Business
Farmer's Weekly
Sweet thorn encroachment in the Eastern Cape
A number of woody encroacher species are expanding both their distribution and density in the Eastern Cape. Sweet thorn (Vachellia karroo), the most common of these, detrimentally affects the quality of grazing in the province, writes independent agricultural consultant Dr Louis du Pisani.
6 min |
July 31, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Beefmasters produce heavy weaners despite drought
Coenraad Viljoen, who ran the Josephus Beefmaster Stud on Sunny Slopes near East London, said that strict selection criteria had paid off in the long run.
5 min |
July 31, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Insect Farm's Plans For Sustainable Protein
Insect farming, which is increasingly regarded as a sustainable alternative source of protein, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing agricultural industries. Dr Michael Woods, co-founder and CEO of Susento, spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about the advantages of insect farming and his goal of producing a high-quality protein sports drink from fly larvae.
5 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The Master Architect Of The Highveld
Dutch architect Sytze Wierda left a unique and timeless legacy across the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902).
3 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Rapid Spread Of Invasive Species
According to researchers at the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University (SU), a total of 1422 alien species are currently naturalised or invasive in South Africa. Much more action is needed to counter the increasing threats posed by invasive alien species in the country, warns Wiida Fourie-Basson, science writer in the SU Faculty of Sciences.
3 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
New Harvesting Solution For Premium Red Wine Grapes
New Holland’s new Braud 8030L CombiGrape offers an effective and user-friendly destemming and grapesorting solution to suit the needs of medium-sized vineyards.
2 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Varied Tech Solutions Required For Small-Scale Farming
The dual nature of South Africa’s agricultural landscape precludes a one-size-fits-all approach to technology solutions. Small-scale farmers have limited budgets and challenges that cannot be solved without taking their distinctive circumstances into account.
6 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Social Media Takes Farmer From Part-Time To Full-Time Tonota
When establishing a new business, investors often struggle with what to focus on first: the market or the product. Pork farmer Hannes Richards had little difficulty with this decision. A single advertisement on social media triggered such demand for his product that he had to expand his operation as rapidly as possible. Lindi Botha visited him on his farm in Limpopo.from part-time to full-time
6 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
EU's Proposed Food Labelling Bad News For Farmers
Key proposals in the European Commission’s new Farm to Fork strategy include enhancing protection for consumers and the environment. However, according to Roberto Moncalvo, vice-president of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU, the strategy may have negative consequences for farmers as well as consumers, as it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to produce a host of wholesome traditional foods that are the backbone of many farming regions.
5 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Dental Sinusitis And Apical Tooth Disease
A rotten cheek tooth root can cause sinusitis and extensive facial swelling, warns Dr Mac.
2 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The Psychology Of Retirement
Retirement is not a single event; it involves both emotional and financial considerations
3 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Don't Take Shortcuts With Seedlings
When I mention seedlings in my articles, you may take it for granted that I’m referring to professionally grown seedlings in cavity seedling trays.
2 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Meet The Future Of Agriculture
The Syngenta Leadership Academy is aimed at empowering a new generation of leaders in South African agriculture. Siyanda Sishuba spoke to three alumni about the skills and knowledge they gained from the academy’s programme.
4 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Speedlings sweeten seed cane propagation efficiency
Conventional stick seed cane, while long relied on as the source of plant material for commercial sugar cane crops, comes with unavoidable inefficiencies. Experts in seed cane propagation explain how the ‘speedlings’ concept provides an alternative, cost-efficient option that has already proven itself in South Africa’s deman ing sugar cane farming industry.
7 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Transporting cattle
Every cattle operation has to get its animals from A to B, despite the stress it places on them. Here’s how to carry it out smoothly and humanely.
2 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
THE DEATH MARCH
Graham Jooste dips into the diary of Rudolph Jordaan, who, with other Allied prisoners of war, was forced to work, and ultimately walk, across much of Europe towards the end of the Second World War.
5 min |
July 24, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Making waves: should South Africa's livestock exports by sea be allowed to continue?
South Africa’s exports of live animals by ship to the Middle East presents a major new opportunity for the country’s red meat farming industry. But the initiative has generated huge controversy within the industry and from animal welfare experts. Lloyd Phillips looks at both sides of the story.
6 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Flicking flies in Barkly East
Fly fishing is as synonymous with the Eastern Cape district of Barkly East as are Merino wool and snow-capped mountains in winter. As Mike Burgess writes, the legacy of fly fishing in the region is not only rich, but evolving.
5 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Favouring quality over quantity on a small piece oF land
The Patience family started farming on 95ha of rented land in Saron in the Western Cape in the 1960s, beginning with just 10 sheep and a handful of cattle. Today, Therecia Patience and her son, Gary, are on the same land, and are systematically improving the genetics of their Dohne Merino sheep. They spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about their successful operation.
4 min |
July 17, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Stress In Cattle
As part of an animal’s stress response, its body releases cortisol, a hormone that provides energy to help the animal escape the stressor. If the stress persists, however, the animal’s health will suffer.
2 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Tooth Caps In Young Horses
Deciduous teeth that are not shed can be problematic in young horses in training, warns Dr Mac.
2 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Beefmaster Breeders Enjoy A Packed, Informative Tour
The annual Beefmaster tour took place in Mpumalanga this year, and included visits to nine prominent Beefmaster breeders who collectively own about 8 300 animals.
2 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Good News For Landowners Defending ‘Vexatious' Land Claims
Landowners who previously had to personally foot the bill for legal fees to successfully defend themselves against vexatious or frivolous land claims will now have the option to request a court to award costs orders against the state or its legal representatives. Lloyd Phillips reports.
2 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Coping Strategies To Deal With Uncertainty
South African agriculture is a uniquely risky environment, yet its farmers are well-known for meeting challenges with courage and resilience. Glenneis Kriel spoke to four prominent farmers to discover how they deal with uncertainty.
7 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Seedlings: Well Begun Is Half Done!
Seedlings are the start of a new crop, so the better their condition, the more likely you are to benefit at harvest time. Most experienced farmers will confirm that when seedlings grow rapidly into a uniform stand, the crop usually ends up well.
2 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Health-Conscious Consumers Drive Up Fresh Produce Prices
Consumer interest in healthy eating is pushing up sales of fresh produce. But looking at the commodities that experienced the highest growth over the past few years, one thing is clear: information, marketing, packaging and branding hold the key to increasing demand and staying competitive. Lindi Botha spoke to industry experts Jaco Oosthuizen and Kandas Cloete.
7 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Are Top-Priced Genetics Really Worth It?
The logic seems to dictate that some livestock producers must suffer buyer’s remorse after purchasing an animal for an eye-watering price. Glenneis Kriel asked a few farmers whether their record-breaking acquisitions have paid off, and found the answer to be unanimous.
7 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Self-Taught Worm Farmer Recycles Waste Into Compost
Using earthworms to recycle food waste into compost is not only profitable but helps to address the increasing problem of food waste. Worm farmer Thato Lekonyane spoke to Siyanda Sishuba about his enterprise.
5 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
SA's agri confidence plummets amid market disruptions
Despite improved output and export earnings, agribusiness confidence has fallen to the lowest level since the 2009 financial crisis, due to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Lindi Botha reports.
3 min |
July 03, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Angular Limb Deformities In Foals
Angular limb deformities can be treated in various ways, depending on the severity of the deformity, says Dr Mac.
2 min |