This is a neglected aspect of many farming systems. I realised the importance of planning when, after graduating and working for a large agricultural company, I was given the vegetable portfolio. Soon after I started to grow cabbages on a large scale, a new cabbage variety came on the market. The company that I worked for had planted the same variety for decades, and I felt the need to do large trials with the new variety to find out if it suited our purposes.
I would use three different spacings and planted a trial every few weeks throughout the season. Each crop was weighed when ready and recorded. The records also included the planting and harvesting dates in every case. The time span between planting and harvesting would vary between 80 and 120 days depending on the time of year.
This story is from the 17 May 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 17 May 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'SA agriculture adapts to challenges and change'
Although the agriculture sector’s contribution to South Africa’s GDP is calculated at under 3%, its extended impact on GDP stands at between 10% and 12%.
Solutions to common cannabis cultivation challenges
Cultivators can improve output, quality and profitability while supporting the sustainability and prosperity of the cannabis industry by implementing best practices in pest management, environmental control, nutrition management, genetic selection, and harvesting procedures.
Training kit boost for small-scale poultry farmers
A new series of training materials to help small-scale poultry farmers improve their methods and incomes has been released by the World Poultry Foundation (WPF).
Eastern Cape Livestock Identification and Traceability System launched
New technology could be the key to help farmers put an end to stock theft, writes Jyothi Laldas.
State-of-the-art abattoir handed over to farmer
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) recently handed over a multimillion-rand abattoir to a Hluhluwe farmer.
Vineyard School helps workers build skills
A new four-day course urges employees to think outside the box to ensure their employability, writes Glenneis Kriel.
SAFDA hosts sugar regulations imbizo
A milestone has been reached on the sugar industry's journey to transformation, writes Jyothi Laldas.
Thailand wants to recriminalise cannabis after earlier unbanning it
The government of Thailand has announced that it will be relisting cannabis as an illegal drug by the end of 2024, two years after lifting the initial ban.
Climatic conditions result in challenging wine grape season
The Western Cape's wine production is expected to be lower this season, reports Glenneis Kriel.
UK promotes trade and investment at Nampo
The 2024 Nampo Harvest Day, themed ‘Agriculture in a Digital Age’, attracted more than 900 national and international exhibitors, with 400 prospective exhibitors on a waiting list. This year the UK also formed part of the event.