Business
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
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
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
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
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
Linking Midlands Consumers With Wholesome Foods
Few consumers properly understand how food production works or have any emotional connection with farmers and farming. This is according to Lauren Murphy, who, through her Internet-based farm produce marketing company, is helping to narrow this gap while supplying tasty, nutritious food to her many loyal clients in KwaZulu-Natal. Lloyd Phillips reports.
5 min |
June 28, 2019
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
Will Load-Shedding Affect Veggie Prices?
Vegetable prices remained fairly stable at the start of winter, but the risk of load-shedding during the colder months, as electricity usage increases, could have serious consequences for producers and consumers.
2 min |
June 28, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Attention To Detail Ensures High-quality Produce
While launching a new farming venture as a first-time farmer may seem daunting, Hannes Wolvaardt is proof that it can be done. He shared his tips on successful sweet pepper production in Limpopo with Lindi Botha.
6 min |
July 5, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Farming Valais Black Nose Sheep In New Zealand
On a small lifestyle farm near the rural town of Cambridge in New Zealand, Andrew and Leigh-Anne Peake are establishing the Valais Black Nose sheep as a new breed in the country. The couple have found the journey highly enjoyable, reports Gerhard Uys.
5 min |
July 5, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Golden Cattle
According to Dr Wayne Durdle of Amersfoort in Mpumalanga, Gelbvieh cattle could play an important role in the national beef cattle herd due to the breed’s efficiency in difficult production conditions.
2 min |
July 5, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Africa: A Continent Brimming With Business Opportunities
Thinking of doing business in Africa? Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi, also known as the ‘African Realist’, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about where the potential profits and pitfalls can be found.
5 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Once-In-A-Lifetime Potato Planning
Potato production is a high-risk, high-reward industry. Farming seed potatoes is even more so. Sabrina Dean visited Gerhard Bruwer of Genade Boerdery in the Northern Cape to find out more about this component of the family farming operation.
6 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Scaling Up Aquaponics
Investing in efficient systems that optimise the use of space and yield, while reducing cost, is one way in which Gauteng-based Ichthys Aquaponics is growing its business. Siyanda Sishuba visited the operation and spoke to owners Justin and Nikki Hess to find out more.
5 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
'Feeding 10 Billion People Will Require GM Food'
Genetic modification will become an important tool in feeding the world’s growing population, which is expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050.
1 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Fendt's Beautiful Beast Wins Big
By winning a platinum award in the world’s biggest international design competition, the Fendt IDEAL combine harvester has proved that it’s both beautiful and brawny. Denene Erasmus reports.
2 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Basics Of The Suffolk Breed
This breed matures early, producing meat with a high ratio of lean meat to fat. This makes it an attractive proposition to the modern consumer.
1 min |
August 2, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How To Make A Living Running A Small-scale Broiler Operation
Raising chickens is relatively easy; selling them and actually making a living out of the enterprise is the real challenge. This is according to Anneke Loock, who in 2017 started a broiler poultry business on a smallholding in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein.
6 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Novice Tunnel Farmer Wins With Hydroponics
Byron Booysen started farming only five years ago and now produces tomatoes and other crops in an undercover system on 1,9ha just outside Kraaifontein near Cape Town. Jeandré van der Walt visited him to find out how he got started, the lessons he has learnt, and the challenges he faces.
5 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Options For Foot-and-mouth Disease Control In Sa
Earlier this year, fewer than 50 cattle in Sundani village, Vhembe district, probably worth less than R300 000, were diagnosed with footand-mouth disease. This was enough to place a R6 billion export industry of livestock and livestock products in jeopardy.
4 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Massey Ferguson Introduces A Full Range Of Hay Equipment
AGCO has acquired the forage division of the Lely Group, a leading manufacturer of balers and loader wagons in Europe. Joe Spencer reports.
1 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Chef Who Puts Local Farmers First
Jack Coetzee, chef of Johannesburg-based Urbanologi restaurant and a believer in sustainable living, sources all his ingredients from within a 150km-radius of the restaurant. To achieve this, he has worked hard at building close working relationships with local farmers. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
April 12, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Low Investment In Research Hampers Agri Growth
Dr Sifiso Ntombela, a trade economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, writes that as technological advances are being achieved at an everfaster rate, countries that fail to invest sufficient resources in research and development risk falling behind and becoming uncompetitive.
3 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How Millennials Can Take Farming Into The Future
Group manager for assurance services at NWK, 34-year-old Jacqueline Mathews, maintains that South Africa’s agriculture sector needs tech-savvy, curious young people. Annelie Coleman reports.
5 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Why Dryland Macadamia Production Is Possible
With a looming water crisis and an expanding macadamia industry, the obvious question arises: where will the water for the new orchards come from? A recent groundbreaking study shows that farmers have been grossly over-irrigating and that dryland macadamias in high-rainfall areas actually provide better yields. Lindi Botha spoke to Theunis and Armand Smit, specialists in irrigation and optimal water usage.
6 min |
August 16, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Continual Improvement: The Key To Successful Beef Production
KwaZulu-Natal beef farmer Rustin Shawe was recently crowned the province’s 2018 Young Farmer of the Year. He told Lloyd Phillips that planning strategically and then putting those plans into action had helped him take his already thriving farming business to even greater heights.
6 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Positioning SA For The Future Of Beef Production
In this second of a two-part series, well-known cattle breeder and judge Llewellyn Angus provides more feedback on this year’s Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention, held in Loveland, Colorado, in the US, as well as the post-congress tour.
5 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Impact Of Migration On Farming And Rural Areas
A new report on migration and its impact on rural development and food security by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that policies on migration, agriculture and rural development should be coherent to ensure the safe and orderly passage of people and reduce the potential negative impact of migration on agriculture and food security.
4 min |
November 16, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Potato Menace
38 YEARS AGO If poorly packaged or exposed to excess sun, the humble potato can become highly toxic, causing chronic enteritis or even death.
4 min |