Business
Farmer's Weekly
Small steps to progress
Kleiheuwel Trust, based in Bredasdorp, recently achieved one of the top 10 best prices in the history of South African wool sales, and the highest price so far during this season’s BKB wool auctions. Pam and André Christie-Smith spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their production approach.
6 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Diligent crop protection is crucial
Several methods are available to help farmers protect their crops from weeds, diseases and pests, says Dr Benard Ngwene, the agricultural advisory manager for AGCO Africa.
2 min |
March 13, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing The Best Time To Breed Your Mare
There are pros and cons to breeding your mare at different times of the year, says Dr Mac.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Feeding pigs: Part 1
Pigs cannot thrive on leftover scraps from the kitchen. To ensure healthy, productive and profitable pigs, feed them nutritious, balanced rations.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
THE FERTILITY FACTOR IN MOHAIR SUCCESS
Eastern Cape mohair producer Paul Webber has twice won the prestigious Daidoh Trophy Competition for the highest average price for a summer kid clip. Mike Burgess visited him recently on his farm to better understand his mohair production system.
4 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Private Jackie Baboon's war
During the First World War, the pet baboon of Private Albert Marr followed the soldiers of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment into the heat and horror of battle
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Know your armyworm species
Effective control of armyworm begins with being able to differentiate between the various species. South African crop farmers need to learn and apply this skill, Dr Annemie Erasmus of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute told Annelie Coleman.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
From seasonal worker to award-winning farmer
The Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture winner in 2019, Dirk Louw, is showing that it still is possible to start farming from scratch. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about what contributed to his success, his perseverance against all odds and his plans for the future
6 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling Gibberella on maize, sorghum and wheat: Part 1
Fungal pathogens belonging to the genus Fusarium can cause severe damage, leading to yield losses and a drop in profits.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing the right lettuce variety
Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and a breeder of a range of vegetables
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Advanced new tractor tyres
New technology and design elements featured on some of the tractor tyres launched recently offer many benefits for farmers, including low soil compaction and financial savings through increased productivity and lower fuel consumption.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 6 March 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding Exceptional Dual-Purpose Merinos
Mega Merinos in the Colesberg district of the Northern Cape markets thousands of stud and commercial sheep annually, either from the farm or via selected breed sales. Jacques Pienaar told Sabrina Dean about his operation’s history, breeding philosophy and plans for the year ahead.
5 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
US-South Africa Trade: What Does The Future Hold?
The recent decision of the US to remove certain countries from its developing country exemption list, coupled with other developments that may have an impact on the trade relationship between the US and South Africa, could have serious ramifications for South Africa’s competitiveness as an exporter to the US. Dr. Moses H Lubinga, a senior economist for trade research at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, looks at how this scenario may play out for South Africa.
3 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Irrigation systems for undercover cropping
Maximising water-use efficiency in South African undercover crop farming operations has become both a financial and moral imperative. But selecting the most appropriate undercover irrigation technologies can be a challenge in itself. Three local experts shared their advice on this increasingly complex topic with Lloyd Phillips.
4 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Improved control and flexibilty over grain revenue
The combine is the single most capital-intensive piece of equipment on a grain farm. Utilising as much of its capacity as possible is important to overall farm efficiency, writes Stehan Cloete.
2 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Growth mediums for greenhouse production
Greenhouse farming is an intensive, high-yielding operation. Using the correct growth medium forms the basis of the operation, and mistakes in this area can cost a farmer dearly, according to producers and experts. Lindi Botha looks at which mediums work best for different crops.
6 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Undercover farming: big investment, greater returns
With its reduced land and water requirements, tunnel farming is a viable option for farmers with little access to natural resources, says Suzanne Oosthuizen, managing director of the Undercover Farming Expo. She spoke to Lindi Botha about the unique benefits of undercover farming.
5 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Don't allow change to catch you napping
At times, new developments might seem to come like a bolt out of the blue. But if you keep up with trends, you’ll be forewarned of change and have time to adapt, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
2 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Lettuce: more varied than ever
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) goes back a long way; it has been cultivated for more than 4 500 years. As with most vegetables, it looked very different when first discovered in the Middle East to the roundish, leafy vegetable we enjoy today.
2 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Death in the mountains
Solitary graves on various farms bear witness to ambushes and skirmishes in the mountains of the north-eastern Cape during the Anglo-Boer War, and each town has a memorial to the fallen. Graham Jooste tells of some of the actions in this unforgiving region.
5 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Growing Chinese cabbage
While deemed a ‘weed’ in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, Chinese cabbage is a popular vegetable on local markets.
2 min |
February 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
SHORT LEASES HAMPER GROWTH FOR AWARD-WINNING CATTLE FARMERS
Piet Phahlane and Aaron Makena, the Agriculture Research Council National Emerging Beef Farmers of the Year 2019 winners, say one of the most valuable lessons they have learnt as farmers is the importance of applying good animal health management principles. Siyanda Sishuba visited them on their farm in Rust de Winter, Limpopo.
4 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Preventing hybridisation to protect natural resources
Some farming enterprises, such as wild harvesting, require particular care to ensure long-term sustainability and protect the environment.
3 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
On-farm hydroelectric power boosts dairy's bottom line
Hydroelectric power production need not mean massive installations for large-scale commercial supply. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Peter Ward’s small-scale hydroelectric system on his farm generates sufficient power for his dairy enterprise while saving his operation up to R1,3 million a year. At the same time, he uses the precious resource of water sustainably.
4 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
MAKING AGRICULTURE MORE BEE-FRIENDLY
With the majority of food crops being pollinated by bees, dwindling colonies pose a threat to agriculture. But while pesticides play a major role in declining bee numbers, monocultures and a lack of biodiversity are the greater problem. Lindi Botha spoke to industry leaders.
5 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The intricacies of crop rotation
The purpose of crop rotation is to prevent the build-up of a pest or disease to which a crop is susceptible. But there is more to rotation than merely switching crops.
2 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Water metering: the first step towards more efficient use?
The newly published regulation by the Department of Water and Sanitation directing all commercial irrigators to install water-measuring devices may seem onerous. However, according to James Brand, a senior associate at ENSafrica for natural resources and environment, it may represent a first step towards the crucial goal of improving water management in the sector.
3 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Ginger: a challenging crop, but well worth the effort
Cultivating ginger is costly on all fronts: time, labour and water. But managed correctly, the crop adds good cash flow to a farming business. Jaco Lubbe of Sabie Valley Ginger in Mpumalanga spoke to Lindi Botha about getting this demanding rhizome to pay off.
7 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
21st century update of Kubota ‘dream tractor'
Half a century after exhibiting its first-ever concept tractor at the 1970 Japan World Exposition in Osaka, Kubota unveiled a vastly updated version of its ‘dream tractor’ at a new product exhibition held in Kyoto City in January.
2 min |
February 21, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
BONSMARA SA RED BREED EVENT: don't miss it!
Despite the national ban on all livestock auctions, the annual Red Breed Event will go ahead in Parys, according to Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA.
1 min |