Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder September 2017 | Page 28

DAIRY DAY
Dairy event was well-attended
W
ith 20 exhibitors
and some 250
visitors, the
Gauteng Dairy
Day took place in perfect
Spring weather on Womens'
Day at the Belnori Boutique
Cheesery farm in Bapsfontein
last month.
Support was not only from
Gauteng. F armers from the
Free State, Mpumalanga,
North West, Limpopo,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Mozambique, Malawi and
Cameroon were present.
Various organisations also
supported the day, including
the Milk Producers
Organisation (MPO). the
Agricultural Research Centre
(ARC) in Irene, AgriSA
(Gauteng), AgriExpo from the
Western Cape, the Dept of
BEEKEEPING
The offloading site must have
From page 20
distance move over a two
hour period, generate hot air
in the hives and they need to
be cooled.
This loading for the move is
best started half an hour
before sunset and off loaded
in the dark. Do not forget to
remove the gauze plugs!
A flat bed vehicle is best and
the hives must be strapped
down, especially if loaded
two up.
first been visited during the
daytime and proper markings
left on the trees or along the
fences for the night arrival.
There is nothing worse than
to be lost in the dark with a
truck-load of beehives at
night that must be offloaded.
After offloading make sure
that all the bees that had
escaped out of the hives have
been swept off the vehicle
and move away from the
Agriculture
Forestry &
Fisheries and the
Gauteng Growth
and Development
Agency (GGDA).
The event was also
graced by the
presence of the
wife of the national
agriculture minister, Senzeni
Zokwana.
hives about 500m or so.
If the distance to move the
hives is more than 300 km,
take along your sleeping bag,
a nightcap and a breakfast
picnic because you will be
working into the wee hours
and rather than attempting a
night drive home after hours
of labouring with beehives in
the dark, curl up in or under
your truck in your sleeping
bag and awaken with the first
rays of the morning sun.
By Peter Clark, chairman of
the Eastern Highveld
Beekeepers Association, tel
011 362-2904
26
www.sasmallholder.co.za
Mrs Zokwana, wife of the agriculture
minister, Senzeni Zokwana, with one
of the speakers at the Dairy Day, Dr
Brylynne Chitunga.