WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Climate Change and Disaster Management Directorate of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) has asked that farmers take great care to protect their animals from the sun and heat on Thursday as temperatures in the Western Cape are set to soar over 40°C in many towns across the province.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says extremely hot conditions are expected over Eden, the Central Karoo, the West Coast District interior of the Western Cape and Eastern Overberg.
Hot and humid weather resulting in extremely uncomfortable conditions are also expected along the Wild Coast and adjacent interior of the Eastern Cape.
The entire Garden Route and Klein Karoo will experience a sweltering day with the Mercury in Oudtshoorn hitting 42°C. Georgians are also advised to stay indoors with a maximum of 35°C predicted for the city. The temperature in Plettenberg Bay will rise to 34°C, in Knysna it will be 36°C, in Mossel Bay 32°C, Riversdale 40°C, Stil Bay 35°C, Graaff Reinet 39°C and Ladismith 41°C.
Temperatures should normalise by Friday with widespread rain predicted for the weekend across large parts of the Western Cape.
Warning!
Daff warns that heat stress can greatly impact cattle producers through decreased milk production and subsequent calf growth, decreased reproductive performance in cows and bulls, and decreased stocker and feeder performance. Heat stress occurs when the animal’s attempt to dissipate heat is unsuccessful or overwhelmed, and the animal’s performance or health suffers as a result.
Managing animals and crops during hot weather
The following strategies can be applied to livestock during times of very hot conditions:
1. Identify animals that are most susceptible to heat stress.
2. Develop an action plan for heat stress.
• Animals in heat stress need to drink water
• Move the animals’ feeding time to late afternoon or evening.
• Air movement is an additional factor that promotes animal cooling.
• Cool the ground and the cattle gradually.
• Provide shade if possible.
• Adding bedding to the ground can reduce the temperature of the ground on which cattle are lying.
• Control flies as much as possible
• Most importantly, do not work cattle during extreme temperature
• Pay attention to long- and short-term weather forecasts and have a copy of the temperature humidity index chart readily available.
The following strategies can be applied for crop production during times of very hot conditions:
• Do not irrigate during the day as more water will evaporate.
• Irrigate early in the morning or afternoon.
• Choosing more and better heat and drought-resistant crops. e.g. sorghum/ millet
• Consider mulching to minimize evaporation.
A comprehensive list of strategies can be found in the monthly NAC Advisory. It can be accessed from www.daff.gov.za and www.agis.agric.za.
ARTICLE: ILSE SCHOONRAAD, GROUP EDITORS' EDITOR-AT-LARGE
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