Bad News, Good News.
I am not going to talk about compensation this week other than to say that until we, those who have lost our farms, are represented by ourselves, no matter if independent or under the umbrella of an existing organisation, we will remain rudderless. Their voice must be ours with the full strength of our support.
“It is ludicrous to think others who did not lose their farms will represent us as diligently or as enthusiastically as those that did.” - Peter McSporran
I started this blog two and a half years ago as almost a medical log of my health after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. I think it is good to continue with it as those that follow it are always interested in my health developments. To date from our ‘Old Farts Group,’ I and another member have survived cancer, while two of our group of six have succumbed to the disease within the last year. Cancer is the nearest thing to natural Russian Roulette I can think of, as it is often down to fate what happens despite the best efforts of the doctors. There are so many reasons for this amongst them being the type of cancer, discovery date and treatments.
“With cancer, the health of your mind is as important as your physical health. Confidence in your medical team and the support of your family go a long way to ensuring you keep a positive mindset to face the physical challenges.” - Peter McSporran
I must admit, I was expecting bad news as the focus of my health over the past two and a half years has been on my stomach cancer. My PSA was rising but was being monitored while the doctors and myself dealt with each our own way on my stomach. Finally, my PSA numbers rose to an extent they could not be ignored doubling over the last twelve months. My stomach oncologist referred me to a urology oncologist. Tongue twister that is it not? Further, I have been suffering from pelvic area pain over the past few weeks, and as it was recurring cancer following my brachytherapy six years ago, I was concerned about the likely prognosis.
The urology oncologist said to me this week following scans and tests, “There is bad news and good news.” The bad news was that yes, the scans have confirmed what he had previously diagnosed, my prostate cancer had returned. The good news, he said that it had not spread, as far as the PSMA PET scan indicated and could therefore be treated for the second time. Either by surgery or external direct beam radiation. We discussed the options with him keen to understand how I felt about being treated. He is a very pleasant easy to speak to man, not unlike my stomach surgeon. He asked what I would be more happy with. Considering I had recently had serious surgery on my stomach, he felt I may have been put off of surgery. The mind and its state I find is very important in dealing with this disease in whatever form it is in. My diagnosis and prognosis far outweighed the misgivings that I had been feeling. Unfortunately, the source of the pain has as yet not been resolved.
I must admit I get so sad when I hear of young people even children afflicted with cancer. I find there is always guilt of an older person surviving cancer when those younger than you succumb.
Old or young, your loved ones are the greatest sufferers in your battle with cancer, they are also your greatest strength.
“Cancer may be an affliction of the individual but it is not a personal disease, those that love you also suffer. Their pain may be greater for them than the stricken.” - Peter McSporran
There are those others who offer advice on lifestyle including herbal or even traditional concoctions to fight the disease. Even the need to pray. I listen and ignore. I have found a good bottle of wine and a cigar shared with friends is the best mental tonic. Half the battle is keeping your mind right, the juice of a dandelion does not do that.
This week Rozanne was able to attend my appointment for the first time. Parking is hell and before that, Covid did not allow the entry of family into the hospital but because of my more recent pessimism due to the new pain, she felt she should come and offer support. Nothing like a strong woman to ask the right questions although in this case, the oncologist pre-empted most with his detail and discussion around treatment. Once again we feel so lucky to have chosen Portugal, remember this is all under the state health service and free. We do pay taxes here which is some consolation to the country I suppose. I indicated I would like surgery so now the oncologist will discuss this with others including the radiologist and let me know the preferred treatment with all other factors considered. Next week, scans and review of the stomach cancer followed by a review of my general health by my local doctor. A hectic three weeks of medical, little time for the cigar or wine but have managed one session this past Sunday. A luta continua.
Soya Disaster.
I think it was the second year after buying the Mazowe Valley farm, Rydal, that my manager there, Bill Middleton, called to say there was a problem in the soya. The past two seasons we had achieved excellent yields of soya beans since purchasing the farm and I was expecting even better yields that year as we had planted soya in the best lands, alluvial, next to the river. Sure enough on inspection we found dying plants which when shown to George Hutcheson at the Commercial Oilseeds Association, identified the visible spores as sclerotinia but he thought as the crop was podding, it would not advance much further. The opposite was true and within a week the crop became a complete write-off.
