WEEKLY NEWS – 20
April 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE –
Jimi Hendrix
 |
| Sakkie Coetzee: Manager NAU |
In today’s newsletter
–
·
Murders shock agricultural sector
·
Agronomic Producers Association held
member meeting and Master Agronomic Day
·
FA and other
news
Murders shock agricultural sector
Two murders this week, one in South Africa and one in
Namibia, again shocked the agricultural sector. Mr Louis Vorster, a farmer in
the Gobabis vicinity was shot by three armed robbers in Johannesburg while he
was shopping at a Service Station. The robbers most probably fled with the
money which was in his possession.
On the same day Mr Piet van Helsdingen of Farm Fortuna
and member of the Dorsland FA has been murdered by a person who did temporary
work on his farm. The precise circumstances which led to the death of Mr van
Helsdingen are not yet clear and the Police are busy with the investigation.
The NAU would like to express their deepest sympathy with the family and
friends of both Mr Vorster and Mr van Helsdingen.
We heard just now that another robbery in which Mr
Piet Berg of Leonardville FA was shot in Windhoek. Mr Berg regularly delivers
meat to Windhoek and most probably had cash with him which led to this robbery.
Mr Berg is at this stage in a critical condition in the Mediciy Clinic. Further
information is not yet available. This attack on Mr Berg again shows that any
person carrying cash has to be extremely careful for any possible robberies
which even could led to murder.
Agronomic Producers Association held member meeting
and Master Agronomic Day
For the first time in twelve year, the Master
Agronomist for Dryland award has been awarded to a producer in the East!
Congratulations to Mr Jasper Blaauw and his family who farm on Farm Appelblaar
in the Summerdown area who won this prestigious prize.
Two efficient speakers spoke about alternative crops
for Namibia, namely sunflower (Dr Andre Nel, South Africa’s expert on
specifically sunflower) and Mr Jaco Vermeulen of SENWES, Hartswater area (an
expert on specifically ground nuts). Before the members went on a farm visit to
Appelblaar, Mr Blaauw gave a detailed explanation for the reasons of his success
as Master Agronomist for 2012. Members profited from the visit to Mr Blaauw’s
land where Mr Vermeulen gave various guidelines to producers.
The member meeting of the Agronomic Producers
Association was attended by approximately 60 agronomist members, an attendance
number beyond expectations. One of the highlights during the member meeting was
the feedback from Dr Andre Nel from the Agricultural Research Council in
Potchefstroom about his visit to farms which started with conservation agronomy
practices since 2011. One of his comments was that he is glad to see how far
producers progressed with this learning process. A fact which will contribute
toward general land health is that the agronomy industry will have to focus
more on alternative crops and the development of markets to encourage the
planting of these crops. Sunflower and ground nuts are definitely the two
alternative crops. Dr Nel also visited the Ogongo agricultural farm (near
Oshakati) and gave positive feedback.
The news that the Okuruso mine got the installation
plant for the pilot program to test the fulltime production of super phosphate
is gladdening. Even though a lot depends on the success of this testing period,
this plant will not meet Namibian fertilization needs. It is hoped that that
the testing with a mixer to produce fertilizer for agronomists will
continue.
Western
Horsemanship clinic
Agra
in cooperation with Executive Equest again offers the annual Western
Horsemanship clinic. This will take place from May 2 – 4 at Out of Nature in
Windhoek. The 3-day program promises to teach and demonstrate participants the
popular California Vaquero horsemanship style. Only a limited number of seats
are available and please take note of the following:
-
40
seats for the morning session at N$1 500 per person
-
25
seats for the afternoon session at N$1 500 per person
-
N$3
000 per person for the full day
Iain
Davis from the Oklahoma Ranch Roping Association will be personally involved
with the sessions. For registration or more information, please contact Rian du
Toit, Tel 081 4615578, eequest@gmail.com.
