CATEGORIES

Rhino Poaching: Meet Its Human Victims

In a candid and sometimes emotional interview, Dr Dave Cooper, an award-winning wildlife veterinarian with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, reveals the toll that the rhino poaching scourge is taking on him and his colleagues.

How To Reduce Tortoise Electrocution Mortalities

Thousands of tortoises are inadvertently killed by electric fences in South Africa each year. Yet there are simple, practical steps that farmers can take to stop this. Dr Luke Arnot of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, and Steven Molteno of the global network, Local Governments for Sustainability, explain the extent of the problem, and provide solutions.

On Fixing The Country And My Bakkie

Jacob Zuma is no longer president. He can return to his Nkandla palace and contemplate his future and freedom.

Beat The Winter With Radish

Japanese radish serves as an excellent addition to fodder for livestock, and decreases a producer’s input costs.

Emerging Farmers Gain Access To Finance And Opportunities

North West government has established a fund to help bring black producers into the mainstream of agriculture and to develop projects.

Why SA Leads The World In Effective Lucerne Hay Grading

Lucerne is one of the most important hay crops in South Africa, but differences in quality can have a marked effect on livestock performance and profitability, especially in the dairy industry. Annelie Coleman asked agricultural economist Walter van Niekerk and lucerne specialist Dr Gerrie Scholtz about the benefits of the National Lucerne Trust’s lucerne grading system.

Is Winter Just Around The Corner?

I never thought I would be saying this: “Please, mister weather forecaster, predict a respite in our rainy weather!”

Breed With A Future

The Afrino sheep breed is known for its exceptional grazing ability and fertility, and according to Gray King, a breeder in Bedford, will become much better known and more popular in the future.

Poultry Sector Challenges Highlighted In Parliament

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) recently acknowledged its inability to adequately monitor product quality, which resulted in South African food products not being able to adhere to regulations and standards set by the EU.

Catching A Tan

Daughter Dear’s visit to us so nearly had to be postponed when the ‘Beast from the East’, the recent snowstorms and bitterly cold weather across Europe, attacked Ireland, causing disruption to flight departures. If her bookings had been delayed a day later, her visit would have had to be halted indefinitely.

A Missile On A Mission

This year’s South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race was a great event for SA fanciers

Rough Idling: Causes & Corrections

An engine can idle roughly for one of several reasons. Jake Venter takes a closer look at these problems, and how to solve them.

Looking Back, And To The Future

In-cab, on-the-move adjustments to equipment, row-sensing capability, robotic weeders and sprayers … the last decade has seen these and more move from prototypes to commercially available products. US experts look ahead at the next batch of developments.

Irrigation: A Farmer Learns His Lesson

In last week’s article, I discussed the benefits of irrigation geared for better carrot production. This week, I describe a case where a farmer did not buy into the idea.

The Basics Of Maize

Also known as corn, maize was first domesticated in southern Mexico nearly 10 000 years ago. Many varieties have been bred to suit a range of conditions.

Why Plenty Of Food Means Plenty Of Conflict

A large body of literature claims that where there is a lack of food, conflict is bound to increase as people battle over limited resources. However, researcher Ore Koren suggests quite the opposite, saying that conflict is likely to increase when food sources are abundant.

Producers Urged To Remain Vigilant During Winter

Dr Faffa Malan and Dr Frans Jooste advise livestock and small-stock producers not to neglect animal health during the winter months. Sabrina Dean reports.

First-Ever Rural Crime Conference To Be Held In South Africa

First-Ever Rural Crime Conference To Be Held In South Africa

Cape Forestry Seeks Government Help With Fire-Damaged Plantations

Commercial forestry operations in the Southern Cape region, which had experienced extensive damage from wildfires that rampaged across rural and urban landscapes in June, have pleaded for government assistance with the felling, harvesting and processing of salvageable trees. Failure to speedily undertake these tasks could result in thousands of job losses in South Africa’s forestry value chain. Lloyd Phillips investigates.

The Right Insurance Products Can Secure Peace Of Mind

Weighing up the pros and cons of the insurance products available to SA farmers can be tricky, but expert advice is available.

Growing Unstaked Tomatoes

Growing Unstaked Tomatoes

Industries Rally As Global Trade Wars Create Uncertainty

As a major fruit exporter, South Africa relies on favourable trade agreements and market access to keep the industry profitable and sustainable. Stephanie van der Walt, general manager of Agbiz’s Fruit Desk, spoke to Lindi Botha about the challenges in the global trade environment.

The Inside Story Of Drum Brakes

Drum brakes are seldom found on today’s cars, yet are still fitted to trucks and farm machinery due to their effectiveness and affordability. Jake Venter takes a closer look at this design.

Watermelon Planting Tips

Many watermelon growers plant as soon as possible in the season so they can market the crop early, when prices are high.

Planning For The Future Of SA Livestock Production

The future of South Africa’s socio-economically important livestock production sector should not be left to chance. This is why, according to the director of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy and associate professor at the University of Pretoria, Ferdi Meyer, an analysis of historic and current trends in national and international livestock value chains is vital for generating informed estimations of what the future may hold.

Green Livestock Production: The Facts And The Fictions

Global livestock production is increasingly under attack from certain societal groupings who claim that the sector is causing unnecessary environmental harm. Dr Jude Capper, of UK-based Livestock Sustainability Consultancy, explains how livestock farmers can change this perception.

How African Superfoods Inspires Local Agripreneur

Indigenous African ingredients and food traditions are underrepresented on the local and international markets. Black Umbrellas Global Entrepreneur Week 2018 overall winner Sipamandla Manqele founded her unique agribusiness to help bridge this gap.

Face To Face With The Drought In The Free State

The realities of the drought being experienced by farmers in Bultfontein in the Free State mirror those of farmers in many other parts of the country. Sabrina Dean explores the ripple effect of the disaster and its socio-economic consequences in small towns and communities.

Servicing Drum Brakes

Adjusting drum brakes is not complicated and can be performed by an amateur, but it does require some patience.

Farming Smarter Can Reduce Methane Emissions From Livestock

The argument against beef production is gaining momentum, with the industry being accused, often inaccurately, of significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, climate-smart farming and improving productivity can reduce emissions. Lindi Botha reports.