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
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
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
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
Cowboy Dressage In South Africa
This riding discipline emphasises the partnership between horse and rider
2 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
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
Weaner Theft On The Rise In North West And Free State
The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF) has expressed concern at a recent increase in the theft of weaner calves and large groups of mature cattle in South Africa.
1 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Tips To Reduce Antibiotic Usage
Rising concern over antibiotic resistance is forcing livestock producers across the world to change their production management practices. Dr John Patience explains to Glenneis Kriel how pig producers can benefit from reducing antibiotic usage.
5 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Pork Goes High-tech
Pork producers lost millions of rand and hundreds of people lost their jobs due to the listeria hysteria last year. Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the crisis and how it has reshaped the industry.
5 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
MPO Urges Milk Buyers To 'Act Responsibly'
While some milk buyers have announced increases of up to 20% in the producer price for raw milk, others have not yet done so.
1 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Growing Good-Quality Beetroot
Beetroot is one of several cultivated varieties of Beta vulgaris grown for their taproots and leaves (beet greens).
3 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Farming Abalone For Export
Today, there are about a dozen abalone farms along the coastline between Port Nolloth and East London. One of the first to be established was Jacobsbaai Sea Products in the West Coast hamlet of Jacobsbaai. In the 24 years since it started farming abalone, the farm has produced an ever-greater number of these delicacies, and now exports millions annually.
4 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Options For Foot-and-mouth Disease Control In Sa
Earlier this year, fewer than 50 cattle in Sundani village, Vhembe district, probably worth less than R300 000, were diagnosed with footand-mouth disease. This was enough to place a R6 billion export industry of livestock and livestock products in jeopardy.
4 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Chef Who Puts Local Farmers First
Jack Coetzee, chef of Johannesburg-based Urbanologi restaurant and a believer in sustainable living, sources all his ingredients from within a 150km-radius of the restaurant. To achieve this, he has worked hard at building close working relationships with local farmers. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
SA Hunting Poised For Growth
Arthur Rudman, veteran game rancher and member of the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa and Wildlife Ranching South Africa, speaks to Roelof Bezuidenhout about the future of the hunting industry in this country and across the continent.
5 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Novice Tunnel Farmer Wins With Hydroponics
Byron Booysen started farming only five years ago and now produces tomatoes and other crops in an undercover system on 1,9ha just outside Kraaifontein near Cape Town. Jeandré van der Walt visited him to find out how he got started, the lessons he has learnt, and the challenges he faces.
5 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Massey Ferguson Introduces A Full Range Of Hay Equipment
AGCO has acquired the forage division of the Lely Group, a leading manufacturer of balers and loader wagons in Europe. Joe Spencer reports.
1 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How To Make A Living Running A Small-scale Broiler Operation
Raising chickens is relatively easy; selling them and actually making a living out of the enterprise is the real challenge. This is according to Anneke Loock, who in 2017 started a broiler poultry business on a smallholding in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein.
6 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Support Facilities: Key To A Successful Hydroponics Operation
In addition to your greenhouse, you will require a working area, a cold room, offices, a dining area and other facilities. These should be carefully planned, not merely added as an afterthought.
2 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Saanen Basics
This goat breed is known for its milk and milk products, including a variety of hard and soft cheeses and yoghurt.
1 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Repurposing Used Feed Bags To Grow Vegetables
Used maize meal bags are being repurposed to grow leafy vegetables in areas not previously thought suitable for food production.
1 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Market Demand Motivates Intensive Boer Goat Farmer
Free State Boer goat farmer Mariaan Grobler says intensive production is a viable option as there are never enough goats available to meet demand. Sabrina Dean visited her on her Free State farm to learn how she has fine-tuned her commercial operation to maximise production.
6 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Low-cost, Infra-red Crop Monitoring
Using a radio-controlled aircraft instead of a conventional machine cut the cost of infrared crop monitoring.
2 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Long-term Load-shedding Could Bankrupt Fish Farmers
Fish farmers depend on reliable, affordable power. Load-shedding and off-the-grid solutions are both problematic.
2 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Expert Tips To Get The Most From Irrigated Wheat
Irrigated wheat is grown by many South African grain farmers in rotation with summer grains such as maize and soya bean. André du Toit, a senior wheat breeder with Pannar Seed SA, shares his knowledge and experience on how farmers can maximise the productivity, and therefore profitability, of these wheat crops. Lloyd Phillips reports.
5 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Electric Tractor Powered By A Cable
John Deere’s new concept tractor can develop up to 300kW
1 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Africa Needs Cannabis Income
Since the legalisation of cannabis for private use in South Africa last year, there has been much confusion over the legality of farming and trading in cannabis and cannabis-related products. With its ideal climatic conditions for cannabis cultivation, the country is optimally placed to profit from the enormous economic potential of the crop. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Addressing The Challenges Facing SA's Wheat Industry
The latest wheat production estimate for the 2018/2019 season is about 1,8 million tons, which means that South Africa will have to import about 50% of the country’s wheat demand, according to Mariana Purnell, general manager at Agbiz Grain.
1 min |
April 05, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Over-applying Fungicide On Wheat Has Negative Long-term Effects'
The excessive use of fungicides in wheat production is not only harmful to the environment but can result in the development of fungicide-resistant fungal strains.
1 min |