![Cowboys, cattlemen and blue jeans in the Old West](https://cdn.magzter.com/1373618752/1707830645/articles/quSL_zTjs1707907072879/COWBOYS-CATTLEMEN-AND-BLUE-JEANS-IN-THE-OLD-WEST.jpg)
Anyone who has worked with cattle eventually realises that the ideal work garment is made out of denim. This dense fabric is on the verge of being waterproof, and it’s hard to wear it out or tear it. Denim also hardly shows the dirt and is thick enough to keep out those long thorns that easily rip through khaki and thin cotton trousers.
Denim was originally designed for workwear and made of thick strands of cotton woven to make a fabric called twill, or fustian. This fabric originated in Genoa, Italy, and the word ‘jeans’ is a colloquialism linked to the name of the city.
Denim workwear was dyed blue as that colour did not show the dirt. It was exported to the US for use by miners and agricultural workers who were involved in cropping and cattle farming at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Today, denim is made mainly from cotton grown and processed in China, India and the US.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 23 February 2024 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 23 February 2024 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![Tasty, nutritious beans come in many forms](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/J7q7HY0aJ1719512961641/TASTY-NUTRITIOUS-BEANS-COME-IN-MANY-FORMS.jpg)
Tasty, nutritious beans come in many forms
Beans originated in Central and South America and have been domesticated for thousands of years
![Can privately owned One Loft Races revive pigeon racing in SA?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/LEyQ7qNre1719512787875/CAN-PRIVATELY-OWNED-ONE-LOFT-RACES-REVIVE-PIGEON-RACING-IN-SA.jpg)
Can privately owned One Loft Races revive pigeon racing in SA?
In this article, part one of a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at the sport's decline in South Africa, and whether One Loft Races, with their attractive cash prizes, can revive it.
![Managing macadamia production when margins are low](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/-4k5rPEEw1719512547607/MANAGING-MACADAMIA-PRODUCTION-WHEN-MARGINS-ARE-LOW.jpg)
Managing macadamia production when margins are low
Macadamia nut farms have been in dire straits over the past two seasons as prices have dropped and input costs have risen. With little relief on the horizon, orchard management needs to be revised to maintain sustainability. Lindi Botha looks at the options available to farmers to reduce their costs.
![Lessons on the importance of general herd management](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/h1ezjZW8X1719512195923/LESSONS-ON-THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-GENERAL-HERD-MANAGEMENT.jpg)
Lessons on the importance of general herd management
Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the true value of effectively managing a Bonsmara herd in order to maximise profit.
![Combating GBV scourge in rural communities](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/X3q3pCuGd1719511998711/COMBATING-GBV-SCOURGE-IN-RURAL-COMMUNITIES.jpg)
Combating GBV scourge in rural communities
A ground-breaking programme is addressing gender-based violence in South Africa's rural communities and empowering young men to fight harmful stereotypes
![The role of One Health in sustainable farming and well-being](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/E5oOJzQ9v1719510075715/THE-ROLE-OF-ONE-HEALTH-IN-SUSTAINABLE-FARMING-AND-WELLBEING.jpg)
The role of One Health in sustainable farming and well-being
A movement strengthening relationships between communities and the land and promoting a mutually beneficial relationship between agriculture, health and the environment is emerging in sustainable farming. Ntokozo Zitha, a PhD student in the Economics Analysis Unit at the Agricultural Research Council, writes.
![Sustainable palm oil production in SA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/OuB4dv5-i1719509841822/SUSTAINABLE-PALM-OIL-PRODUCTION-IN-SA.jpg)
Sustainable palm oil production in SA
Palm oil has been heavily criticised due to the unsustainable practices used in its cultivation. But this is beginning to change, says Jannie Myburgh, senior manager of trading oils procurement at SD Guthrie International SA. He spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee.
![Western Cape avocado production on the rise](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/ehGYN5Zsd1719509662296/WESTERN-CAPE-AVOCADO-PRODUCTION-ON-THE-RISE.jpg)
Western Cape avocado production on the rise
Avocado production is booming in the Western Cape, and new insights into the industry were shared at a recent grower day
![Top Western Cape young farmer enjoys a challenge](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/jduzd_jX41719509567442/TOP-WESTERN-CAPE-YOUNG-FARMER-ENJOYS-A-CHALLENGE.jpg)
Top Western Cape young farmer enjoys a challenge
Dean Barnard, a farmer from George in the Western Cape, was recently named the Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year and will go on to represent the province at the Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year competition later this year.
![Guava association expects smaller 2024 harvest](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/owTIaZZ4s1719509447058/GUAVA-ASSOCIATION-EXPECTS-SMALLER-2024-HARVEST.jpg)
Guava association expects smaller 2024 harvest
The Guava Producers' Association (GPA) has adjusted its guava production estimate down from 25 200t to 22 500t, making the harvest 16% smaller than the 26 641t harvested last season and the smallest harvest in the past three years.