Newsletters

Newsletter

March 2004

The next generation of the Middelmann family was introduced to the European clients during November/December 2003 and January 2004. Not only was it quite a learning experience for Richard, but having to cope with strange languages was a challenge in itself. Richard stayed over in Germany for the break between trips and his wife Carolyn joined him there.

We suppose it is inevitable for any business over a period of time to lose staff, but it came as a complete shock to us that Maans Wagener, who has been with us for the last 10 years as liaison officer with our myriad suppliers, became seriously ill in December. He died in early January just after Robert left on the second leg of his overseas trip to Europe. We fondly remember him as a friend and colleague. Not much later our maintenance crew lost their leader, Henry, who has also been with us for many years.
 

The office has been very busy over the last few weeks coping with the changeover to a completely new computer system. Having patched the old programs time and again, more and more computer difficulties were being experienced, with machines and programs not wanting to talk to each other.

The result was increasingly difficult decision making for management, particularly regarding stocks. So once all the teething problems have been sorted out (is there ever an end to computer problems?) we will be able to give you accurate and prompt information – at least that is the objective!

Strangely enough everything seems to be happening all at once – the driers need replacing, and in order to do that the electric supply need upgrading. Pretty soon there will be new equipment all over the place. Hopefully it should now last for a couple of years before any further capital investment is required.

Meanwhile the Repens crop has commenced and the highly popular Pan Reed is coming in at a very good rate. From time to time there is quite a traffic jam of reeds that need to be dried and packed. Our staff are coping extremely well. It is wonderful to be able to rely on a well-trained- and managed labour force.

The weather has been nothing short of weird. Cold spells when we least expect them, and extremely hot days in between. Fortunately we have not been plagued by a severe drought like the rest of the country. The farm is looking very good after the burn program was completed, with all kinds of bulbous species that normally become dormant between fires, showing their best form. We were thrilled to discover a small cerise disa near one of the streams recently.

At least half of the remaining pine forest has now been felled and we see increased water run-off as a result of removing these thirsty alien plants. The eradication of invasive alien plants take much time, effort and money and we hope that once the forest has been completely removed and we have burnt the young trees that will inevitably come up, we will be able to get on top of the problem.