Eliminating growth problems with plastic

There are good reasons for growing strawberries on plastic-covered beds.

Conservation and local communities

Local communities should be treated as valued stakeholders and sustainability partners in conservation and tourism, say Ian Gordon-Cumming and Prof Kevin Mearns of Unisa’s Department of Environmental Sciences.

Want to start a pig farm? Read this first!

There is a lot to consider when embarking on any farming operation, and the same is true for starting a piggery. Janine Ryan reports on some of the things you should consider when thinking about starting a pig farm.

Do you have environmental authorisation to farm?

Farming’s impact on the environment is not usually front of mind when buying a piece of land, but without securing environmental authorisation, farmers could find themselves in a world of trouble. Lindi Botha speaks to Ngwanarachuene Mampane, director of Westleigh Environmental Services, about remaining on the right side of the law, how to apply for authorisation and the time frame involved.

SA's renewable energy programme: the hits and misses

South Africa’s 12-year-old Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme offers insights for countries moving to cleaner power sources, say researchers.

Climate change and organic farming

Consumers and legislators in the EU are pushing for food production methods that neutralise carbon emissions. What impact will this have on food availability, costs, exports and imports? Lindi Botha asked Michaël Wilde, director of Bionext in the Netherlands, a body that represents the organic food industry.

Speakers discuss unlocking Africa's agriculture potential at conference

The continent’s contribution to improving food security across the world was discussed at length at the recent Agri Investment Conference,

Plan for these livestock diseases

After a challenging few months, the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa urges farmers to take note of its latest disease report,

Escaping the commodity trap

Statistics show that, due to inflation, people are spending less on buying fruit,

No cause to panic-buy eggs, but a poultry meat price hike is on the horizon

Consumers need to brace for a possible price hike going into the new year, writes Jyothi Laldas.

Cows on cane make for a winning combination

Thirty-six varied milking cows on 1,2ha with cane tops as the major source of dry matter hardly sounds like a success formula - but the Shaws are making it work.

Up to 95% of farm murder cases unsolved

AfriForum’s report shows that unsolved farm-related crime rate is increasing,

Isuzu hands over three new bakkies to Gift of the Givers

Isuzu Motors South Africa is proud to announce the handover of three new Isuzu D-Max bakkies to humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, renewing its commitment to amplify efforts to bring critical disaster relief to affected areas, often in hard-to-reach and remote locations across South Africa.

Peace and tranquillity off the grid on a spectacular farm in the Swartland

Dassenheuwel Farm Stay has the orginal farm homestead for families with all the creature comforts, or the cottages for couples. The choice is yours

Racing and racehorses

There are 300 Thoroughbred studs in South Africa and races are held every week

Safeguarding livestock from potentially toxic plant

Dr Asive Luningo from the Department of Paraclinical Science at the University of Pretoria discusses the wild sunflower's impact on livestock.

Getting ready for El Niño: Part 2

It should pay farmers to explore ways to improve their groundwater supplies before El Niño strikes again

Understanding the importance of carrot spacing: Part 2

Spacing for optimum yields of carrots should be adjusted in different regions to achieve the best results

Zimbabwe's Tuli cattle make financial sense and are easy to farm

The Tuli is an iconic beef breed of Zimbabwe that will make any breeder proud, according to Kerry Stewart, Tuli stud breeder and chairperson of the Zimbabwe Tuli Breeders' Society. Annelie Coleman spoke to her and other breeders about the advantages of farming Tuli cattle.

Sunflower production: threatened by stink bugs and fungi

With continuous management of the insects that predate on sunflowers, significant success can be attained with this crop, which is suited to growing in the drier parts of South Africa

Taking care of your farm dog: Part 2

There are many different opinions when it comes to training puppies. Some people say only start at six months, while others say eight months. Well, they are wrong

Power is in our hands to navigate and better manage energy crisis

Erence Manyako, researcher at the Agricultural Research Council's Natural Resources and Engineering division, looks at available technologies to offset continuous load-shedding in South Africa.

Bad news budget policy speech by minister

Minister Enoch Godongwana said economic activity remained severely limited by continued shortages of electricity, deteriorating freight rail performance and slow port operations

Top journalists and farmers announced

Excellence in agricultural journalism was celebrated at the Agricultural Writers Association's Farmer, Agriculturist and New Entrant of the Year Awards held recently in the Western Cape

Programme drives advancement for small-scale farmers in KZN

Livestock and crop farmers in KZN received an agricultural development plan to help grow their income

KZN coffee collective drives growth, investment opportunities in agriculture

A KwaZulu-Natal-based coffee farmer is building a support base to increase coffee farming in rural areas

Paper over plastic for South Africans

The farming industry is encouraged to choose paper packaging for its environment-friendly benefits

Accolades for best dairy farmers of 2023

The country's top achievers in breeding superior animals were recently awarded

Stock and game theft has far-reaching effects for many farmers in South Africa

Farmers have lost faith in law enforcement and are not reporting all crimes

Port chaos poses a threat not just to agriculture but to the entire business sector and economy

In the intricate web of global trade, the efficient movement of goods is paramount. Nowhere is this more evident than in the agriculture sector, where timely transportation of produce is critical to ensuring food security and economic stability.