By Lloyd Phillips
The gale-force icy winds accompanying recent and current snowfalls in the higher-lying areas of the KwaZulu-Natal/Eastern Cape border are reportedly posing the biggest threat to farmers’ livestock there.
Farming operations in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape are reportedly still experiencing rain and heavy snow accompanied by icy and often gale-force winds. Areas like Kokstad, Swartberg and Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal, and Cedarville, Matatiele, Elliot, Barkly East and Molteno in the Eastern Cape are reportedly experiencing extensive road closures, fallen trees, downed powerlines and hypothermia threats to livestock.
Although African Farming is still waiting for detailed feedback from various sources, initial feedback from Tristan Fitch, who farms with cattle and sheep in the Swartberg area, is that the snowfall has often been a dangerous combination of “very wet and heavy”.
“We’ve had an incredible number of trees go down. So, we’re battling to move around the farm to do tasks. We’ve moved the animals to the best shelters possible, and we’re trying to put out bales and other feed,” says Fitch.
“But the animals are still battling that cold wind. It may not be hugely deep snow (about 15cm), but everyone’s going to lose some lambs, calves and weak animals because of the cold, wet and windy conditions.”
Fitch is also concerned for fellow farmers who do not have emergency power generators to provide electricity to pump essential water wherever Eskom power has gone down due to the recent and current extreme weather.
“There are Eskom poles down everywhere.”
Graham Joyner, who is Farmers Livestock Agents’ representative in the Eastern Cape’s Cedarville, Saamloop, New Amalfi and Matatiele areas, reports 60mm to 70mm of mainly rain and some snow there over the past 24 hours.
He adds: “The cold and wet weather will have a negative effect on livestock, but we do not expect any major problems. The weather appears to be passing over, with the sun starting to shine through.”
Cattle struck by lightning
Pete Louwrens, who farms with livestock and crops between Cedarville and Kokstad in the Eastern Cape, says his district received 60mm of rain yesterday before snow began falling last night.
“Strangely, we had a bit of lightning as well yesterday. We had some cattle struck,” he says.
Louwrens adds when warnings about the recent and current extreme weather began being publicised about one week ago, he and his employees started implementing proactive measures to protect the livestock.
“So, we’ve had bales out and we’ve moved animals to areas where they can hide among trees and other shelter. Animals that are calving are being checked. So, hopefully we’ve been organised well enough that this huge chill factor is not going to affect the livestock.”
Louwrens says he anticipates the rain will help the snow melt faster. The strong winds fortunately quickly blew much of the snow from the trees on his farm, so he does not anticipate many fallen trees nor other significant snow-damage to farm infrastructure.
Confirmed road closures
Meanwhile, Siboniso Duma, KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for transport and human settlements, has decided to close some major roads in the province’s far south to minimise danger to motorists. These roads include the N2 from near Port Shepstone to Kokstad, and the R56 between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg.
“Our message to motorists and snow chasers is that prevention is better than cure. We urge motorists and members of the public to avoid these areas at all costs by delaying their trips to Kokstad, as trucks are already stuck and creating huge congestion,” Duma says.
“More than ten road graders are stationed on various routes to remove any snow before it accumulates to more than 30cm depth.”
African Farming will provide further updates as feedback from various sources comes in.
More to read:
Free State farmers called to implement cold weather safeguards
Protect your livestock against wet, cold autumn weather – expert advice
