Business
Farmer's Weekly
Could Wheat Make A Comeback In The Western Free State?
When the rains came too late to plant maize at the end of 2018, Bultfontein farmers Anton and Heinrich Botha joined other producers in the region in planting dryland winter wheat instead. Sabrina Dean visited this father-and-son team to find out why they are so enthusiastic about the renewed interest in wheat.
5 min |
November 01, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Be On The Lookout For Piroplasmosis!
Transmitted mainly by red-legged ticks, this disease is endemic in horses, donkeys, moles and zebra, says Dr Mac.
2 min |
November 01, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Agri Development Agency Aims To Speed Up Land Reform
Former minister Roelf Meyer, director of In Transformation Initiative, is in the process of launching SAADA, a new agricultural development agency that seeks to accelerate land reform and boost commercial agricultural production. Glenneis Kriel spoke to him about the project.
5 min |
October 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Using On-Farm Data To Unlock The Full Potential Of Machinery
One of the most keenly discussed topics in agriculture is the recent, rapid advances in farming technology, and the part played by data and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. John Deere now makes acquiring and using data for precision farming that much easier, says Stehan Cloete.
2 min |
October 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Dealing With Halo Blight In Beans
As discussed in the previous article (see FW of 18 October), many bean diseases are seed-borne, which makes it crucial to buy disease-free seed.
2 min |
October 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
What Does It Really Cost To Start Farming?
The expenses involved in launching a farming operation can be prohibitive, as set-up costs and market risks must be considered. But just how much does one need in the piggy bank to get going? Lindi Botha looks at the finances involved in three different farming businesses.
6 min |
October 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding For Maximum Profit With Minimum Fuss
The success of a livestock breeding concern depends on choosing a breed that makes economic sense and optimises return on investment. For a part-time farmer, an additional requirement is that the breed is hardy enough to thrive without pampering. Part-time stud breeder Dirco Swart of Frankfort told Annelie Coleman that the Beefmaster ticked all these boxes.
5 min |
October 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Tender Care And Raw Courage
Margaret Dewar, a trained nurse, left the comforts of her home in Germiston in 1914 to minister to the needs of wounded and dying soldiers. Graham Jooste tells her remarkable and tragic story.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Culture Vs The Constitution: The Suffering Of Zulu Widows
In theory, South Africa has strong laws to protect the property ownership and inheritance rights of all women. However, a 2018 study conducted by Bongi Owusu for her master’s dissertation in social science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal found that these laws are often not implemented in rural Zulu-speaking communities. She explains how this prejudices widows in particular.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Karoo Farmer Gives Lambs ‘Teeth' Against Predators
In a desperate attempt to limit livestock losses due to predation, Karoo farmer Eddie Steenkamp devised a plan to protect his livestock, and has achieved remarkable success. Jeandré van der Walt visited him to find out more.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding Cattle That Thrive In Namibia's Arid Regions
The Afrikaner, once the most popular breed in Southern African, is ideally suited to today’s uncertain climatic conditions, says Namibia-based breeder Jan Blaauw, co-owner of the Salztal Afrikaner stud.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Butternuts: Know Your Market And Maintain Quality
Butternuts are a reasonably easy crop to grow, with few insoluble problems. The real challenge is to match the cultivar with the market. Mpumalanga-based producer Francois Steyn spoke to Lindi Botha about how he solved this problem
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Booming Succulent Market Beckons SA Farmers
Nearly half of the world’s succulent species are endemic to Southern Africa. Despite this, our commercial farmers have yet to cash in on the thriving global succulent market. Glenneis Kriel spoke to Anthony Rausch, chairperson of the Johannesburg Succulent Society, about the many exciting opportunities available, and ways to overcome production challenges.
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 18 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Insects: Know Your Friends From Your Foes
Hannelene Badenhorst, a PhD candidate in entomology at the University of the Free State, explains the value of differentiating beneficial insects and other arthropods from harmful ones before resorting to blanket chemical control. Lloyd Phillips reports.
