Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Rebuilding a livestock enterprise after a drought
In this article, Dr Louis du Pisani, national manager for production advice and development at the National Wool Growers’ Association, explains how to carry out post-drought recovery and reconstruction of a livestock enterprise to achieve optimal, lasting
Drought, especially if prolonged, leads to a decline in veld condition, livestock numbers and the financial situation of a livestock enterprise. Once the drought breaks, the livestock farmer faces a burning question: what are the best practices for repairing drought damage and rebuilding the farm to its former level of productivity?
But before answering this, the farmer has to answer another question: which comes first, the veld, the livestock or the finances? The answer is that all three should be repaired simultaneously as they are interdependent. But implementation is not that simple.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following should be borne in mind when carrying out the recovery and rebuilding process: • A drought-stricken farm, like a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU), needs treatment that produces positive results from the start. There is no time for experimenting or taking risky decisions. The right medicine is often bitter, but essential. • Seek the advice of a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts in grazing management, animal husbandry and agricultural economy. This team should determine the condition of the farming concern in the ICU and develop a comprehensive turnaround strategy. It is all well and good to hope, but hope on its own is akin to gambling.
• Base all decisions on a sound plan and good judgement. A clear head and self-discipline are also crucial. Sentiment, poor farming practices, emotion and impulsiveness should be avoided at all cost. • Remember that there are no quick fixes; the process takes time. • Focus fully on the turnaround strategy during the repair and reconstruction process and make timely adjustments when necessary. • The most important pillars in the process of recovery and reconstruction are precision farming and sustainability.
VELD RECOVERY
Veld in a good condition is a major profit driver in livestock farming. It has four advantages over veld in a poorer condition.
Firstly, its soil-available water content is substantially higher, even though both receive the same amount of rainfall. Secondly, the plants that dominate good veld produce substantially more grazing material with the same amount of water, with a resultant higher carrying capacity. Thirdly, the plants that dominate veld in good condition have a better nutritional value than those growing on poorer veld. Lastly, good veld produces substantially better profit per hectare.
When carrying out veld recovery, follow these guidelines: • Synchronise the recovery of livestock numbers with the rate at which the veld is recovering. Take care that the
techniques and financing models. The planning horizon of the budgets should be long enough to clearly indicate the progress until the farm has recovered fully. Don’t forget to take personal finances into consideration as well. Then compile a complete business plan that clearly outlines all the components of the turnaround strategy.
THE RIGHT ‘ MEDICINE’ IS OFTEN BITTER, BUT ESSENTIAL
• Visit your bank manager with this business plan. A bank manager may not have much confidence in a farmer’s business plan, particularly if that farmer has failed to stick to his or her plans in the past. If this is true for your situation, make sure that the bank manager understands you are committed to adhere to this business plan, otherwise you may not get the help you need.
Even the best of plans go awry. For this reason, monitor the course of the turnaround strategy and make timely adjustments. To get help with this, you will probably need an independent adviser who can quickly identify problems, even before they occur. This person can also act as a management coach and assist you to execute the turnaround strategy.
• Email Dr Louis du Pisani at louis@nwga.co.za.
A faulty regulator can result in sprinkler pressure that is too high. A sprinkler emitting a finer spray or rotating faster than adjacent sprinklers may indicate a regulator operating above its nominal rating. If a regulator is operating below its rating, the sprinkler will produce larger droplets, rotate more slowly, and wet a smaller diameter.
HOW TO SPOT PROBLEMS
During the irrigation season, observe sprinkler performance early or late in the day when the sun is low and it is easier to spot any differences.
Keep in mind that on a centre pivot, the number of hectares affected will be greater if regulators on the outer spans are worn, as these spans cover a larger area.
At the end of the season, remove the pressure regulators and check for any obstructions causing flow restrictions or distorting the sprinkler distribution pattern.
Test the regulators at least once every three years by attaching a pressure gauge on each side of the regulator. For the regulator to function, the inlet pressure should be at least 0,34 bar above the pressure rating of the regulator. The gauge on the outlet side should match the preset pressure printed on the device, allowing for slight variation due to flow.
Senninger’s pressure regulators, in their distinctive black and white colours, are renowned for their accuracy and reliability.
Recognising the importance of maintaining correct system pressure, Senninger introduced the first in-line pressure regulator to the industry in 1966. A number of models have been developed down the years to meet installation needs such as mechanised systems, nurseries, greenhouses and open fields.
• Phone Gerhardus Bouwer, regional manager for Africa at Senninger, on 079 557 0512, or email him at erhardus. bouwer@senninger.com.