The snow is getting late on the Boland as the nation prepares for El Nino

by

A little rain is expected in the Western Cape which has appreciated those few sunny days in between rainy, cold times when bees finally enter orchards (where they’re frantically working or even becoming irritable with the hunger) however, the producers claim they’re planning for the potential consequences on a rain-less El Nino summer forecast by South Africa.

Orchards of pear located in Bo-Swaarmoed (close close to Ceres) In this area, snow isn’t uncommon although it’s not always in the same timeframe as this year.

South Africa had widespread snow this past weekend as a result of a cold front which moved across the interior before reversing this morning, ahead of another winter storm.

The producers of deciduous fruit within the Western Cape say the cold that swept through the region over the weekend didn’t cause any major damage the plums, peaches cherries, nectarines and peaches are either blooming or have already gone through bloom.

The snow isn’t causing any significant harm yet dams are stocked However, frosty conditions accompanying it pose greater risk for young fruits.

“We don’t have any issues due to the cold,” is a nursery farmer from the Boland. “As long as we have at least a few days of sunshine between, it should be fine. But I’m more concerned about those days when it gets excessively warm.”

In October, the country experienced an early heatwave across the interior. It hampered the farmers’ ability to get their irrigation watered under power constraints.

The producers have been advised to prepare for a summer with lower than average rainfall as well as high temperatures.

Related Agroforestry News Posts:

  1. UK along with Europe “screaming at the moon for citrus” But there’s still rain to South Africa It is anticipated that rain will continue across the Western and Eastern Cape as a cutoff low crosses the Cape. The snow has fallen on the mountains of Western as well as the Eastern Cape. “Given the rainfall that has...
  2. Horticulture is among the sectors most affected by the loadshedding in South Africa. South Africa is back at the stage 6 loadshedding till the end of time – which is what motorists who are stuck with the lack of traffic light are aware that agriculture is an disproportionate burden on state power company...
  3. Insufficient supply of asparagus in South Africa South Africa is exporting less asparagus than the traditional producers and is experiencing a deficiency of asparagus. The Johannesburg municipal market’s website, an exceptionally low quantity of asparagus has been reported as currently being offered (in 200 g punnets) at...
  4. The Middle East has grown tremendously in importance for South African pomegranate exporters The pomegranate farmers in the Western Cape districts of Wellington, Paarl and the Swartland are completing their harvests following a year that, as with many other seasons – came two weeks ahead of schedule this year. Initially , the crop...
  5. The cold steri-orange protocol of Europe 1 year after In the past year, tons of South African oranges were in an administrative limbo at European ports. The fruit arrived with documents that were valid when it was first shipped but had become not valid when it reached Europe. A...

Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies