Business
Farmer's Weekly
Poultry litter to biogas: adding more value to farm waste
The benefits of using chicken litter as fertiliser are well known. As the poultry industry grows, however, other uses for it must be found. Dr Idan Chiyanzu and Primrose Magama of the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Agricultural Engineering explain how energy can be generated from litter.
5 min |
June 19 - 26, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Growing potatoes: Part 3
This article examines planting, the importance of ridging, how much irrigation is required, and when and how to harvest your potato crop.
2 min |
June 19 - 26, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Futuristic Concept Tractor Wins Design Award
Employing an advanced diesel-electric drivetrain and in-cab display projection, the Steyr Konzept hybrid tractor breaks the conventional mould of tractor technology. It also rewrites the rules on what a farm tractor should look like.
1 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
A Call To Government For Fair Treatment Of Legal Gun Owners
Firearm ownership has become a contentious issue in South Africa. Fighting on the frontline for the rights of gun owners in this country is Gun Owners South Africa. Pieter Dempsey spoke to the organisation’s senior management about the red tape and government inefficiencies faced by legal gun owners or people wishing to apply for a firearm in this country.
4 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Sunflower's Potential To Expand In East Griqualand
With its relatively mild summers, East Griqualand has never seen large-scale sunflower production. Thanks to recent advances in breeding, this could well change, says Corné van der Westhuizen, Pannar Seed’s marketing agronomist in North West. Lloyd Phillips reports on this development.
7 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing Afrikaners For Extensive Beef Production
Jacquies Steenkamp produced the 2019 Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Afrikaner National Performance Test Class bull. Mike Burgess visited him on his farm near Rouxville to see why he believes this indigenous breed is so well suited to extensive beef production in demanding areas.
5 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Saving The Livestock Industry From Covid-19
The COVID-19 global pandemic represents a grave societal threat. In a recent policy brief, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations explains how the livestock sector has been affected, and recommends how to protect the sector and its activities to preserve their contribution to food security and the livelihood of rural communities.
5 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
A Passion For Herbs Blooms Into Business Success
The Kasselhoft estate near Leeudoringstad in North West evokes the French countryside with its fragrant lavender and rosemary fields. This is where Trudi and Rina Kasselman run their herbal business and market their cosmetic care and assorted product range. Annelie Coleman reports.
5 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Parasitoids vs chemicals
When the leaf miner first hit South Africa, the results were nothing short of devastating. Farmers spent thousands of rands per hectare on chemicals, but gained only a semblance of control over the pest. The reason was that this particular species, the pea leaf miner (Liriomyza huidobrensis), had already been exposed to pesticides in other countries, and this, combined with its rapid life cycle, meant it had developed resistance to most chemicals by the time it arrived in South Africa.
2 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
THE BONSMARA INSPECTION SYSTEM
Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, writes that the society’s strict double-inspection process ensures that only top animals are available for sale.
3 min |
June 5 & 12, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Birdwatching On Your Farm: A Lucrative Way To Generate Income
Avitourism, or birdwatching, has the potential to provide farmers with an additional source of revenue, write Dr Adam Viljoen and Christelle van Zyl, researchers at North-West University’s Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society.
6 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Improving Beef Yield Through Crossbreeding
David Rakgase of Rakgase Farms in Limpopo makes use of crossbreeding to improve carcass weight. He explained to Siyanda Sishuba how animal nutrition is managed on the farm in order for the cattle to maintain good condition throughout the year.
6 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
What Covid-19 Has Taught Us About Food Security
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of agriculture in South Africa and across the continent because of the sector’s capacity to support economic growth, create and sustain jobs, and boost exports, writes Roux Wildenboer, head of agriculture at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking.
4 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Know The Law Before You Hunt
Biltong hunting, popular in South Africa for centuries, is no longer the free-for-all activity of its early years, but a strictly regulated practice. Hunters and landowners need to familiarise themselves with the legislation, Prof Peet van der Merwe of North-West University told Annelie Coleman.
6 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Maximising efficiency against heat stress in cattle
Expected temperature increases due to the effect of global warming will have a negative impact on the productivity of livestock. According to animal science researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, beef farmers will have to follow certain breeding objectives to lessen this effect.
