Animals-and-Pets
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 |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Wonderful Soil Food Web
Because most soil organisms are microscopic, they don’t get the attention they deserve. Yet a teaspoon of good soil may contain a billion bacteria of thousands of species.
2 min |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Counting The Cost Of Captive-bred Lion Hunting
Lizanne Nel, conservation manager for the South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association, says that hunting captive-bred lions is not good for the local hunting industry and will cost the country millions of rand in losses if allowed to continue.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Beefing Up Cattle Using The Continuous Grazing System
While intensive and fast-rotation beef grazing systems are becoming more popular in South Africa, the Duminies of Duminy Boerdery in Vryheid have stuck by their extensive continuous grazing system. They explained their strategy to Lloyd Phillips.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Buying New Tyres For Your Bakkie
Tar road, dirt road, off-road. Mud, sand and rocks. Wet and dry. No single tyre copes well under all conditions. So how do you choose a tyre for your bakkie or 4x4? Jake Venter offers advice.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Land Rover: The Making Of A Legend
The Land Rover, with its strange aluminium alloy panels, was meant to be a stop-gap for Rover. But the world fell in love with it, and it became an icon.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Financing Models Now Make Technology More Affordable
Cost is one of the main reasons why farmers are struggling to adopt energy-saving technologies. Charl du Plessis, head of project development at Energy Partners Solar, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the company’s solution to this problem and new developments in solar power.
5 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Farmer's Big Pig Plan
Western Cape pig farmer Leandre Mitchley was named Top Smallholder Farming Entrepreneur at this year’s annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. Her success came after a slow start and a recent major setback, and is testimony to her resilience and discipline. Glenneis Kriel reports.
5 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Making A Difference In Africa
Crop cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa is still largely carried out by hand. A Free State-based inventor is seeking to change that with his range of remarkable equipment.
3 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Unique Fund Aims To Generate 1 700 Jobs Over Three Years
Hortfin was launched in October last year to create jobs and accelerate transformation in South Africa’s deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industries. Michael Brinkhuis, CEO of Hortfin, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the fund and the progress it has made so far.
5 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
A Tilapia Model That SA Should Be Emulating
Large-scale cage culture and ownership of the supply chain has enabled a number of countries to produce thousands of tons of tilapia annually. There is little reason why this cannot take place in South Africa.
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Sweet Potato Weevil Hazard
The most destructive pest faced by sweet potato growers in the warmer areas of South Africa is the sweet potato weevil (Cylas spp), of which there are two species in the country.
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Cowboy Dressage In South Africa
This riding discipline emphasises the partnership between horse and rider
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Oil Change Intervals
When should engine oil be changed? It depends on how and where you drive, and whom you talk to in the motor industry,
3 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Gene Editing: This Is How You'll Benefit
Recent breakthroughs in gene editing technology mean that advancements in the industry can be brought to the farm faster, cheaper and more accurately than before. The result is plants and livestock that are naturally more resistant to disease, crops that are higher yielding, and ultimately, more sustainable, profitable farms.
7 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Production Trend Hits South Africa
The implementation of regenerative agriculture principles is allowing a growing number of farmers to reduce their inputs while producing similar or even better yields than they would have produced if they used conventional farming practices. Glenneis Kriel reports.
6 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Financing Farming During A Drought
Finding money for agriculture during a drought is difficult. The South African agriculture sector, farmers and financiers alike, is facing a perfect storm, according to Prof Sanlie Middelberg of the School of Accounting Sciences at North-West University. She spoke to Annelie Coleman.
5 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Managing Capsicum Seedlings
Capsicums will grow in a wide range of soil types. The crop should be fertilised according to a soil analysis; this will ensure that the level of each essential element is sufficient and all the elements are in balance with one another.
2 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Technology, New Techniques
Three manufacturers of agricultural equipment recently introduced enhancements to improve the efficiency of their machines and implements. Joe Spencer takes a closer look at these.
2 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Nitrate Form Of Nitrogen
The nitrate form of nitrogen is highly mobile in the soil. The way in which you apply it will determine how long the plants will have access to it.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How Award-Winning Broiler Producer Stayed The Course
Bhefika Matshenja of Inhlakanipho Projects and Farms, winner of the Star of Buhle Award for 2019, says that by implementing sound management principles, such as reinvesting profits, he has been able to see his business grow.
5 min |