5 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Watch Out For Epididymitis
This sexually transmitted disease could be the reason your lamb crop is smaller than expected. Roelof Bezuidenhout offers advice on prevention.
2 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Running Veld-Adapted Dohne Merinos Since 1945
The Blaine family near Kei Road in the Eastern Cape began breeding Merinos in the 1880s, and by the 1940s had established the Ross Dohne stud. This became a foundation stud in the Dohne Research Station’s breeding project near Stutterheim. Tom Blaine spoke to Mike Burgess about their determination to adhere to the ‘original true intention’ of the Dohne Merino.
5 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
No-Till Expertise From Argentina
Several Argentinian implements were showcased at a recent farmers’ day that focused on no-till and conservation farming. Pieter Dempsey reports.
3 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Nitrogen And Green Beans
Getting the application rate right.
2 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Down To Business With Geese Farming
Anton and Sharon Kock’s Ember Down goose down and feather business has been built on ethical farming practices, attention to detail and meticulous management.
5 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Legal Evictions: Landowners Need To Know Their Rights
Media reports and public debate often simplify and blur the sensitive issue of evictions. Typically, evictions are seen solely from the perspective of the landowner or from that of landless people, and there is a failure to distinguish between lawful and unlawful evictions. Annelize Crosby, policy head for land affairs at Agri SA, explains the various perspectives and the relevant laws.
5 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Adelaide's Desperate Struggle To Survive The Drought
The drought in the district of Adelaide in the Eastern Cape has paralysed production on farms and left many residents of the town without water for months.
5 min |
October 11, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Don't Ignore These Aspects Of The Land Panel Report
Dr. Tinashe Kapuya, Value Chains lead at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, takes a closer look at the report produced by the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture to highlight some of the suggestions that have received little public attention.
4 min |
September 27, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding A Million-dollar Bird
Pigeon breeding and racing remains a popular pursuit, with some fanciers aiming for the ultimate goal of turning their hobby into a career. Sabrina Dean visited brothers Daniel and Justin King of Kingslea Lofts in Bloemfontein to find out more about the demands, and thrills, of the sport.
6 min |
September 27, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Improve Fertiliser Placement With Strip-tillage – And Maximise Yield
According to Michael Petersen, lead agronomist at US-based Orthman Manufacturing, the main pillars of success for strip-tillage are vertical tillage, residue management, seedbed preparation and fertiliser placement. Stehan Cloete explains the technical aspects of these factors.
3 min |
September 27, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
A Grass-based Approach To Beef Stud Farming
The Arwin Farms Bonsmara Stud, founded in 1982 in the Dordrecht district of the Eastern Cape, is run entirely off the veld. Mike Burgess visited Johan and Michael-John Greyling to find out more about their grass-based beef genetics, and the lessons they learnt along the way.
4 min |
September 27, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Planting A Bean Crop
Before planting beans, arrange for a soil analysis. This will enable you to address soil fertility correctly. Each component should be topped up if necessary, after which you can apply nitrogen as required.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 4 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
‘High-End' Properties Not The Target Of Expropriation - Mahlati
About 60% of South Africans do not have tenure of their land, and according to Dr Vuyo Mahlati, president of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), radical correction steps need to include expropriation without compensation. Donwald Pressly reports.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 4 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Long, Hard Road To Profiting From Potatoes
In 1998, at the age of 45, Frans Vlok left his job as head of Kynoch fertiliser services in the Western Cape to pursue his lifelong dream of farming full-time. He was joined in the business eight years later by his daughter, Monique Vlok, who told Glenneis Kriel of their struggle to succeed.
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 4 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Farmer's Role In The Quest For Sustainability
The concept of sustainable development is straightforward: the future should be a better, healthier place than the present. Farmers have a major part to play in forging this future.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 4 October 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Basics Of The Persian Breed
This indigenous fat-rumped meat breed does well in arid semi-desert, savanna bushveld and coastal spekboom veld. The lambs mature early.
1 min |