Business
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling the leaf miner: Part 1
Leaf miners can cause damage to a variety of crops. Unfortunately, the chemicals used to control these pests may also kill beneficial insects that prey on the miners naturally, and at no cost! Bill Kerr explains.
2 min |
March 26, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Getting A Silage Maize Crop Into The Bunker Chop-Chop
In terms of its cost-benefit ratio, silage maize is arguably the best-value stored green feed for milk production systems in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. However, to maximize the nutritional quality and quantity of this crop, it is important to harvest and handle it at the correct time and in the correct way. Lloyd Phillips reports.
6 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A Zero-Emissions Wine Grape Harvest For Italian Vineyard
Italian wine producer Fontanafredda and engine manufacturer FPT Industrial are partnering to produce one of the first zero-carbon-footprint wine grape harvests in the world.
2 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Limpopo farmer gives indigenous okra a boost
Part-time farmer Tsakani Mhlongo is the founder and owner of SwaTsakani Farming in Tzaneen, Limpopo, which produces vegetables such as okra, tomatoes and spinach, as well as broilers. She is determined, however, to turn her part-time operation into a full-time career.
5 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Regenerative farming for livestock farmers
Faced with increasing financial and ecological pressure, livestock farmers have no other option but to become more sustainable and resilient. Fortunately, explains independent agricultural consultant Dr Louis du Pisani, the solution can be found in well-managed veld, which also contributes directly to the health of the earth.
6 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
How to irrigate during cold spells
To prevent water freezing on the crop, you need to time the irrigation with care, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Growing litchis: Part 1
Litchis are well adapted to different soil types, but grow well in sandy soil in South Africa’s cooler subtropical areas. The key to success, however, lies in appropriate irrigation practices.
1 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Steady growth for global organic farming
According to the 2021 statistics yearbook ‘The World of Organic Agriculture’, which presents the latest statistics and emerging trends in organic farming from 187 countries around the world, organic farmland increased by 1,1 million hectares in 2019, and organic retail sales continued to grow.
4 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Consistent quality: key to Boerboel breeding
Beverli Katz, one of South Africa’s top Boerboel breeders, claimed the prestigious national award of SA Stud Book Stud Herd of the Year for other species in 2020. In addition, her stud has bred the two highest-appraised male Boerboels in the world. Jeandré van der Walt visited her at Klein Sandfontein Boerboels and Boarding Kennels on the outskirts of Caledon to learn about her breeding techniques.
6 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Accurate machine guidance made affordable
The improved efficiency offered by machine guidance means that most of these systems ultimately pay for themselves. The question is, at what accuracy level and price should a farmer invest in such a system, particularly now that the market is becoming more competitive? Stehan Cloete explores these issues.
3 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
BREEDING THE FINEST SA BOERPERD
The SA Boerperd is synonymous with versatility and hardiness; the breed excels in both English and Western riding disciplines, and can survive with little input on farms. Pieter Dempsey spoke to Frikkie Combrink, a top Boerperd breeder from Mpumalanga, about running a successful Boerperd stud.
4 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A rare vegetable
Okra could be useful to farmers in torrid areas with a good water supply, said Hennie Nel of Hoedspruit. However, he added, the market was prone to over-supply, which put downward pressure on prices.
3 min |
March 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Eggless Banana-And Pecan-Nut Loaf
This moreish loaf is quick and easy to make, and requires only a few ingredients, says Prenusha Moodley. If you don’t like pecans, you can replace them with walnuts or even hazelnuts.
1 min |
March 05, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Bigger, Better, Bester! Young Producer Wins With Precision Farming
As the TaU Sa Young Farmer of the Year 2020, Danie Bester epitomises the ideal modern farmer: energetic, curious, techsavvy and connected to his peers globally. While his precision farming techniques have yielded him a bumper soya crop, this ambitious producer plans to do even better. Lindi Botha reports.
9 min |
March 05, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
KNOW YOUR CATTLE TYPES
Bos indicus, B. taurus or Sanga cattle: which do you choose? Dr Michiel Scholtz and Prof Japie van der Westhuizen spoke to Glenneis Kriel about these breeds.
5 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
‘Choose good-quality Beefmaster bulls for heavier weaners'
Hal Budler, who runs the Budler Beefmaster stud in the Eastern Cape, says that breeding with top-quality bulls is the most effective way to improve weaning weights. He also strictly selects for maternal traits to produce adaptable and hardy Beefmasters.
4 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
It's time to plan for winter
Before we know it, winter will be upon us. Make sure you are properly prepared to help your crops withstand the first frost, says Bill Kerr.
3 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Understanding thermal imaging
This non-invasive diagnostic tool can identify ‘hotspots’ that are linked to unsoundness, says Dr Mac.
3 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Succession planning: get expert help and understand your options
Even if succession seems straightforward, as when passing on operations to a single heir, several steps are needed to facilitate the transfer of the farm from one generation to the next, says Trevor Dickinson.
3 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A true escape to the countryside
Brian Berkman recently explored the dell in the Overberg that time forgot. Here he discovered warm hospitality, surprising luxury and spectacular scenery on a working protea farm.
4 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A strategy for bush encroachment control
When sweet thorn competes with grazing plants for light and water, it starts to suppress grass production. It is therefore important to implement control measures to manage this encroachment. Dr Louis du Pisani, an independent agricultural consultant, discusses some of the factors that should inform a farmer’s bush encroachment management strategy.
6 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A proven recipe for a successful family agri-processing business
When Ina Lessing started her home-made jams and preserves business 25 years ago, she had no idea that she would one day be supplying outlets across South Africa. Yvonne Fontyn reports.
6 min |
March 12, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Boom Or Bust For Expanding Orchards?
With prices remaining high, the citrus, avocado and macadamia industries have boomed in recent years and producers have continued expanding. This has left many wondering whether the situation is too good to be true and whether the bubble might be due to burst. Lindi Botha spoke to a number of industry experts.
6 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Planning and timing: crucial success factors in cattle production
Lerato Senakhomo, the 2020 Agricultural Research Council's National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year, runs her Nguni herd in a semi-intensive feeding system. She believes the keys to successful cattle production are proper planning and good time management. Siyanda Sishuba visited her farm in Gauteng.
4 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Breakthrough ahead for SA honey industry
A group of South African beekeepers travelled to Australia during the first All-Australia Bee Congress and returned with a recommendations for improving South Africa’s local bee industry.
2 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
High-productivity hay and forage equipment
For most South African farmers, hay-making may not necessarily be crucial to their businesses. However, it still contributes to the revenue stream through direct sales or as a feed cost for a livestock unit. Stehan Cloete discusses ways to ensure quality feed and low production costs.
3 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss
Climate change is inextricably linked to the accelerating destruction of nature. This report discusses how natural climate solutions, which include land management programmes that increase carbon dioxide storage and reduce carbon emissions, can help tackle both problems simultaneously.
4 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
NUTS: Growing cashews: Part 3
The final instalment of this series discusses cashew production from flowering to harvesting and oil extraction. The challenging process of shelling is carried out either by hand or mechanically in factories.
4 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Carmingo apricots breathe new life into Koo Valley
The arrival of Carmingo apricot varieties enables producers to generate up to three times more income per season than with traditional varieties. Glenneis Kriel spoke to Pierre Burger and Sam Sieberhagen, two successful farmers in the Western Cape.
8 min |
February 19, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Succession planning: the time to talk is now
In this first article in a new series on how to run a family farm successfully, Trevor Dickinson, CEO of specialist consultancy Family Legacies, writes that the key to a profitable, long-lasting business is to start a family conversation about succession planning. And this needs to happen sooner rather than later.
4 min |