Business
Farmer's Weekly
Addressing inefficiencies through improved budgeting
Tshepo Moloi and Prof Johann Kirsten of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University suggest that a zero-based budgeting approach could offer an opportunity to reassess the role of the state in rural development. The agriculture department should also consider adopting a loan, rather than a grant system, when providing production support to new farmers.
5 min |
October 16, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Fine Dining And Tractor Game Drives On A Free State Farm
Since diversifying into accommodation and fine dining in 1991, Free State Merino farm De Oude Kraal has become a landmark. Brian Berkman recently visited it and soon understood why it has gained its excellent reputation.
4 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
African Farmers Test-Drive Case IH Combines
The Case IH Axial-Flow 4088 proved its suitability to tough African farming conditions, and specifically to the needs of emerging field crop farmers, during extensive field tests conducted recently on a variety of crops in Kenya. The machine’s rugged simplicity also won it praise.
2 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Papaya Production: A Delicate Balancing Act
Papaya production poses few challenges, says Mpumalanga-based papaya producer Giovanna Secco. But with high volumes and unstable demand, farming the fruit requires careful management to ensure that the crop remains profitable. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
A Lean, Mean Sheepproducing Machine
Sheep production has become a numbers game, with an operation’s profitability being largely dependent on the farmer’s ability to produce large numbers of sheep at low cost. Farm manager Dirk Liebenberg spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how he achieves this goal.
8 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Broiler Producer Uses Her Position To Uplift Others
Jo-andra Cloete, who farms in Joostenberg Vlakte near Cape Town, started producing broilers only a few years ago. She is now mentoring over a hundred farmers, whom she supplies with day-old chicks. She spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the growth of her highly successful operation.
6 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
BRIDGING THE GAP Going online to optimise farm equipment leasing
Mechanisation is key to improving food and fibre production. But traditional linkages between companies that lease agricultural machinery and their clients are often problematic. A new online platform promises to take the stress out of hiring and leasing. Lloyd Phillips reports.
5 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Feeding Africa's fast-growing cities
Africa’s rapidly growing urban food markets offer significant opportunities for the continent’s farmers and agribusinesses. Yet, according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’s ‘Africa Agriculture Status Report 2020’, food can often be imported at lower cost from international suppliers. African farmers will have to become globally competitive if they hope to successfully supply growing domestic markets.
5 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Concern over rural and gender-based violence
Based on alarming ongoing reports of farm murders, as well as assaults of women and children, it seems that South Africa is becoming a more violent country than ever. The harsh reality is that women, and specifically women farmers, simply don’t feel safe in this country.
2 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Top Santa Gertrudis breeder's endless search for perfection
Having farmed Santa Gertrudis cattle for nearly half a century, Amy Williams is sought after for her professional advice, and many farmers credit her for their success. Moreover, her stud has continued to produce award winning animals year after year, proving that her expertise and passion are undiminished. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Tilapia farming Untapped SA market holds opportunity for growth
David Fincham has more than 30 years’ experience in aquaculture and is one of South Africa’s foremost tilapia specialists. Through his business in Muldersdrift near Johannesburg, he has supplied 450 fish farming production units to farmers in Africa. He spoke to Pieter Dempsey.
5 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Better soil drainage
47 YEARS AGO In South Africa, a water-scarce country, farmers have to use water with the utmost care. By improving soil drainage, they can save water and ensure better yields.
3 min |
October 09, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Woman Vintner Shakes Up Wine Industry In The Free State
Picture the Free State, and you are likely to recall lands of maize and golden sunflowers stretching to the horizon. Near Jacobsdal, however, Tebogo Ditsebe is bucking the trend: she grows wine grapes and produces wine under her own label. Jeandré van der Walt reports.
5 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Automated, Intensive, And Independent Soil Sampling
True farm optimisation starts with understanding your soil and its theoretical production potential. Stehan Cloete discusses some ideas around soil sampling with Sion Agri’s lead independent agronomy consultant, Thomas Strydom.
