Willie Storm’s feedback on visit to Namibia

In a recent radio interview, Willie Storm, a regenerative farmer of South Africa, reflected on June, when he visited farms across Namibia, evaluating veld condition and grazing management.

Much of his approach is based on direct field observation. His impressions, offered region by region, touch on several issues that are current for Namibian livestock producers including Veld condition after good rains, bush encroachment, the sustainability of charcoal as a debushing income stream and the difficulty of managing rest-based grazing where predators and migratory game are present.

Storm reported that the Kalahari veld he visited in the southeast was in excellent condition, showing the perennial grass tufts and Bushman grass he associates with healthy climax veld.

He noted good rainfall across the region and a generally positive picture. He also pointed to localised concerns, including patches of three-thorn (driedoring) between the dune streets that warrant attention, and areas dominated by pioneer or annual grasses where, in his view, producers may need to shift their management approach to gain more stable, perennial-dominated climax veld.