In a previous issue (FW, 29 January 2021), Farmer's Weekly spoke to pome fruit farmer Ian Cunningham about how he was rewriting the rules on apple rootstock longevity on his family farm Fine Fruit, near Elgin in the Western Cape. His methods included the use of the Geneva rootstock CG 778, as well as regenerative farming principles.
In the article, Cunningham argued that, in combination with healthy soil, the rootstock's tolerance to replant disease could increase its longevity by at least 15 years.
Thus, it promised to reduce production costs significantly by enabling farmers to graft new plant material onto the rootstocks, rather than planting grafted material from scratch, and shortening the time it took for the trees to reach commercial production by a year or two.
Almost two years later, these practices, along with the planting of trees at higher densities and the use of new technologies, are making a huge difference to the farm's bottom line. As successful as these approaches have been, his operation has seen an even bigger game changer, according to Cunningham: the purchase of the High Noon farm in the Kaaimansgat Valley near Villiersdorp in October 2020.
"Fine Farms has reached its production ceiling, whereas High Noon has a lot of room for improvement. To get an extra 2% out of Fine Farms would require more than 10% effort, whereas a mere 2% effort will repay me with a 20% to 30% increase in production at High Noon," he explains.
Fine Farms, a 160ha operation, has approximately 100ha under pome fruit. In contrast, production at High Noon, which consists of 1 800ha, can be expanded from 202ha to 240ha, according to Cunningham.
A RISK WORTH TAKING
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022-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.
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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.
