CATEGORIES

SA Scoops 35th Gold Medal At The Chelsea Flower Show

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) team, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, won SA’s 35th gold medal in 42 years of exhibiting at the prestigious show, recently held in London in the UK.

Platinum For Orange River Cellars' Muscadel Wines

Muscadel SA recently announced the winners of the 15th Muscadel SA awards ceremony held in Paarl in the Western Cape.

Israel Showcases Its 'simple' Irrigation Solutions

Israel, a world leader in irrigation and hi-tech agricultural innovations, was on hand at Nampo 2017 to showcase the country’s best solutions to water utilisation, amongst others.

Combating Leafroll Virus In The Vineyard

The South African wine industry has made huge strides in halting the spread of leafroll virus through focused research, trial sites and a formalised Leafroll Control Protocol.

Starting Up A Car 100 Years Ago

Before the invention of the electric starter, getting a car in motion was a demanding exercise, with emphasis on the word, ‘exercise’. Jake Venter recalls the days of hand cranking.

Young Farmer Cuts Costs By Focusing On Bonsmaras

Cornel van Heerden is the Eastern Cape’s 2016 TAU SA’s Young Farmer of the Year. Mike Burgess visited him recently on the farm Wildefontein in the Lady Grey district to learn how he established an award-winning livestock enterprise while saving money, and why his extensive Bonsmara beef operation has proved such a success.

What To Do Until The Vet Arrives

Your vet may not be able to respond immediately to an emergency. That means it’s up to you to help your horse as best you can. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do.

Giant Schnauzer: Pet And Protector

This is an excellent all-round breed: good-natured, but a fierce family guardian. However, it can be boisterous and requires an owner willing to walk it daily.

Controlling Bacterial Wilt

Bacterial wilt can wipe out a tomato crop if a susceptible variety is planted in infected soil at a time when the bacteria are active.

Managing Rotation In Dryland Crop Production

If carried out correctly, rotating crops can increase grain yield while reducing weed, insect and disease problems. In a word, this means higher profits.

Potato Prices Down Despite Increased Demand

As the South African potato industry recovers from the drought, there has been an increase in supply. This has resulted in a decline in prices, fuelling sales.

Cart-horses Cut Costs

Input costs have always been difficult to manage. This farmer looked to carthorses to save on machinery costs.

Expropriation Without Compensation A Loss For All

As the ruling party’s elective conference in December approaches, South Africa’s focus is on who will emerge as the ANC’s new leader.

Global Hunger: The Price We Pay For Food

In poorer nations, buying the ingredients for a single meal can use up a significant portion of a person’s earnings. Where there is conflict or economic collapse, it can exceed these earnings outright. Researchers involved with the World Food Programme propose what should be done to ensure true food security

Driving Transformation With 'Old' Legislation

Reviving the Extension and Advisory Programme of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, may kick-start agricultural production on fallow land in communal areas. This could then drive equitable and inclusive transformation and development in the agriculture sector, writes Zamikhaya Maseti, senior specialist for public and sector policy at the Land Bank.

Saving Peas From Global Warming

Global warming is becoming a major limiting factor for pea production, according to plant scientist, Rosalind Bueckert, of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, who began studying heat stress in peas after seeing older pea varieties struggle to maintain adequate levels of production during very warm periods.

Wildlife Ranching An Industry Under Pressure

Deon Furstenburg, director of wildlife science at Geo Wild Consult, an ecological services consultancy, spoke to Roelof Bezuidenhout about the state of game ranching in South Africa.

Using Bats And Birds To Control Macadamia Crop Pests

Biological pest control could speed up the farm-to-fork process and save the macadamia industry millions of rands, according to the initial results of an ongoing research project. The researchers have found that bats and birds can keep the crop’s most significant pests, stinkbugs, under control.

Dealing With Soya Rust

This devastating disease, also called Asian soya bean rust, occurs across much of the world. Chemical control is the only realistic option.

Calving problems licked

30 YEARS AGO John Webb, owner of the Kirsty South Devon Stud, which was run on the farm Bronkhorstfontein in the Free State, found that calving problems disappeared when he switched from a high-protein lick to a salt-phosphate lick.

Investing In The Future Of Farmworkers' Children

Gelukwaarts School near Van Stadensrus in the Free State was launched by commercial farmers in the late 1990s to serve their workers’ children. Sunet Wessels spoke to Mike Burgess about the vibrant school that today educates 292 pupils on the farm Longlead.

Dealing With Anthracnose

This fungal disease can wipe out a dry bean crop. Here’s how to prevent, and treat, this problem.

A World Of Machinery On Display At Agrishow Brazil

Agrishow, a giant showcase of Brazilian agriculture that takes place in Ribeirão Preto, a city in south-east Brazil, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. The event is one of the largest of its kind in the world, drawing almost 160 000 visitors from 70 countries. Denene Erasmus, who attended the show in May, reports on some of the highlights of the show’s machinery exhibition, which attracts manufacturers from around the globe.

Mpumalanga Hailstorm Will Have Long-Term Fallout

The devastating hailstorm that hit Mpumalanga on 27 May will have a long-term effect on, among others, the citrus production industry in the Lowveld.

Department Of Health Halts Listeria Testing Of Meat Imports

With the number of listeriosis cases reportedly having declined markedly in recent months, the Department of Health (DoH) no longer conducts testing for this pathogen in imported meat products.

Double Whammy For Guava Producers

The ongoing drought in large parts of South Africa as well as falling market prices are expected to have a severely negative impact on guava production this season.

The Best Fish Species For Aquaponics

While the Nile tilapia is the fastest grower, it is easier to obtain a permit for the slower-growing Mozambique tilapia.

A Healthy Profit From Pasture-raised Eggs

As a technician specialising in the installation and repair of gates, Rico Vergotine had little reason to be interested in agriculture. His life changed, however, after a chance meeting, and today he manages 2 500 pasture-raised chickens that produce 1 900 eggs a day. Jeandré van der Walt visited him on Boschendal wine estate to find out about his farming techniques and future plans.

Growing Out And Fattening Cattle In A Feedlot

Most cattle sold through abattoirs are feedlotted. This new series looks at the basics of feedlotting and how an operator can increase profit margins.

How The State Is ‘Capturing' Aquaculture

Legislative control of the aquaculture industry in South Africa is so restrictive that it impedes any development.