Animals-and-Pets
Farmer's Weekly
The Wonderful Soil Food Web
Because most soil organisms are microscopic, they don’t get the attention they deserve. Yet a teaspoon of good soil may contain a billion bacteria of thousands of species.
2 min |
13 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Counting The Cost Of Captive-bred Lion Hunting
Lizanne Nel, conservation manager for the South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association, says that hunting captive-bred lions is not good for the local hunting industry and will cost the country millions of rand in losses if allowed to continue.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Beefing Up Cattle Using The Continuous Grazing System
While intensive and fast-rotation beef grazing systems are becoming more popular in South Africa, the Duminies of Duminy Boerdery in Vryheid have stuck by their extensive continuous grazing system. They explained their strategy to Lloyd Phillips.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Buying New Tyres For Your Bakkie
Tar road, dirt road, off-road. Mud, sand and rocks. Wet and dry. No single tyre copes well under all conditions. So how do you choose a tyre for your bakkie or 4x4? Jake Venter offers advice.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Land Rover: The Making Of A Legend
The Land Rover, with its strange aluminium alloy panels, was meant to be a stop-gap for Rover. But the world fell in love with it, and it became an icon.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 September 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Financing Models Now Make Technology More Affordable
Cost is one of the main reasons why farmers are struggling to adopt energy-saving technologies. Charl du Plessis, head of project development at Energy Partners Solar, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the company’s solution to this problem and new developments in solar power.
5 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
A Farmer's Big Pig Plan
Western Cape pig farmer Leandre Mitchley was named Top Smallholder Farming Entrepreneur at this year’s annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. Her success came after a slow start and a recent major setback, and is testimony to her resilience and discipline. Glenneis Kriel reports.
5 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Making A Difference In Africa
Crop cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa is still largely carried out by hand. A Free State-based inventor is seeking to change that with his range of remarkable equipment.
3 min |
November 09, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Unique Fund Aims To Generate 1 700 Jobs Over Three Years
Hortfin was launched in October last year to create jobs and accelerate transformation in South Africa’s deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industries. Michael Brinkhuis, CEO of Hortfin, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the fund and the progress it has made so far.
5 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
A Tilapia Model That SA Should Be Emulating
Large-scale cage culture and ownership of the supply chain has enabled a number of countries to produce thousands of tons of tilapia annually. There is little reason why this cannot take place in South Africa.
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Sweet Potato Weevil Hazard
The most destructive pest faced by sweet potato growers in the warmer areas of South Africa is the sweet potato weevil (Cylas spp), of which there are two species in the country.
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Cowboy Dressage In South Africa
This riding discipline emphasises the partnership between horse and rider
2 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Oil Change Intervals
When should engine oil be changed? It depends on how and where you drive, and whom you talk to in the motor industry,
3 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Gene Editing: This Is How You'll Benefit
Recent breakthroughs in gene editing technology mean that advancements in the industry can be brought to the farm faster, cheaper and more accurately than before. The result is plants and livestock that are naturally more resistant to disease, crops that are higher yielding, and ultimately, more sustainable, profitable farms.
7 min |
May 03, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Production Trend Hits South Africa
The implementation of regenerative agriculture principles is allowing a growing number of farmers to reduce their inputs while producing similar or even better yields than they would have produced if they used conventional farming practices. Glenneis Kriel reports.
6 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Financing Farming During A Drought
Finding money for agriculture during a drought is difficult. The South African agriculture sector, farmers and financiers alike, is facing a perfect storm, according to Prof Sanlie Middelberg of the School of Accounting Sciences at North-West University. She spoke to Annelie Coleman.
5 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Managing Capsicum Seedlings
Capsicums will grow in a wide range of soil types. The crop should be fertilised according to a soil analysis; this will ensure that the level of each essential element is sufficient and all the elements are in balance with one another.
2 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
New Technology, New Techniques
Three manufacturers of agricultural equipment recently introduced enhancements to improve the efficiency of their machines and implements. Joe Spencer takes a closer look at these.
2 min |
May 24, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
The Nitrate Form Of Nitrogen
The nitrate form of nitrogen is highly mobile in the soil. The way in which you apply it will determine how long the plants will have access to it.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
How Award-Winning Broiler Producer Stayed The Course
Bhefika Matshenja of Inhlakanipho Projects and Farms, winner of the Star of Buhle Award for 2019, says that by implementing sound management principles, such as reinvesting profits, he has been able to see his business grow.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Preventing Aflatoxin Poisoning
Aflatoxins can cause severe liver damage and may result in death, says Dr Mac. As such, proper feed storage is crucial.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
A Better Food Future For SA
Current methods of food production threaten the environment and human health, and change is thus urgently required in South Africa’s food system. In a report, recently published by the WWF-SA, titled ‘Agri-food Systems: Facts and Futures: How South Africa can produce 50% more by 2050’, the organisation’s senior manager of the policy and futures unit, Tatjana von Bormann, details the changes needed to achieve a better food future for the country.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Inside Sa's Biggest Orchid Business
What started out with a couple of plants bought at an orchid show in the 1960s, has turned into one of South Africa’s biggest orchid companies, Duckitt Nurseries. Wilferd Duckitt, the co-owner of the company
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Duck Breasts With Chopped Onions And Garlic
This exceptional meal deserves a special occasion.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Kubota Goes Big In North America
After announcing earlier this year that the company will launch a range of high-horsepow tractors for the North American market, Kubota recently unveiled the M8 Series, its largest tractor ever.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly August 2019
Farmer's Weekly
SA Scoops 35th Gold Medal At The Chelsea Flower Show
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) team, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, won SA’s 35th gold medal in 42 years of exhibiting at the prestigious show, recently held in London in the UK.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 9 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Platinum For Orange River Cellars' Muscadel Wines
Muscadel SA recently announced the winners of the 15th Muscadel SA awards ceremony held in Paarl in the Western Cape.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 9 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Israel Showcases Its 'simple' Irrigation Solutions
Israel, a world leader in irrigation and hi-tech agricultural innovations, was on hand at Nampo 2017 to showcase the country’s best solutions to water utilisation, amongst others.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 9 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Combating Leafroll Virus In The Vineyard
The South African wine industry has made huge strides in halting the spread of leafroll virus through focused research, trial sites and a formalised Leafroll Control Protocol.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 9 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Starting Up A Car 100 Years Ago
Before the invention of the electric starter, getting a car in motion was a demanding exercise, with emphasis on the word, ‘exercise’. Jake Venter recalls the days of hand cranking.
2 min |