for a bakkie – iMT (intelligent manual transmission) which can be switched on or off depending on driving conditions.

The purpose of iMT is to provide smooth shifting between gears and greater safety especially when transporting heavy loads.

By incorporating rev matching technology, it prevents drastic drops in engine speed

when upshifting or downshifting, ensuring a smoother and safer drive.

The new electronically controlled 6-speed automatic gearbox has a number of advanced features to realise optimal performance. When decelerating, downshifting is precisely controlled to maintain the current engine speed. The AI-SHIFT control works to maintain the current gear when suddenly lifting off of the throttle in order to maintain strong engine braking. Alternatively it also recognises sudden depression of the accelerator pedal and provides immediate downshifting for increased acceleration.

SAFET Y The Hilux now comes with a number of advanced safety features. For the first time

the Hilux features Trailer Sway Control to control trailer movement when towing – thereby ensuring a safe towing experience.

Hill Start Assist has been added to all Raised Body and 4x4 models. This serves to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when driving up a slope or steep incline.

the power to that wheel and distribute it to the wheels which do have traction in order to compensate for the loss.

Downhill Assist Control has also been added to the 4x4 models. It assists with steep descents by controlling the braking pressure when engine braking alone is not sufficient. It also prevents the wheels from locking when travelling on slippery slopes or very steep downhills.

CONVENIENCE The interior is one of the areas where the Hilux has received the most attention from the designers. The interior now boasts an increase of headroom by 10 mm and the rear passengers have more legroom. The radio/CD has been upgraded and now features a 17,8 cm touchscreen and navigation console (only available on the 4.0P variants). Toyota also added a second glove box which can be cooled or heated – depending on the need.

Active Traction Control has been added to vehicles with vehicle stability control.

Active Traction Control works by regulating each wheel independently and adjusting the power ratio to each wheel when detecting a skid or spin. For instance, if one wheel has lost traction it will automatically decrease

The Hilux also features ABS, EBD (electronic brake distribution) and Vehicle Stability Control as per the previous model.

The EXIDE touch EXIDE EFB* Nano Batteries Reliable starting performance Start /Stop ready Longer life than traditional lead-acid batteries Maintenance-free

2 year nationwide warranty *Enhanced Flooded Battery

Toll free 0800 112 000 www.exide.co.za

START/STOP FUNCTION

What to do in your garden in winter Kholisa Langa, Manager, TWK Agri Nursery

Winter days making you feel gloomy? Bring happiness into your garden by planting winter flowers.

may vary due to growing conditions and climate.

Poppy

Pansies

Lawn maintenance

Alyssum

Daisy

Dianthus

Things to plant and do during winter

PANSIES (VIOLA X WIT TROCKIANA) ALSO KNOWN AS ‘GESIGGIES’

The names pansy and viola are often used interchangeably. Pansies belong to the Viola genus. They are primarily cool season flowers that can stand out in the cold weather despite their diminutive size. They flower best in full sun to partial shade. They are ideal for edging and squeezing in between rocks and path ways, in beds, in borders, in pots and hanging baskets. Mature plant size

28 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

DIANTHUS Dianthus belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are really divine and can tolerate dry and humid conditions. Dianthus will keep on blooming for a long time. Trim flower heads off to encourage repeat flowering. Dianthus may be planted in perennial borders or in pots and they love sunny positions. The flowers of Dianthus consist of five petals with serrated edges.

Dianthus should be planted in full sun in well-drained and slightly alkaline soil. If your soil is more acidic, add some lime. They grow better if kept slightly drier than most other bedding plants.

DAISIES Daisies are the perfect way to brighten up your winter garden – a way of banishing those cold winter blues. Add these bedding plants to your garden to ensure vibrant colour this winter.

POPPIES Poppies like Iceland poppies can bring inspiration in your garden this winter. Plant poppy seedlings now as they enjoy cool, dry weather and supply bright colour in a winter garden. These elegant annuals are incredibly rewarding, but need more care.

They are beautiful to look at, especially when the sunlight shines through their translucent petals. Poppies love to be picked for the vase and the more flowers you pick, the more they flower.

Photos: Shutterstock

ALYSSUMS Growing alyssum is indeed rewarding as far as flowering goes. This annual is a great, colourful addition to containers and hanging baskets. Just imagine your patio or balcony with a couple of hanging baskets spilling over with the most exquisitely colourful alyssums! Alyssum plants prefer full to partial sun and can tolerate dry soil conditions. They can grow 15 cm tall and 20 cm wide.

LAWN MAINTENANCE With water shortages experienced in many parts of South Africa, maintaining a beautiful lawn is increasingly becoming a huge effort.

Some regions will be miserably cold, windy and dry this winter so consider reducing all watering quantities by half, and reduce the moving height of lawns to decrease the water use rate. Use hardy groundcovers rather than lawn in difficult areas, or consider ornamental mulches in very difficult areas, for example Gazania species.

For more information, contact Kholisa Langa on 071 824 1636, 017 826 6907/8 or nursery@twkagri.com.

