Keeping vines healthy

Leafroll virus is a destructive disease that shortens the lifespan of vineyards and lowers wine quality. Glenneis Kriel reports on ways to identify and prevent this disease.

Dexters survive for decades in national park

The relocation of a feral herd of 16 Dexters that lived in the Addo Elephant National Park's Wilderness area has caught the attention of scientists after the South African Dexter Cattle Breeders' Society became aware of the herd roaming in the park a few years ago. The society initiated the relocation of the animals to Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng, writes Annelie Coleman.

Focus on vegetable production

The basics of growing perfect carrots| A guide to onion production

South Africa's dairy sector in trouble

Despite better producer and lower feed prices, milk production in this country remains under pressure. Chances of a recovery remain slim, says Dr Koos Coetzee.

Assistance needed with research on praying mantis

The South African Mantodea group needs support in its quest to find out more about the insect commonly known as the praying mantis.

What the system means to farmers

South African crop farmers can secure remendous benefits with the use of modern precision seed-spacing drills.

The importance of routine in horse care

Fitting your riding times into a daily pattern with stable mates may help to establish an ordered way of life for your horse, writes Dr Mac.

Beware of mosaic virus in your cabbage field

Transmitted it susceptible by aphids, this virus can damage your crop and make to downy mildew, warns Bill Kerr.

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE - Growing common birdsfoot

Besides improving the physical, chemical, hydrological and biological properties of soil, species such as serradella can be used as animal feed.

Cotton, the 'white gold' of dryland crop production in SA

Cotton production in the North West has proved to be a viable alternative to maize and soya bean, with the profitability of cotton exceeding that of maize and soya bean despite extremely high input costs. Annelie Coleman attended a cotton information day in Schweizer-Reneke and compiled this report.

Feeding guidelines for various stages of production

Tara Felix, an extension beef specialist, and Nathan Briggs, a former beef extension educator, both from Pennsylvania State University in the US, provide guidelines as hypothetical scenarios that show dietary comparisons across a singular system for growing beef cattle.

What to consider when mixing your own feed

Mixing your own feed can save you money in the short term, but can also cost you in the long term if you do not pay attention to sourcing the optimal ingredients.

Nematode management starts with knowledge

Some species of nematodes, or roundworms, can become a serious problem, says Dr Driekie Fourie, technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare in Africa and the Middle East.

Symposium a great opportunity for sommeliers

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has changed its Sommelier Cup competition into a Sommelier Symposium to give more sommeliers exposure to South Africa’s unique wines and culture.

Farmers optimistic after handover

An Eastern Cape wool association, which includes a sizeable amount of women and youngsters as members, received a generous donation from government recently, writes Jyothi Laldas.

NWK asks Eskom to restore power to Lichtenburg

The demise of South Africa’s municipalities and the ever-decreasing capacity to deliver basic services such as electricity are increasingly impacting on local consumers’ ability to afford food and compromises food security, according to Dr Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist.

Villiersdorp growers excel in best producer awards

Stettyn Vineyards, owned by Hendrik and Wena Botha, took the lion’s share of the 2022 Twoa-Day Best Producer Awards.

South Coast hosts Agricultural Careers and Economic Opportunities Expo 2023

KwaZulu-Natal learners were shown the many opportunities that exist in the sector, writes Jyothi Laldas.

Two new Cape Wine Masters announced

Marlee Malan of Vinochem Specialities, and Rudolph Steenkamp, co-director of Salt Rock Wines, recently received their Cape Wine Masters diplomas from the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM).

More sustainable red rice to make a comeback in Indian rice fields

Rice farmers in Himachal Pradesh in northern India are going back to their roots and growing red rice. According to the country’s Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, red rice had many beneficial qualities and grew well without fertiliser and other chemicals.

Namibia aims to grow international sheep exports

Although the exportation of Namibian lamb to high-value markets is still in its infancy, it is paving the way for a more sustainable sheep production industry in that country. This was according to Roelie Venter, executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU).

Innovative Free State students win big

Innovation was on display at the Enactus South Africa National Exposition, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, with more than 700 youngsters attending, writes Jyothi Laldas.

The quest for healthy food

The global food system is not broken but its resilience is threatened, according to researchers looking for answers to the problems around nutritional quality and inequalities in the food chains.

BRICS, geopolitics and agriculture

South Africa has been in the global media over the past two months for all the wrong reasons. Most of it falls in the category of scoring own goals! August will be dominated by the BRICS summit that will take place in South Africa, and it is necessary to consider the context of the summit as well as the possible advantages it may have for South Africa and for agriculture specifically.

The lowdown on livestock medicines

While over-medication can be a problem, sometimes leading to poisoning, medications play an important role in functional and profitable farming

Cannabis and mental health

Understanding the endocannabinoid system is essential to understanding how cannabis may affect mental health, says Thomas Walker. Never self-medicate, but rather always consult a doctor first.

Best strategy and management practices

Business books provide a wealth of guidelines for business success, but are often too complicated. Raynor and Ahmed boil it down to three essential rules

How to cope with blackleg on cabbages

This fungus might be pretty rare these days, but it’s still worth knowing how to deal with it

Growing tall fescue

Tall fescue is a species with a relatively high water requirement, but does particularly well with irrigation, since it is a very important species used in fodder flow programmes. It has the ability to grow in dryland conditions in relatively wet areas such as wetlands.

A family success, thanks to Massey Ferguson

Rene de Schmid and his two sons, Jean and Chris, run Frumentum Farming in Namibia, which operates in the maize triangle near Grootfontein, the Otavi region, and the Otjiwarongo area.