Business
Farmer's Weekly
Drakenstein Rewinds Keeps Motors Running In The Boland
Replacing a burnt-out electric motor can cost a great deal, whereas rewinding it can return it to tip-top condition at much lower cost. Rashad Williams and Fa-eez Appollis spoke to Jeandré du Preez about how their rewinding business saves farmers money and production downtime.
4 min |
13 October 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Livestock And Climate Change
Across the world, climate change is likely to adversely affect animal production. South Africa will be no exception, warn Mokgadi Seshoka, Anette Theunissen and Prof Michiel Scholtz.
2 min |
13 October 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Cotton Can Be More Profitable Than Maize!
Cotton production in North West can be extremely lucrative, according to Arno Janse van Vuuren, manager of agricultural management at agribusiness NWK. A comprehensive survey by the company shows that the province is well suited to cotton cultivation if production is managed effectively.
5 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Securing The Future Of SA Macadamias
The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association has undergone major changes, breaking away from Subtrop to become an independent entity and introducing statutory levies. Lindi Botha spoke to newly appointed CEO Lizel Pretorius about the association’s future.
4 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Voices Of The Past
Before South Africans had television, they relied on live radio broadcasts of important sporting events. Graham Jooste recalls the two greatest sports commentators of their era: Charles Fortune and Gerhard Viviers.
5 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Persistence Pays Off For Award-Winning Citrus Farmer
Noluthando Mbilase, who farms near Fort Beaufort, recently won the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Top Entrepreneur Export Markets title in its annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. The award is testimony to her determination, as well as her willingness to learn, since starting in the citrus industry as a field officer many years ago. Mike Burgess reports.
4 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Desert: Hot, Dry, And Perfect For Fish Production
Groundwater extracted from arid areas is often unsuitable for irrigation, but it would be ideal for aquaculture.
2 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Agriculture-Driven Economic Transformation
Recent research by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Institute for Sustainable Development analysed progress in agricultural development in 117 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to understand which policies have succeeded or failed. It then provided policy guidelines to help countries still at the subsidence farming stage to transform their agriculture sectors.
4 min |
November 23, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
How Changing Rainfall Patterns Are Reshaping Farming In The Karoo
Justin du Toit, a scientist in pasture research at Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute in Middelburg, spoke to Roelof Bezuidenhout about his analysis of rainfall records in the Central Karoo and how farmers can adapt to climate change.
5 min |
November 23, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Promising Future For Pork Producers
Pork prices in South Africa plummeted after last year’s listeriosis outbreak. While this had a serious effect on producers’ bottom lines, the drop in prices has seen pork become more popular among consumers. Should demand continue to increase, pork production is likely to become lucrative.
3 min |
November 23, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Ready To Plant Cucurbits
Before planting a land to any of the cucurbits, you should kill off all broad-leaved weeds nearby, preferably well beforehand.
2 min |
November 23, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Western Cape Gears Up For Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has commissioned the University of Stellenbosch Business School to research ways to unlock the advantages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the province. Research associate Angus Bowmaker-Falconer spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Chinese Digital Trading Takes Off
The Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show 2018 will include a special focus on identifying growth opportunities in China.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Focus On Quality Produces Success
Nelius Ferreira, the Free State’s Top Young Farmer for 2018, focuses on quality production in a global marketplace. Sabrina Dean visited him on his farm near Harrismith to learn more.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Pros And Cons Of Subsurface Irrigation
The drought in the Western Cape has sparked renewed interest in research done almost two decades ago on partial root and subsurface irrigation. Pieter Fouché, the viticulturist at the Graham Beck Wine Estate, who participated in these studies, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the farm’s experience with these irrigation methods and whether they’re worthwhile pursuing.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Managing Gerbils On Your Land: Part 1
A gerbil invasion, especially in a grassland or savannah, can lead to serious crop damage. Control begins with understanding the behaviour of this pest, and should always be environmentally sensitive.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
New Combines Even Kinder To Operator And Crop
The three new 250-series Axial-Flow combines launched recently by Case IH offer a number of new automated features designed to allow operators to maximise crop throughput and quality. Denene Erasmus attended a media event in Dresden, Germany, where the machines were put on display.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Kimberley War Hero
This year celebrates the centenary of the Royal Air Force. It is therefore fitting to recall a famous South African fighter pilot whose skill and bravery became renowned during the Battle of Britain. By Graham Jooste.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Dealing With Cucurbit Viruses
Viruses are the greatest threat facing the cucurbit grower. It’s rare that a crop will be grown without some symptoms appearing.
2 min |
December 21 - 28, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Cultivar Branding: A Game Changer For Growers
Fresh produce branding is gaining momentum as farmers seek to ensure a market for their fruit in an industry where supply is dramatically increasing. The success of the ClemenGold mandarin brand has spearheaded the marketing of specific premium citrus varieties. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Afrino Excels In Producing Mutton And Wool On The Veld
Hendré Calitz, the chairperson of the Afrino Sheep Breeders’ Association of South Africa, manages the Koppiesfontein Afrino Stud near Smithfield for Piet and Theo Delport of Wesselsbron. Mike Burgess visited him to better understand the value of the Afrino under extensive conditions.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
New Net Solution For Sunburn
Some growers in the Southern Cape are using nets that can easily be draped over tree rows to protect pome fruit against sunburn. Apart from their convenience and flexibility, the new nets cost a fraction of fixed net structures. Daan Brink of Two-a-Day and Ebbie Raubenheimer of Nulandis spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the technology, which was developed in Australia.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Irrigate Sensibly And Economically
Most home vegetable gardens are irrigated incorrectly. Here’s how to get it right, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Never Stop Learning!
When you think about it, every farm is in some respects a trial farm.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
North African Chicken Worth Waiting For
Attempting unfamiliar cuisines often means encountering unknown or unavailable ingredients. In the case of food from North Africa and the Levant, preserved lemons are an absolute must. One downside: they take three weeks to mature!
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Used Car: Let The Buyer Beware!
Dirt, rust and oil leaks are just some of the signs of neglect on a used car. Jake Venter explains what faults to look out for, and when to walk away from that ‘never-to-be-repeated’ bargain.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Difference Half A Degree Of Global Warming Can Make
The recent ‘Global Warming of 1.5 C’ report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights several climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1,5 C, compared with 2 C or more. For example, at 1,5 C warming, the Arctic Ocean is likely to be free of sea ice in summer just once a century on average, whereas at 2°C global warming, the likelihood rises to once a decade.
5 min |
December 14, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Pig Farming From Scratch: A Growing Success Story
At the time she was awarded a piggery by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Betty Nyambi knew little or nothing about pig farming. But she refused to let that stop her, and through hard work and training she has become a competent pig farmer. Today, she is aiming at her next goal: gaining quality assurance certification. Siyanda Sishuba reports.
4 min |
December 14, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Soya Bean Hulls In Feed Boost Milk Profits
Partially substituting maize with soya bean hulls may lower dairy cattle feeding costs while increasing income generated from milk solids. Anesmé van der Vyver, a master’s student at Stellenbosch University, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about her research findings.
2 min |
December 14, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Managing High Nitrate Levels In Paddocks
High nitrate levels acidify the soil, leading to an abundance of weeds. Dr Mac explains how to manage this, and prevent it from occurring.
2 min |