Farmer's Weekly
Is The Agri Sector Focusing On The Wrong Kind Of Growth?
Dr Sifiso Ntombela, a trade economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, argues that, contrary to some of the suggestions in the National Development Plan, the grain and livestock industries have greater potential than the horticultural industry to create better-paying jobs and alleviate poverty.
4 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Indigenous Crossbreeding Improves Cows' Longevity
Cow longevity is crucial to optimal productivity in beef cattle production, says Anette Theunissen, an animal scientist based at the Vaalharts Research Station. Annelie Coleman reports.
6 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How To Reduce The Risk Of Viruses
Seed is a potential source of viruses in capsicums.
2 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Growing Good Carrots: Part 2
How to plant, fertilise and irrigate carrots to ensure a large, top-quality crop.
2 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Using Technology To Predict Australian Wheat Yield
Wheat yield in Australia can now be predicted accurately two months before the crop matures using machine-learning methods, according to researchers at the University of Illinois in the US.
1 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Tips For Top-quality Irrigation Water For Intensive Cropping
Growers of irrigated crops need to have access to properly treated irrigation water. Mike Kruger, owner of Top Crop Nursery, explains how he uses flocculation and chlorination to maximise the safety of the water he sources from the nearby Umgeni River. Lloyd Phillips reports.
4 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Science Of Producing Good Silage
Leading Boran stud breeder Hurwitz Farming in Mpumalanga operates a number of enterprises, the latest of which is a silage contracting business. Pieter Dempsey interviewed Jarren Hurwitz to find out more about the new technology in silage that makes their operation different.
7 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The ABC Of Turning Waste Into A Resource
Industrial-scale wood recycling offers numerous benefits to clients, including clearing invasive trees and vegetation and providing usable biomass.
1 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Saving Water And Inputs With Variable Rate Irrigation
Cost-effective farming practices and optimal efficiency are both crucial to the survival of South Africa’s sugar cane industry. Faced with dwindling sugar prices and high input costs, RCL Foods is trialling variable rate irrigation on one of their farms, with excellent results. Lindi Botha reports.
4 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Growing Good Carrots: Part 1
Carrots have been an important vegetable crop in South Africa since the days of early European settlement in the Cape. Today, they are grown countrywide, particularly near urban areas.
2 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Farmer Tests Game Export Market
This article explored the economic viability of game farming as a separate concern.
2 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Estimating Farm-level GHG Emissions: Part 2
In order to adopt good management strategies, farmers need to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by their farms, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
2 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Capsicum Seed And Bacterial Spot
Capsicum seed bought from a seed company is usually free of bacterial diseases.
2 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Bridles: Ensuring The Right Fit
Horses are much used in South Africa. Equestrian disciplines are popular, and both horses and donkeys are still utilised as working animals on farms and in townships. Despite this, many horse owners are unaware of the importance of a properly fitted bridle. Vicki Sokolich, an equine complementary care expert, explains that a poorly fitting bridle can result in significant damage to the physiology of the animal. Janine Ryan reports.
6 min |
June 21, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Young Poultry Farmer Thrives Despite Setbacks
Asiphe Pentu started his small-scale broiler business with only R2 000 when he was just 17 years old and still at school. After five years, he has a well-run, 100-chicken operation that turns a profit and has a loyal clientele in the local community. Siyanda Sishuba reports.
4 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Thinning Out Fruit On Peppers
The subject of thinning fruit in a pepper crop has many facets. To start with, peppers come in various growth types and have different bearing habits, all of which influence pruning and fruit thinning.
2 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Soil Erosion: A Big Problem With Few Solutions
Long-term food security is set to suffer if the scourge of soil erosion is not brought under control. Dan Pennock, a professor in soil science at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, discusses the extent of the problem and the importance of good soil management.
4 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Seed-eating Birds Survive In The Desert
52years ago A study conducted at the Transvaal Museum investigated the water economy of seedeating birds, and the remarkable ability of certain finches to live in the desert without water for long periods of time.
2 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Report Expresses Support
Farmers unhappy with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) location differential system have suffered a setback, with grain expert Prof Matthew Roberts, founder of the Kernmantle Group, recommending that the system be maintained for wheat and maize and, if the JSE deemed it necessary, introduced for soya bean as well.
1 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Ensuring Ethical Pesticide Use In SA's Forestry Sector
With pesticide use under increasing scrutiny by governments and the private sector, stakeholders in the forestry sector should be mindful of how they use these agrochemicals. Roger Poole, chairperson of the Timber Industry Pesticide Working Group, spoke to Lloyd Phillips.
5 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Concern About 'Rushed' New Cigarette Tracking System
Rushing in a new system to track cigarettes may fail to curb the illegal cigarette trade, which is worth billions of rands, the Tobacco Industry of South Africa (TISA) has warned.
1 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Broiler Health Tips
Farmer’s Weekly spoke to various leading role players about the greatest disease threats to poultry and ways to manage these in different production systems. The consensus is that animal welfare is crucial to raising healthy, resilient broilers. Glenneis Kriel reports.
5 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Stock Theft In North West Worse Than Statistics Indicate'
Stock theft remains a serious problem in North West and has increased 8% over the past financial year, according to Sakkie van Zyl, chairperson of the North West Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.
1 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Nappy Test' For Sheep To Help Optimise Milk Production
Sheep in Brazil were recently dressed in nappies as part of a research project aimed at finding the ideal grass length for maximum milk production.
1 min |
June 14, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
SA Economy Expected To Gain Momentum Following The Election
While economic growth could still be slow in the immediate future, the winds of change are blowing more strongly, according to the chief economist at Old Mutual, Johann Els.
1 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Reviving The South African Beef Shorthorn
Allistair and Laurence Brown, owners of the Duncraggan and Primeston Beef Shorthorn studs, produced the 2018 Agricultural Research Council National Special Performance Beef Shorthorn bull. Mike Burgess visited the brothers’ farm near Alexandria in the Eastern Cape.
5 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Plan Crops With Facts
29 years ago Computers had already become an indispensable part of farming by the early 1990s, as this article indicates.
2 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New CEO For Agri Western Cape
Jannie Strydom took over the reins as CEO of Agri Western Cape in March, after the retirement of Carl Opperman, who served in this position for 20 years. Strydom spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
5 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Forestry SA Reports Advances In Transformation And Training
While South Africa’s forestry sector should be proud of the fact that it is a national leader in implementing broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) and other transformation initiatives, much more could still be achieved in this regard.
1 min |
June 7, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Engineering Vs Physics Vs Maths
Engineering demands accurate mathematics. But in this imperfect world, engineers have to use approximations and common sense.
2 min |