CATEGORIES

ANIMAL HEALTH Beware of hydatid disease

Hydatid disease or echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm. It affects livestock, dogs and humans, and can be very dangerous to people living in close contact with animals.

CROPS Going the no-till way: Part 1

Practising no-till farming will ensure better crops and boost your profits. The process starts with improving the quality of your soil, says Bill Kerr.

Preventing and controlling diseases of sunflowers

Diseases of sunflowers, such as brown rust and head rot, can cause severe economic losses for farmers. Janine Ryan looks at the signs of these and other diseases that can help farmers to identify them, as well as some control and prevention strategies.

What feedlots expect in the ideal weaner

The South African feedlot industry produces about 75% of all beef eaten in the country. Annelie Coleman spoke to Lynette van Rooyen, group director at Sparta Beef, and Charles Mathewson, Sparta’s head of cattle procurement, about their company’s weaner requirements and how farmers can satisfy these.

Shedding light on DDT and the threat it poses to raptor populations

Kailen Padayachee, a doctoral candidate at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town and a research fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, Arjun Amar, an associate professor at the institute, and Chevonne Reynolds, a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, write about the threat that the pesticide DDT poses to birds of prey around the world.

Helping women to become part of livestock value chains

Noluthando Ngcobo and Mamakie Lungwana, intern agricultural economists at the Agricultural Research Council, explore the challenges that women face in the South African livestock value chain.

Insect predators and the upskilling of a rural community in Letsitele

New industries require new expertise, and this gives people a chance to expand their skills. Karel van Heerden, CEO of Insectec, spoke to Lindi Botha about how the niche insect-breeding industry is creating fulfilling employment for the people of a small town in Limpopo, and changing their lives for the better.

CITRUS Cautious outlook for citrus industry in 2023

There is cautious optimism in South Africa’s citrus industry, but stakeholders are reluctant to commit to any specific predictions for the upcoming season.

POME AND STONE FRUIT A somewhat better season for SA's fruit industry

Pome and stone fruit farmers see the easing of logistical problems and improved quality offsetting the pressure from rolling blackouts and tight consumer spending.

WINE Smaller, but healthy wine grape crop forecast

South Africa’s wine industry is showing signs of bouncing back from the effects of the COVID- 19-related trade restrictions, but new challenges are looming.

POULTRY Hopes for poultry sector growth, despite challenges

Significant investments in South Africa’s poultry sector are expected to accelerate its transformation, thereby creating a significant number of jobs. Susan Marais reports.

RED MEAT 'Poor economy a threat to SA's red meat producers'

In addition to the current political volatility and uncertainty in South Africa, high-interest rates and inflation will put pressure on consumer spending.

Help the youth to gain from agrifood systems

When they are given the appropriate support and enabling environment, young people in Africa can take advantage of new opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and contribute to building sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, according to a UN report released in 2022.

The early days of the Springboks

Rugby, it is said, is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen. The gentlemen of the UK and South Africa helped to build that legend. Whether they were playing on foreign fields or fending off a touring side on home turf, South Africa’s early Tests were truly ‘a prelude to greatness,’ as Graham Jooste writes.

Asia Fruit Logistica 2022

The Asia Fruit Logistica 2022 was held from 2 to 4 November in Bangkok, Thailand. Farmer’s Weekly takes a look at some of the innovative equipment on display at this year’s event.

Coffee, chocolate and competition horses

At equestrian events, urine is tested for controlled and prohibited substances such as caffeine and theobromine, says Dr Mac.

The basics of pest and disease control

Unsure of how to spray your crops effectively? Follow these simple guidelines to get the best results and keep your costs down.

Catching pumpkin flies: get your timing right

Pumpkin flies can cause serious yield loss in cucurbits They are especially troublesome when the fruit is young and tender, warns Bill Kerr.

Winterveldt's cucumber king

Planning and forward thinking are important in farming, says Kobela Mokgohloa, the owner of Korema Farm in Winterveldt near Pretoria. He spoke to Magda du Toit about how he grew his cucumber production, as well as his plans for the future.

Santa Gertrudis bulls: tested for two decades

Melville Ferreira, senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Animal Production unit in Vryburg, and Yolanda Venter, breed manager of the Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breeders’ Society in Bloemfontein, reveal the findings of performance testing of Santa Gertrudis bulls over 20 years under intensive conditions.

Farmworkers' own wine on track for success

As part of an empowerment project, farmworkers at Kleine Zalze wine estate have released the first wines produced from grapes grown in their own vineyards. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their achievement.

Big hemp dreams for Gouda

A company and a farmers’ association recently joined hands to start hemp production in Gouda in the Western Cape. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their plans to scale up the project to achieve commercial success.

Power in unity

For this year’s editor’s picks, Janine Ryan focuses on the power of community and partnerships as she looks back at various stories published in Farmer’s Weekly during 2022.

'Leave your footprints on the land'

This year’s Agricultural Writers SA Agriculturalist of the Year, Pieter Bruwer, says he was born with a love of agriculture. Bruwer conducts research on a range of subjects, including tillage, cultivar standability, fertilisation and crop protection. He spoke to Magda du Toit about his current work and the state of agricultural research.

Riding the macadamia roller-coaster

Mpumalanga Agriculture’s Young Farmer of the Year of 2022, Org Lindeque, produces macadamia nuts close to Nelspruit. Once heralded as a golden industry, the crop has experienced two poor years in a row. Lindeque shared his view of the industry and its prospects with Lindi Botha.

The year fruit exporters would prefer to forget

Founder of the Le Roux Group and the 2021 Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year for 2021, Jan le Roux, had his fair share of challenges this past year. He spoke to Lindi Botha about his table grape and stone fruit farms, and the interventions needed to ensure a future in this sector.

is the 'Agriculture backbone of society'

First-generation farmer Daniël Opperman, a potato producer from Naboomspruit in Limpopo, was the 2022 TLU SA Young Farmer of the Year. Magda du Toit asked him about his methods, challenges and hopes.

'Be positive and make use of opportunities'

The ALS Group, managed by Cas Joubert, his brother Thys, and partner Johan van Rensburg, was recently recognised as the Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year for 2022. Joubert spoke to Magda du Toit.

'Agriculture is the glue that keeps SA together'

André Brink, 2022 Syngenta/Grain SA Grain Farmer of the Year, joined his father on Groot Phesantekraal in the Western Cape’s Durbanville district during the 1980s when interest rates were high and cash flow tight. This, he told Magda du Toit, taught him the value of careful strategic planning.

Escalating demand for eggs spurs optimism

Despite the soaring input prices of this past year and political uncertainty ahead, Western Cape poultry farmer Agmat Brinkhuis, Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Farming of 2021, is upbeat about egg production. He spoke to Lindi Botha about his business, Chamomile Farming Enterprises, and his hopes for the future.