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    24 June | Vox Weather Forecast

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    Numerous women from the Women on Farms Project marched on Philagro, a company in Somerset West that distributes agricultural chemicals. Photo: Facebook/Women on Farms Project

    Farmworkers demand national ban on ‘poisonous’ pesticide

    Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya addresses agricultural stakeholders at The Innovation Hub in Tshwane. Photo: Maphuti Mongatane

    ‘No more talking; it’s time for real partnership’

    Onalenna Mafora and Jorja Annabelle Lee with their home-grown water purification and monitoring system. Photo: Supplied

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    A new programme aims to transform land reform farms into commercial agricultural enterprises. Photo: Getty Images

    EC farmers invited to join farm commercialisation initiative

    A new veterinary science programme planned at the University of the Free State (UFS) will also use the university’s Paradise Experimental Farm, which houses advanced agricultural infrastructure and established production animal herds. Photo: Vida Booyen

    UFS plans to train veterinarians

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    • Goats
    • Pigs
    • Poultry
    • Sheep
    Photo for illustrative purposes: Louw Pretorius

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    A cattle farmer walks with his herd in the village of Qunu. These are some of the communal farmers affected by FMD. Photo: Getty Images

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    Photo for illustrative purposes: Getty Images

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    Photo for illustrative purposes: Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images

    Seed isn’t just a cost – it’s a cornerstone of profitability

    Potato varieties are categorised based on their starch and moisture content, which determines their optimal use in cooking. Photo: CHIPS Magazine

    Understanding potatoes and processing

    Apothecia develop from the sclerotia (which are underground in the photo) of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and contain ascospores. These spores are released into the air and initiate disease on various host crops. Observing apothecia helps predict the presence of ascospores, allowing for the timely planning of fungicide applications.

    Sunflowers in Sclerotinia’s grip

    Some of the community members who take part in farming aromatic rosemary and delicate chamomile plants for Qobo Qobo Essential Oils in rural Keiskammahoek. Photo: Supplied

    Qobo Qobo Essential Oils transforms Keiskammahoek 

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    A new veterinary science programme planned at the University of the Free State (UFS) will also use the university’s Paradise Experimental Farm, which houses advanced agricultural infrastructure and established production animal herds. Photo: Vida Booyen

    UFS plans to train veterinarians

    A temporary barrier was erected on a farm in the Free State during an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2022. Photo: George Galloway

    Second order for FMD vaccines already placed

    Potato plants damaged by hail. Photo: Johan van der Merwe skade laat ly. Dit het die aartappelprys tot R120/10 kg laat styg, 
maar die prys het weer teruggesak tot R25/10 kg toe die volumes 
op die mark herstel het.

    Underinsurance a significant risk to SA farmers

    Photo for illustrative purposes: Supplied

    Rethinking livestock immunity and the role of immune boosters 

    A cattle farmer walks with his herd in the village of Qunu. These are some of the communal farmers affected by FMD. Photo: Getty Images

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    Dr Mahlatse Kganyago, senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies. Photo: Supplied

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    Photo for illustrative purposes: Chris Clor/Getty Images

    Modern hi-tech solutions crucial for protecting agricultural operations

    The new tractors and bakkies expected to help overcome challenges facing the farming sector in KZN. Photo: Supplied

    New fleet of tractors and vehicles for KZN agriculture

    Young agri-preneurs who will be benefiting from the programme – in white T-shirts – and representatives of Earth Hub Africa, Shell South Africa and MTN.

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    Multi-ethnic woman checks crop quality, records in digital tablet, farm analysis. High quality photo

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  • Ask The Experts
    Once it starts, gulley soil erosion is tough – and expensive – to control. Photo: Roelof Bezuidenhout

    Soil erosion: Prevention is far more effective than cure

    Photo for illustrative purposes: Louw Pretorius

    The negative effects of dehorning on animal welfare

    Explore and interact with various soil types by participating in gardening activities.

    Expert advice: Looking at soils in daily life 

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    Attendees of the 2025 Tiger Brands Heritage Tour visited farms where small white beans – the main ingredient in KOO Baked Beans – are grown. Photo: Maphuti Mongatane

    How Tiger Brands is helping to localise production

    The panel discussion on Collaborative Actions for Food Security and Trade, moderated by Dr Marinda Visser, National Biosecurity Hub Facilitator, took place at the University of Pretoria on 10 June. Panel members are, from left, Richard Krige (Chairperson: Grain SA), Prof. Vinny Naidoo (Dean: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria), David Niemann (COO: Sernick Group), Dewald Olivier (CEO: Red Meat Industry Services), Dr Litha Magingxa (CEO: Agricultural Research Council), Dr Maneshree Jugmohan-Naidu (Chairperson: National Biosecurity Hub Steering Committee) and Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele (CEO: Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa). Photo: Maile Matsimela

