CATEGORIES

Effective, Low-cost Soil Conservation

Researchers have estimated that, over the past four decades, the world has lost a third of its arable land due to erosion or pollution. Solutions are constantly being sought. Frans Joseph and Mias van der Westhuizen of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently tested the mitigating effect of a simple, inexpensive method to address soil erosion.

Minestrone: Magnificent Italian Soup

Italian cuisine is loaded with astonishing soups. There is, for example, Zuppa Pavese, a chicken based bowl of greatness topped by sourdough bread and a poached egg. At the greatest height, however, is minestrone, a classic with a thousand variations. Here is the version I cooked a few nights ago.

Rising Food Costs Chewing Into Sa Household Budgets

Food inflation is expected to start escalating towards the end of 2018, which will make it increasingly difficult for the majority of South African households to afford a balanced diet. According to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), a range of tax factors are contributing to higher food prices.

Hunting Traditionally With The Khomani San

The Khomani San of the Kalahari are revered for their intimate knowledge of bush lore. Now they’re practising these skills commercially and offering hunting packages on the vast tracts of land they own around the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. In so doing, they are creating sustainable livelihoods for their community, too. Keri Harvey reports.

Lipizzaner Stallions In South Africa: Trained For Classical Dressage

Lipizzaners, well known for their highlevel dressage displays, originated more than four centuries ago. However, the breed continues to amaze, says Dr Mac.

Taking Steak To The Next Level

Steak can be cooked and served in a variety of ways, but this Asian-inspired marinade can turn even the tastiest steak into something far more special and appetising.

Overcoming The Obstacles To Agricultural Growth In Africa

While agriculture has the potential to create jobs and ensure food security, many obstacles hamper the growth and success of the sector in Africa, says Dr Yonas T Bahta of the University of the Free State. Overcoming these challenges is the key to unlocking the true value of the sector.

Community-First Approach Ensures Sustainability

No man is an island, the saying goes, and this holds every bit as true for a farmer. Schoonbee Landgoed relies on the surrounding community to provide both a workforce and an enabling environment for its business, and this has led management to strategically align the operation to benefit local community members. Lindi Botha reports.

Roasted Boerewors & Broccoli

This recipe is a salute to our nations favourite sausage. Roasted in the kitchen rather than grilled outside, the collection of flavours is revelatory. Have a sourdough loaf standing by as a side order.

Wool And Mutton Market Trends

A drop in the local supply of wool and mutton due to the effect of the drought on sheep numbers, and an increase in global demand, have combined to support higher producer prices.

From Our Archives - Sound Management For Broiler Success

23 years ago Ilse Neethling gave up teaching to begin her own broiler chicken farm in the Rûens. According to Neethling, the quality of the end product depends largely on the quality of management.

Empowered To Climb The Ranks

Hard work, dedication and showing a lively interest in agriculture have propelled Iris Mashaba and Dineo Mokhabuki from being temporary farmworkers to holding managerial positions at major agribusinesses near Mbombela in Mpumalanga. Lindi Botha spoke to them.

Getting The Basics Of Tilapia Farming Right

Asian small-scale tilapia growers long ago learnt the secrets of successful greenwater fish farming. To be more productive, their Southern African counterparts need to follow the same principles.

Learning From Apple Growers In Poland

Poland is the largest producer of apples in the European Union. On a recent visit to the country, Annelie Coleman met BartÅ‚omiej Brodzik from the Apple Factory, one of Poland’s major apple growers and exporters.

Low-chill Blueberry Production In Limpopo

By securing planting rights to varieties bred to withstand warmer climates, Rosle Boerdery’s Charles Rossouw has become a leader in blueberry production in South Africa. Lindi Botha reports.

The Benefits Of Organic Matter

When the soil contains sufficient organic material, farming becomes far easier and less risky. In contrast, in a chemically based system, the interaction between the minerals becomes critical and complex, and a farmer needs a great deal of experience and knowledge to get good results.

The Combine Market Gets Busier

Several new combine harvester models were launched at Nampo 2018, and this year the focus was on reducing compaction. Joe Spencer reports.

Better Results With A Single-breed Herd On The Highveld

After suffering the effects of a trichomoniasis outbreak in 2010, Afrikan Farms, winner of the ARC’s National Commercial Beef Producer of the Year award for 2018, decided to switch from running a mixed-breed cattle herd to a Beefmaster herd. Siyanda Sishuba reports.

Chicken Larb The South East Asian Salad

A room-temperature salad with a meat or chicken base, larb looks good on the plate, is a riot of delicious flavours, is easy to make, and will be a glorious addition to your repertoire of kitchen skills.

140 Years Of Kverneland

The history of this company dates back to 1879 when the founder, Ole Gabriel Kverneland, built his small forge in the village of Kvernaland, 25km outside of Stavanger, Norway. Joe Spencer reports.

Cherries Are Profitable

Then, as now, cherry farming was labour-intensive and required plenty of water, yet demand and price made up for these factors.

Coffee Farm: Creating Jobs And Making Profit

With the call to increase job opportunities in agriculture, many farmers have been left scratching their heads over the economic implications. But the Schroeders of Mpumalanga have found a winning recipe in coffee production: its high labour component and profitability levels make the crop viable. Lindi Botha visited the mother-and-son team on their farm near Hazyview.

Get The Basics Right For Table Grape Success

The winner of this year’s table grape competition in the Olifants River region, Morné Paxton, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about shade nets and choosing the right grape varieties for export.

Minimising The Impact Of Land Development

Development in a natural area should maintain the integrity of the environment and never compromise the proper functioning of the ecosystem within the landscape.

Sustainable Use Of Wildlife: A Poorly Understood Concept

South Africa is world-renowned for its biodiversity conservation and resultant variety of wildlife. However, public opinion is often divided on the subject of wildlife utilisation. Dr George Hughes, former chief director of the Natal Parks Board and CEO of its successor, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife before retiring in 2001, explains why sustainable wildlife utilisation is essential for biodiversity conservation.

Urgent Access To More Avocado Export Markets Needed - Subtrop

A large avocado harvest means the industry needs to access more export markets to remain sustainable, according to the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop).

First Make It Work, Then Survive, Then Prosper

After playing a significant role in corporate South Africa, Dr Reuel Khoza, former chairperson of Nedbank and Eskom, decided to turn his focus back to his roots in the farming sector. He spoke to Lindi Botha about practical transformation and taking hands with commercial farmers.

A Unique Symbiosis Between Farmers And Brown Hyenas

Although the Kruger National Park is a haven for South African wildlife, it is not the ideal home for the secretive and submissive brown hyena, also referred to as the wolf or strandwolf. Farmland outside of protected areas is vital to their survival. Dr Katy Williams, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Mpumalanga, has been finding out why.

The Wonderful Soil Food Web

Because most soil organisms are microscopic, they don’t get the attention they deserve. Yet a teaspoon of good soil may contain a billion bacteria of thousands of species.

Counting The Cost Of Captive-bred Lion Hunting

Lizanne Nel, conservation manager for the South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association, says that hunting captive-bred lions is not good for the local hunting industry and will cost the country millions of rand in losses if allowed to continue.