Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder September 2017 | Page 7

A normal summer ahead W et in the early part of summer, then pretty average for the rest seems to be the best forecast for rainfall in the season ahead. The SA Weather Service has two predictions for the period from September to November, and for October to December. Both are suggesting that there will be a 60 to 100% chance of heavier than normal rainfall during the first three months, and zero chance of heavy precipitation in the second. That ties in with oceanogra- phers' predictions for condi- tions over the Pacific Ocean as far as El Nino/La Nina effects are concerned. The chance of such effects occurring this season are slim, say reports, meaning a benign summer can be expected in the southern hemisphere. MAILBAG Food article ‘frightening’ S ir ~ I enjoyed your article on food security. Very informative and frightening. Gail (surname supplied) By email There are further articles on the topic to come. One in this edition and more next month. And the picture doesn’t get any better. The question is: What will government do about the crisis? ~ Editor The Editor welcomes your letters, comments and opinions, but reserves the right to edit and shorten as necessary. Senders’ names and addresses must be included. Afrikaans letters will be translated. Post mail to: Letters, PO Box 14648, Bredell 1623 or fax [phone] or e-mail [email protected] 5 www.sasmallholder.co.za NEWS Classified ad website for smallholders T here's a new word in the lexicon of small farmers and smallholders in southern Africa. It's “sasfox”, and it's from the web address of our new classified advertise- ment site, the Southern African Small Farmers Online Exchange, www.sasfox.co.za. In what is the biggest leap forward for us since we switched over to web printing Continued on page 7