Get your calendars out and take note of this week’s agriculture events taking place throughout Mzansi as well as online to be accessed from the comfort of your own home. From the season finale of the TV show Vir die liefde van die land to international agri conferences, all the way to local expos and auctions.
This week we also get to see the announcement of the winners in the annual South African Dairy Championships!
Check out Food for Mzansi’s calendar and our ‘This Week in Agri’ article every Monday, giving you the low-down on all things agri in Mzansi every week. Email info@foodformzansi.co.za to add your event to the calendar.
Monday, 22 March
Agri TV show: Season finale
Tonight, in the final episode of Vir die liefde van die land (“For the love of the land”) we meet 51-year-old Aldrin Lawrence who farms in the Mara area of the Vhembe district of Limpopo. He farms in a little farming town called Buysdorp, named for his ancestor, French Huguenot Coenraad De Buys.
The ten-episode series Vir die liefde van die land is proudly presented by Food For Mzansi in collaboration with the VKB Group and WYRD Films. Catch tonight’s episode at 18:30 on VIA, DStv channel 147.
Also read: Limpopo farmer channels the passions of his renegade ancestors
Contribute to international World Water Day campaign
Join the conversation about water on Twitter. Your voice will help shape the forthcoming World Water Day campaign, leading up to 22 March 2021. Your conversations will inform a report about what water means to people around the world.
Tag your stories, thoughts and feelings with #Water2me and help shape the 2021 #WorldWaterDay campaign.
Go to World Water Day for more information.
Former librarian dedicates life to feeding the nation
On episode 6 of For the love of the land, farming mentor Piet Potgieter introduces journalist Ivor Price to Mahadi Mopeli, a member of Lesotho’s royal family who farms outside Warden in the Free State. The former librarian now dedicates her life to feeding the nation.
Be sure to catch new episodes of For the love of the land every weeknight for the rest of the week. Yes, you can catch new episodes at 18:00, 21:00 and 10:00 on People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155. Also book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses on Sunday.
Tuesday, 23 March
3-day Foundations of Farming workshop
This three-day farming workshop offered by Foundations for Farming SA takes place in Vredefort, Free State. It covers all the introductory, foundational information that starter farmers would need. Topics include the foundations of farming, soil health and composting, pests and disease, growing crops, livestock management, agroforestry and more.
At R1600 per person you get 2 meals per day, a handbook and a certificate. Register here.
Annual conference of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture
The annual conference of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) has a programme of activity focused on the food and environmental security agenda.
The purpose of the FFA is to stimulate open discussions on the future of European and world agriculture and assess what should and what can be achieved over time, attaching equal weight to two challenges: food security and environmental security.
For more information visit the event website.
Meet Daniel Maqala on TV tonight
On episode 7 of For the love of the land, journalist Ivor Price and cattle farmer Piet Potgieter visit farmer Daniel Maqala. He has fond memories of being his late father’s right-hand man, initially as a sheep herder and also milking cows and feeding chickens from aged six.
Be sure to catch new episodes of For the love of the land every weeknight for the rest of the week. Yes, you can catch new episodes at 18:00, 21:00 and 10:00 on People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155. Also book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses on Sunday.
The ocean, our climate and weather
Register for the Agricultural Research Council’s webinar taking place today in celebration of World Meteorological Day, under the theme ‘The Ocean, Our Climate and Weather’.
Register here to join the webinar starting at 14:00.
Wednesday, 24 March
Protea Engineering launches new mobile macadamia dehusker
Protea Engineering is hosting a product launch for their new mobile dehusker. The event takes place at the Ashley Sports Club in Pinetown, Durban, from 10:00 to 15:30.
Email shane@proteaengineering.co.za for more info, or view the Facebook event here.
Beaufort-West Show
Agri-expo’s agriculture show takes place in Beaufort-West over the next four days, from 24 March to 27 March.
Email beaufortwes@skfd.co.za or call Elsje Nigrini on 082 777 1315 for more info.
Breaking barriers in agriculture
On episode 8 of For the love of the land, journalist Ivor Price and cattle farmer Piet Potgieter visit Annalea van Niekerk, an inspirational Sussex breeder. They learn that despite her success she still faces many challenges as a female farmer in a man’s world.
Be sure to catch new episodes of For the love of the land every weeknight for the rest of the week. Yes, you can catch new episodes at 18:00, 21:00 and 10:00 on People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155. Also book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses on Sunday.
Thursday, 25 March
Wine tasting with a Cape Wine Master
Six winemakers over six different events will take you through a tasting experience online. Your bottle gets delivered to you prior to the event and you join them on the tasting journey online.
Today is the first event in the series, and you will taste a Boplaas 8–Year–Old Cape Brandy with Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman and Carel Nel. The tastings start at 19:00 every Thursday.
Buy your tickets to the series here.
International conference on green energy and technology
The international green energy and technology conference, held on 25 and 26 March in Johannesburg, South Africa, is organised by Researchfora.
For more info visit the Researchfora website.
Breaking barriers in agriculture
On episode 9 of For the love of the land, journalist Ivor Price and cattle farmer Piet Potgieter visit Wayne Mansfield. Mansfield has been working as a fruit salesman and farmworker in the Boland since he was a child. These days he farms with lemons, which he exports across the globe.
Be sure to catch new episodes of For the love of the land every weeknight for the rest of the week. Yes, you can catch new episodes at 18:00, 21:00 and 10:00 on People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155. Also book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses on Sunday.
Friday, 26 March
South African Dairy Championships winners announced
Today the winners of the South African Dairy Championships will be announced during a virtual ceremony. It’s open to all, no registration needed!
The championship consists of more than 100 classes for cheese, yoghurt, milk, cream, ice cream, butter and other dairy products. The winners in each of the classes are crowned as SA Champion, whereas only products of exceptional quality are awarded the Qualité award, recognised by the industry as the only mark of excellence for dairy products in South Africa.
The virtual event will take place from 19:00 to 20:00 at www.cheesesa.co.za/sa-dairy-awards.
For more information, contact Agri-Expo on 021 975 4440 or cheese@agriexpo.co.za.
Season finale of ‘For the love of the land’
On episode 10, the season finale of For the love of the land, journalist Ivor Price and cattle farmer Piet Potgieter travel to Limpopo to track down farmer Aldrin Lawrence. With economic hardship and the worst recorded drought in 100 years, Aldrin says farming is an emotional rollercoaster.
Catch the episode at 18:00, 21:00 and 10:00 on People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155. Also book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses on Sunday.
Sunday, 28 March
Catch up on the week’s ‘For the love of the land’
If you’ve missed any of the nightly episodes of Food For Mzansi and the VKB Group’s new TV show For the love of the land this week, today is your chance to catch up. Book your seat in front of the telly for the omnibuses today and tune in to People’s Weather (PPL WX) on both DStv channel 180 and Openview channel 155 at 10:00 – 12:00 & 18:00 – 20:00.
How to get your agriculture event on our daily calendar
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