CATEGORIES

Tips On Planting Cucurbits

Some farmers, especially at the end of winter, use seedlings for their cucurbit crops in an attempt to get an early-growth advantage and better prices.

New Fruit-sorting Technology Helps Curb Food Waste

Earlier this year, Compac Sorting Equipment, part of TOMRA Food, launched its Field Research Unit, which can be deployed on lands to research the fresh produce industry’s most challenging issues. James Flocchini, Compac’s regional director for South Africa and Asia, spoke to Denene Erasmus about how the unit will be used to develop solutions for the citrus industry specifically and how the technology can ultimately help limit food waste.

Nematodes' Negative Impact On African Leafy Vegetables

Plant parasitic nematodes pose a serious threat to food security in Africa as they damage crops and hamper production. Dr Nancy Ntidi, a nematologist at the Agricultural Research Council, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the effects these pests have on African leafy vegetables, and how they can be effectively managed.

Fiat Tractors: Still Going Strong

New Holland is celebrating 100 years of Fiat tractors with a programme of events that kicked off at the EIMA 2018 exhibition in November and will continue during 2019. Joe Spencer reports.

Fine-tune Your Cucurbit Spacing

Back in the days when Boer pumpkins were planted almost exclusively, I got talking to a Limpopo farmer who had just delivered a load of pumpkins to a depot that distributed produce to mine kitchens.

Integrated Financing For Smallholder Farmers

Africa’s agricultural potential can only be realised if smallholders gain access to finance. But loans cannot be focused on just one aspect of the value chain at the expense of others. Antois van der Westhuizen, managing director of John Deere Financial, suggests ways to design integrated financing models for smallholders.

Small-Scale Cotton Farming Can Create Prosperity

The remote community of Khombaso in Mpumalanga has placed all its hope in developing a cotton industry to lift the town out of poverty and prevent further urbanisation of its residents. Lindi Botha spoke to Cotton SA about making small-scale cotton farming viable.

Smuts: A World Statesman

A renowned scholar, soldier and political figure, Jan Smuts rose to prominence while still in his twenties. He went on to become prime minister of the Union of South Africa, and was a key adviser to the British government in both world wars. Graham Jooste looks at Smuts’s life.

Look After Those Earthworms!

Earthworms play a crucial role in improving soil quality, and every farmer should try to maintain a healthy population of these remarkable creatures.

Great Reads For The Holiday

From Vietnam to chocolate, from dogs, wolves and opera to Lucas Davenport and Zapiro, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to whiling away those long summer days.

The Rake's Progress

McHale rakes and balers have been tested under the world’s most difficult conditions, resulting in strong, efficient and reliable machines, says Joe Spencer.

Cotton And Mohair Sectors To Promote Local Consumption

Role players in the domestic cotton and mohair industries have joined forces to ensure that a greater portion of natural fibres produced in South Africa are also processed and consumed here.

Beef Farming As Part Of A Broader Business

Napoleon Holborn of Komga is the 2018 Agricultural Research Council’s Emerging Beef Farmer for the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited him to learn about his beef operation and how he has built it, and his other business interests, on the solid foundation laid by his father.

Chicken Thighs With Cauliflower And Leek Mash

There is no doubt in my mind that thighs are the best part of the chicken, and that cauliflower mash and its blessed variants cut your carbohydrate load without leaving you with a sense of sacrifice.

Why You Should Take The Leap To Cover Cropping

A cover crop can play a valuable role in ensuring that a cropping operation grows and remains sustainable. Cover crops can be tricky to manage, however. In this first article in a series of three, veteran US farmer and cover crop coach Steve Groff explains why a farmer should not give up when trying to grow a cover crop for the first time. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Rewards Elude Farmer Despite Hard Work

Petros Sithole has spent a decade working hard to rebuild a farm near Malelane left destitute by land reform beneficiaries, but now stands to lose it all. After stepping in at government’s request, he has been told to leave as the same beneficiaries have returned to the farm. By Lindi Botha.

Make Money From Cattle Hides

Selling hides can add to your overall profit margin, so it pays to protect them.

Global Economic Outlook: Growing Gloom Worldwide

Growth in global GDP is expected to slow in both developed and emerging market economies this year and in 2020. The reasons for this include a decline in world trade, due in large part to the trade war between the US and China. In a recent report on the global economic outlook, Rabobank economists provided insight into these and other factors.

Tissue-Cultured Bananas: Uniform And High-Yielding

Establishing a healthy orchard starts with choosing the correct plant material. In South Africa’s only laboratory of its type, banana plants are cultivated from tissue culture to produce clones that offer farmers vigorous growth and high yield. Lindi Botha visited Du Roi Laboratory in Limpopo.

Dairy And Citrus Combine To Ensure Recipe For Success

Huguenot Farms in the Sundays River Valley is implementing a long-term, mixed farming strategy that will see its ‘beautiful soils’ produce to their full potential. Sabrina Dean visited the farm, where the Marais family has established a profitable combined dairy-citrus operation.

Award-Winning Brangus Breeder's Formula For Success

Christopher Sparks can be counted as one of the top cattle stud producers in South Africa after having claimed two prestigious national titles last year. Sabrina Dean visited him at his Mount Olive Brangus Stud in the Free State to find out what it is he is doing right.

The Search For The South African Unicorn

The discovery of apparent one-horned animals in Southern African rock art resulted in some 18th and 19th century European explorers believing in the existence of unicorns. By Mike Burgess.

Dealing With Powdery Mildew

When it comes to pumpkins and squashes, it’s not a case of if, but when powdery mildew will strike. This fungal disease can be highly destructive, especially late in the season.

Riding The Food-To-Go Wave

The report, ‘Business models to ride the foodto-go wave,’ released by Rabobank, explores the growing trend of precooked and readyto-eat meals, and how retailers and foodservice providers can work together to benefit from this movement.

Weaker Rand, Low Rainfall To Lead To Higher Food Prices

Despite inflation being at its lowest in years, the weaker rand-dollar exchange rate and the possible development of an El Niño event are likely to push food prices up into 2019.

From Food To Feed

A Dutch company that produces animal feed from food waste says this is the only way in which agriculture can remain sustainable. Gerhard Uys spoke to Karel van der Velden from Nijsen/Granico.

Managing Gerbils On Your Land: Part 3

Rodenticides should be used as a last resort and with a ‘big hammer’ approach if an outbreak has to be brought under control.

Hire A Farmer To Grow Your Food

Herenboeren is taking the Netherlands by storm, with city dwellers and urbanites paying farmers to produce food according to their exact specifications. Gerhard Uys spoke to Boudewijn Tooren, a board member of the co-operative, about this radical approach to farming.

Land Reform: Why Repeat The Mistakes Of Other Countries?

At Agri Western Cape’s recent annual general meeting in Rawsonville, Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation, highlighted examples of land reform projects across the world, and what South Africa could learn from their successes and failures.

Low Rainfall May Support Maize Prices Into 2019

South Africa’s stocks of white and yellow maize are at a high, putting pressure on prices. But an anticipated El Niño event could result in lower-than-average rainfall, leading to reduced plantings or crop losses, lower supply and higher local prices.