CATEGORIES

Pigs: cost-effective and efficient soil improvers

Western Cape farmer Angus McIntosh has shown that pigs can earn their keep through the eco-services they contribute, as well as the bacon they provide. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his outdoor pigs, whose movement is carefully controlled to make the most of their foraging habits.

Forage harvester's efficiency drives profitability

Improved forage harvesting technology drastically enlarges the silage surface area. This improves the product, benefitting farmers and harvesting contractors, says Stehan Cloete.

A high-yield indoor farming system ideal for the city

As prolonged droughts occur more frequently in South Africa, some entrepreneurs are investing in and developing new technology and farming methods, such as indoor growing systems, that ensure consistent, high-quality food production. Juan-Griffith Pollard, CEO of Urban Cultivation International, spoke to Pieter Dempsey about his scaleable hydroponic farming system.

The Importance Of Planning

Planning goes hand in hand with record-keeping. You need to have the figures from past production in order to plan ahead effectively.

Hungry? Grub's Up!

As the popularity of alternative protein sources rises, the idea of consuming insects has become more palatable to the general population. While insect farming is still a long way from being commercialised on a mass scale, opportunities for both human and animal consumption are set to increase. Lindi Botha spoke to Prof Margaret Matanda from the University of Sydney Business School, Australia, about research being conducted on the feasibility of the industry.

Immune-Mediated Myositis: A Genetic Reason For Emaciation In Horses

This recently described syndrome, which affects mainly American Quarter Horses, can be confirmed using genetic tests, says Dr Mac.

How To Plan For Variable Maize Planting Conditions

The increasing unpredictability of rainfall has made it difficult for farmers in the summer-cropping areas to follow long-held production timelines. Sabrina Dean visited Pierre van Eeden on his northern Free State farm to find out how he has adapted in order to optimise maize production in the face of ever-changing climatic conditions

How The Wealthy Are Stealing Land From The Poor

Land reform should aim to address poverty and create livelihood opportunities for those at the lower end of the historically disadvantaged spectrum. This isn’t happening, according to the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies. Instead, land allocation and access to resources are skewed in favour of well-off beneficiaries.

Farming: The Breeding Ground For SA's Next Millionaires

Agriculture offers many opportunities for wealth creation, and young South Africans who are passionate about the sector should use their skills to establish new businesses, say Soyama Mthongana and Athenkosi Denga, the owners of Lizwe Meat.

From Humble Beginnings To Cream Of The Crop

Over almost three decades, Foundation Farm in KwaZulu-Natal has evolved from a small dairy operation to winner of the Agricultural Research Council’s 2019 Master Dairyman of the Year. The farm’s founders, Alan and Frances Webster, hope that their success story will motivate aspiring and existing farmers to persevere with their agricultural vision.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue To Rise

Despite calls for governments and policymakers to take an active approach to the issue of global warming, a new report by the World Meteorological Organization shows that the rate of increase of greenhouse gas emissions is still above average. If urgent steps are not taken to reduce these emissions, the world will suffer catastrophic consequences, the report warns.

World's Fastest Tractor At LAMMA 2020

The 38th LAMMA show, one of the UK’s top agricultural machinery, equipment and technology expos, took place near Birmingham from 7 to 8 January. It featured a special display of the world’s fastest tractor, the JCB’s Fastrac Two.

Turning a hobby into an award-winning stud

What started off as a hobby for Theuns Bruwer and Pierre Veldhoen seven years ago has turned into the registration of an Angus stud with successful and highly respected breeding stock. Jeandré van der Walt visited their stud, Windmeul Angus, outside Paarl in the Western Cape.

STRONG GROWTH FOR POLISH POULTRY SECTOR

The Polish National Agricultural Support Centre recently hosted Farmer’s Weekly news editor Julinda Schroeder on a four-day study tour to Poland, where she had the opportunity to have a closer look at the country’s poultry industry.

