Business
Farmer's Weekly
Cushioned Overshoes For Horses
In the US, Soft-Ride boots are often used to make a horse more comfortable on a hard floor, such as in a stable or a horsebox. South African owners should consider using them too
2 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Weed Control In Carrots
Successful carrot producers mechanise their operations to reduce labour to the minimum.
2 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Thinking At Gunpoint: It's Time To Fast Track Land Reform
The expropriation without compensation resolution has polarised opinion. We need urgent, innovative solutions to land reform, and must deal with communal land ownership and title deeds, says Malapane Thamaga, an agricultural economist at the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa.
4 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Keep That Fly At Bay
The common housefly remains a significant problem in South Africa.
3 min |
March 30, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Reap Returns On Investments By 'Farming The Markets'
‘Farming the markets’ originates from the analogy that exists between personal finance (investing) and farming. Brenthurst Wealth Management financial adviser, Richus Nel, looks at how managing personal finance and investing can be improved by thinking like a farmer.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 September 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Farming In Harmony With Mother Nature
Climate change and increased pressure on natural resources have necessitated the introduction of alternative farming practices.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 September 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Late Blight: Fungus In The Fast Lane
Unlike Alternaria as discussed last week, late blight (Phytophthora infestans) does not creep into a tomato crop.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 September 2017
Farmer's Weekly
'Knock, Knock.' 'Who's There?'
‘It’s me. Detonation. I’m here to wreck your engine.’ Seriously, though, detonation (also called knock) is no joke. Jake Venter explains why it can cause damage, and what is done to prevent it.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 September 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Caring For Brachycephalic Breeds
They’re friendly, loyal and feisty, and have become immensely popular as pets, but that cute ‘flat face’ could also cause severe health problems, warns Shane Brody.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 September 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Soldier, Sportsman And Legendary Farmer
Neville Fletcher of Cathcart in the Eastern Cape is an extraordinary man. A war veteran who saw action in the fierce Italian campaign, he returned to South Africa to enjoy a long, highly successful farming career. As if that were not enough, he was a national champion in both tennis and gymkhana. Mike Burgess visited him.
5 min |
6-13 January 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Are Lick Supplements Worth While In Beef Production?
Cattlemen operating under extensive conditions are always looking for ways to increase production and profitability, says Dr Liesel Foster, a beef producer from Zastron. Her PhD research concluded that farmers should carefully consider the cost and management involved in supplementary feeding to achieve this goal.
4 min |
6-13 January 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Showing: A Lot Of Work, But Well Worth It!
If you love beautiful horses and enjoy training them, showing might be the discipline for you, says Kim Dyson.
2 min |
7 April 2017
Farmer's Weekly
A Successful Boer Goat Stud In The Hantam Karoo
Careful management and marketing are both crucial in Boer goat production. Pip Nieuwoudt of Nama Stud, the oldest Boer goat stud in the Western Cape, spoke to Jeandré du Preez about his management strategy and how he tapped into the Middle Eastern market.
5 min |
7 April 2017
Farmer's Weekly
How to Detect and Manage Groundwater Resources
Most of South Africa’s water comes from groundwater reserves, according to Frans Putter, a geologist from Potchefstroom. Annelie Coleman spoke to him about groundwater exploration.
5 min |
10 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
We All Want Land Reform. Let's Make It Work!
Meaningful land reform is crucial, not only to allay the farming community’s fears, but to help restore the economy and benefit South Africa’s poor.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Tsatse Fly Repallant From Waterbuck
Prof Christian Borgemeister, a leading entomologist at the University of Bonn in Germany, researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and the Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources in Kenya, as well as Rothamsted Research in the UK, have developed a tsetse fly repellent for cows from waterbuck odour.
