CATEGORIES

Diligent crop protection is crucial

Several methods are available to help farmers protect their crops from weeds, diseases and pests, says Dr Benard Ngwene, the agricultural advisory manager for AGCO Africa.

Choosing The Best Time To Breed Your Mare

There are pros and cons to breeding your mare at different times of the year, says Dr Mac.

Feeding pigs: Part 1

Pigs cannot thrive on leftover scraps from the kitchen. To ensure healthy, productive and profitable pigs, feed them nutritious, balanced rations.

THE FERTILITY FACTOR IN MOHAIR SUCCESS

Eastern Cape mohair producer Paul Webber has twice won the prestigious Daidoh Trophy Competition for the highest average price for a summer kid clip. Mike Burgess visited him recently on his farm to better understand his mohair production system.

Private Jackie Baboon's war

During the First World War, the pet baboon of Private Albert Marr followed the soldiers of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment into the heat and horror of battle

Know your armyworm species

Effective control of armyworm begins with being able to differentiate between the various species. South African crop farmers need to learn and apply this skill, Dr Annemie Erasmus of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute told Annelie Coleman.

From seasonal worker to award-winning farmer

The Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture winner in 2019, Dirk Louw, is showing that it still is possible to start farming from scratch. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about what contributed to his success, his perseverance against all odds and his plans for the future

Controlling Gibberella on maize, sorghum and wheat: Part 1

Fungal pathogens belonging to the genus Fusarium can cause severe damage, leading to yield losses and a drop in profits.

Choosing the right lettuce variety

Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and a breeder of a range of vegetables

Advanced new tractor tyres

New technology and design elements featured on some of the tractor tyres launched recently offer many benefits for farmers, including low soil compaction and financial savings through increased productivity and lower fuel consumption.

Breeding Exceptional Dual-Purpose Merinos

Mega Merinos in the Colesberg district of the Northern Cape markets thousands of stud and commercial sheep annually, either from the farm or via selected breed sales. Jacques Pienaar told Sabrina Dean about his operation’s history, breeding philosophy and plans for the year ahead.

US-South Africa Trade: What Does The Future Hold?

The recent decision of the US to remove certain countries from its developing country exemption list, coupled with other developments that may have an impact on the trade relationship between the US and South Africa, could have serious ramifications for South Africa’s competitiveness as an exporter to the US. Dr. Moses H Lubinga, a senior economist for trade research at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, looks at how this scenario may play out for South Africa.

Irrigation systems for undercover cropping

Maximising water-use efficiency in South African undercover crop farming operations has become both a financial and moral imperative. But selecting the most appropriate undercover irrigation technologies can be a challenge in itself. Three local experts shared their advice on this increasingly complex topic with Lloyd Phillips.

Improved control and flexibilty over grain revenue

The combine is the single most capital-intensive piece of equipment on a grain farm. Utilising as much of its capacity as possible is important to overall farm efficiency, writes Stehan Cloete.

Growth mediums for greenhouse production

Greenhouse farming is an intensive, high-yielding operation. Using the correct growth medium forms the basis of the operation, and mistakes in this area can cost a farmer dearly, according to producers and experts. Lindi Botha looks at which mediums work best for different crops.

Undercover farming: big investment, greater returns

With its reduced land and water requirements, tunnel farming is a viable option for farmers with little access to natural resources, says Suzanne Oosthuizen, managing director of the Undercover Farming Expo. She spoke to Lindi Botha about the unique benefits of undercover farming.

Don't allow change to catch you napping

At times, new developments might seem to come like a bolt out of the blue. But if you keep up with trends, you’ll be forewarned of change and have time to adapt, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Lettuce: more varied than ever

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) goes back a long way; it has been cultivated for more than 4 500 years. As with most vegetables, it looked very different when first discovered in the Middle East to the roundish, leafy vegetable we enjoy today.

Death in the mountains

Solitary graves on various farms bear witness to ambushes and skirmishes in the mountains of the north-eastern Cape during the Anglo-Boer War, and each town has a memorial to the fallen. Graham Jooste tells of some of the actions in this unforgiving region.

Growing Chinese cabbage

While deemed a ‘weed’ in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, Chinese cabbage is a popular vegetable on local markets.

SHORT LEASES HAMPER GROWTH FOR AWARD-WINNING CATTLE FARMERS

Piet Phahlane and Aaron Makena, the Agriculture Research Council National Emerging Beef Farmers of the Year 2019 winners, say one of the most valuable lessons they have learnt as farmers is the importance of applying good animal health management principles. Siyanda Sishuba visited them on their farm in Rust de Winter, Limpopo.

Preventing hybridisation to protect natural resources

Some farming enterprises, such as wild harvesting, require particular care to ensure long-term sustainability and protect the environment.

On-farm hydroelectric power boosts dairy's bottom line

Hydroelectric power production need not mean massive installations for large-scale commercial supply. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Peter Ward’s small-scale hydroelectric system on his farm generates sufficient power for his dairy enterprise while saving his operation up to R1,3 million a year. At the same time, he uses the precious resource of water sustainably.

MAKING AGRICULTURE MORE BEE-FRIENDLY

With the majority of food crops being pollinated by bees, dwindling colonies pose a threat to agriculture. But while pesticides play a major role in declining bee numbers, monocultures and a lack of biodiversity are the greater problem. Lindi Botha spoke to industry leaders.

The intricacies of crop rotation

The purpose of crop rotation is to prevent the build-up of a pest or disease to which a crop is susceptible. But there is more to rotation than merely switching crops.

Water metering: the first step towards more efficient use?

The newly published regulation by the Department of Water and Sanitation directing all commercial irrigators to install water-measuring devices may seem onerous. However, according to James Brand, a senior associate at ENSafrica for natural resources and environment, it may represent a first step towards the crucial goal of improving water management in the sector.

Ginger: a challenging crop, but well worth the effort

Cultivating ginger is costly on all fronts: time, labour and water. But managed correctly, the crop adds good cash flow to a farming business. Jaco Lubbe of Sabie Valley Ginger in Mpumalanga spoke to Lindi Botha about getting this demanding rhizome to pay off.

21st century update of Kubota ‘dream tractor'

Half a century after exhibiting its first-ever concept tractor at the 1970 Japan World Exposition in Osaka, Kubota unveiled a vastly updated version of its ‘dream tractor’ at a new product exhibition held in Kyoto City in January.

BONSMARA SA RED BREED EVENT: don't miss it!

Despite the national ban on all livestock auctions, the annual Red Breed Event will go ahead in Parys, according to Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA.

The Basics Of Lumpy Skin Disease

It is wise to vaccinate cattle against lumpy skin disease, as an outbreak can cause huge financial loss.