6 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Tread lightly, farm smartly
Among the machinery on display at Fieragricola 2020 in Verona, Italy, were stand-out examples of the latest tractor and implement technology aimed at helping farmers achieve higher productivity, while also farming more sustainably.
6 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The artist who brought South Africa's countryside to life
The Swartland of the Western Cape has produced many famous personalities, perhaps none more so than artist Maggie Laubser. Graham Jooste writes about her life and her remarkable technique.
4 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Feeding pigs for health and profit
A major challenge facing pig farmers today is herd health, with African swine fever in particular having devastated herds worldwide. Researchers are striving to improve the safety of feed, one of the ways in which this disease is spread, while optimising the uptake of nutrients. Nutrition scientists Prof Barry Bradford and Dr Gerardo Morantes spoke to Lindi Botha.
5 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
THE EFFECTS OF DIPLODIA EAR ROT ON MAIZE
Diplodia ear rot is a notable maize disease in South Africa. Apart from causing severe damage to the crop, it can also produce a potentially fatal mycotoxicosis in cattle and sheep. It is therefore crucial that a maize producer be able to identify the disease, says Dr Belinda Janse van Rensburg, plant pathologist at the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute.
4 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Curbing maize header losses
Farmers should guard against losing sight of efficiency when increasing productivity. In one US study, up to 60% of all maize losses during harvest were shown to be caused by the maize header. Stehan Cloete introduces a new product that promises to curb these losses.
3 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Building trust for 78 years: Meadow Feeds' proven strategy for livestock production success
Since 1942, animal feeds manufacturer Meadow Feeds has grown to become a trusted name in Southern African agriculture. As a long-time client, pig producer Steve Caldecott can confirm that a key contributor to the company’s ongoing success is the strong and enduring relationships that Meadow Feeds management and employees have built with their customers.
5 min |
May 22 - 29, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
New Predator Insects May Help Fight Major Maize Pests
Two newly identified parasitoids promise major benefits as biological control solutions for maize pests in Africa and Europe. Researchers Paul-André Calatayud, senior research scientist at the French Research Institute for Development, and Sevgan Subramanian, principal scientist and insect pathologist at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, wrote about their recent discovery.
4 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Moving From ‘Cheap' To Premium Beef
Wagyu South Africa is investing heavily in research and technology to ensure that South African beef can enter the lucrative, high-value beef export markets.
4 min |
May 08, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Your Horse And Lockdown
The national lockdown poses a problem for horses and riders. As a result, the South African Equestrian Federation is in negotiation with relevant stakeholders, says Dr Mac.
3 min |
May 08, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The Role Of Farmers During The Covid-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic had brought new appreciation for the pivotal role that South Africa’s agriculture sector plays in the provision of healthy, sufficient and affordable food, according to Derek Mathews, chairperson of Grain SA. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.
5 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Is The World Ready For Gene Editing Of Humans?
While gene editing has the potential to reduce human suffering, irresponsible use could be devastating, according to Dr Jamie Metzl, futurist and author. Glenneis Kriel reports.
6 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling Viruses In Lettuce
In South Africa, two viruses are a particular threat to lettuce: tomato spotted wilt (TSWV) and lettuce mosaic virus (LMV). Both can be highly destructive and spread quickly via vectors such as sucking insects and thrips.
2 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Optimising in-calf cow nutrition before winter
A commercial beef producer’s primary income is derived from animals produced and sold. For this reason, it’s crucial to keep breeding female animals in optimal condition at all times. Mike Rennie, a KwaZulu-Natal beef cattle farmer, spoke to Lloyd Phillips about his multi-pronged strategy.
9 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Optimal nutrient application
In this article, Stehan Cloete writes about the importance of broadcast spreader technology to improve application efficiency.
3 min |
May 15, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Optimal liming is key to preventing soil acidification
As much as 30% of South Africa’s agricultural soil resource is deemed to be acidifying, mostly due to inefficient or incorrect liming practices. This is according to a recent presentation by Dr Pieter Haumann, CEO of the Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa. Sabrina Dean reports.
9 min |