Animals-and-Pets
Farmer's Weekly
‘Farming For Profits Without Social Responsibility Is Foolish'
Being named the 2018 Agri SA/Toyota Young Farmer of the Year is wonderful recognition, says North West potato producer JP van den Berg, However, simply being able to farm and contribute to food security is a daily highlight. He adds that his hardworking staff are pivotal to his farming success, and he devotes much energy to caring for their welfare. Annelie Coleman reports.
5 min |
December 14, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
To Get The Most, Waste Nothing
Herby oversees the conservation aspect of the operation and cultivates tomatoes as a paying hobby, while his sons run the farm.
4 min |
December 14, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Financial Planning: Crucial To Sustainable Production
To weather the impact of market fluctuations and extreme climatic conditions, producers have to think strategically about farming. Pieter de Jager spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his strategy.
6 min |
December 21 - 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Strict Selection The Key To Boer Goat Meat Production
Award-winning stud breeder Gerald Calitz runs a 200-strong Boer goat stud on his 70ha farm near Ventersdorp in North West. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about his breeding techniques.
5 min |
December 21 - 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Charity Begins At Home
Growing up on a farm gave Lion du Plessis insight into the problems faced by farmworkers. But after studying human rights he gained an even deeper understanding of these issues, which spurred him on to create a charity that uplifts rural communities. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
December 21 - 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Tapping Country Talents
28 Years ago Recruiting latent local talent to serve campers was a profitable sideline project, according to Major James Sclanders, who retired from the South African Air Force in 1974.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21-28 December 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Tips For Taking Cover Crops To The Next Level
Improving and maintaining soil health is not an overnight fix, but a lifelong endeavour that requires patience and experimentation. In this second part of a three-part series on cover crops and soil health, US farmer and cover crops coach Steve Groff shares a number of valuable tips on using cover crops as a tool for achieving sustainable soil health. Lloyd Phillips reports.
6 min |
November 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Food Security: Africa Should Be The Answer
With the relentless increase in world population, particularly in Africa, food production has become the subject of much attention. This provides a golden opportunity for science and skills transfer to position Africa as the solution to the food security conundrum, says Dr Peter Oberem, founder and CEO of Afrivet.
3 min |
November 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Started With Bananas (1)
To turn banana farming into a profitable venture, production must be well planned.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Dairy BLUP Basics
Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) brings together many aspects of animal breeding, and provides the most accurate and precise genetic evaluations possible.
1 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Hippo Mills Turns 90!
The Hippo hammer mill was launched at the 1928 Pietermaritzburg Royal Show. Joe Spencer takes a closer look at the company.
1 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Consider This Before Investing In Desalination
Desalination is an increasingly attractive tool to mitigate drought-associated risks. Gerrit van der Merwe and Hermias Nieuwoudt spoke to Glenneis Kriel about some important factors to take into consideration before installing a filtering plant.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Becoming A Motorcyclist: Part 1
On a farm, a motorcycle is a substitute for a horse. There is no doubt that motorcycling is dangerous, but you have certain advantages over driving a car.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Townie - Jacky Penny's obituary
Tragically, my much-loved Jack Russell, Penny, died a few days ago.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 May 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Vital Role That Mentoring Can Play In Agriculture
Successful mentorship in agriculture depends on building a relationship of mutual trust and understanding between mentor and mentee.
3 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Diversification Success For Eastern Cape Farmer
Former extension officer, Sithembele Malgas, started farming in the Idutywa area of the former Transkei in 1990. Today, he produces cabbages, spinach and butternut in rotation on 3,5ha under irrigation and farms more than 500 beef cows near Cathcart in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess reports.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Ethical chicken farming a win-win Formula
Red Barn free - range chicken and egg farm started from necessity but grew into a passion. In addition to eggs and whole chickens, it also produces speciality products Jay Ferreira reports.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 3 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
The Many Rewards of Game Farming in the Karoo
Game animals have brought a new dimension to farm life in the arid Karoo. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to Neil Dodds and Rob Hobson, two farmers from Jansenville, who have combined game with small stock.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 3 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
A Concise History of Hydroponics
While hydroponic farming has been around since the Middle Ages, many developments over the years have made it far more efficient and affordable. Prof Gert Venter explains.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 3 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Global Food Demand And Prices To Decrease Over Next Decade
The “Agricultural outlook 2017-2026” report, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, forecasts that over the next decade, demand for agricultural products will slow considerably, causing real prices of most agricultural and fish commodities to follow a slightly declining trend, thereby keeping them below previous peaks.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 18 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Townie Sport, Politics & Sharks
After golf, my next-best event to watch on TV is F1 Grand Prix.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 18 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Unravelling The Myths Of Moordenaar's Kop
On 13 November 1847, during the 7th Frontier War, five British officers were attacked and killed by Xhosa warriors on a hill, still known as Moordenaar’s Kop, in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited the site and asked amateur historian Dr Patrick Hutchison how his research had corrected some of the misconceptions, long held to be true, about the skirmish.
4 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Electric Car: Not Squeaky Clean
An electric car is environmentally expensive to manufacture, and its ‘fuel’ is only as clean as the nearest power station.
2 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
An Opportunity To Glimpse Into The Future
Farmers contemplating a trip to Europe later this year might want to time their visit to include DLG Feldtage 2018,
1 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Drought Remains Biggest Risk To Maize Crop
Any reports of good rainfall over the next few weeks are welcome as there are still some regions where maize crops are under stress due to dry conditions, according to Grain SA CEO, Jannie de Villiers.
1 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
XTractor Around The World Expedition To Hit SA In April
In the second stage of the XTractor Around The World expedition, four of the latest generation McCormick tractors will cover 6 000km of South Africa’s toughest terrain in 48 days.
1 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
How To Prevent And Control The Spread Of Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a highly infectious bacterial zoonosis. People contract the disease through direct contact with the infected animal, or its secretions and excretions. Veterinary specialist in public health Dr Jan H du Preez explains the science, symptoms and treatment of the disease.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 April 2018
Farmer's Weekly
R35 Million Needed For Matzikama Water Project
The Matzikama Municipality in the northern Western Cape, which includes the towns of Vredendal, Vanrhynsdorp, Klawer and Lutzville, has been particularly hard hit by the drought. Wilfred Stephan, chairperson of the Agricultural Development Association in the region, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the impact on farmers and plans to address the water shortage.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 April 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Keep It simple!
Multi-award-winning Limousin stud breeder John Devonport says that a simple and practical approach makes business sense when breeding top cattle. He spoke to Gerhard Uys.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 April 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Lamb And Mutton Rally, But Profits Are Not Guaranteed
Low sheep supply, coupled with low feed prices, have led to a welcome recovery in the profitability of lamb and mutton, but consumer resistance to high prices remains a major risk.
2 min |