SWAKARA courses
The following SWAKARA SNOK courses will be held at
Farm Swartkop in the Karasburg vicinity on the 22, 23 and 24 May. On 22 May
(from 08:00 – 16:00): lamb description, photo judging and breeding and ram
selection, electric shearing demonstration. For the employees: stunner,
disposing of lambs, slaughtering and splinting of pelts and electric shearing
demonstration. On May (from 08:00 – 16:00): estate and testament, pelts
analyses statement and theory of pelts sorting, pelts sorting, Herd Master (breeders)
norms/policy. In the evening there will be a function. On May 24 (from 08:00 –
16:00): rangeland management, why farm with SWAKARA, strategic feeding, animal
health, practical rangeland session in the veld. The courses are only for
current pelts producers and no accommodation is available. May 24 is an open
day and can thus be attended by all interested parties. For more details and to
register contact Eureka de Jager, Tel 063 683497, 081 3083658 or Rossouw
Strauss, Tel 063 280090, 081 2291480.
FA and other news
Osire-Waterberg FA is holding a slaughtering cattle competition on April
25 at 08:15 at Farm Ondekaremba-Nord of Fam Wilckens. At 13:00 a braai will be
held and at 14:00 the cattle will be sent to Meatco, Okahandja. A farm
sightseeing will be done at 14:30. On April 26 the carcass judging will be done
at the Meatco abattoir, Okahandja. For further details contact Mrs Dagmar
Wilckens, Tel 081 2807829, wilckens@iway.na.
Leonardville FA is hosting a Prosopis Day
on April 26 at 08:00 at Farm Donnersberg No 29, Gobabis vicinity (40km north of
Leonardville) of Mr W Prinsloo. Speakers are Dr Pierre Smit, Mr Willie Prinsloo
who will talk about the control of Prosopis on Donnersberg, Messrs Piet
Maartens and Sakkie Coetzee who will talk about chemical de-bushing, Mr Willie
Krugel who will talk about the use of Prosopis wood for furniture and Mr Flip
du Plessis of Feedmaster who will talk about the use of Prosopis pods in
fodder. Entrance is free and breakfast, lunch and drinks can be bought. For
further details please contact Mr J Alberts, Tel 081 3064095 or Mr W Prinsloo,
Tel 062 569696.
Bethanie FA is holding a meeting on
April 26 at 17:00 at the Bethanie guest house. During this meeting the farmers
day which Bethanie FA will host with KaapAgri on May 11 will be discussed. For
further details contact Izaan van der Berg, Tel 063 283090, Lambert Vos, Tel
063 283916, umub@iway.na or Ina de Klerk, Tel 063
683521, ina.deklerk@gmail.com.
The farmers day
of the Young Farmer of the Year 2011 will be held on May 2 at 08:20 at Farm
Aruab No 23 in the Helmeringhausen vicinity (43km NW from Helmeringhausen and
not suited for Sedan vehicles – takes about 1 ½ hours to drive). Speakers are
Messrs Ryno van der Merwe, Dave Pepler, Dr Roy Miller, Helmut Stehn and the
Young Farmer 2011 himself, Mr Timm Miller, Costs are N$100 for adults and N$50
for children from 6 – 16 years. Meals are included in the entrance fee. Please
register before April 20 with Timm Miller, Tel 081 2079974, miller@mtcmobile.com.na, Christian Frank-Schultz (for
accommodation) Tel 081 3543619, duwisib@iway.na or André Coetzee, Tel 081
1287101, andrecoetzee@mtcmobile.com.na.A big thank you to all the
sponsors, namely Karakul Board of Namibia, Standard Bank, Mutual & Federal,
Namco, Agra, FNB, Virbac, Feedmaster, Hollard, Meatco, HPS Engineering, Bank
Windhoek and KaapAgri.
Otjikondo FA again is hosting the annual FNB Outjo Game Festival
on May 4 & 5 at Farm Sophienhof, 10km outside Windhoek on the Khorixas
road. Artists which will perform are Snotkop, Heinz Winkler and Charlize Berg,
Camel- and horse riding is offered as well as a Rodeo, shooting competition and
much more. Entrance fees are on Friday N$80 for adults and N$30 for primary
school children and on Saturday N$100 for adults and N$50 for primary school
children. Further details from André Lombard, 081 1282811, Paul Stommel, 081
3279596 of Fanie Heimstädt, 081 2053909.