5 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Saving The Planet Depends On A New Agriculture
Nature is essential for human existence, providing and sustaining the air, freshwater and soils on which we all depend. It also regulates the climate and provides pollination and pest control. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) ‘Living Planet Report 2020’, while more food and energy than ever before are supplied, overexploitation of plants and animals is increasingly eroding nature’s ability to provide these in the future.
5 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Farmer Tackles Hunger And Food Wastage In The Face Of Covid-19
Farmers across South Africa have launched food aid initiatives for their local communities to ease the hardships and suffering brought about by the COVID-19 lockdown. Fruit and vegetable producer Rossouw Cillié of Laastedrif near Ceres spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about his involvement in distributing food parcels to Western Cape families in need.
4 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Why Too Much Iron Is A Problem
Excessive iron in drinking water is hazardous to horses, says Dr Mac, and could lead to permanent liver damage or death.
3 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Will The Pandemic Change How People Eat For Good?
During the recent 2020 PMA Fresh Connections: Southern Africa conference, Dr William Li, a scientist and the author of the bestselling book Eat to Beat Disease, in conversation with Jaco Oosthuizen, CEO of RSA Group, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had given the fresh produce industry a golden opportunity to increase its focus on health and healthy eating.
3 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
How Insect Predators Can Help You
Beneficial insects used in integrated pest management (IPM) can sometimes completely eliminate the need for crop chemicals, or at least reduce chemical spraying to a minimum. In addition, there are now crop chemicals that are much safer for parasitoids and predators.
2 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Brahman Stud Owner Strives For Perfection
A dream to farm Brahman cattle saw Auldrich Spies switch from construction to farming. Ironically, it was his initial ignorance that led him to become a successful stud farmer today. Lindi Botha visited SS Brahmane in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
5 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
A New Disease Threat To Papaya And Citrus
Phytophthora palmivora, a disease that causes crown and root rot, poses a new threat to subtropical fruit and citrus production in South Africa. Dr Mieke Daneel of the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Tropical and Subtropical Crops division in Mbombela and Dr Wilhelm Botha of the ARC’s Plant Health and Protection division in Roodeplaat explain the disease and how to combat it.
4 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
How Predators Can Boost Profits
If you are like many farmers, you use a spray programme because it gives you peace of mind. Yet, in many cases, you can have protection and peace of mind without the cost of spraying, which, of course, includes the expense of the chemical and running a tractor.
2 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Thorn tree leaves: a nutritious grain substitute in pig feed
Smallholder pig production in Southern Africa is constrained by feed shortages and the demand for grains to feed the ever-growing human population. This makes it important to identify alternative feedstuffs for pigs.
2 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Making lucerne hay while maximising soil health
Free State irrigation farmer Freek Strauss grows lucerne for the local and export markets. At the same time, the crop improves the soil’s condition, thus increasing the yields of other crops in rotation. Sabrina Dean reports.
5 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Wine: the future doesn't look like the past
The COVID-19 lockdown and its effects have undeniably changed South Africa’s wine landscape, according to Mike Ratcliffe, founder of Wine Business Advisors. Jeandré van der Walt spoke to him about what the wine industry would look like after the pandemic and how it should navigate the next few years to stay profitable and build big brands in a fiercely competitive world.
3 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Growing avocados: Part 4
Avocado trees can be arranged in an orchard in a number of ways. Each has its advantages.
2 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
19 DECEMBER 1979 - Watering the Holy Land
41 YEARS AGO
2 min |
October 02, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Tracing the rigin of the four-legged serpent in SA rock art
According to rock art recorder Victor Biggs, the Nguni belief in river-dwelling serpentine monsters was appropriated from San mythology as depicted in their rock art.
7 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Sustainable game farming in the bushveld
On his 2 500ha game farm near Lephalale in Limpopo, Willem Frost aims to provide local and international hunters with an authentic hunting experience, which promotes the farm’s overall sustainability goals.
4 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Rinderpest: a continuing threat to livestock
Despite rinderpest being finally eradicated from nature in 2011, the threat of re-emergence remains. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has therefore continued to urge farmers to learn the symptoms of the disease, and to notify state veterinarians if they suspect an animal may be showing signs of rinderpest.
8 min |