CATEGORIES

Rapid Spread Of Invasive Species

According to researchers at the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University (SU), a total of 1422 alien species are currently naturalised or invasive in South Africa. Much more action is needed to counter the increasing threats posed by invasive alien species in the country, warns Wiida Fourie-Basson, science writer in the SU Faculty of Sciences.

New Harvesting Solution For Premium Red Wine Grapes

New Holland’s new Braud 8030L CombiGrape offers an effective and user-friendly destemming and grapesorting solution to suit the needs of medium-sized vineyards.

Varied Tech Solutions Required For Small-Scale Farming

The dual nature of South Africa’s agricultural landscape precludes a one-size-fits-all approach to technology solutions. Small-scale farmers have limited budgets and challenges that cannot be solved without taking their distinctive circumstances into account.

Social Media Takes Farmer From Part-Time To Full-Time Tonota

When establishing a new business, investors often struggle with what to focus on first: the market or the product. Pork farmer Hannes Richards had little difficulty with this decision. A single advertisement on social media triggered such demand for his product that he had to expand his operation as rapidly as possible. Lindi Botha visited him on his farm in Limpopo.from part-time to full-time

EU's Proposed Food Labelling Bad News For Farmers

Key proposals in the European Commission’s new Farm to Fork strategy include enhancing protection for consumers and the environment. However, according to Roberto Moncalvo, vice-president of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU, the strategy may have negative consequences for farmers as well as consumers, as it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to produce a host of wholesome traditional foods that are the backbone of many farming regions.

Dental Sinusitis And Apical Tooth Disease

A rotten cheek tooth root can cause sinusitis and extensive facial swelling, warns Dr Mac.

The Psychology Of Retirement

Retirement is not a single event; it involves both emotional and financial considerations

Don't Take Shortcuts With Seedlings

When I mention seedlings in my articles, you may take it for granted that I’m referring to professionally grown seedlings in cavity seedling trays.

Meet The Future Of Agriculture

The Syngenta Leadership Academy is aimed at empowering a new generation of leaders in South African agriculture. Siyanda Sishuba spoke to three alumni about the skills and knowledge they gained from the academy’s programme.

Speedlings sweeten seed cane propagation efficiency

Conventional stick seed cane, while long relied on as the source of plant material for commercial sugar cane crops, comes with unavoidable inefficiencies. Experts in seed cane propagation explain how the ‘speedlings’ concept provides an alternative, cost-efficient option that has already proven itself in South Africa’s deman ing sugar cane farming industry.

Transporting cattle

Every cattle operation has to get its animals from A to B, despite the stress it places on them. Here’s how to carry it out smoothly and humanely.

THE DEATH MARCH

Graham Jooste dips into the diary of Rudolph Jordaan, who, with other Allied prisoners of war, was forced to work, and ultimately walk, across much of Europe towards the end of the Second World War.

Making waves: should South Africa's livestock exports by sea be allowed to continue?

South Africa’s exports of live animals by ship to the Middle East presents a major new opportunity for the country’s red meat farming industry. But the initiative has generated huge controversy within the industry and from animal welfare experts. Lloyd Phillips looks at both sides of the story.

Flicking flies in Barkly East

Fly fishing is as synonymous with the Eastern Cape district of Barkly East as are Merino wool and snow-capped mountains in winter. As Mike Burgess writes, the legacy of fly fishing in the region is not only rich, but evolving.

Favouring quality over quantity on a small piece oF land

The Patience family started farming on 95ha of rented land in Saron in the Western Cape in the 1960s, beginning with just 10 sheep and a handful of cattle. Today, Therecia Patience and her son, Gary, are on the same land, and are systematically improving the genetics of their Dohne Merino sheep. They spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about their successful operation.

Stress In Cattle

As part of an animal’s stress response, its body releases cortisol, a hormone that provides energy to help the animal escape the stressor. If the stress persists, however, the animal’s health will suffer.

Tooth Caps In Young Horses

Deciduous teeth that are not shed can be problematic in young horses in training, warns Dr Mac.

Beefmaster Breeders Enjoy A Packed, Informative Tour

The annual Beefmaster tour took place in Mpumalanga this year, and included visits to nine prominent Beefmaster breeders who collectively own about 8 300 animals.

Good News For Landowners Defending ‘Vexatious' Land Claims

Landowners who previously had to personally foot the bill for legal fees to successfully defend themselves against vexatious or frivolous land claims will now have the option to request a court to award costs orders against the state or its legal representatives. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Coping Strategies To Deal With Uncertainty

South African agriculture is a uniquely risky environment, yet its farmers are well-known for meeting challenges with courage and resilience. Glenneis Kriel spoke to four prominent farmers to discover how they deal with uncertainty.

Seedlings: Well Begun Is Half Done!

Seedlings are the start of a new crop, so the better their condition, the more likely you are to benefit at harvest time. Most experienced farmers will confirm that when seedlings grow rapidly into a uniform stand, the crop usually ends up well.

Health-Conscious Consumers Drive Up Fresh Produce Prices

Consumer interest in healthy eating is pushing up sales of fresh produce. But looking at the commodities that experienced the highest growth over the past few years, one thing is clear: information, marketing, packaging and branding hold the key to increasing demand and staying competitive. Lindi Botha spoke to industry experts Jaco Oosthuizen and Kandas Cloete.

Are Top-Priced Genetics Really Worth It?

The logic seems to dictate that some livestock producers must suffer buyer’s remorse after purchasing an animal for an eye-watering price. Glenneis Kriel asked a few farmers whether their record-breaking acquisitions have paid off, and found the answer to be unanimous.

Self-Taught Worm Farmer Recycles Waste Into Compost

Using earthworms to recycle food waste into compost is not only profitable but helps to address the increasing problem of food waste. Worm farmer Thato Lekonyane spoke to Siyanda Sishuba about his enterprise.

SA's agri confidence plummets amid market disruptions

Despite improved output and export earnings, agribusiness confidence has fallen to the lowest level since the 2009 financial crisis, due to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Lindi Botha reports.

Angular Limb Deformities In Foals

Angular limb deformities can be treated in various ways, depending on the severity of the deformity, says Dr Mac.

Feed For Every Broiler Farmer

Epol’s wide range of broiler feeds caters for all producers, from the smallest-scale beginner to the largest commercial business, enabling every operation to achieve target weights and maximise profit.

The Dairy Industry: Meeting New Consumer Demands

Consumers are increasingly demanding the best of both worlds when it comes to dairy. For example, they want milk that is safe to drink and has a long shelf, but still tastes like farm-fresh raw milk. Prof Elna Buys, head of the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, writes about how the dairy industry has had to innovate to respond to these types of demands.

New Harvest Winner Gets The Basics Right For Success

As the son of a farmworker, Sewis van der Horst managed to work his way up to become a farmer in his own right and an exporter of quality fruit. Last year, he was crowned the Toyota New Harvest winner. Jeandré van der Walt visited his operation close to Villiersdorp.

The Importance Of Having A Breeding Season

Optimal reproductive performance is crucial to the success of a beef cattle enterprise. A defined breeding season can help to achieve this.