I had never seen such a virulent disease in a crop before, including tobacco which can be very prone to disease. George had never seen the like. After much consultation, it was felt that at some time, those fields by the river must have been used for intensive horticulture and the disease had built up over many years. As my rotation was seed maize and soya beans followed by winter wheat, it would have a major impact on my farming operations. I was also a soya seed grower, but that was no longer an option with the strength of the disease challenge on the farm. While not totally disastrous, it did affect profits that year and forced us into a less favourable rotation using the remaining unaffected lands in a long rotation of soya. I often wondered if the seller of the farm knew of the problem hence the sale. My problem, not his. The dam wall also leaked and I was worried about its stability which added to my concerns of the farm. That we could fix though.
Exit Commercial Oilseeds Producers Association (COPA), Welcome to Seed Co.
In about 1988, I had done my two years as Chairman of COPA and as was traditional stood down from office after that period. Not always adhered to by all the commodity chairmen but it was the rule, rather than the exception. At the time some members of council approached me to consider standing as Vice President of the Commercial Farmers Union, which I considered but rejected as I wanted to concentrate more on my farming. Alan Burl, an excellent leader, took up the role as Vice President to the newly elected John Brown.
I remember the time well as I decided to discuss the matter with my father-in-law and mentor Derek Belinsky which I did while assisting him to calve a cow on his cattle farm, Glen Lussa after a Sunday lunch. He suggested I continue with the CFU but to be honest I had not got the confidence to stand. Therefore, rejected the idea, I may not have won the vote at that time anyway.
Talking about Sunday lunches, a regular thing amongst the family, more often than not at Isobel and Derek’s farmhouse on Bell-Inn. Isobel was a fantastic cook and an excellent baker, often picking up rewards in the home produce section of the Harare Show. I should relate to a close shave I had unexpectedly at one of these lunches. That day, along with my wife Diane and myself, the guests were Isobel’s sister Irene and her husband Dave Frost who at that time was MD of Dulys. Shortly after the pre-meal G&Ts, the power went off. Not common in those far off days unless there was a thunderstorm, unlike the daily extended occurrences of modern Zimbabwe. Anyway, we were convinced it was an internal fault and headed down to the main switchboard housed below the transformer in the farmyard. Derek took this large wooden box, informing us it was his trusty tester of many moons. No digital screens just large gages to indicate power, its voltage and its amps. There were others but I have no idea what they were for, nor I doubt he did. The thing weighed some ten kilograms. I was given the box to hold, Dave offered advice and Derek introduced the required wires to the electricity source. This was followed by a loud bang, in fact, an explosion in my hands which when the smoke and dust subsided, the said tester had totally disintegrated. No injuries, even me who had been holding the so-called tester, just singed eyebrows, slightly burnt fingers and covered in black grime. After a pause Derek said, “That has never happened before.” I answered, “And it will never again,” shuffling the burnt debris off the box with my feet.
The year I stood down from COPA I was immediately asked to stand for the board of Seed Co-op as it was then and duly at that year's AGM in the Stewart Room at Meikles Hotel, I was voted onto the board. I was to remain as a member for the next thirteen years, up to the time we were forced off the farm. Seed Co-op was in a huge transition, both in building new premises at a new location at Stapleford, the introduction of modern seed handling and laboratory equipment while also expanding research. In the midst of this, the co-op members agreed to take it into being a publicly listed company by means of IPO. It was a privilege to have been on the board and from a personal perspective a huge opportunity in learning business and all the hurdles in listing a company on the stock exchange including the politics of getting consensus from co-op to a public company. The old hands did not want change while the newer faces realised that with independence, the protection and agreements with Government to access germplasm and markets would no longer be assured. Free markets were coming to Zimbabwe. We needed more powder in the locker to prepare for competition which was fast appearing, both from South Africa and the USA. Foreign companies would have no interest in investing or sharing their plant varieties and research with a co-op, we were to learn very fast.
Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.
We had some good times at COPA and it was a privilege to work with plant breeders like Rex Tattersfield and Geoff Hildebrand. We had word class farmers and research workers .I enjoyed privilege working for and with them for 45 years.All the best Peter . George