Strict selection sees Beefmaster stud thrive

Dawie du Plessis of the Magmar Beefmaster stud in KwaZulu-Natal implements strict selection criteria based on Beefmaster founder Tom Lasater’s six essential traits.

Smithfield's capricious cannon

Ou Grietjie, a cannon in the Smithfield Museum that was used in the Free State-Basotho Wars, is linked by name to another famous Boer gun and a European siege cannon.

Harnessing the dual-purpose potential of Merino ewes

Matthew Morgan of Tarkastad has developed his family farms vertically by establishing permanent mixed pastures for his 3 000 Merino ewes to lamb on. The excellence of his farming won him the title of 2019 Toyota-Agri Eastern Cape Young Farmer of the Year.

Growing garlic: Part 2

Garlic (Allium sativum) can be grown in a wide range of soil types.

Cotton prospects for the new season remain promising

In the November 2019 Cotton Report released by Cotton South Africa (Cotton SA), the US-China trade dispute was again cited as a contributor to the challenges faced by the industry.

Transformation project stands as an example

Despite ongoing delays and red tape, Merino stud breeder Eddie Prinsloo and eight of his employees have begun farming in partnership in a business known as the Donkerhoek Farming Project. Sabrina Dean visited them on Prinsloo’s Free State farm to learn about the venture.

Tough times need tougher cattle

Cattle farmers in Southern Africa have had a difficult year, with on going drought and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, says that the Bonsmara, with its adaptability and high functional efficiency, has proved itself the ideal breed to cope with, and thrive in, these challenging conditions.

TEN YEARS IN AGRICULTURE: the winners and the losers

As another decade draws to a close, clear winners and losers have emerged on the agricultural front. While the industry is in a better position overall than 10 years ago, a bumpy road lies ahead. Lindi Botha reports.

Large-scale composting turns waste into healthy soil

Over the years, composting guru Redge Jelliman has produced thousands of tons of compost as organic fertiliser for his crop farming enterprise in the Free State. Now semi-retired from farming, and a soil health consultant, he shared his experiences with Lloyd Phillips.

How farming is making South Africa a better place

The South African farming sector deserves to be acknowledged by politicians and citizens in general for the overwhelmingly positive impact it is having on the future of all who live here. Farmer’s Weekly editor Denene Erasmus looks back at how farmers did their part this year to promote transformation and social cohesion while ensuring food security.

Autonomous equipment rivalry

A number of autonomous agricultural machinery concepts have been revealed at international agricultural shows in recent years, and several are in the testing phase. The question is, when will this equipment become commercially available?

ANIMAL ANTICS

From tool-using goats and brilliant baboons to big, angry bulls, animals can amuse, amaze and sometimes scare us. A number of people related their favorite animal stories to Glennis Kriel.

A plan for reducing food loss and wastage

In a recent study, published by the World Resources Institute, researchers explored 10 scaling interventions that could help reduce food loss and waste across supply chains and geographies. According to the report, ‘Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Ten Interventions to Scale Impact’, governments, businesses, farmers, consumers, and everyone in between need to play a role in implementing these interventions.

The fundamentals of fertility in beef cattle

Llewellyn Angus, an animal scientist, Simbra/Simmentaler breeder, and SA Interbreed Judges Association examiner, says that grazing and fertility management are both crucial to profitable beef cattle farming. Here he shares the basic principles of managing fertility in a beef herd.

World's ‘smartest tractor' coming to SA in 2020

John Deere’s 8RX tractor, which recently won the ‘Tech for a Better World’ category in the CES Innovation Awards held in the US, will be brought out to South Africa next year.

THE BEEFMASTER When only the best will do

Tabbie du Plessis, who runs the Janmarck Beefmasters stud in the Free State, says the Beefmaster breed has lowered the birthweights and increased the weaning weights of calves in his herd. He adds that the future of the breed is bright, as breeders are constantly improving their herds through the use of exceptional animals in breeding programmes.