Business
Farmer's Weekly
Rough Idling: Causes & Corrections
An engine can idle roughly for one of several reasons. Jake Venter takes a closer look at these problems, and how to solve them.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 23 March 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Looking Back, And To The Future
In-cab, on-the-move adjustments to equipment, row-sensing capability, robotic weeders and sprayers … the last decade has seen these and more move from prototypes to commercially available products. US experts look ahead at the next batch of developments.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 23 March 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Irrigation: A Farmer Learns His Lesson
In last week’s article, I discussed the benefits of irrigation geared for better carrot production. This week, I describe a case where a farmer did not buy into the idea.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 23 March 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Basics Of Maize
Also known as corn, maize was first domesticated in southern Mexico nearly 10 000 years ago. Many varieties have been bred to suit a range of conditions.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 23 March 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Why Plenty Of Food Means Plenty Of Conflict
A large body of literature claims that where there is a lack of food, conflict is bound to increase as people battle over limited resources. However, researcher Ore Koren suggests quite the opposite, saying that conflict is likely to increase when food sources are abundant.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 23 March 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Producers Urged To Remain Vigilant During Winter
Dr Faffa Malan and Dr Frans Jooste advise livestock and small-stock producers not to neglect animal health during the winter months. Sabrina Dean reports.
3 min |
4 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
First-Ever Rural Crime Conference To Be Held In South Africa
First-Ever Rural Crime Conference To Be Held In South Africa
1 min |
4 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Cape Forestry Seeks Government Help With Fire-Damaged Plantations
Commercial forestry operations in the Southern Cape region, which had experienced extensive damage from wildfires that rampaged across rural and urban landscapes in June, have pleaded for government assistance with the felling, harvesting and processing of salvageable trees. Failure to speedily undertake these tasks could result in thousands of job losses in South Africa’s forestry value chain. Lloyd Phillips investigates.
2 min |
4 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
The Right Insurance Products Can Secure Peace Of Mind
Weighing up the pros and cons of the insurance products available to SA farmers can be tricky, but expert advice is available.
3 min |
4 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Growing Unstaked Tomatoes
Growing Unstaked Tomatoes
2 min |
4 August 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Land Reform Can Be Positive
Roelf Meyer, former minister of defence, constitutional affairs and communication, and now head of the In Transformation initiative, told Gerhard Uys that land reform could be a positive process if all stakeholders worked together.
4 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Lack Of Land Hampers Top Developing Farmers
Zolani Tyali and his son Mandange recently won the 2017 Unistel SA Stud Book Elite Developing Farmer award. Mike Burgess visited them on their farm in the Eastern Cape to gain a better understanding of the ups and downs experienced in their stud and commercial Nguni operations.
5 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo: The Big Stuff!
The size of agricultural machines continues to increase, and there were plenty of impressive machines at this year’s show.
1 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Back In The Saddle
You rode as a youngster, then concentrated on raising a family. Now you’d like to ride again. Dr Mac offers some sound advice on how to revive an old passion.
2 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
New Market Opportunities for South Africa's Macadamias
Alex Whyte, marketing manager of Green and Gold Nuts is convinced that the industry has potential for significant growth. He spoke to Siyanda Sishuba.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 3 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Deer Farming: A Big Export Business In New Zealand
With large exports of deer venison and antler products worldwide, New Zealand deer farmers are at the top of their game. Gerhard Uys spoke to Bill Robinson of Raroa Red Deer Stud.
6 min |
May 10, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Recent Heavy Rainfall Across Summer Grain Region Welcomed
The heavy rainfall across large parts of the western summer grain production region over the Easter period has been welcomed, although it is expected that this could result in further delays to the production season, which started late.
1 min |
May 10, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Bush-Vine Wine
16years agoMost wine producers make use of trellised vines to produce their grapes, but this wine farmer from the Western Cape grew his grapes along bush vines to save on labour and water costs.
3 min |
May 10, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Intensive Lambing System Produces Better Weaning Percentages
Theron Swanepoel of AM Swanepoel Boerdery near Smithfield in the Free State began converting his extensive lambing operation into an intensive system more than a decade ago. At the recent Free State National Wool Growers’ Association Congress, Swanepoel explained why the system works so efficiently.
6 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Big Demand For Small Leaves
Urban Legend Hydroponics on the West Coast is barely a year old. Yet its microgreens and baby salad leaves are so popular that the business cannot keep up with demand.
6 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Digital Security
John Deere’s new PIN code locking system helps deter the theft of valuable GreenStar in-cab displays and StarFire satellite receivers. Joe Spencer reports.
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Kalahari Red Basics
This breed has a fine head, lob ears, round horns that are bent backwards, and tender meat.
1 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Resolving Agriculture's Transformation Deadlock
James Martin, an independent agricultural transformation consultant and facilitator, says that transformation is a critical goal, but expecting power imbalances and prejudice to simply disappear is unreasonable. He believes that real change will only happen once we start changing human behaviour to shift perceptions, so that we can meet as equals.
5 min |
23 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Protecting The Lappet-Faced Vulture – A Matter Of Survival
The endangered lappet-faced vulture, which was selected as BirdLife South Africa’s 2017 Bird of the Year, faces many threats, with poisoning being at the forefront. Conservationists are urging farmers to join in the fight to save it from extinction, while various initiatives seek to educate the public about the bird’s important role in nature. By SANParks Times reporter, René de Klerk.
3 min |
23 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Tips For Successful Poultry Farming
Glenneis Kriel spoke to poultry industry experts about the challenges facing small-scale producers and ways in which these can be overcome.
5 min |
23 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
At Home On The (Free) Range
As a small but significant addition to an intensive operation, Thorntree Farm’s free-range eggs are quietly making a name in this niche market. Ryan Stegmann spoke to Chris Nel.
4 min |
23 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Farewell To General Motors
Jake Venter takes a walk down memory lane in a tribute to ‘The General’, as GM pulls out of SA.
3 min |
23 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Conditions Imposed On Approval Of Simplified Mondi Corporate Structure
While the Competition Tribunal of South Africa has given its approval for the Mondi Group to proceed with the simplification of its corporate structure, it is conditional on a number of commitments to be undertaken by the group.
2 min |
July 26, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Industry And Government Help Emerging Tobacco Farmers
The tobacco farming industry is faced with challenges such as the regulation of the use of tobacco by the Department of Health, as well the ongoing threat of an illicit market. Despite this, Limpopo tobacco farmer Erasmus Sefoloshe says there is opportunity for growth as the sector offers sustainable solutions and support. Siyanda Sishuba reports.
5 min |
July 26, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Going The Extra Mile For A New Generation Of Farmers
Springfield Farm has invested in learnerships for its workers, has an open-door policy for agriculture students, and offers mentorships to emerging farmers. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |