Animals-and-Pets
Farmer's Weekly
How To Create Successful, Commercial Black Farmers
Many in the agriculture sector believe that government’s efforts to develop successful black farmers since 1994 have largely failed. Frans Cronje, CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations, says this is because government spending is incorrectly prioritised, and that not nearly enough is being spent on farmer development.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Alfie Does It The Hard Way
38 YEARS AGO Alfie Brett, a Merino farmer in the GraaffReinet district, says that his strict adherence to a culling programme ensures that his sheep remain hardy and adaptable.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
What Do Chickens Want?
In this first article of a three-part series on the basic principles of planning, constructing and maintaining poultry housing, independent poultry consultant Jan Grobbelaar discusses the environmental requirements, and temperature management in particular, to which poultry houses must adhere in order to offer chickens a safe and comfortable shelter.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Rethinking Sustainable Development
Growing awareness of the interconnectedness between water, energy and food security is resulting in a more holistic way of measuring sustainability, says Dr Nadine Methner from the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Making The Most Of Calcium As A Soil And Plant Nutrient
Despite being a vitally important element for optimal crop production, calcium is often largely undervalued by farmers and agronomists. Plant health expert Heather Raymond explains why this outlook needs to be changed, and gives tips on how to enhance calcium in soils and plants.
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Beef Blup Basics
Producers use breeding values to determine the long-term value of certain animals to their herds.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Turnerland Knows Its Onions
Turnerland’s equipment enables a producer to harvest onions with minimum labour, thereby reducing costs.
1 min |
Farmers Weekly 1 June 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Research findings on pollination of Hass avocados
At the 2017 SA Avocado Growers’ Association research symposium, University of Pretoria researcher, Mart-Mari Nieuwenhuizen, presented new findings on the best pollinisers for Hass avocados. She also explored the effectiveness of bees as pollinators. Alita van der Walt reports.
4 min |
31 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Fodder Beet – A Technical But Top-yielding Livestock Fodder Crop
To remain sustainably profitable, modern farming operations need to continually evolve their production systems for optimal returns on investment. For SA’s dairy farmers, fodder beet presents an intriguing opportunity to do just this. Lloyd Phillips spoke to Dave Sharpe of the international seed company Barenbrug.
6 min |
31 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Medicinal Cannabis: This Is No Weed!
Since the legalisation of cannabis for private use in South Africa, various industries have been gearing up to produce medicinal cannabis on a large scale. However, misinformation abounds about the level of intricacy in growing the plant and extracting the oil. Lindi Botha spoke to a medicinal cannabis farmer to learn more.
5 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Baba Ghanoush: A Middle Eastern Delight
Whatever you choose to call it – brinjal, aubergine or eggplant – there is nothing as magical as converting three of these wondrous things into a sesame influenced, za’atar-enhanced, smoky spread.
2 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
ABS: Racing Driver Braking For Us All
ABS brakes save lives every day. Jake Venter explores how these technological marvels work, and why they sometimes don’t.
3 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Irish Agrifood Sector To Bear The Brunt Of Proposed Brexit Import Taxes
Proposed tariffs on Irish imports to the UK was one of the main topics of discussion at the Navigating Global Trade Conference hosted by the Irish Farmers Journal in Dublin, Ireland, in the second week of March.
2 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Designing An Irrigation System According To Soil Type
Dr Willem de Clercq, a researcher at the Water Institute at Stellenbosch University, says that all farmers, and especially those who practise conservation agriculture, need to approach irrigation in a holistic manner that will ensure sustainable production.
5 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Be Ready For The Political Noise Before The Election
Expropriation of land without compensation in South Africa will remain one of the few political weapons in the arsenal of some factions within the ANC in the build-up to the national election on 8 May.
1 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New System Shows Benefits Of Deep Root Irrigation
A locally developed irrigation system designed to transport water directly to plants’ roots and thus eliminate evaporation has achieved outstanding success in trials.
4 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Tractor Training For Tomorrow's Farmers
An agreement between John Deere and Peritum Agri, an SA training organisation, will enable the manufacturer to contribute to farmer development and gain exposure to future buyers.
1 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Solar Energy Takes Centre Stage In South Africa
High electricity prices and unreliable supply have resulted in a fresh surge of interest in renewable energy solutions on farms.
3 min |
March 29, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Mass Tilapia Farming: Real Potential In The Right Areas
Tilapia farms in Zambia with slightly cooler than ideal minimum temperatures have produced good harvests. These results are easily replicable in parts of South Africa.
2 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Hall Of Fame
The Steiger family’s induction into the Agricultural Equipment Manufacturers’ Hall of Fame coincides with half a century of tractor manufacturing in Fargo. Joe Spencer reports.
2 min |
March 22, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Sky's No Limit: Using Drones For Precision Farming
To stay profitable in an increasingly tough environment, farmers must use their land and other resources to their maximum potential. The amazingly detailed imagery captured by unmanned aerial vehicles can help achieve this. Lloyd Phillips visited Agri-Sense International to find out more.
5 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Dropping Fences Helps Game Reserve And Community Thrive
Warne and Wendy Rippon, owners of Buffalo Kloof Wildlife Safaris in the Eastern Cape, were concerned about the poverty in neighbouring Yendella community. So much so, that they launched an initiative where they and the community work together to benefit from the reserve.
5 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Engineering Vs Physics Vs Maths
Engineering demands accurate mathematics. But in this imperfect world, engineers have to use approximations and common sense.
2 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
El Alamein's Zulu War Hero
Disregarding landmines, intensive enemy fire and a shrapnel wound, Lance Corporal Lucas Majozi continued evacuating the wounded soldiers from the battleground.
3 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Forestry SA Reports Advances In Transformation And Training
While South Africa’s forestry sector should be proud of the fact that it is a national leader in implementing broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) and other transformation initiatives, much more could still be achieved in this regard.
1 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
SA Economy Expected To Gain Momentum Following The Election
While economic growth could still be slow in the immediate future, the winds of change are blowing more strongly, according to the chief economist at Old Mutual, Johann Els.
1 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Reviving The South African Beef Shorthorn
Allistair and Laurence Brown, owners of the Duncraggan and Primeston Beef Shorthorn studs, produced the 2018 Agricultural Research Council National Special Performance Beef Shorthorn bull. Mike Burgess visited the brothers’ farm near Alexandria in the Eastern Cape.
5 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New CEO For Agri Western Cape
Jannie Strydom took over the reins as CEO of Agri Western Cape in March, after the retirement of Carl Opperman, who served in this position for 20 years. Strydom spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
5 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Dealing With The Bias In SA's Labour Tenancy Claims System
Based on his extensive experience in representing mostly KwaZulu-Natal landowners in labour tenancy claims lodged against them, attorney Rob McCarthy of McCarthy and Associates believes the process is inherently biased in favour of claimants. He speaks to Lloyd Phillips about this challenge, and gives landowners advice on how best to fight false labour tenancy claims.
5 min |
May 31, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
First-Hand Experience Of An African Retail Giant
South Africa’s Shoprite Group has had to jump over numerous hurdles to expand its network of stores across Africa. Today, as the largest retailer on the continent, the group sources produce from 450 South African farmers and 700 farmers from elsewhere in Africa. Dr Johan van Deventer, general manager of Freshmark, the group’s fresh produce division, believes that trustworthy relationships have been at the heart of this success. He spoke to Lindi Botha.
5 min |