Business
Farmer's Weekly
Township vegetable garden empowers women
The Siyazama Community Garden in Khayelitsha has changed the lives of a group of women in the township. During a media tour to the garden hosted by Coronation Fund Managers, two of the farmers, Nokwanda Nkqayi and Liziwe Stofile, spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about their organic farming practices and the impact that the garden has had on their lives.
4 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
The slow, sure road to sustainable wheat production
Since he started with conservation farming more than 12 years ago, MG Lotter has learnt that there are no quick fixes in grain production. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about managing his farm in the Overberg.
5 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
The basics of dairy farming: Part 1
Modern dairies tend to be large-scale and highly automated. Yet the essence of managing cows and maximising production has not changed.
3 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
Preparing a lettuce land
Lettuce grows rapidly and has a relatively shallow root system. This means you have to ensure the crop gets off to a running start. Your initial task is, therefore, to address soil fertility at the soil preparation stage.
2 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
More intensive banana production
50YEARS AGO With the emphasis on improved production, these Mpumalanga banana growers had to adapt and innovate.
2 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
HOW TO INCREASE SA'S WINE SALES RIGHT HERE AT HOME
South Africa’s wine industry has the potential to boost sales to the local market, especially those consumers who are in the emerging middle class. At the recent Vinpro Information Day, Brandon de Kock, director of storytelling at consumer insights agency Whyfive, outlined the changing consumer landscape in the country and its opportunities. Jeandré van der Walt reports.
4 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
Heat stress in competing horses
Heat stress can lead to organ failure and death, and should not be underestimated by horse riders or owners, warns Dr Mac.
2 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
Automation for dairy cowsheds
A large selection of new technology for dairy farming was on display at this year’s Fieragricola, which took place in Verona, Italy, earlier this year.
2 min |
March 20,2020
Farmer's Weekly
Empowering Smallholders To Access The Supply Chain
Black smallholder farmers are often excluded from the supply chain due to high barriers of entry. A fund established by Tiger Brands is now trying to address this problem. Mary-Jane Morifi, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at Tiger Brands, spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about the company’s plans to empower these farmers, as well as black suppliers and distributors.
3 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Higher Temperatures Increase Risk Of Apple Scab Infection
The dramatic increase in South Africa’s average winter temperature over the past 40 years has altered the susceptibility of apples to fungal disease, with fungi showing a much faster adaptation rate to changing temperatures than apples, writes Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins, a researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University.
3 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The importance of building trust throughout the red meat value chain
One of South Africa’s many socio-economic problems is the general lack of trust between stakeholders in the country’s agricultural value chain and consumers. Dr Pieter Vervoort, managing director of the National Animal Health Forum, says that a national traceability system is one method through which trust can be rebuilt.
5 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Steering a combine with a joystick
The recently launched Fendt IDEALDrive joystick steering system for combine harvesters eliminates the steering wheel in the brand’s IDEAL Combine series. The joystick steering solution promises to deliver greater visibility for less operator fatigue.
2 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Small steps to progress
Kleiheuwel Trust, based in Bredasdorp, recently achieved one of the top 10 best prices in the history of South African wool sales, and the highest price so far during this season’s BKB wool auctions. Pam and André Christie-Smith spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their production approach.
6 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Diligent crop protection is crucial
Several methods are available to help farmers protect their crops from weeds, diseases and pests, says Dr Benard Ngwene, the agricultural advisory manager for AGCO Africa.
2 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing The Best Time To Breed Your Mare
There are pros and cons to breeding your mare at different times of the year, says Dr Mac.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Feeding pigs: Part 1
Pigs cannot thrive on leftover scraps from the kitchen. To ensure healthy, productive and profitable pigs, feed them nutritious, balanced rations.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
THE FERTILITY FACTOR IN MOHAIR SUCCESS
Eastern Cape mohair producer Paul Webber has twice won the prestigious Daidoh Trophy Competition for the highest average price for a summer kid clip. Mike Burgess visited him recently on his farm to better understand his mohair production system.
4 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Private Jackie Baboon's war
During the First World War, the pet baboon of Private Albert Marr followed the soldiers of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment into the heat and horror of battle
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Know your armyworm species
Effective control of armyworm begins with being able to differentiate between the various species. South African crop farmers need to learn and apply this skill, Dr Annemie Erasmus of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute told Annelie Coleman.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
From seasonal worker to award-winning farmer
The Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture winner in 2019, Dirk Louw, is showing that it still is possible to start farming from scratch. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about what contributed to his success, his perseverance against all odds and his plans for the future
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling Gibberella on maize, sorghum and wheat: Part 1
Fungal pathogens belonging to the genus Fusarium can cause severe damage, leading to yield losses and a drop in profits.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing the right lettuce variety
Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and a breeder of a range of vegetables
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Advanced new tractor tyres
New technology and design elements featured on some of the tractor tyres launched recently offer many benefits for farmers, including low soil compaction and financial savings through increased productivity and lower fuel consumption.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding Exceptional Dual-Purpose Merinos
Mega Merinos in the Colesberg district of the Northern Cape markets thousands of stud and commercial sheep annually, either from the farm or via selected breed sales. Jacques Pienaar told Sabrina Dean about his operation’s history, breeding philosophy and plans for the year ahead.
5 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
US-South Africa Trade: What Does The Future Hold?
The recent decision of the US to remove certain countries from its developing country exemption list, coupled with other developments that may have an impact on the trade relationship between the US and South Africa, could have serious ramifications for South Africa’s competitiveness as an exporter to the US. Dr. Moses H Lubinga, a senior economist for trade research at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, looks at how this scenario may play out for South Africa.
3 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Irrigation systems for undercover cropping
Maximising water-use efficiency in South African undercover crop farming operations has become both a financial and moral imperative. But selecting the most appropriate undercover irrigation technologies can be a challenge in itself. Three local experts shared their advice on this increasingly complex topic with Lloyd Phillips.
4 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Improved control and flexibilty over grain revenue
The combine is the single most capital-intensive piece of equipment on a grain farm. Utilising as much of its capacity as possible is important to overall farm efficiency, writes Stehan Cloete.
2 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Growth mediums for greenhouse production
Greenhouse farming is an intensive, high-yielding operation. Using the correct growth medium forms the basis of the operation, and mistakes in this area can cost a farmer dearly, according to producers and experts. Lindi Botha looks at which mediums work best for different crops.
6 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Undercover farming: big investment, greater returns
With its reduced land and water requirements, tunnel farming is a viable option for farmers with little access to natural resources, says Suzanne Oosthuizen, managing director of the Undercover Farming Expo. She spoke to Lindi Botha about the unique benefits of undercover farming.
5 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Don't allow change to catch you napping
At times, new developments might seem to come like a bolt out of the blue. But if you keep up with trends, you’ll be forewarned of change and have time to adapt, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
2 min |