Smiley de Beer

Ek moes onlangs 'n vraag beantwoord wat min of meer soos volg bewoord was: "Tot welke mate word die veselbedrywe deur aardverwarming en klimaats-verandering bevoordeel of benadeel?" My antwoord was dat klimaatsverandering 'n uitdaging is en dat produsente, as al die voorspellings reg is, die geleentheid het om nou reeds stelsel aanpassings vir verwagte droër of natter toestande te maak en dat navorsing ondersteun moet word om vir 'n nuwe reeks siektes, wat met aard-verwarming kan uitbreek, voor-siening te maak. Die vraag het meer om die lyf en in dié artikel probeer hy om daarop uit te brei. Daar is geweldig menings-verskille oor of die aarde werklik warmer word en net soveel teorië oor die effek daarvan terwyl daar redelike eenstemmigheid is dat die klimaat verander dit was immers nog altyd die geval, dit is miskien die tempo wat nou pla. As lesers toegang tot die internet het kan hulle gerus na "climate change facts" vir ander wetenskaplike sienings oor die onderwerp kyk. Die basis lyn is dat weersomstandighede en klimaat nie presies voorspelbaar is nie. Die beste wat ons as mense kan doen is om alles in ons vermoë te doen om nie die hulpbron agteruit te laat gaan nie.

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VERKLARING MET BETREKKING TOT PRODUKSIEPRAKTYKE Nota: Teken die verklaring en stuur na u betrokke makelaar.

Ek, ................................................................................................, as bona fide wolboer, onderskryf die beginsels wat in die Bedryfskode vir Beste Praktyke vir Wolskaapboerdery vervat word, en onderneem om alle toepaslike prosesse te implementeer sodat die produk wat ek lewer aan alle nodige vereistes sal voldoen. Ek verbind myself tot eerlikheid en integriteit ten opsigte van alle aksies in hierdie verband.

Ten einde op 'n volhoubare basis wol van gehalte te produseer soos wat deur die mark vereis word, en om volhoubare natuurlike hulpbronbewaring, dierewelstand en sosiale verantwoordelikheid na te streef, onderskryf ek die volgende beginsels:

• Die seleksie en teling van diere wat goed aangepas is by die omgewing, en wat 'n sterk natuurlike weerstand het teen siektes en parasiete, en wat die vermoë het om te gedy onder gemiddelde toestande ten opsigte van voerhoeveelheid en -kwaliteit.

• Onder geen omstandighede die Mules-operasie te gebruik nie.

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VENDOR DECLARATION OF PRODUCTION PRACTICES

Note: Sign this declaration and send it to your broker.

I, ................................................................................. as a bona fide woolgrower commit myself to the principles embodied in the Best Practice Reference Manual for Wool Sheep Farming in South Africa, and undertake to implement all procedures to ensure that the product I deliver meet the required standards. I commit myself to honesty and integrity in all actions related to this undertaking.

In order to consistently produce the quality of wool demanded by the market and to ensure sustainable resource use, animal welfare and social responsibility, I commit myself to the following:

• Selection and breeding of animals that are well adapted to the environment, displaying high resistance levels to disease and parasites and which have the ability to thrive under average conditions of feed availability and quality.

• Total non-use of the Mules operation.

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Wool needs bigger research and marketing effort

Wool's future is riding on the willingness of the industry to increase investment in research and marketing.

A major lift in effort is needed to target a new generation of customers according to industry leader, Count Paolo Zegna di Monterubello.

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The unforeseen announcement of  wool buyer, Radius Trading (Beier Wool) ending all wool business in South Africa will cause uncertainty in the lower end of the offering, especially carbonising types.
 The future will remain interesting with subdued  international volumes, lack of supply of quality wool, together with  a volatile currency.  The tug of war between supply and demand will remain in the short term.

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Shearing Guidelines for the Woolgrower

Compiled by the National Woolgrowers'
Association of South Africa
with inputs from other organisations

Published by the South African Wool Board
INTRODUCTION

The purpose of these guidelines is to deal with identified problems in the wool harvesting process and to supply information and guidance that would lead to greater efficiency in shearing and wool harvesting. It also aims to promote better working relationships between all concerned.

Wool is an important earner of foreign exchange and one of the few agricultural commodities that can be exported profitably.

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