Graaff Fruit has been using nets in several of its orchards for more than a decade. Mac Mackenzie spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how this method reduces climatic risks.
Wolseley in the Western Cape is one of the earliest stone fruit producing regions in South Africa, yet production has always been hampered by the wind that rages through the Breede River Valley.
Twelve years ago, the owners of Graaff Fruit, near Wolseley, started planting nectarine and peach trees under shade nets on its farm, Romansrivier, to alleviate the impact of wind damage. This has resulted in healthier, more vigorous trees, with the Class 1 packout rate averaging 30% more than for exposed trees.
Mac Mackenzie, the general manager of Graaff Fruit, says it is difficult to quantify savings, as all their nectarines and peach trees are planted under nets. However, fruit quality, the amount of fruit produced per tree, and tree health were all “definitely better” than for trees not under netting.
Exposed plum trees, for example, are about a year behind those planted under netting, while a Packham pear orchard, planted in 2012, has still not reached full commercial production.
Three years ago, Graaff Fruit also started using shade nets on its farm Rietfontein in the Koue Bokkeveld to protect apple and pear orchards against snow and hail.
BUILT FOR STRENGTH
Denne historien er fra February 22, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra February 22, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
