Business
Farmer's Weekly
Tuli Stud Cattle Flourish In Karoo Small-Stock Environment
Tuli breeder Ben Raath believes his indigenous cattle hold their own against top feedlot breeds in terms of profitability on a weight per hectare basis. Sabrina Dean visited his farm near Britstown to learn about the commercial potential of the cattle, particularly with worsening climate change.
6 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Started With Cabbage
Cabbage is grown throughout South Africa, with most production concentrated in Mpumalanga and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
1 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Biofuels Vs Fossil Fuels
Although biofuels are not used in South Africa, they are commonplace in many countries. Jake Venter compares the combustion properties of biofuels and the fossil fuels petrol and diesel.
3 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Tools To Prevent Build-Up Of Pest Tolerance In Bt Maize
While Bt technology in genetically modified maize helps farmers to control certain crop pests more effectively, measures should be taken to prevent the development of resistance to the technology. Seed industry representatives Grant Pringle and Magda du Toit shared their opinions on this important issue with Lloyd Phillips.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Harry Wolhuter And The Lions: A Tale Of Tooth And Claw
His encounter with two lions while on duty as a game ranger made Harry Wolhuter a celebrity throughout the British Empire and elsewhere.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Mondi Overcomes Hurdles To Post Strong Half-Year Results
The Mondi Group has shown overall positive financial results for the half-year ended 30 June, despite facing a number of challenges, including an international corporate simplification process, and a decline in revenue from its South African operations.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Let's Hope The Tv Channels Never Go On Strike!
My bakkie’s licence expired on 31 July. I went to our local municipal office to renew it – only to discover that the employees were on strike and behind locked doors.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Planting Cabbages
Cabbage is grown from seed. Eight weeks before planting, remove all weeds on the land. Plough the soil immediately before planting with a disc harrow or other suitable implement to a depth of between 450mm and 600mm. If necessary, fumigate the soil two weeks before planting to control nematodes.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How To Win The Fight Against The Eldana Sugar Cane Pest
Eldana has a major negative effect on the yield and quality of sugar cane crops. Dr Des Conlong, senior entomologist at the SA Sugarcane Research Institute, says that only modern integrated pest management can reduce the impact of this pest.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Taking Nature Conservation Into The Future
Data from species and environmental monitoring is often hard to translate into real-world management solutions. Conservationists Dr Pieter Olivier, Andrew Purdon and Michael Mole are solving this challenge with practical software.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Your Personal Lab!
Compac has launched a new mobile field research unit for the citrus industry.
2 min |
September 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Chicken With Onions And Emmentaler Cheese
My brother recently returned from a business trip to France, where he had what he called the best chicken meal of his life. This recipe, reconstructed from memory, is the happy outcome.
1 min |
September 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Pasture-Based Dairy: Lower Cost And More Lactations
In an area where feeding total mixed rations is the norm for dairy production, Jurie and John Hartley milk 1 200 cows off pasture with impressive results. Gerhard Uys reports.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Southern Kwazulu-Natal: Set For A Boom In Avo Production
South Africas avocado industry is soaring on the back of national and international demand. It aims to capitalise further on this by substantially increasing southern KwaZulu-Natals avocado production. Lloyd Phillips spoke to Athol Currie of The Fruit Farm Group South Africa.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Produce Your Own Seedlings
Indigenous leaf crops such as African spinach (amaranthus, morogo or imfino) are rarely found in the commercial market but they can easily be grown in your nursery. Here are tips on how to do this.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Adaptability And Efficiency Help Tunnel Nursery Thrive
Ezigro Seedlings in Mpumalanga grows a wide range of seedlings all year round, thanks to resource-efficient tunnel production in an ideal climate. The tunnels provide another advantage: they allow for rapid adaptation to a changing market. Lindi Botha spoke to CEO Anthony Baird.
5 min |
October 19, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Public-Private Partnerships Transform The Sugar Industry
Numerous sugar cane fields in South Africa have been claimed through land restitution. Were this land to go fallow or be used for other agricultural purposes, the potential loss of sugar production would hold dire consequences for the sugar value chain. Lindi Botha spoke to Dawie van Rooy, director for agriculture at RCL Foods, about his companys response to this risk.
5 min |
October 19, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Saddle-horse Experts Share Know-How
FROM OUR ARCHIVES - DEVOTED TO SA FARMING SINCE 1911.
3 min |
August 31, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Want A More Profitable Dairy? Take Care Of Your Calves!
Three key factors can reduce calf mortalities and boost milk yield: correct hygienic practice in calf cages, control of Cryptosporidium parvum, and implementing a colostrum programme. Specialist veterinarian Dr Chris van Dijk and feed specialist Kenneth Botha explain these.
7 min |
August 31, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Effective, Low-cost Soil Conservation
Researchers have estimated that, over the past four decades, the world has lost a third of its arable land due to erosion or pollution. Solutions are constantly being sought. Frans Joseph and Mias van der Westhuizen of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently tested the mitigating effect of a simple, inexpensive method to address soil erosion.
3 min |
August 31, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Minestrone: Magnificent Italian Soup
Italian cuisine is loaded with astonishing soups. There is, for example, Zuppa Pavese, a chicken based bowl of greatness topped by sourdough bread and a poached egg. At the greatest height, however, is minestrone, a classic with a thousand variations. Here is the version I cooked a few nights ago.
2 min |
August 31, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Rising Food Costs Chewing Into Sa Household Budgets
Food inflation is expected to start escalating towards the end of 2018, which will make it increasingly difficult for the majority of South African households to afford a balanced diet. According to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), a range of tax factors are contributing to higher food prices.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 7 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Hunting Traditionally With The Khomani San
The Khomani San of the Kalahari are revered for their intimate knowledge of bush lore. Now they’re practising these skills commercially and offering hunting packages on the vast tracts of land they own around the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. In so doing, they are creating sustainable livelihoods for their community, too. Keri Harvey reports.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 7 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Lipizzaner Stallions In South Africa: Trained For Classical Dressage
Lipizzaners, well known for their highlevel dressage displays, originated more than four centuries ago. However, the breed continues to amaze, says Dr Mac.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 7 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Taking Steak To The Next Level
Steak can be cooked and served in a variety of ways, but this Asian-inspired marinade can turn even the tastiest steak into something far more special and appetising.
2 min |
September 7, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Overcoming The Obstacles To Agricultural Growth In Africa
While agriculture has the potential to create jobs and ensure food security, many obstacles hamper the growth and success of the sector in Africa, says Dr Yonas T Bahta of the University of the Free State. Overcoming these challenges is the key to unlocking the true value of the sector.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Community-First Approach Ensures Sustainability
No man is an island, the saying goes, and this holds every bit as true for a farmer. Schoonbee Landgoed relies on the surrounding community to provide both a workforce and an enabling environment for its business, and this has led management to strategically align the operation to benefit local community members. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Roasted Boerewors & Broccoli
This recipe is a salute to our nations favourite sausage. Roasted in the kitchen rather than grilled outside, the collection of flavours is revelatory. Have a sourdough loaf standing by as a side order.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Wool And Mutton Market Trends
A drop in the local supply of wool and mutton due to the effect of the drought on sheep numbers, and an increase in global demand, have combined to support higher producer prices.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
From Our Archives - Sound Management For Broiler Success
23 years ago Ilse Neethling gave up teaching to begin her own broiler chicken farm in the Rûens. According to Neethling, the quality of the end product depends largely on the quality of management.
3 min |