Business
Farmer's Weekly
From automation to no driver!
Michael and Philipp Horsch from agricultural technology and machinery company Horsch discuss how they are working on developments from task automation to autonomous driving systems.
3 min |
August 06, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A symbol of the Cape's early railways
A ganger’s cottage near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape is a reminder of the Cape Colony’s railroads built from her port cities to the Griqualand West diamond fields during the 1870s and 1880s
3 min |
August 06, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A Misguided Approach To Agricultural Support
A new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has found that even though agricultural support measures have continued to grow worldwide in recent years, the type of support given often fails to meet its stated aims of improving food security, livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
5 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A Natural Approach To Healthier Crops
Integrated pest management has become an increasingly popular means of protecting crops against damage from pests such as weeds and insects, and is being driven by, among other factors, the growing resistance to a purely chemical approach to crop protection. Annelie Coleman spoke to several experts to find out more.
7 min |
June 25, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Growing onions: Part 5
Before direct-sowing your onions, prepare the seedbed with care. This will pay handsome dividends when the time comes for planting, germination and harvesting, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Fendt premieres Rogator 900
The recently launched Fendt Rogator 900 is a complete redesign of AGCO’s Rogator. The self-propelled machine, which will be available in select markets, now features a chassis that can be raised up to 1,93m.
2 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
‘Use top-quality cows for commercial success'
Simmentaler stud owner Willem Botha from the eastern Free State says the quality of the breeding cows in a beef cattle herd is crucial to producing the best product and hence fetching the highest prices. This makes them a key component of profitability. Annelie Coleman reports.
5 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
The hope and heartbreak of the almost-Springboks
Graham Jooste tells of some great South African rugby players who saw bad communication, injury, politics, and inexplicably bad luck shatter their hopes of Springbok glory.
4 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Proper pruning: key to pecan grower's success
Pecan farming is still in its infancy in South Africa, but with the global demand for nuts increasing, more producers are seeing opportunities to diversify their farms with pecans. Lindi Botha spoke to seasoned Gauteng-based pecan farmer Albert Bouwmeester Jnr about how he gets the most from his pecan orchard.
4 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Harvesting, grading and storing wheat
Wheat is usually harvested over November/December, but spring and summer wheat can be harvested later.
2 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Challenge turned to opportunity with the right partners
Corona beer, which originated in Mexico, is traditionally served with lime. But when beer-brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev added the brand to its line-up, it encountered a problem: a shortage of limes in South Africa. This presented a novel opportunity to increase local lime production and develop new farmers. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
July 30, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Global body launches goals for sustainable beef production
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), an initiative established in 2010, recently launched its global sustainability goals, which are aimed at advancing and improving the sustainability of the global beef value chain
1 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Pöttinger launches mechanical crop-care range
Pöttinger, the Austrian specialist manufacturer of grassland, tillage and seeding equipment, recently announced that it would offer rotary hoes, constant-pressure hoes and vario hoes from August this year. The company also launched the third generation of its high-performance-series loader wagons.
3 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Getting started with egg production
From small beginnings and facing many challenges in poultry production, Kobedi Pilane, who farms near Parys in North West, has grown his egg farm into a 5 000-layer commercial operation. Pieter Dempsey spoke to him about his journey.
4 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Find relaxation and adventure at the foot of the Luonde mountain
Farm tours, fishing and more await those who book a stay at Softwaters Farm Guesthouse, which looks out over Limpopo’s beautiful Levubu Valley
4 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Court ruling clarifies the land rights of individuals
The recent judgment against the Ingonyama Trust with regard to traditional land rights has far-reaching implications for South Africa. Wouter Kriel reports.
3 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Cattle remain key to sustainable food systems
The cattle industry is one of the chief targets of climate activists who propose plant-based diets as a way of reducing global warming and moving towards sustainable food production. Sara Place, chief sustainability officer at Elanco Animal Health, spoke to Lindi Botha about the underestimated power of cattle to contribute to the well-being of people and the planet.
6 min |
July 23, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Making Optimal Use Of Scarce Water Resources
Water availability has become one of the greatest limiting factors in agricultural production in South Africa. Johan Kotzé, director of Dutoit Agri Eastern Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how the company is managing this problem and producing more fruit per litre of water used.
7 min |
July 09, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Overcoming Food Safety Fears In Fukushima After Nuclear Disaster
A new generation of farmers in the Koriyama area of the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan have been teaming up with like-minded foodservice businesses to rebuild the image of the local area.
1 min |
June 25, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Management Of Important Grain Diseases
Plant pathology scientists Dr Gert van Coller and Dr Bradley Flett spoke to Pieter Dempsey about some diseases that pose significant threats to South Africa’s maize and wheat production, and how to control them.
7 min |
June 25, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Managing heifers and cows: Part 3
Heifers and first calvers need good nutrition and extra care, such as keeping them in separate herds, if you want to have mature cows that grow out to their full genetic potential for size.
2 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Growing onions: Part 3
Latitude plays a key role in determining which onion types are best for your region. And there are also early and late varieties, says Bill Kerr.
3 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
How to write a winning business proposal
If you intend to start farming, or have plans to expand your existing operation, you are almost certain to require funding. But before you can apply for this, you will need to put together a business plan to convince investors that your endeavour is worth their risk. Prof Sanlie Middelberg of North-West University summarises the main elements of a sound business proposal based on research by master’s student Sicelo Masuku.
5 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Citrus industry hits back at ‘Bitter Oranges' report
A report slamming labour practices in the citrus industry has been labelled as subjective and an unfair generalisation by the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa. Lindi Botha reports.
2 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Tillage practices for wheat
Unnecessary tillage costs money, time and effort, and valuable soil water is lost in the process. It also results in re-compaction of the soil, a problem that has to be addressed later.
2 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
The nuts and bolts of Holistic Management
People often confuse Holistic Management with land management, when in reality the former is a flexible decision-making and planning framework. Brothers Roland and Sholto Kroon, who farm in the Eastern Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the philosophy behind this approach to farming, and how it is working for them.
10+ min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Helping heifers grow into ideal cows
Groot Brakrivier dairy farmer Candice de Jongh and her husband Coenraad have finetuned their formula for raising the ideal milk cow. A central component is ensuring that both heifers and dry cows are in optimal condition all year round. Robyn Powell reports.
6 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
A slice of paradise in the Boland
With its famed gardens, imaginative tours, luxurious cottages and restorative tranquillity, all set against a beautiful mountain backdrop, Babylonstoren is everything a getaway should be, says Brian Berkman.
4 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Bean aggregator helps small-scale farmers grow
Lusanda Moletsane runs an aggregator of small white beans from two farming clusters located in Nigel and Bronkhorstspruit respectively. She spoke to Pieter Dempsey about her passion for helping small-scale farmers become commercial producers, her success so far, and her dream for the future.
5 min |
July 16, 2021
Farmer's Weekly
Why Beefmaster Is The ‘Profit Breed'
Riana de Beer, a Beefmaster breeder in the Senekal district in the Free State, runs the Quardsen Beefmaster stud on veld and says that selecting for the ‘Six Essentials’, which helps eliminate poor performers, makes the breed profitable under all farming conditions.
4 min |