Damage and disruption on farms

AGRICULTURE NEWS - The destructive storm-strength winds on Monday 11 May caused widespread damage on farms across Outeniqualand.

Bossie Terblanche, chairperson of the Outeniqua Farmers' Association, said the farmers have suffered losses to infrastructure, crops and farming equipment. Large parts of the farming community have been without electricity for days.

"I don't know what the wind speed was, but it is something I have not experienced in my lifetime. There was a lot of infrastructure damage and many centre pivots were blown over. Repairs and replacements will take time, but irrigation systems are at least not immediately needed."

Vegetable farmers were also impacted as young potato and cauliflower crops were damaged. Farmers started assessing the damage and mopping up on Tuesday. "The real assessment will only happen once all the immediate problems are out of the way," said Terblanche.

Farms with tunnels and berry crops suffered wind scorch and also infrastructure damage. Mark Miller, owner of Redberry Farm, said their tunnel structures were bent and damaged in the wind; however, his biggest concern was the strawberries. "The strong winds lifted the plastic covering over strawberry ridges, damaging leaves and plants. This while the crops are in a sensitive flowering stage. The long-term impact of this is uncertain."

A lot of manual labour will be required for the repairs, and he estimates that the farmers in the area could take between four and six weeks to recover operationally.

Buildings flattened by the wind on Redberry Farm. Photo supplied

Avocado orchards in the region were severely affected as tonnes of unripe fruit blew off the trees prematurely. The harvesting season is months away in September.

Andrew Moolman of Great Brak Avos and GE Packhouse said in some places, the wind reportedly blew between 140-150km/h. "We are trying to make a plan from the packhouse's side to see if we can send the fallen fruit off for oil or guacamole. They will not be mature enough to sell."

On Summer 16 Farm near Herold's Bay, between 12 and 15 tonnes of avocados were blown off, according to the manager, Mario Lombard. Tests were being done to determine if the fruits are mature enough so they can be sold on the local market, although this market is already saturated from northern production areas.

The Van Greunen Boerdery's blueberry and avocado orchards were impacted. Bennie van Greunen said large numbers of trees were also uprooted across the farm, damaging power lines.

They had to move some 1 200 cows from a dairy after the milking platform and building were damaged. Emergency repairs were being done so the cows could be moved back, as their other milking facilities lacked sufficient capacity for additional cows. "It takes more than a day to move 1 200 cows with all the trucks we have, so there are some logistical challenges, but we are coping and making plans. We remain positive."

Redberry Farm: Structures and plastic over strawberry ridges were damaged. Photo supplied