    The role of research and diagnostic capacity in SA’s biosecurity landscape

    Prof. Johann Kirsten, chairman of the Karoo Lamb Consortium, with Thandi Mabena, Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board member. Photo: Supplied

    Karoo Lamb Consortium receives innovation award

    Lot 1, a cow with a calf, fetched the highest price at the second Red Warm Brahman auction. Photo: Supplied

    Excellent prices on second Red Warm Brahman auction

    The Jan Jooste & Sons farm from Kestell bought the most expensive bull at the Eastern Free State Veld Bull Club auction. Photo: Salomé van den Berg

    Quality on offer from the Eastern Free State Veld Bull Club

    Young agri-preneurs who will be benefiting from the programme – in white T-shirts – and representatives of Earth Hub Africa, Shell South Africa and MTN.

    Shell invests in the future of farming in rural North West

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Livestock and grazing: red lights flash for ‘killing months’

24 March 2024
in News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Livestock and grazing: red lights flash for ‘killing months’

24 March 2024

It’s not only summer grain farmers who have suffered significant damage due to the unfavourable weather conditions this summer. Extensive livestock farming, especially in central and western parts of South Africa, is experiencing significant risks.

The damage to summer crops caused by heatwaves and drought conditions is largely irreparable because plantings are already well into the growth cycle in many cases. “Even very late plantings have sadly grown poorly due to the scorching heat,” says Johan van den Berg, an independent agricultural scientist.

The other industry facing significant risks is extensive livestock farming, especially in central, western and southern parts of the country. The growth period of grassland pastures is mainly from December to February in eastern parts. Then, minimum temperatures are still high enough for growth (above 10°C). The growth period across the central parts is January to March, and from March to May across the western parts of the country, when maximum temperatures are lower.

“The most important growth period for Karoo bushveld is from March to May. Fairly good pasture production can also occur from March to May in the warmer northern Bushveld. Therefore, rain as soon as possible is extremely important in the latter areas,” explains Van den Berg.

Lower minimum temperatures

Although daytime temperatures are still high, nighttime temperatures have started to sharply decline, especially in central, southeastern and eastern parts. At Reddersburg, Smithfield and Zastron in the southern Free State, minimum temperatures below 10°C were recorded on 16-18 February, 5-10 March and 15-17 March. Light frost has even occurred as early as 16 February. In February and March, minimum temperatures also dropped sharply in the Eastern Cape. “These cooler periods have been long enough to significantly weaken the growth of grassland pastures,” says Van den Berg.

Although rain is always welcome, the grasslands of the Kalahari, the bushveld of the Karoo and the Bushveld grasslands in the northern parts of the country are the only grazing areas that will truly benefit from rain before June.

Good management vital

From a management perspective, rain and consequently pasture production in the second part of the summer will be extremely important. This determines the quantity and quality of grazing for winter, spring, and often the first part of summer.

“Since rainfall patterns have begun to change over the past two decades – winter, spring and early summer rains in the summer rainfall region are decreasing – there are red lights flickering for the coming months,” says Van den Berg. “There’s a saying among livestock farmers that the winter months until August are the ‘thin months’, but that September and especially October are the ‘killing months’.”

Reproductive livestock, with calves or lambs that need high-quality nutrition, can struggle significantly. “Livestock that calved or lambed too early in the summer before it rained and when there was sufficient grazing, are particularly in trouble.”

The trend of weaker winter, spring and early summer rains, but more rain in midsummer, leads to a shorter grazing production season that is difficult to manage, especially for the reproduction of large livestock. If the calving season is too late, it results in too short a growth period for calves to reach a marketable weight before winter.

Van den Berg encourages farmers to sharpen their pencils around their livestock and grazing planning in the coming months.

Late winter rain

Van den Berg says an El Niño system is traditionally responsible for above-average rainfall for the winter rainfall region. However, this is valid when strong El Niño-like conditions occur during the rainy season from May to September. “During the weakening phase of an El Niño system, and especially the transition phase to neutral or a La Niña system, conditions for rain can be below average.”

Another trend is that the winter rainfall season may start late during the transition phase.

“In almost all of these similar years, there has been at least one month, namely June, where fairly average to above-average rainfall occurred, with July tending towards average. What is worrying is that the September months during similar years also tended towards average to below-average rainfall.

“Winter grain production conditions may therefore tend towards average to below average.”

Risk for dams

Van den Berg says a major risk of the expected conditions is a lack of rain for dam replenishment. Although dam levels in the Western Cape are still fairly good, and 10% to 15% better than in the corresponding period last year, this may indicate a turning point towards less water in dams for the coming seasons. 

“With the very high temperatures of the past months, dam levels decrease very quickly. Evaporation and consumption should, however, decrease rapidly from the second week of April with cooler conditions expected.”

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