CATEGORIES

A Leader In Value-Added Salad Vegetables

Dew Crisp started out as a hydroponic farming operation near Johannesburg in the early 1980s and has since grown to become one of South Africa's leading producers of value-added salad products. Glenneis Kriel spoke to one of the company’s co-founders, Michael Kaplan, about the business's journey to success.

A Holistic Approach To Controlling Nematodes

Roughly a third of the world’s agricultural soils are already degraded, and if more farmers do not urgently adopt more sustainable farming practices, 90% of soils could be degraded by 2050, leading to greater yield losses. a holistic approach to the control of plant-parasitic nematodes provides a good example of the type of production practices that farmers need to adopt to halt further soil degradation. Denene Erasmus reports.

Soil sampling basics

A soil sample should represent a homogeneous area where there are no visible soil differences.

NSPCA urged to rejoin livestock welfare body

South Africa’s red meat industry has urged the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) to reconsider its decision to withdraw its membership from the country’s Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC).

Accommodation at one of the world's best hotels now at affordable prices

To alleviate the effects of COVID-19 on its operations, boutique hotel La Residence in Franschhoek is offering its suites at hugely discounted prices, making it affordable for more South Africans. Brian Berkman writes.

Controlling the leaf miner: Part 1

Leaf miners can cause damage to a variety of crops. Unfortunately, the chemicals used to control these pests may also kill beneficial insects that prey on the miners naturally, and at no cost! Bill Kerr explains.

Getting A Silage Maize Crop Into The Bunker Chop-Chop

In terms of its cost-benefit ratio, silage maize is arguably the best-value stored green feed for milk production systems in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. However, to maximize the nutritional quality and quantity of this crop, it is important to harvest and handle it at the correct time and in the correct way. Lloyd Phillips reports.

A Zero-Emissions Wine Grape Harvest For Italian Vineyard

Italian wine producer Fontanafredda and engine manufacturer FPT Industrial are partnering to produce one of the first zero-carbon-footprint wine grape harvests in the world.

Limpopo farmer gives indigenous okra a boost

Part-time farmer Tsakani Mhlongo is the founder and owner of SwaTsakani Farming in Tzaneen, Limpopo, which produces vegetables such as okra, tomatoes and spinach, as well as broilers. She is determined, however, to turn her part-time operation into a full-time career.

Regenerative farming for livestock farmers

Faced with increasing financial and ecological pressure, livestock farmers have no other option but to become more sustainable and resilient. Fortunately, explains independent agricultural consultant Dr Louis du Pisani, the solution can be found in well-managed veld, which also contributes directly to the health of the earth.

How to irrigate during cold spells

To prevent water freezing on the crop, you need to time the irrigation with care, says Bill Kerr.

Growing litchis: Part 1

Litchis are well adapted to different soil types, but grow well in sandy soil in South Africa’s cooler subtropical areas. The key to success, however, lies in appropriate irrigation practices.

Steady growth for global organic farming

According to the 2021 statistics yearbook ‘The World of Organic Agriculture’, which presents the latest statistics and emerging trends in organic farming from 187 countries around the world, organic farmland increased by 1,1 million hectares in 2019, and organic retail sales continued to grow.

Consistent quality: key to Boerboel breeding

Beverli Katz, one of South Africa’s top Boerboel breeders, claimed the prestigious national award of SA Stud Book Stud Herd of the Year for other species in 2020. In addition, her stud has bred the two highest-appraised male Boerboels in the world. Jeandré van der Walt visited her at Klein Sandfontein Boerboels and Boarding Kennels on the outskirts of Caledon to learn about her breeding techniques.

Accurate machine guidance made affordable

The improved efficiency offered by machine guidance means that most of these systems ultimately pay for themselves. The question is, at what accuracy level and price should a farmer invest in such a system, particularly now that the market is becoming more competitive? Stehan Cloete explores these issues.

BREEDING THE FINEST SA BOERPERD

The SA Boerperd is synonymous with versatility and hardiness; the breed excels in both English and Western riding disciplines, and can survive with little input on farms. Pieter Dempsey spoke to Frikkie Combrink, a top Boerperd breeder from Mpumalanga, about running a successful Boerperd stud.

A rare vegetable

Okra could be useful to farmers in torrid areas with a good water supply, said Hennie Nel of Hoedspruit. However, he added, the market was prone to over-supply, which put downward pressure on prices.

Eggless Banana-And Pecan-Nut Loaf

This moreish loaf is quick and easy to make, and requires only a few ingredients, says Prenusha Moodley. If you don’t like pecans, you can replace them with walnuts or even hazelnuts.

Bigger, Better, Bester! Young Producer Wins With Precision Farming

As the TaU Sa Young Farmer of the Year 2020, Danie Bester epitomises the ideal modern farmer: energetic, curious, techsavvy and connected to his peers globally. While his precision farming techniques have yielded him a bumper soya crop, this ambitious producer plans to do even better. Lindi Botha reports.

KNOW YOUR CATTLE TYPES

Bos indicus, B. taurus or Sanga cattle: which do you choose? Dr Michiel Scholtz and Prof Japie van der Westhuizen spoke to Glenneis Kriel about these breeds.

‘Choose good-quality Beefmaster bulls for heavier weaners'

Hal Budler, who runs the Budler Beefmaster stud in the Eastern Cape, says that breeding with top-quality bulls is the most effective way to improve weaning weights. He also strictly selects for maternal traits to produce adaptable and hardy Beefmasters.

It's time to plan for winter

Before we know it, winter will be upon us. Make sure you are properly prepared to help your crops withstand the first frost, says Bill Kerr.

Understanding thermal imaging

This non-invasive diagnostic tool can identify ‘hotspots’ that are linked to unsoundness, says Dr Mac.

Succession planning: get expert help and understand your options

Even if succession seems straightforward, as when passing on operations to a single heir, several steps are needed to facilitate the transfer of the farm from one generation to the next, says Trevor Dickinson.

A true escape to the countryside

Brian Berkman recently explored the dell in the Overberg that time forgot. Here he discovered warm hospitality, surprising luxury and spectacular scenery on a working protea farm.

A strategy for bush encroachment control

When sweet thorn competes with grazing plants for light and water, it starts to suppress grass production. It is therefore important to implement control measures to manage this encroachment. Dr Louis du Pisani, an independent agricultural consultant, discusses some of the factors that should inform a farmer’s bush encroachment management strategy.

A proven recipe for a successful family agri-processing business

When Ina Lessing started her home-made jams and preserves business 25 years ago, she had no idea that she would one day be supplying outlets across South Africa. Yvonne Fontyn reports.

Boom Or Bust For Expanding Orchards?

With prices remaining high, the citrus, avocado and macadamia industries have boomed in recent years and producers have continued expanding. This has left many wondering whether the situation is too good to be true and whether the bubble might be due to burst. Lindi Botha spoke to a number of industry experts.

Planning and timing: crucial success factors in cattle production

Lerato Senakhomo, the 2020 Agricultural Research Council's National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year, runs her Nguni herd in a semi-intensive feeding system. She believes the keys to successful cattle production are proper planning and good time management. Siyanda Sishuba visited her farm in Gauteng.

Breakthrough ahead for SA honey industry

A group of South African beekeepers travelled to Australia during the first All-Australia Bee Congress and returned with a recommendations for improving South Africa’s local bee industry.