1 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Top Young Breeder Takes Angus To New Heights
Despite being a stud breeder for only five years, the ARC’s 2017 National Young Beef Cattle Breeder of the Year, MJ Ernst, has already made his mark. Annelie Coleman visited him on the family farm between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad to find out more about his Red Angus stud.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Precision Farming: Changing Litchi And Avo Prodution For The Better
Demand for litchis and avocados has soared and encouraged producers to embrace precision farming methods. Stephan Schoeman, owner of Soetkalmoes Consultation in Nelspruit, an advisory service for the tree crops industry, tells Gerhard Uys how these practices are improving yield and crop quality.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Cutting Propogation Made Easy
Many people think that growing new plants or trees from cuttings should be left to qualified horticulturists. In fact, this technique is relatively simple, says Shane Brody.
4 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Measures To Prevent Curly Stunt Virus
The tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) occurs worldwide, and was first identified in South Africa in 1997. There are several strains of the virus; South African authorities named the local strain ‘curly stunt virus’ (ToCSV).
2 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Precision Farming Clinic
KZN John Deere dealer, Mascor, held a clinic at Eston recently to demonstrate the finer points of John Deere’s Precision Agriculture systems. Joe Spencer attended the event.
1 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Ultra-Spicy! Home-Made Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is one of the Asian subcontinent’s many contributions to fine dining. A ‘tandoor’ is the Hindi word for the special clay oven used in this style of cooking. If you have no tandoor to hand, fear not. Here’s a way to produce a pretty fine imitation in your own kitchen.
2 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Know the Facts Before Switching Irrigation Systems
Drip irrigation systems have a well-deserved reputation for water-efficiency. Although this gives them an obvious advantage in water-scarce South Africa, irrigation specialist, Mark Zartmann, explains that there are several factors that a farmer should consider before converting to such a system. Lloyd Phillips reports.
4 min |
10 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Different Types of Hydroponic Systems
Prof Gert Venter explains the benefits of a static hydroponic system, which can be grouped into ‘open’ or ‘closed’ categories, and broadly subdivided into three main groups: static, dynamic and aero systems.
3 min |
10 March 2017
farmer's weekly
mechanising farming in africa
global agricultural equipment company, agco, recently announced plans to restructure its asia- pacific region to include africa and increase its operations in africa. gary collar, senior vice-president and general manager (gm) for asia-pacific and africa and nuradin osman, gm for agco africa, spoke to denene erasmus about agco’s plans for expansion in africa that will be driven from the company’s new regional headquarters in johannesburg.
5 min |
27 january 2017
farmer's weekly
breeding for the future
mecki and brigitte schneider of the okabra brahman stud in the grootfontein district in namibia own one of the largest stud and commercial beef cattle operations in southern africa. wayne southwood investigates how they made significant improvements to their herd by continually applying sound scientific principles.
6 min |
27 january 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Sustainable Use Of Wildlife: A Poorly Understood Concept
South Africa is world-renowned for its biodiversity conservation and resultant variety of wildlife. However, public opinion is often divided on the subject of wildlife utilisation. Dr George Hughes, former chief director of the Natal Parks Board and CEO of its successor, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife before retiring in 2001, explains why sustainable wildlife utilisation is essential for biodiversity conservation.
4 min |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Urgent Access To More Avocado Export Markets Needed - Subtrop
A large avocado harvest means the industry needs to access more export markets to remain sustainable, according to the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop).
2 min |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
First Make It Work, Then Survive, Then Prosper
After playing a significant role in corporate South Africa, Dr Reuel Khoza, former chairperson of Nedbank and Eskom, decided to turn his focus back to his roots in the farming sector. He spoke to Lindi Botha about practical transformation and taking hands with commercial farmers.
5 min |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Unique Symbiosis Between Farmers And Brown Hyenas
Although the Kruger National Park is a haven for South African wildlife, it is not the ideal home for the secretive and submissive brown hyena, also referred to as the wolf or strandwolf. Farmland outside of protected areas is vital to their survival. Dr Katy Williams, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Mpumalanga, has been finding out why.
4 min |