'Agriculture Is a Journey, Not a Race'

Achmad Brinkhuis was named the Agricultural Writers SA's New Entrant for Farming in 2021. He spoke to Lindi Botha about his egg and vegetable operation, and the challenges and opportunities facing his business.

Read this before growing tomatoes

Tomato production can be highly profitable, but you need to choose your tomato type and cultivar with care, says Bill Kerr.

Moving South Africa's apple industry forward

Cape Sweet Nursery is revolutionising the production of apple plant material on dwarfing rootstocks. Farmer Retief du Toit and ZZ2 production manager Hendrik Pohl spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their work.

Tips for small-scale poultry producers

Gladys 'Nana' Towbola of Peezel Farms not only farms broilers and layers, but is passionate about uplifting other small-scale growers through regular workshops. She spoke to Susan Marais about what it takes to start and run a small poultry farm.

Hertzogville Show 2022

The Hertzogville Show was held on 11 and 12 March. There were six cattle breeds and 145 cattle on show, and champions were crowned in each category.

Give buchu a go!

Approximately 80% of buchu essential oils are used in the food and flavour industry to enhance fruit flavours.

Fighter ace, aviation pioneer, bold leader: the remarkable career of Quintin Brand

Quintin Brand had extraordinary flying skills, and put them to full use as a fighter ace and a record-breaking London-to-Cape Town pilot. He was also a superb strategist during the Battle of Britain.

Energy storage can enhance SA agriculture

Energy-related challenges pose a significant obstacle to the agriculture sector's continued growth in South Africa, says Abe Cambridge, founder, and CEO of The Sun Exchange, which specializes in solar-energy projects.

Rabies cases still on the rise in South Africa

Due to people in farming communities keeping higher numbers of dogs, rabies is more prevalent in rural areas.

KZN flood damage adds to pressure on milk volumes

South Africa‘s milk producers remain under pressure due to challenges such as animal disease outbreaks.

Straight hocks and lameness

According to a new study by British veterinarians, horses with very straight hocks are highly likely to experience lameness due to inflammation of the superficial digital ligament.

R17 billion needed for reconstruction after devastating flooding in KwaZulu-Natal

According to the latest calculations by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, R17 billion is needed to repair the damage caused by the recent floods in the province.

Optimal irrigation for perfect blueberries

Since blueberry cultivation requires a lot of water, making every drop count is key to the sector’s survival in a water-stressed country like South Africa. Farmer Wikus Strauss spoke to Lindi Botha about his methods.

Nampo Harvest Day: The rise of a global agricultural megastar

After a two-year absence from the agricultural calendar, Grain SA’s Nampo Harvest Day, the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, is ready to make a spectacular comeback, says Toit Wessels, Grain SA’s assistant manager for marketing and Nampo.

Insect decline driven by climate change and farming – report

A new study has found that in areas with high-intensity agriculture and substantial warming of the climate, insect numbers have plunged by 49% and the number of different species by 27%.

How to optimise beef cattle production

Optimisation of the environment is the single most important requirement for sustainable beef production, according to animal scientist Hennie Snyman. For that to happen, the implementation of precision farming principles is of the essence, he says.

Fruit Logistica attendance positive for fruit industry

The recent Fruit Logistica Berlin 2022 exhibition in Germany hosted 40 000 buyers and trade visitors from about 130 countries, as well as 2 000 exhibitors from 87 countries.

Angus: renowned for its marbling and maternal abilities

Basie Bezuidenhout is the president of the Angus Society of South Africa and owner of the Vredenheim Angus stud. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the advantages of this extraordinary cattle breed and its progress in South Africa.

A virus that can be deadly for potatoes

Potato virus Y can infect a healthy plant within a very short period of time, and is easily transmitted by aphids, says Bill Kerr.

Pretty Views, Pears, and a Painting Pig

A picturesque pear farm in the Franschhoek Valley offers a number of accommodation options, including a barn where an artistic pig and other rescue animals spend the night! Brian Berkman reports.

Tech and Expert Advice Help This Dairyman Weather Price Storms

JK Basson is a three-time winner of the ARC's National Master Dairyman of the Year Award. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how he manages to survive in an industry plagued by rising production costs.

How Iron Levels in Maize Have Changed Over 2000 Years

According to a study by Ale Vidal Elgueta et al, researchers from Chile and France, the intensification of agricultural production over the past two millennia has led to a reduction in the level of iron in maize.

Early Blight: A Serious Threat to Older Plants

This fungal disease damages potato plants later in their growth phase. It can destroy an entire crop if not treated in time, says Bill Kerr.

Chocolate Cake

This delicious recipe is the ideal way to serve up any leftover Easter eggs. If you have no leftover eggs, it’s the perfect excuse to buy a few more!

Growing Bambara

Vigna subterranea pods can be eaten fresh or boiled after drying, and can be ground to make puddings.

Education is the key to succession preparedness

For many families, succession planning seems too treacherous a journey to undertake, so they simply opt not to set off on it. As a result, they forgo a critical opportunity to shape their future for the better.

Raise weaning weights through good nutrition and fertility

Top-quality heifers and well-balanced nutrition form two of the most important cornerstones of effective red meat production, writes Henco Leicester, technical manager at Telwiedre, an animal feed manufacturer, in Heilbron. He explains the principles of heifer management and the role of lick supplementation.

Management and control strategies for fall armyworm

Fall armyworm can cause serious damage to crops, and is a growing threat across the world. This report looks at ways in which governments and farmers can respond in order to control an outbreak of the pest.

The pros of integrated pest management

Integrated pest management (IPM) helps farmers reduce their dependence on chemicals to fend off pests, while improving biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Industry experts Andrew Bennett and Rodney Bell spoke to Magda du Toit about the factors involved in implementing an IPM programme.

The beauty of a water pump

If your home and other buildings are badly damaged by flooding, follow Husqvarna's six steps to remove any excess water from these structures.