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5
June 2017
The season must change now
i
t is a dusty time of the year. In the south the producers
are planting in the dust and in the north harvesting is in
full swing.
In Bloemfontein (It’s Time) we literally raised dust whilst
praying. In the townships rocks are thrown and fires are
started. The one action invests in our future and the other breaks
down what has been built up out of frustration about dreams that
are not coming true.
All of us are just too aware of the seasons and time for everything,
but the dream in our hearts, however, remains that the season in
South Africa must change now. I somehow wondered what actu-
ally has to happen so that we will not only see the tide turning as a
matter of faith, but also in reality.
Maybe a new president; possibly a new government; or perhaps
a 4% growth in the economy with lower unemployment? (About
South Africa’s rugby we would rather not dream!)
With the surplus of maize this year we asked ourselves two im-
portant questions: What can give cause in South Africa that
±400 000 less hectares are planted to maize in the next season
– which will take us back to import parity? We thought about
another drought, maybe the availability of financing, perhaps only
the poor profitability of the commodity or maybe a Zim type of
land reform plan.
The other factor that can influence this, leads us to the second ques-
tion: How many more hectares must be surrendered to soybeans
before its price will also gravitate towards export parity? With re-
gards to the latter we are still far off.
The soybeans are faring excellently this year and will definitely draw
more attention in the next season. The big injection in the form of
new technology for soybeans, however, is still two seasons away.
Wheat planting in the Free State will have to face a big test this
year. There are not, like last year, fallow maize fields that have to be
planted as the result of the drought. With the low maize price, it can
make a few producers think hard.
All of this tells me that producers will have to give much more
attention to their marketing strategy before considering the next
season’s planting. The winter grains will this season already be able
to see the impact of the new resolutions on grade differences, but
maybe also have to take into consideration the new wheat tariff.
When writing this article, the new wheat tariff was not yet known.
At least not to Grain SA. We, however, noticed that a few people
have already started trading wheat as if they have heard in advance
what the Minister has decided about the tariff.
I am fully confident that the Regulatory Authorities will investigate
this kind of behaviour thoroughly. We are tired of corruption and
would like to see it eradicated. When I say eradicated, I think of my
mother’s words when we had to weed the vegetable patch: “With
root and branch!” Superficial change is short-lived.
This morning I sat reading how a number of well-known journalists
who attended NAMPO 2017, reported on agriculture. Oh, it gives
one hope that total strangers might change their perception of agri-
culture and its people – if they would only come to visit and talk to us.
All the international visitors and exhibitors are talking about the
peaceful family spirit at NAMPO. I’d like to thank everyone who came
to make a contribution to illustrate to the world that there still is hope
and there is still peace.
As far as I am concerned one of the highlights was the shift in the
debate: Agriculture is seeking its own route for the future. We cannot
wait for others to decide for us any longer. They will find us some-
where ahead on the new road. We are now forging ahead!