Business
Farmer's Weekly
Drones: boosting yield and beating erosion
Farmers are continually required to do more with less: in other words, improve yield without boosting inputs. Optimising orchard health is therefore crucial, and it starts with the correct diagnosis. This is where drone technology is showing increasing promise, as it reveals what is invisible to the naked (and earthbound) eye. Lindi Botha reports.
7 min |
February 25, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Design your own Massey Ferguson tractor at the push of a button!
The AGCO ASK feature enables farmers to ‘design’ their tractors according to their own needs and requirements.
3 min |
February 25, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Are You a ‘People-Pleaser' or an ‘Injustice Collector'?
"‘People-pleasers’ and ‘injustice collectors’ tend to suffer from the same basic problem: a lack of self-esteem. Trevor Dickinson explains these different personality types and how they fit into the larger family business."
6 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Ensuring Sustainable Food Systems in Africa
"It is imperative that Africa’s policies, regulations and infrastructure support the global solutions proposed to improve food security on the continent, the authors of this article argue."
5 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
How technology can improve sustainability
A soil analysis app developed in Chile enables the user to measure a wide range of soil health indicators conveniently and rapidly.
2 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Working towards a sustainable future for agriculture
Theo Boshoff, the new CEO of Agbiz, says that despite the many challenges facing South Africa’s agriculture sector in 2022, opportunities for growth abound. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.
7 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
How to manage a lambing pen system effectively
Lambing pens offer a multitude of benefits for farmers. Regina Harmse, who breeds Ile de France sheep in Mpumalanga, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the ways in which these pens can add value to any type of sheep production concern.
8 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Planting and harvesting potatoes
Potatoes are grown from disease-free seed potatoes, require a lot of fertiliser, and are labour-intensive. All of this costs plenty, warns Bill Kerr.
2 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
PIGS Producing piglets
To ensure a decent turnover and good profits, a farmer needs to maximise the number of healthy piglets produced per sow. This requires careful management.
5 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Mesquite: a silent but deadly invasion
Ken Coetzee, founder of Conservation Management Services, says that the spread of the invasive alien Prosopis in South Africa is a serious threat to livestock and indigenous plants, and needs urgent attention from farmers and landowners.
9 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Kiwifruit: South Africa's golden opportunity
After the failure of local green kiwifruit production in the 1980s, a new group of farmers is hopeful that golden kiwis will become a South African success story. One such producer, Peter Nicholson, spoke to Susan Marais about the sector and its ambitions.
7 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Dairy cows flourish on natural pasture
A total mixed ration has become the predominant feeding system of dairy cows in South Africa. But Rob Visser, owner of Dalewood Fromage, has bucked this trend, focusing instead on pastures planted to many species of grass. His approach has contributed in no small way to his internationally acclaimed cheeses, says Lindi Botha.
8 min |
February 18, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Why humidity is crucial in climate control
By manipulating environmental conditions, and paying equal attention to temperature and humidity, greenhouse growers can improve the quality of their crops and maximise yields. Glenneis Kriel reports
7 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
What you need to know before getting started with cattle production
The aim of any well-managed commercial cattle farm is to produce high-quality beef for the market at a profitable level. Magda du Toit provides emerging and aspiring beef cattle farmers with a guideline of the elements they need to consider when embarking on such a venture.
10 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The reality of twins in beef cattle
While the incidence of twins in beef cattle is very low, there is the possibility that it could improve the rate of their reproduction, says the Agricultural Research Council.
5 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Teaching your horse to rein back
The rein-back is a handy skill to have in many situations on the farm, for example opening a gate. It is also used in equestrian disciplines such as dressage, showing, reining and working equitation, says Dr Mac.
3 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Producing piglets: Part 2
High-quality animals and patient, meticulous management are at the heart of successful breeding and farrowing. One boar should be mated with one sow per week, and the sow and piglets looked after with care.
6 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Taking charge of the plastic problem
While the use of plastics has helped farmers to produce more with less, the material presents an enormous environmental issue. This report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at alternatives that can be introduced by farmers and governments to reduce reliance on plastics in agricultural
5 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Mountain views, strolls through orchards, and tranquil nights in a stone cottage
Surrounded by orchards and soaring mountains, White Bridge Farm in the Witzenberg Valley offers an idyllic getaway. Its owners also contribute ingeniously to community upliftment. Brian Berkman reports.
4 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Let's hear it for the humble potato
Potatoes are nutritious, affordable and readily available, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Give your orchards the health coverage they deserve
Cover crops are the gifts that keep on giving. Not only do they maintain soil moisture and improve soil health, but they are a valuable tool for reducing pest loads in subtropical orchards. By planting specific species, farmers can reduce their pesticide bill and meet the crop safety requirements of their markets. Lindi Botha reports.
8 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Cotton: the ideal crop for reducing carbon emissions and poverty
The Better Cotton Initiative is driving sustainability among cotton farmers worldwide to ensure they can continue operating while simultaneously meeting environmental objectives. Lena Staafgard, COO of Better Cotton, and Hennie Bruwer, CEO of Cotton South Africa, spoke to Lindi Botha about the effectiveness of this international initiative at farm-level in this country.
8 min |
February 11, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Solutions for uneven load distribution and flat tyres
Two of the 16 silver medals awarded at Agritechnica 2022 went to Continental’s Agro ContiSeal and Krone’s ExactUnload, which make transport in the field safer and easier to manage.
2 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Why small-scale beef cattle farmers struggle to improve their animals
While genomic selection is a mainstay of commercial cattle breeding, the accurate record-keeping and data analysis it requires are often unaffordable for, or inaccessible to, smallholder and communal farmers. This study by researchers from across the globe looks at the challenges these producers face with improving their herds via this method.
6 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Stagnating pecan yields: dig deep to find the solution
The yields of mature pecan nut orchards are failing to reach optimal levels, and concerned producers have been searching high and low to find answers, investigating everything from foliar applications to soil management. The latest indications are that the solution seems to lie in the trees’ roots. Lindi Botha reports.
8 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Don't be too hasty to throw away old seedlings!
It’s expensive to throw away perfectly healthy seedlings. Rather keep them in limbo until you can plant them, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Producing piglets
With pigs, it is necessary to oversee all mating procedures. Avoid using a boar younger than 10 months of age.
3 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Mexican chicken tray bake
The avocado is an indispensable ingredient in Mexican-style cuisine, and this tasty chicken dish is a case in point. Recipe and photo: South African Avocado Growers’ Association.
1 min |
February 4 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Decaying infrastructure: a growing threat to South Africa's producers
South African farmers can be counted as some of the most efficient producers of food and fibre in the world; however, the deterioration of the country’s infrastructure has eroded their competitive edge, according to Francois Strydom, chairperson of Agbiz. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about some of these challenges, and the possible solutions.
5 min |
February 04, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Contaminants threatening the health of soil and water
The fouling of fresh water supplies with pollutants emanating from primary agriculture has become a serious issue in South Africa. In this article, the Agricultural Research Council discusses the origins and impact of so-called contaminants of emerging concern.
4 min |