Company News

Drought relief Mark Rohde, Regional Manager, TWK Agri, KZN Midlands

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD) – who received relief funding from national government level – was able to roll out a drought relief scheme to some of the qualifying rural and commercial farmers in November 2015.

TWK Agri, being well represented in KwaZulu-Natal’s agricultural sector, was requested by KZN DARD to act as a distributor of drought relief products for the scheme, from the period of November 2015 to the end of February 2016.

The idea behind this scheme was to try to assist as many qualifying rural and commercial farmers, who were identified by the KZN DARD as being in desperate need of assistance in order to keep livestock alive.

It was a challenging and testing experience for TWK Agri as many of the identified rural and commercial farmers who were offered relief, flocked into the various TWK Agri branches throughout KwaZulu-Natal, desperate for assistance. The biggest problem was securing additional animal feed which is already in short supply due to the

Qualifying recipients of drought relief queued at several TWK Agri branches to receive much needed help (photo: TWK Agri).

drought, to supply to the qualifying public, over and above TWK Agri’s traditional supply market, which is also suffering increased demand and effect from the drought.

As of the end of February, TWK Agri is proud to say that the company has contributed and assisted as many of the qualifying rural

and commercial farmers as possible. TWK Agri is still hopeful that, from a national government level, more funds will be made available so that we can continue to serve and assist our farmers throughout KwaZuluNatal. Despite some rainfall being recorded in some areas of KwaZulu-Natal in January and February 2016, many are still in desperate need of assistance.

Boere van Piet Retief skenk voer aan droogtegeteisterde gebiede Walter Wait, Dienste Administrateur en GIS, TWK Agri Hout

Dit is geen geheim dat die afgelope jaar vol uitdagings vir ons boere was nie. Met die land se ekonomie wat agteruit boer en die droogte wat ons tans ervaar, veroorsaak dit baie spanning op die meeste van ons boere, maatskappye en selfs ons as werknemers.

Dus het TWK Agri, in samewerking met AGRI Piet Retief en die boere van die omgewing,

hande gevat en besluit om ‘n verskil te probeer maak.

Die Droogtehulp projek het op 19 Januarie 2016 afgeskop met so veel as 1 500 bale wat ingesamel is deur die boere van Piet Retief en AGRI Piet Retief. TWK Agri het die vervoer gereël, met Mkondo Vervoer wat die eerste bale op 22 Januarie 2016 na Reddersburg

Boere van Piet Retief het bykans 1 500 bale voer geskenk wat aan Vrystaat Landbou oorhandig is (foto: Walter Wait).

in die Vrystaat vervoer het. Vrystaat Landbou het dit met ope arms verwelkom en het die plaaslike verspreiding van die bale behartig.

Op 25 Januarie 2015 is 96 bale na Greytown en Howick in KwaZulu-Natal geneem. Twee dae later is ‘n verdere 96 bale met die hulp van Vrystaat Landbou na Bloemfontein en Theunissen vervoer. Op 24 Februarie is 150 bale na Arrow Feeds in Swaziland geneem.

TWK Agri bedank almal wat betrokke was by die droogtehulppoging, veral boere wat bale voer geskenk het, en Tommie Ferreira van AGRI Piet Retief wat die inisiatief geneem het.

30 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

TWK Agri Classic – not just a golf day Imke Nel, TWK Agri Radius Editorial team Fritz Ernst with a beautiful drive.

TWK Agri hosted its second annual Agri Classic on 19 February 2016 to great delight for all who attended.

Danie Schoeman, human resources officer, and GW Grobler, SHEQ officer, both from TWK Agri, walked away with best scorecard of the day and took home a tablet bundle, sponsored by TWK Agri Computer Services.

It was however greatly disappointing that no one won the R1 million hole-in-one prize, on the 4th hole, which was sponsored by TWK Agri Insurance.

TWK suppliers and clients and a variety of TWK Agri representatives. The TWK Agri debtors department took home the trophy, as best hole, with their Wild West theme.

The golf players had a memorable experience, playing with the likes of Corné Krige,

The RSG radio presenter and SuperSport rugby commentator, Gerrie Scheepers handled the prize giving ceremony and then handed over to Theuns Jordaan, who entertained young and old in a one of a kind performance.

After a hard day of golfing all were enter tained in style. The children enjoyed face painting, water balloons, jumping castles, an electronic bull and a horse carousel.

Later in the evening Brendan Peyper enticed the crowd with all his hits. Hardy’s, Kebar, Mojo’s and Steers made sure that there was a wide variety of delicious treats and meals for all to enjoy.

André Myburgh, managing director: TWK Agri, Corné Krige, Barnie de Klerk, managing director: TWK Agri Grain, Lukas Coetzer, managing director: TWK Agri Trade and Ferdie Brauckmann, managing director: TWK Agri Wood.

TWK Agri is very thankful for all the support it received and is privileged and looking forward to the road ahead with its suppliers and clients.

TWK Agri assists in Vryheid’s water campaign Imke Nel, TWK Agri Radius Editorial team

With a devastating drought in southern Africa it is everyone’s duty to assist others where they are able. After all, water is the lifeblood of all nature and humankind.

