CATEGORIES

Sustainability In Pasture-Based Dairy Farming

One of the questions modern farmers face is whether they can farm in an environmentally sustainable, yet profitable, way. Craig Galloway provided the answer in his PhD thesis on the sustainability of pasture-based dairy farms.

Fungal Wilt Diseases In Tomatoes

Fungal diseases are generally easier to control than bacterial diseases, as there are several effective fungicides available and many of these are systemic. On the other hand, the disease cannot be cured once it has infected the tomato plant.

Welcome To The Year Of The Wok!

Add a wok to your outdoor cooking and bring drama, high heat and fine flavours to your menus. Here’s a prawn extravaganza to get you going

The New All-Rounder

The Pöttinger Multiline concept is a combination of either a compact disc harrow or a stubble cultivator, and a seed drill.

Why Can't That Cow Stand Up? (Part 1)

A number of diseases and conditions can result in cattle and other ruminants being unable to stand up

Maize Farmers Likely To Switch To Sunflower In 2018

A late start to the rainfall season in parts of the summer grain production region should result in farmers decreasing maize production in favour of sunflower

A 5-star Country Cradle

A 5-star Country Cradle

Mazavaroo - A Mauritian Veld Fire In Your Mouth

I have known grown men to drink Tabasco straight from the bottle, while others in brave response chewed maniacally on raw chillies. But if you are a chilli fan, one of the most complex ways to enjoy this curious combination of flavour and pain is mazavaroo.

Harvesting the ‘Hands-free Hectare'

The ground-breaking Hands-free Hectare project (see FW issue of 24 March 2017), which sought to grow a crop using only autonomous vehicles, has come to an end with a successful harvest.

Why Can't That Cow Stand Up? (Part 2)

There are several reasons why an animal may be unable to stand up on its own. If you discover it in time, you may be able to save its life. Here are tips on preventing and treating this condition.

Water-use "Tattoos"for Plants

Water-use "Tattoos" for Plants

SA Wine Industry Struggling To Cope With Drought

SA Wine Industry Struggling To Cope With Drought

Ethical chicken farming a win-win Formula

Red Barn free - range chicken and egg farm started from necessity but grew into a passion. In addition to eggs and whole chickens, it also produces speciality products Jay Ferreira reports.

The Many Rewards of Game Farming in the Karoo

Game animals have brought a new dimension to farm life in the arid Karoo. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to Neil Dodds and Rob Hobson, two farmers from Jansenville, who have combined game with small stock.

A Concise History of Hydroponics

While hydroponic farming has been around since the Middle Ages, many developments over the years have made it far more efficient and affordable. Prof Gert Venter explains.

Global Food Demand And Prices To Decrease Over Next Decade

The “Agricultural outlook 2017-2026” report, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, forecasts that over the next decade, demand for agricultural products will slow considerably, causing real prices of most agricultural and fish commodities to follow a slightly declining trend, thereby keeping them below previous peaks.

Townie Sport, Politics & Sharks

After golf, my next-best event to watch on TV is F1 Grand Prix.

Getting Started With Bananas (1)

To turn banana farming into a profitable venture, production must be well planned.

Dairy BLUP Basics

Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) brings together many aspects of animal breeding, and provides the most accurate and precise genetic evaluations possible.

Hippo Mills Turns 90!

The Hippo hammer mill was launched at the 1928 Pietermaritzburg Royal Show. Joe Spencer takes a closer look at the company.

Consider This Before Investing In Desalination

Desalination is an increasingly attractive tool to mitigate drought-associated risks. Gerrit van der Merwe and Hermias Nieuwoudt spoke to Glenneis Kriel about some important factors to take into consideration before installing a filtering plant.

Becoming A Motorcyclist: Part 1

On a farm, a motorcycle is a substitute for a horse. There is no doubt that motorcycling is dangerous, but you have certain advantages over driving a car.

Townie - Jacky Penny's obituary

Tragically, my much-loved Jack Russell, Penny, died a few days ago.

Irrigating Your Crop

The water-holding capacity of the growing medium determines how often and how much to irrigate.

SA Hunting Poised For Growth

Arthur Rudman, veteran game rancher and member of the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa and Wildlife Ranching South Africa, speaks to Roelof Bezuidenhout about the future of the hunting industry in this country and across the continent.

Wheat Industry Plan Gains Momentum

In 2012, South Africa’s wheat industry launched the Wheat Industry Plan to alleviate the country’s dependence on grain imports. Andries Theron, chairperson of Grain SA’s winter cereals working group, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about progress made with implementing the plan.

A Call For Integrated Research

54 YEARS AGO In this report, Prof H.O. Monnig, former chairperson of the South African Science Advisory Council, explained the importance of co-operation between universities and research councils.

The R5 Million Racing Pigeon

Golden Prince, currently the most expensive pigeon in the world, is owned by two South African fanciers. Thomas Smit reports.

Grain & Oilseed: Too Much In The Silo, Too Little In The Bank

The Rabobank agricultural commodity report is a useful tool for helping farmers plan production around expected global commodity prices. According to the 2018 report, commodity prices for grains and oilseeds are likely to remain under pressure due to continued global oversupply of these commodities, and other factors.

No Quick Recovery For Game Prices

High supply, low demand and the impact of the drought on income and production costs has resulted in the recent downward trend in the prices for game animals. Denene Erasmus reports.