Business
Farmer's Weekly
Using livestock for healthier soil
Angus McIntosh, a livestock farmer at Spier, recently hosted an information day during which he discussed the importance of ‘outdoor’ livestock production for the future of food security.
6 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Exploring the traits of the Angus
While the Aberdeen-Angus may have its roots in Scotland, it is thriving in South Africa due to its meat quality and maternal abilities, amongst other traits, according to the Angus Society of South Africa.
2 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Growing the flamingo flower
Anthurium growers can be assured of a ready market, with these flowers being popular as decorations for weddings and other special events.
3 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Seven secrets of success for small farmers
Farming is like running any other business: you need to be realistic and practical in how you go about it. Roelof Bezuidenhout lists some crucial pointers to help you out.
3 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
How Angus cattle add value to a fruit farm
The production of Angus cattle enables Western Cape farmer Gielie Geldenhuys to make use of land unsuitable for fruit or onion production. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his diversification enterprise.
7 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The benefits of conservation agriculture
Erosion and climate change have created a food insecurity time bomb for Africa. Palesa Motaung, a soil scientist working for Asset Research, and Themakholo Mathebula, a field officer with the Mahlatini Development Foundation, explained at a recent research symposium how conservation agriculture is helping smallholder farmers face these daunting challenges. Susan Marais reports.
7 min |
May 06, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Animal Agriculture Is Key to Food Systems
According to a recently published paper, food products derived from animals offer a wide selection of nutrients that humans need for cell tissue development, function, health and survival.
3 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Groundwater: key to Africa's agri potential
Groundwater is an essential tool in agricultural production. However, it remains an untapped resource in Africa, as this recently published report shows.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
What GPS trackers reveal about Cape Town's baboon troop movements
In this study, Anna Bracken, who recently completed her PhD at Swansea University in Wales, used GPS technology to research the collective behaviour of chacma baboons in an urban area.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Marketing and animal welfare: key to success
Innovative marketing and customer relationships are essential to a modern piggery, says Shaun Mockford of Mockford Farms in Limpopo. He spoke to Magda du Toit about running a superior pig production operation.
7 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Waging war against Tuta absoluta in Pongola
In Pongola, the tomato leaf miner is threatening the sustainability of family-run Basaki Boerdery, one of the last tomato producers in the area. Brothers Sakkie and André Terblanche spoke to Lindi Botha about their strategy for fighting this pest.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
How to identify and control eelworm
Potatoes are vulnerable to eelworm, which can significantly reduce yield and create unsightly marks on tubers.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Performance testing for the commercial farmer
Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling of the Agricultural Research Council write about the important role that performance testing plays in increasing a commercial herd's fertility and profitability.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Comfort and relaxation in Worcester
The Habit is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a break away from the city.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Improve soil for healthy fruit trees
In this article, an expert looked at ways to improve the soil’s ability to supply more water and nutrients to fruit trees.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Factors hampering SA's sugar industry
Thabile Nkunjana, an agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and Dr Sifiso Ntombela, chief economist at the NAMC, examine the decline in South Africa’s sugar production and the factors threatening future growth.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Dealing with barber's pole worm in sheep and goats
The resistance of internal parasite species to worm remedies affects all small-stock farmers. In some areas, farming with animals resistant to nematode infestation seems to be the only long-term solution.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Achieving good growth with superior genetics
A successful commercial beef cattle enterprise is one that keeps cow mortalities to a minimum, while achieving maximum weaner growth. Rian van Wyk, who farms Brangus in Mpumalanga, spoke to Lindi Botha about his breeding philosophy.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
A basic checklist to keep sheep healthy and productive
The price of replacement livestock has increased dramatically in recent years, so it's important to obtain the highest possible lamb weaning rate. Shane Brody explains how to achieve this.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 15 April 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Grazing horses and sheep together
Recent behavioural research conducted in Poland has confirmed that the grazing patterns of sheep and horses are compatible.
2 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Earthworms: natural soil monitors
Earthworms are indicators of soil health. Because they feed on decaying matter, analysing the contents of their digestive tracts gives us insight into the soil’s overall condition. And the healthier the soil, the more earthworms there are.
3 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Managing your pigs' health
Losing just one productive pig can cost you a great deal of money. In this, the third instalment in our series on livestock first aid, Prof Cheryl McCrindle of the University of Pretoria discusses the medications and equipment you should have on your pig farm at all times.
5 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Providing high-quality feed for your animals
Good-quality feed is not cheap. Yet farmers should think twice before buying a substandard product and possibly compromising the productivity of their animals, say Dr Naudé Rossouw, director at Rossgro Feeds in Eloff, Mpumalanga, and De Wet Boshoff, executive director at the Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association.
9 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Using AI in agriculture could boost global food security, but we need to anticipate the risks
Asaf Tzachor, a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risks at the University of Cambridge in the UK, outlines the findings of a recent paper that looked at the risks involved in the roll-out of advanced and autonomous technologies in agriculture.
4 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
The trends driving growth in tyre improvement
Tyres can make or break agricultural production or agro-processing activities. In light of this fact, great research is being conducted on the improvement of tyre efficiency and affordability.
2 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
The most destructive disease of potatoes
Late blight can strike so rapidly and spread so fast that by the time you notice it, the damage has already been done
3 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Supply chain disruptions set to constrain global economic growth
Current global supply chain disruptions are weighing heavily on the world’s post-pandemic recovery. Absa AgriBusiness explores this situation, and the effect it is having on South Africa’s agriculture sector.
3 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Milk production up and up
Roscio cows aren‘t grazed, and are instead given a single daily feed of maize silage, groundnut hay and maize leaves, as well as concentrates.
4 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Healthier trees, thanks to pest-control partners
Professors Almuth Hammerbacher, Bernard Slippers, Brett Hurley and Chris Weldon of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute at the University of Pretoria speak about the importance of protecting South Africa’s timber plantations.
4 min |
April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Farmer's Weekly
Enjoy a view as wide as the heavens in farm-style luxury near Greyton
The big sky and sweeping, panoramic views at Hemelsbreed farm in the Overberg region of the Western Cape are a soothing influence that bring calm almost immediately
4 min |