CATEGORIES

The History Of The Carrot

Carrots (Daucus carota) originated in what is today Afghanistan. The wild parents of our modern carrots still grow there; I saw them flourishing on road verges when I visited the country.

Independent Land Audit Needed

Disparities in the statistics on land ownership in recent audits have elicit mixed reactions from role players in the agriculture sector. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Drought Puts Added Pressure On Wheat Farmers

Wheat production in South Africa is a high cost activity, and farmers struggle to compete with growers abroad. The ongoing drought has made matters far worse.

Running A Small Hunting Operation

Johann Erwee of Kuduwane Game Lodge provided Gerhard Uys with insights into what it takes to keep a small hunting operation economically sustainable, and its environment ecologically sound.

Colour Variants: A Market Perspective

The popularity of colour variants such as the golden wildebeest and black impala skyrocketed in the South African game market in 2000, and their prices reflected this. Fourteen years later, these prices dropped just as precipitously. Dr Flippie Cloete, head of Terratek at Suidwes Landbou, takes a look at the drivers that influence the price movements of colour variants.

Accuracy Is Everything!

Thanks to gunsmith Frik du Plooy, Musgrave rifles are once more available – and living up to their legendary reputation for accuracy.

Success With Sussex Against The Odds

Linden Hewson owns the 2017 Farmer’s Weekly/ARC National Best Elite Sussex cow. This achievement is significant, as the Grey Maclean Stud near East London has been kraaled every night since 2002 to keep the animals safe. Mike Burgess reports.

Onion-Growing Made Easy: Part 1

Onions are one of the easiest crops to grow in a home garden, yet many people have limited success with them. Here’s how to get it right.

The Basics Of Water-Use Efficiency

South Africa is a water-scarce country, and climate change predictions show that even less water will be available in future. It has never been more important to conserve water.

Make Sure Your Carrots Are Free Of Eelworms

An eelworm (nematode) population is of little consequence in many crops, yet it can be a serious problem in carrots. A few eelworms at an early stage will cause forking and lumps on the roots, rendering the carrots unmarketable. 

Changing The Image Of Agriculture For The Youth

Changing The Image Of Agriculture For The Youth

Green-water Tilapia Culture: A Cost-effective Solution

Cutting cost by reducing feed is a good way to make tilapia production more profitable.

Part 3 Of 7 Parrot Fever And Enzootic Abortion

Psittacosis or parrot fever and enzootic abortion are both caused by zoonotic Chlamydophila bacteria. Veterinary specialist in public health Dr Jan H du Preez explains how these diseases are contracted by animals and humans, and offers guidelines for managing infection risk.

Preventing Alternaria On Carrots

Preventing Alternaria On Carrots

Leather Craftsman Produces Quality Halters

20 YEARS AGO Local leather worker, Danie Mentz, crafts his own harnesses and bridles, with his work comparable to that of the international brands imported by South African tackshops.

Rabies Threatens Namibian Kudu Population - And Vaccination Is Now Crucial

Kudu and eland populations are being decimated by rabies, but many uncertainties still exist around the seemingly Namibia-specific manifestation of the disease. Dr Ulf Tubbesing, a wildlife veterinarian in Namibia, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the crisis.

Farmers & Depression

Farmers face constant uncertainty: weather, politics and market fluctuations are all factors out of their control. Clinical psychologist Adri Prinsloo spoke to Lindi Botha about how this, combined with relative isolation, contributes to worrying levels of depression and suicide.

From Our Archives

30 March 1990 Proper nutrition can save feedlot farmers millions

Monitoring The Threat Of Increased Bt Resistance

Monitoring The Threat Of Increased Bt Resistance

Following The Spoor: What To Look For

You hear the shot of the rifle and feel the recoil, but the animal runs. What should you do now? To learn about tracking, gerhard uys spoke to willem van der merwe, a professional hunter at chacma safaris, and a tracker from hpg security group, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Understanding Herbicides - Part 2

A brief overview of how herbicides are applied, and how to avoid resistance.

Leaves Vs Fruit: The Balancing Act

When trying to predict how a crop will respond to various situations, remember that all cultivated crops originated from wild ancestors growing in competition with many other species.

A Brave, Clever Dog

The rhodesian ridgeback is an intelligent, faithful and fearless dog, says shane brody.

Downgrade Will Cause Increase In Staple Food Prices

The ongoing debate on the effects of the recent downgrade of South Africa’s credit score to sub-investment grade has been largely dominated by the middleclasses and the wealthy rather than the poor.

Why Free Land Cannot Empower A Landless Population

A colleague of mine has lambasted my views on why expropriation without compensation is not a viable alternative (FW, 27 March).

Discarded Pig Tissue Could Save Lives

US pork supplier and the world’s largest pig producer, Smithfield Foods (Smithfield), is working on a research project to save human lives by using discarded pig tissue to grow tissue and organs for human transplants.

Good Sharon Fruit Harvest Expected

South Africa’s sharon fruit season is currently underway, and according to a statement issued by Sharon Fruit South Africa and MOR International, the industry is looking forward to harvesting excellent quality fruit this year.

Nampo Equipment Preview

The 2017 Nampo Show will showcase the latest tractors and other farming equipment, including the mighty Fendt 1050.

SA's Disaster Relief System: Making A Bad Situation Worse

The release of disaster relief funds is a contentious issue in South Africa, writes Dr Christo Coetzee, researcher and lecturer at the North-West University’s African Centre for Disaster Management. According to him, the country needs a proactive approach to disaster relief to ensure a sustainable, profitable agricultural industry, and to safeguard food security.

Breeding Stately Peafowl

28YEARS AGO Peafowl are not only beautiful, they also make good eating. In this article, Roy Billett explains how to raise your own peafowl, from hatching chicks to feeding your cocks and hens.