AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Farmers of the Edenburg Farmers’ Union, south of Bloemfontein, want to assist the new entrant farmers in their district despite their own challenges amidst the drought.
A donation of about 80 bags of feed and 15 blocks of salt lick from Voermol will be handed out to 50 new entrant farmers on 14 March 2015. The farmers’ union received donations previously, and feel that they want to share what they receive.
Voermol has assisted farmers in the province with donations of about 136 tons of feed this year.
“We are struggling to lend each other a helping hand, because everyone has little grazing left,” says Andre van Wyk, chairperson. Van Wyk says rainfall in the district has been very erratic since January. Some farmers have measured up to 150mm, while others have had 50mm or 20mm or less.
The rain that has already fallen, has led to partial recovery of grazing, but this recovery is being threatened by high temperatures and a lack of follow-up rains.
According to Van Wyk most farmers in the district have already cut their livestock numbers significantly, but if the current situation continues, they will have no choice but to start selling or slaughtering their core herds. Some of the farmers have already planted oats to have feed until the end of winter.
The drought is also affecting these crops. Another challenge is the fact that some of the rivers and other irrigation sources have been dry for two to three years or that irrigation quotas have been cut.
“But we are keeping the faith. There is nothing else we can do but to keep the faith and keep hoping,” says Van Wyk.
