Business
Farmer's Weekly
Mountain views, strolls through orchards, and tranquil nights in a stone cottage
Surrounded by orchards and soaring mountains, White Bridge Farm in the Witzenberg Valley offers an idyllic getaway. Its owners also contribute ingeniously to community upliftment. Brian Berkman reports.
4 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Let's hear it for the humble potato
Potatoes are nutritious, affordable and readily available, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Give your orchards the health coverage they deserve
Cover crops are the gifts that keep on giving. Not only do they maintain soil moisture and improve soil health, but they are a valuable tool for reducing pest loads in subtropical orchards. By planting specific species, farmers can reduce their pesticide bill and meet the crop safety requirements of their markets. Lindi Botha reports.
8 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Cotton: the ideal crop for reducing carbon emissions and poverty
The Better Cotton Initiative is driving sustainability among cotton farmers worldwide to ensure they can continue operating while simultaneously meeting environmental objectives. Lena Staafgard, COO of Better Cotton, and Hennie Bruwer, CEO of Cotton South Africa, spoke to Lindi Botha about the effectiveness of this international initiative at farm-level in this country.
8 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Solutions for uneven load distribution and flat tyres
Two of the 16 silver medals awarded at Agritechnica 2022 went to Continental’s Agro ContiSeal and Krone’s ExactUnload, which make transport in the field safer and easier to manage.
2 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Why small-scale beef cattle farmers struggle to improve their animals
While genomic selection is a mainstay of commercial cattle breeding, the accurate record-keeping and data analysis it requires are often unaffordable for, or inaccessible to, smallholder and communal farmers. This study by researchers from across the globe looks at the challenges these producers face with improving their herds via this method.
6 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Stagnating pecan yields: dig deep to find the solution
The yields of mature pecan nut orchards are failing to reach optimal levels, and concerned producers have been searching high and low to find answers, investigating everything from foliar applications to soil management. The latest indications are that the solution seems to lie in the trees’ roots. Lindi Botha reports.
8 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Don't be too hasty to throw away old seedlings!
It’s expensive to throw away perfectly healthy seedlings. Rather keep them in limbo until you can plant them, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Producing piglets
With pigs, it is necessary to oversee all mating procedures. Avoid using a boar younger than 10 months of age.
3 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Mexican chicken tray bake
The avocado is an indispensable ingredient in Mexican-style cuisine, and this tasty chicken dish is a case in point. Recipe and photo: South African Avocado Growers’ Association.
1 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Decaying infrastructure: a growing threat to South Africa's producers
South African farmers can be counted as some of the most efficient producers of food and fibre in the world; however, the deterioration of the country’s infrastructure has eroded their competitive edge, according to Francois Strydom, chairperson of Agbiz. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about some of these challenges, and the possible solutions.
5 min |
February 04, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Contaminants threatening the health of soil and water
The fouling of fresh water supplies with pollutants emanating from primary agriculture has become a serious issue in South Africa. In this article, the Agricultural Research Council discusses the origins and impact of so-called contaminants of emerging concern.
4 min |
February 04, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Commercialising communal goat farming in KwaZulu-Natal
Since 1975, a rural development project in KwaZulu-Natal has been helping communal farmers improve their production of indigenous goats. Today, these farmers are focused on herd health and adopting technology to gain market access and establish small businesses that support their industry. Susan Marais reports.
8 min |
February 04, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Assessing veld condition
Taking a good look at every camp on your farm will reveal if your veld management system is on the right track, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
3 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
How intensive sheep farmers can improve traceability and profits
Intensive sheep farming has given eastern Free State farmer Gareth Angus the opportunity to increase his lambs’ survival rate, boost profits and ensure traceability from birth to farm gate, while also decreasing predation and elemental risk. Susan Marais visited Angus’s farm during the 2021 LRF Stockman School.
7 min |
January 21, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Why wetlands are vital for humans and nature: Part 1
Wetlands vary greatly in type, yet all are indispensable for purifying water and controlling its flow. They include mountain springs, midland marshes, flood plains, coastal lakes, mangrove swamps and estuaries.
2 min |
January 07 - 14, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
‘COVID-19 deaths help drive up goat sales'
Communal goat farmers in South Africa can set their own prices due to a shortage of the animals brought about by COVID- 19-related deaths, according to Gugu Mbata, project manager of the Mdukatshani Rural Develpment Project.
2 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
SA breeder's new cultivar sparks fresh love for passion fruit
Mpumalanga-based granadilla breeder Darryn Stoltz has developed a delicious new passion fruit cultivar that offers several advantages over previous varieties. One of these is longer shelf life, enabling the export of better-quality fruit. He spoke to Lindi Botha.
7 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The layperson's guide to ley farming
Over the past few years, monocropping has largely given way to the crop rotation system, and ley farming has gained popularity in grain-producing areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West, where many farmers also produce livestock. Prof Chris Dannhauser spoke to Susan Marais about how the rotating of grain crops with planted pastures can be a highly useful practice.
8 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The good and the bad of chimera
Chimera can be mistaken for a viral or bacterial infection, but it is actually a genetic disorder that could benefit some producers.
2 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Massey Ferguson launches new tractor for orchards
With interest in the production of orchard crops on the rise, Massey Ferguson has launched the MF 3300 narrow-width tractor series in SA.
3 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
John Deere self-driving tractor is ready for commercial use
John Deere recently launched a fully autonomous tractor at the Consumer Technology Association’s show in Las Vegas, and it will be on sale in the US later this year.
2 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Making it with medical cannabis
Thinking of producing medical cannabis? Glenneis Kriel spoke to industry pioneers about the opportunities and pitfalls for growers of this crop.
6 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Indigenous veld goats: the ideal option for extreme conditions
Changing weather conditions and Africa’s severe poverty demand tough, easy-to-care-for livestock. The answer, says breeder Deon Vlok, is indigenous veld goats. Annelie Coleman reports.
4 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Combating the effects of soil pollution
Soil pollution is a serious challenge worldwide, resulting in environmental damage and potential health hazards to people and animals. This report examines affordable ways in which farmers can limit its effects on their crops and reduce further soil degradation.
5 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
A matter of finetuning
Making money from an egg unit depends on many factors, and each has to be fine-tuned to optimise profits, as this article revealed.
4 min |
January 28, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The Boathouse
Seclusion. Quiet. Natural beauty. There’s plenty of all three at The Boathouse on Boskop Dam, a delightful spot where you can relax, do a bit of fishing, canoeing, and birding, and watch gorgeous sunsets from the waterside deck. Riaan Hattingh reports.
4 min |
January 21, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Putting an end to the problem of food waste
In South Africa, about 30% of local agricultural production is wasted every year, which is equivalent to an estimated R60 billion, or around 2% of GDP. In a country where 30% of households are at risk of hunger, 31% experience hunger and 13 million children live in poverty, this waste is unsustainable and needs to change, says James Brand, a senior associate in ENSafrica’s Natural Resources and Environment department.
5 min |
January 21, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Crop spraying
The knapsack sprayer is ideal for controlling small outbreaks of pests, as it’s economical, can be applied quickly, and is very accurate, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
January 21, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Worthy winners: a robot harvester and an innovative planter
Of the 16 silver medals awarded by the German Agricultural Society, organiser of the 2022 Agritechnica Innovation Awards, one went to the manufacturers of an autonomous robot for broccoli harvesting, while another recognised an implement that combines sowing and crop residue management.
2 min |