Business
Farmer's Weekly
Farming Smarter Can Reduce Methane Emissions From Livestock
The argument against beef production is gaining momentum, with the industry being accused, often inaccurately, of significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, climate-smart farming and improving productivity can reduce emissions. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Breakdowns And Broken Brakes
Many drivers can recall their motoring mishaps because of the inconvenience, danger or oddness of the events. Jake Venter remembers some of his.
3 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Miners Target Moutonshoek Valley Farmland Again
Farmers in Moutonshoek valley near Piketberg have been up in arms since it emerged that Bongani Minerals are again trying to obtain mining rights in the region. Dr Bennie van der Merwe, a local stud owner and a representative of the Verlorenvlei Coalition, spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
4 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Planting Figs To Lower Wheat Production Risks
Fig production enables Fairfield farm to reduce market risks while adding value to soil that under other conditions would have been good enough only for grain production. Cobus du Toit of Fair Figs spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this diversification.
5 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Free-Range Duck Farming In KZN: Why Less Is More
Duck meat is a high-value niche product in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Vanessa Collocott supplies this market with certified free-range ducks, and has combined shrewd business sense with compassion in her high-risk enterprise.
5 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How To Avoid A Salmonella Outbreak
In most developing countries, salmonella is a major cause of illness and death in children under the age of five, warns Zimbini Mdlulwa, a researcher at the Agricultural Research Council.
2 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Lack Of Capital Limited Wool Buyers
53years ago Fluctuations in the value of wool have always been common. In this article, Farmer’s Weekly explained some of the reasons for this.
5 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Marketing Watermelons
As most watermelons are sold uncut, consumers buy them according to size and colour.
2 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Innovative Event Is A Learning Opportunity For Breeders
Access to the latest information and the opportunuity to compare with peers are both crucial for the cattle breeder. This is what the Simmentaler/Simbra Hoogland Study Group aims to achieve for its members with its annual Young Bull Day. Organiser Rick Dell spoke to Annelie Coleman.
4 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
High Demand For Smart Machine Operators
New technological developments have triggered a demand for more sophisticated machine operators as well as improved training.
6 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Global Action Needed To Combat African Swine Fever
Officials from 15 countries met recently in Canada to come up with an action plan to prevent the spread of the deadly African swine fever (ASF) virus now devastating pig herds in Asia and eastern Europe.
1 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Big Romagnola Proves Itself In The Stormberg
Neville Bradfield is one of 18 South African Romagnola stud breeders who have established themselves since the Italian breed’s arrival in Africa 25 years ago. Mike Burgess visited his farm in the Eastern Cape to see how he has incorporated the breed into his mixed farming operation.
5 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
SA Avocado Industry Seeking New Export Opportunities
The annual increase in local avocado production of between 1 000ha and 1 500ha means that the industry has to actively explore new market opportunities, according to the CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association, Derek Donkin.
1 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Roadholding And Handling
Jake Venter explores the features that make a vehicle safe, comfortable and enjoyable to drive.
3 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Outsmart That Lynx
39years agoTwo farmers in the Eastern Cape relied on the use of box traps to reduce stock losses caused by lynxes.
2 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Don't Label Me 'Emerging' – I Am A Farmer'
Western Cape farmer Andries van der Poll grows wheat and medics on rotation on dryland, produces irrigated maize, and runs Dohne Merino sheep and Red Angus cattle. He spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about his agricultural journey and the mixed blessings of state funding.
4 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Lower Bakkie Sales Reflect Pressures In Agri Sector
Hill was speaking to Farmer’s Weekly at the launch of the company’s new Ranger Raptor near Upington in the Northern Cape recently.
1 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Fish Projects That Simply Won't Fly
Concrete-sided ponds are unable to mimic the natural aquatic habitats found in floodplain pans, which teem with insect larvae, a superb food source for fish. Farmers therefore feed the fish exclusively on expensive fish pellets, which they cannot afford.
2 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New EU Organic Regulations: 'Smooth Implementation Vital'
The implementation of significantly overhauled regulations for the EU’s organic farming value chain on 1 January 2021 must be carried out smoothly and effectively and meet the needs of current and future organic farmers.
1 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Scientists Scramble To Manage Forestry Pest
The rush is on to find feasible management options for eucalyptus leafroller (Strepsicrates spp.), which has been confirmed in commercial forestry plantations in the KwaZuluNatal Midlands, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
1 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Transplanting Capsicums
Before transplanting capsicum seedlings, ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist by irrigating it a day or two earlier.
2 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo 2019 Round-up
Grain SA’s 2019 Nampo Harvest Day again drew large crowds, while the Nation in Conversation panel discussions addressed a wide range of topics. Farmer’s Weekly journalists report.
1 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Salmon In Our Waters
48YEARS AGO In this article, Flip Joubert argued that introducing salmon to South African rivers would have major benefits for the country’s economy.
2 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Dwarf Avocado Cultivars: Dynamite In Small Packages
As fruit farmers are pushed to produce more with less, so the trend towards dwarf trees has gained momentum. Dwarf avocado trees offer the benefits of a compact orchard and savings in labour and production costs. Lindi Botha spoke to farm manager Simon Dunshea in Mpumalanga.
6 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Plan Crops With Facts
29 years ago Computers had already become an indispensable part of farming by the early 1990s, as this article indicates.
2 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
British Alpine Basics
This goat breed is best suited to a temperate climate and performs poorly in regions with high humidity.
1 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Support Facilities: Key To A Successful Hydroponics Operation
In addition to your greenhouse, you will require a working area, a cold room, offices, a dining area and other facilities. These should be carefully planned, not merely added as an afterthought.
2 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Market Demand Motivates Intensive Boer Goat Farmer
Free State Boer goat farmer Mariaan Grobler says intensive production is a viable option as there are never enough goats available to meet demand. Sabrina Dean visited her on her Free State farm to learn how she has fine-tuned her commercial operation to maximise production.
6 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Over-applying Fungicide On Wheat Has Negative Long-term Effects'
The excessive use of fungicides in wheat production is not only harmful to the environment but can result in the development of fungicide-resistant fungal strains.
1 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Repurposing Used Feed Bags To Grow Vegetables
Used maize meal bags are being repurposed to grow leafy vegetables in areas not previously thought suitable for food production.
1 min |