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GRAANGIDS
2017
GRAIN GUIDE
Seriously consider the how
and where of reform
The main reason is affordability. Food inflation
literally consumed the disposable income of
consumers and we can see this clearly in the
rural areas: The consumers are suffering;
businesses are suffering; even economists
concede that the drought is one of the most
important reasons for the low growth rate in
South Africa – something they would never
have admitted in the past.
Currently, the land-reform debate is relatively
quiet, because the government’s focus is os-
tensibly in other places. However, we could
actually see the much stronger drive towards
sustainable reform during the course of the
drought – different to the past. The intensity
of the debate and the pressure will presum-
ably only increase with the run-up to the
national elections in 2019.
From the past it is evident that that the private
sector must drive and probably come up with,
these plans more and more. The best plans
usually come from practice and not neces-
sarily from the pens of the educated people.
There are various examples, particularly in
other industries, where partnerships work well
– to the benefit of all interest groups. However,
in grain farming these examples are still rare.
I urge grain producers to seriously consider
how and where they want to reform and even
if they can afford to do it. Preferably do it
where it can benefit all the interest groups,
and not only one.
The past season forces all of us to seriously
evaluate and analyse what we want to do
in our own farming operations. No place
exists for unnecessary practices and expenses
producing no return. Analyse your input costs
in particular. There are certain things that we
were used to doing through the years – with
good reason – that now, with improvement
and innovation in technology, are no longer
cost-effective.
Here the Grain Guide is of immeasurable
value. It puts you, as producer, in touch with
everything new technology can offer you, as
well as with contacts and comparisons. Use
this Grain Guide to refresh your know-how
regarding new products, practices and techno-
logy, lowering input costs without compromis-
ing on the outcome or possible performance.
However, following many difficult years, take
care not to adapt practices to such an extent
that you suffer during the easy years. Remem-
ber that, just like the weather, agriculture has
cycles. Adapt quickly enough to be able to
analyse seasons, but slowly enough not to
lose that which has proved to be the best
practices over the years!
May the Heavenly Father guide and bless you
during the coming season!
Happy farming!
Jaco Minnaar
Chairperson: Grain SA
Following a season like the past one, agriculture is on everybody’s lips
again. This time, though, it is for the right reason: Food security. More
specifically – affordable food security. During talks about successful
land reform with sustainable production, politicians and economists
have said that we will be able to import the shortages. A shortage
during the past year in the main staple food of the nation, namely
white maize, completely contradicted this assumption.