Weermag gaan help om plase te beveilig

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (SANDF) en Agri SA gaan hande vat om die landbougemeenskap te beveilig. Verteenwoordigers van die twee organisasies het in Desember 2020 vergader om areas van samewer­king te identifiseer en planne te beraam vir landelikeveiligheidsinisiatiewe en ekonomiese ontwikkeling op landelike gebied. Daar is ooreengekom dat dit noodsaaklik is om effektief met misdaad op die grens en in plattelandse gebiede af te reken.
Bron: Agri SA-persverklaring, 2 Desember 2020.

Quality of malting barley crop causes concern

Although South Africa expected a record malting barley crop of just over 526 700 tons – which is up nearly 53% from the previous season – quality issues in the Southern Cape production regions were affecting barley that was earmarked for malting purposes. According to Richard Krige, vice-chairperson of Grain SA, and a producer near Caledon in the Overberg region, many barley producers were experiencing split kernels when grading loads, rendering this barley not suitable for malting purposes. What had caused the barley kernels to split had not yet been determined, but he said it could possibly be related to cold and wet weather conditions followed by abnormal hot days in October.
Source: Farmer’s Weekly, 6 November 2020.

Ent in teen slenkdalkoors

Volgens die Nasionale Dieregesondheidsforum en Afrivet is die enigste­ manier om siekteverspreiding en besmetting van lewende hawe te voor­kom, om diere in te ent teen slenkdalkoors en om muskiete te beheer. Vanselfsprekend is jaarlikse inenting teen die siekte die maklikste en doel­treffendste roete om uitbrekings te voorkom. Ideaal gesproke moes die entstof reeds in die vroeë lente toegedien gewees het, maar dit is nog nie te laat nie. Tyd vir toediening is nou van die grootste belang, aangesien die meeste uitbrekings in die middel en laat somer plaasvind.
Bron: Persverklaring van die Nasionale Dieregesondheidsforum en Afrivet, 11 Januarie 2021.

Agri NW se droogtehulpfonds het aan die einde van 2020 ’n welkome hupstoot gekry danksy twee skenkings. Rees Alberts het namens Absa Agribesigheid ’n skenking van R100 000 aan Boeta du Toit, uitvoe­rende hoofbestuurder van Agri NW, oorhandig. GROOTplaas se skenking van R298 000 vir hulp in Noordwes is in die ateljee aan Boeta oorhandig (foto).

The highly respected Professor Mohammad Karaan (52), passed away on 13 January due to a COVID-related illness. At the time of his death he was a professor in agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University and also president of Maties Rugby. He had also served two terms as dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University.

Prof Karaan was passionate about agriculture and was considered an expert in his field who enjoyed great respect locally as well as internationally. His contribution in many areas, especially regarding his involvement with the National Planning Commission (NPC), the establishment of ASUF (Agricultural Sector­ Unity Forum), the University of Stellenbosch and its Department of Agriculture and many other institutions, was invaluable.

He was seen as a bridge builder between agriculture and the government. Since 2010 he had served two terms as member for agricultural affairs on the NPC. Prof Karaan was instrumental in writing a chapter in SA’s National Development Plan – Vision 2030 on shaping an integrated and inclusive rural economy for South Africa. Before his passing, he was also a member of the presidential inter-ministerial commission on land reform, and his term as management committee member of the Bureau for Economic Research had been extended.

Through the years Prof Karaan was honoured for his leadership role by various role-players in organised agriculture. Grain SA truly honours his contribution to agriculture in South Africa.