Hoërand
FA is
hosting a 4x4 vasbyt on May 5 at 07:00 at Farm Graal of Mr Willie Truter in the
Maltahöhe district. Registration starts at 07:00 and the vasbyt starts at
08:00. Admission is N$30 per vehicle and N$100 per entry for the vasbyt. This
year four wheel squad bikes can also participate and only ladies and children
are welcome. Registration for the squad bikes is N$50. The day is concluded
with a dance and dinner and the costs are N$80 for adults and children up to 12
years and children younger than 12 years pay N$30. Camping space is available
and Mr Willie Truter can be contacted in this regard at 081 1242993. Tenders
for stands are already open and can be booked at BartieBurger, Tel 063 683360 or
081 2842744.
The Namibia Brahman Breeders Association is
offering the following trainings and information days: an orientation course on
May 9 & 10 at Farm Lichtenstein-West of Fam Rusch near Windhoek. An
advanced course on June 19 & 20 at Farm Strydfontein of Jorg and Steffie
Schloder near Grootfontein. The courses are offered by experts and further
details can be obtained from Mrs Heilwig Andrea-Voigts, Tel 061 240573, brahman@iway.na.
The runner up of the Young Farmer 2011 competition, Mr Willem
Groenewald, is hosting his farmer’s day on May 10 at 08:30 at Farm Pierre of Mr
Willem Groenewald (70km from Outjo on the Outjo Otavi gravel road). At 14:00 Mr
Groenewald will talk about de-bushing practices and theory, at 15:00 a farm
sightseeing will be done and at 17:00 the power station on the farm will be
visited. Please register on or before May 4 by phoning or sending a sms to
Nicolene Groenewald, Tel 081 081 1284114.
Aranos FA is holding a meeting on May 23 at 15:00 at the FA hall. Further details
from Joleen Mans, Tel 063 250187, kierie@iway.na.
The
women of Hochfeld FA have arranged a cake decorating workshop, to be held
on 26, 27 and 28 June 2012 at Hochfeld Lodge. The course is presented by Capetonian
cake decorator, Mrs Anne Tangney. FOUR
different courses are now being presented, namely “formal cake
decorating”, “basic piping (butter cream) and moulding”, as
well as “royal icing and moulding” andthe newest, exciting addition of the
“Chocolate Plastique” (chocolatefondant)course. Each course will be
repeated on different days, at different timeslots. Participants may choose
which courses they would like to attend, and need not attend all three courses.
Classes are limited to 10 participants per class. There are still seats
available in each class. To register and obtain more details, please contact
Bianca Marggraff, Tel 062 504211, 081 3007584, bianca.marggraff@mtcmobile.com.na.
Closing date for all registrations and deposits is Thursday,10 May 2012.
The Santa
Gertrudis Breeders Association of Namibia is offering a two-day judging
course on 4 & 5 July on the farms of Mr Andre Boehmcker and Mr Immo
Wilckens. The course will be offered by Mr Martin Seyfferd. Registration is
N$800 per person. Only a limited amount participants can take part. For any
further enquiries contact Maxie Boehmcker, Tel 081 2688939, moringa@iway.na. Santa Gertrudis are ideal
for crossbreeding. Light calves at birth and fast growth.
The Limousin Breeders Association of Namibia
is offering a two day judging course on September 4 & 5, 2012 on farm
Omateva of Mr Siggi Wilckens with Messrs Willie Grobler and Barend Dorfling as
examiners. THE COURSE ORIGINALLY WAS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24 & 25, BUT DUE
TO CIRCUMSTANCES HAD TO BE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER. Registration fee is N$500
per person and enquiries can be addressed to Ellie Lottering at 081 292 4917 or
email franseli@iway.na. Come and get to know this breed!!!
The SA Butchery Training School offers a blockman
course (SETA accredited). It will be ± 2 weeks and costs N$6 500. For further
details contact Johan at Tel 081 246908, johan@unieke.com.
2. Spotlight on Agriculture: Notes on the palatability of the two most dominant forage plants on the Swartrand...: Author: L.G. Lubbe