On 11 February 2016 several divisions of TWK Agri joined forces and donated about 3 000 five litre bottles of Perfect Water to Vryheid. What a joyful occasion when neighbouring towns and local communities work together to overcome obstacles!

The boys from Filidi High School, accompanied by their principle SV Thusini, were eager to assist and unload the 15 000 litres of water, together with several TWK Agri and Vryheid representatives. Magda Viktor, who originally worked at the NG Church’s water

project, realised that there was a much greater need for assistance than she previously thought. After weeks of hard work to supply Vryheid with water, she became the coordinator and all round project manager for the cause. She couldn’t express how grateful she was towards TWK Agri for their generous contribution.

At the NG Church which has become Vryheid’s central water collection and distribution point, the team of eager helpers started by sorting the water into different categories, including: drinking water, grey water, bath water, etc.

At the allocated times the residents may collect water and refill their bottles. The

volunteers’ dedication to help hasn’t only become a good-hearted deed, but a way of life.

Vryheid’s water supply infrastructure does not have the capacity to distribute clean water to all its residents. This has been an ongoing problem and the cost to repair it has put even more pressure on the situation.

Vryheid residents thanked Anton Lombaard, Koos Byleveldt, Koos Brits and all the other TWK Agri representatives and departments who aided in this contribution.

‘Vryheid is still receiving rain. The only difference now is that we’re receiving it in bottled form,’ Viktor said.

31

Shutterstock

Promotional article

Global emphasis on food security makes agribusinesses attractive as a new asset class Traditional reluctance by investors to consider the wider agricultural sector as an alternative to more familiar sectors such as mining, telecoms, FMCG, and finance is beginning to change.

The change is being fueled by the increasing corporatisation of agriculture and the domination of global agendas by greening and food security issues. As more investment professionals focus on the sector and gain a better understanding of the risk and return possibilities, confidence levels are rising and the investor public is becoming more bullish.

that food security becomes a reality for everyone.’

side of their national borders, all aimed at securing food supply for their citizens.

‘In addition, in most countries, agriculture is the custodian of the bulk of natural resources, making it a crucial partner in the greening of economies. As just one example, agriculture is a major source of renewable energy – in the form of biomass.

It can, therefore, make a significant contribution towards mitigating climate change.’

‘So, by investing early in an appropriate investment vehicle, investors can ensure a rapid and high rate of return,’ Mr Hamman says. ‘We believe that such investments are also sustainable over the longer term.’

An understanding is developing that the more conventional asset classes developed during an era when environmental issues, climate change, and the influence of emerging economies on the global financial landscape simply didn’t exist. Food security was taken for granted, certainly in developed economies. Now, the new global concerns are creating new markets, from both a demand and supply perspective.

At the same time, the greening of economies is giving investment a social conscience it didn’t have before. Where return on investment used to be the main and sometimes the only consideration driving investment decisions, it is being superseded by corporate social and environmental responsibility as consumers become more sensitive to production practices. The emphasis today is there fore on impact investing, in which measurable social and environmental impact ranks alongside traditional financial returns.

‘All of these trends point towards agriculture becoming a preferred investment destination,’ says Bertie Hamman, senior manager: Secondary Agriculture at Standard Bank.

‘By investing in agriculture, you lay the cornerstone of all economic and social upliftment initiatives by helping to ensure

32 RADIUS Apr • May 2016

‘However, potential target companies look for more than capital from investors. Their objective is to grow and to deepen integration into the value chain. So, non-listed companies will consider investors only if they can assist in making value chain linkages and add value beyond that of a mere share holder.’

Historically, investing in agriculture was deemed risky mainly because of volatility in primary production. The emergence of a strong agro-processing sub-sector and the consequent aggregation of commodity and processed product flows have removed much of the volatility. Also, more robust information systems that improve planning have reduced risk significantly.

Itau Milling, a Standard Bank customer for the past 20 years, exemplifies the potential of agribusinesses as investment vehicles.

Bertie Hamman, senior manager: Secondary Agriculture at Standard Bank

‘For all these reasons, investing in agriculture is true impact investing. It creates an impact at all levels of importance to human endeavour.’

As the cherry on top, agriculture is a vast new investment frontier with virtually unlimited growth potential. The major governments of the world are pouring funding into agricultural operations inside and out-

Mr Hamman says, ‘Business and financial agility are critical ingredients for sustainability, whether in investment or agriculture. The point is that new investment vehicles, in the form of agribusinesses, abound. If investors get in on the ground floor, the social, political, ecological, and food security returns will be unprecedented.’

Waterkwaliteit met

GEWAARBORGDE KRM-KWALITEIT KRM Plastics bied aan jou onoortreike gehalte wateropgaartenks.

Met KRM Plastics se uitmuntende agt jaar geldterug-waarborg kan jy seker wees elke kosbare druppel word ten beste bewaar.

KRM plastics

Besoek ons webtuiste by www.krmplastics.co.za vir ’n volledige produkreeks.