Business
Farmer's Weekly
Obstacles to succession planning, and how to overcome them
It is critically important to address common problems before you get down to the business of succession planning. Addressing these challenges proactively and in a positive way will enhance a family agribusiness’s chances of enjoying continued success and prosperity, says Trevor Dickinson.
5 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Cost-saving tips for horse owners
Prices are skyrocketing in South Africa, so it’s worth keeping a monthly budget to make timely decisions on cost-cutting, says Dr Mac.
2 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling tomato leaf miner
Tuta absoluta is capable of causing a yield loss of 100%, but biological ways to thwart this pest are in the works. Bill Kerr provides an update.
2 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
HORTICULTURE Growing chrysanthemums
These plants are highly suitable for container gardening on patios. Chrysanthemums produce flowers in a wide variety of colours. They are used as cut flowers for special occasions and for pot plants.
2 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Weeds in maize and wheat crops (Part 6): fleabane
This winter weed is widespread throughout Southern Africa. It has small seeds, is a shallow germinator, and is a problem in no-tillage systems.
1 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
From mining to breeding awardwinning sheep
Faced with the grim reality of retrenchment, Larry Snyders refused to give in to despair. Instead, he poured all his energy into his sideline business, a small White Dorper stud. A few years later, he reached the pinnacle of his new career, becoming a champion breeder. He shared his story with Susan Marais.
5 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Soil health: crucial for future food production
Healthy soil is a key driver of farm productivity, profits, and sustainable food production. Dr Hendrik Smith explained to Magda du Toit how farmers can improve the health and fertility of their soils.
6 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Management: the key to improving soil health
Healthy soil is a crop farmer’s most important asset. Farmers Danie Bester and Tyson Zunckel, both of whom produce maize, soya bean and wheat, spoke to Magda du Toit about their soil-management practices.
6 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Opportunities in Sudan, despite the conflict
While farmers in Sudan are facing economic hardships, the country’s groundnut production remains a significant foreign-exchange earner.
5 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Beefmaster stands out!
The Beefmaster, which was developed in the US, is a popular beef breed in South Africa due to its adaptability, short intercalving period, and other key traits. Gerrie Jansen van Rensburg, president of the Beefmaster Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa (Beefmaster SA), told Susan Marais more about this hardy all-rounder.
5 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Grain-storage pests nailed
This article looked at a new insecticide that, at the time, was expected to revolutionise the protection of grain in stacks and silos.
2 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The lack of storage for cattle feed in Africa
Mulubrhan Gebremikael, a researcher at the University of Florida in the US, looks at why Africa’s farmers struggle to store feed, and the techniques that could help them overcome this obstacle.
4 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
'Climate targets could force Irish farmers into bankruptcy'
Ireland has the highest per capita methane emissions of all EU countries, with much of this ascribed to the country's beef production.
1 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding cattle for a tough life
As this article revealed, a stud farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal Laimed to produce disease-resistant cattle able to thrive in harsh conditions.
3 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Breakthrough for industrial hemp production in SA
The first-ever licence for the wholesale importation, distribution and marketing of hemp seed for the production of hemp fibre in South Africa was recently awarded to local company Hemp Seed Solutions.
1 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Mac and cheese - with avo!
Just when you thought you couldn't improve on the classic that is mac and cheese, avocado sweeps in and makes everything better.
1 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The safest ways to control bollworm in tomatoes
Unless you grow your tomato crop under a moth-proof net, you'll have to contend with bollworm at some stage. Fortunately, there are effective methods of control, provided you act quickly, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Getting started with kooigoed
Kooigoed is an ndigenous plant is grown for its foliage and as groundcover in mild or coastal areas where temperatures don't fall below freezing for extended periods. It can be used for medicinal purposes.
2 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Maximise dairy profits with beef semen
Improved breeding technologies and practices have resulted in many dairies ending up with more replacement heifers than they need. To add value to surplus animals, farmers can use beef semen on some of their cows. Glenneis Kriel explains what this process entails, and how it should be approached and implemented.
6 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Pioneering study of tuberculosis in rhino
Ilse Bigalke of Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences describes a recent detailed study of the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in rhinoceros populations in the Kruger National Park.
5 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Agtech Innovation Awards 2022: Part 1
In the farm-management solutions category this year, the focus was on recording, analysing and integrating information into a single dataset that can be used by farmers in decision-making. Janine Ryan reports.
5 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Grain price hikes squeeze red meat producers' margins
Absa AgriBusiness explores the current price dynamics in the red meat industry, why both producers and consumers are under pressure, and the part that historical third-quarter price trends play.
3 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Smallholders' role in protecting our forests
According to a new report, smallholders and indigenous peoples can be effective forest managers, as they occupy nearly half of the world's forest and farm landscapes and are often invested in these areas.
4 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Making magic with button mushrooms
Marietjie Kruger of Heidelberg grows and sells fresh mushrooms and processed food in Gauteng. She spoke to Annelie Coleman about the complex growing process that is required before harvesting.
6 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
What does the future hold for agricolleges?
Education is vital to the transformation of South Africa's agriculture industry, as well as the country's economic growth. However, many agricultural colleges are in disarray. Magda du Toit reports on this crucial issue.
10 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
A look at the Africa Agriculture Status Report for 2022
At the time of writing, Rwanda was due to host the African Green Revolution Forum from 5 to 9 September, an annual event bringing together the continent’s political and opinion leaders to reflect on the state of Africa’s food security and its agricultural transformation.
3 min |
September 09, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Tech is taking over. Are you embracing the changes?
Incredible new technologies emerge almost daily, providing great opportunities for those who have the courage to exploit them. In contrast, those who ignore these advances face great risk, says Peter Hughes.
3 min |
September 09, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Fertiliser alternatives can improve crop yields
Chemical fertilisers are a major contributor to poor soil and loss of biodiversity. In this article, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at environmentally friendly alternatives.
5 min |
September 09, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
A triumph for South African conservation
This article covered the birth of two cheetah cubs in captivity, the first time it had ever taken place in South Africa.
3 min |
September 09, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Government should take up the private sector's offers to assist with FMD control
In my previous column (see FW, 26 August 2022) I discussed how the agriculture sector has already seen a number of positive gains this year, despite numerous challenges.
3 min |