CATEGORIES

A Sustainable Approach To Feeding The World By 2050

There is a large shortfall between the amount of food being produced in the world today and the quantity needed to feed an expected 10 billion people by 2050. A World Resources Institute report suggests it is possible to produce enough food sustainably to cater for the rapid increase in demand, but achieving this will require major changes to the way we grow and consume food.

Synchronising Production With Market Demand

Strategies to synchronise produce availability with times of general undersupply can prove highly lucrative, as KwaZulu-Natal fresh produce farmer Andile Ngcobo tells Lloyd Phillips.

Stop. Think.

39 YEARS AGO After poaching and livestock theft got out of hand, farmers in the Eston region of KwaZulu-Natal united with a common goal.

New Commercial Farmer Invests In Asparagus

Up-and-coming commercial farmer Daniel Maqala is diversifying further by investing in asparagus. Sabrina Dean visited him to find out more about his journey so far.

From Our Archives - Condensed Milk Making

DEVOTED TO SA FARMING SINCE 1911

Indigenous Livestock Perfect For Small-scale Farmers

Ross Rayner and his father, Roger, farm 40 Nguni cows and 35 Bosvelder-type ewes on 250ha in the Mankazana Valley near Adelaide in the Eastern Cape. Their operation is an example of what value indigenous livestock holds for small-scale farmers. Mike Burgess reports.

Water Hyacinth - The Solutions

Since 1974, SA has released more biocontrol agents on water hyacinth than any other country.

No-Till: Increasing Soil Organic Content

With no-till farming, you need to try to gradually increase the organic content of the soil.

How To Buy A Used Vehicle

There are four ways to buy the model you want, but none is foolproof. Find out if the vehicle is paid up and make sure it wasn’t stolen. Jake Venter reports.

Time For Africa To Treat Agriculture As A Business

Rural economies in Africa have become zones of economic misery. According to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, stimulating economic growth in these areas through agriculture and the food industry should be at the top of the development agenda.

African Agriculture: When Will It Realise Its True Potential?

Agriculture employs 70% of the workforce in Africa and constitutes 30% of total GDP. Yet the continent relies heavily on imports and food aid. Lindi Botha spoke to three leaders | in the African agriculture sector to explain this anomaly.

Prepare For A Further Drop In Milk Prices

Producers should expect the consolidation of buying power in the domestic market to weigh on dairy prices.

Working Together Yields Profits For Keimoes Farmers

The gravel road between Keimoes and Upington unfolds onto the lush, green oasis of Eksteenskuil in the Northern Cape. Here, a group of small-scale farmers have created a vibrant agricultural community through hard work and planning. Annelie Coleman reports.

SA Almonds Ready To Take On The World

The establishment of an almond-processing facility in Robertson has the potential to turn South Africa into a leading exporter of these nuts. Stephan and Hans le Roux of Amanteco Almonds spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the opportunities and pitfalls associated with this crop.

Farmers' Day At Koppies

The annual farmers’ day at Koppies in the Free State was organised by Northmec and the Cairo Group, the leading supplier of Case IH equipment in South Africa. 

The 500 000th Ford Ranger!

Ford recently produced the half-millionth unit of its Ford Ranger range of bakkies in South Africa. The vehicle has enjoyed consistent popularity in South Africa, as well as in export markets supplied by the company’s assembly plant in Pretoria. 

Politics & Agri Machinery Pricing

Tractor sales in South Africa recovered well in 2017 after a slump in 2016 due to the widespread drought. However, the current political and economic climate, and its effect on the value of the rand, could affect sales during the latter part of 2018. Denene Erasmus reports.

SA's 'Little Ships' Go To War

In 1939, South Africa effectively had no navy at all. But that did not stop the brave volunteers of the South African Naval Forces from taking on the enemy. 

Young Poultry Farmer Thrives Despite Setbacks

Asiphe Pentu started his small-scale broiler business with only R2 000 when he was just 17 years old and still at school. After five years, he has a well-run, 100-chicken operation that turns a profit and has a loyal clientele in the local community. Siyanda Sishuba reports.

Soil Erosion: A Big Problem With Few Solutions

Long-term food security is set to suffer if the scourge of soil erosion is not brought under control. Dan Pennock, a professor in soil science at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, discusses the extent of the problem and the importance of good soil management.

'Nappy Test' For Sheep To Help Optimise Milk Production

Sheep in Brazil were recently dressed in nappies as part of a research project aimed at finding the ideal grass length for maximum milk production.

New Report Expresses Support

Farmers unhappy with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) location differential system have suffered a setback, with grain expert Prof Matthew Roberts, founder of the Kernmantle Group, recommending that the system be maintained for wheat and maize and, if the JSE deemed it necessary, introduced for soya bean as well.

Seed-eating Birds Survive In The Desert

52years ago A study conducted at the Transvaal Museum investigated the water economy of seedeating birds, and the remarkable ability of certain finches to live in the desert without water for long periods of time.

Thinning Out Fruit On Peppers

The subject of thinning fruit in a pepper crop has many facets. To start with, peppers come in various growth types and have different bearing habits, all of which influence pruning and fruit thinning.

Bridles: Ensuring The Right Fit

Horses are much used in South Africa. Equestrian disciplines are popular, and both horses and donkeys are still utilised as working animals on farms and in townships. Despite this, many horse owners are unaware of the importance of a properly fitted bridle. Vicki Sokolich, an equine complementary care expert, explains that a poorly fitting bridle can result in significant damage to the physiology of the animal. Janine Ryan reports.

Using Technology To Predict Australian Wheat Yield

Wheat yield in Australia can now be predicted accurately two months before the crop matures using machine-learning methods, according to researchers at the University of Illinois in the US.

The Science Of Producing Good Silage

Leading Boran stud breeder Hurwitz Farming in Mpumalanga operates a number of enterprises, the latest of which is a silage contracting business. Pieter Dempsey interviewed Jarren Hurwitz to find out more about the new technology in silage that makes their operation different.

Growing Good Carrots: Part 1

Carrots have been an important vegetable crop in South Africa since the days of early European settlement in the Cape. Today, they are grown countrywide, particularly near urban areas.

Linking Midlands Consumers With Wholesome Foods

Few consumers properly understand how food production works or have any emotional connection with farmers and farming. This is according to Lauren Murphy, who, through her Internet-based farm produce marketing company, is helping to narrow this gap while supplying tasty, nutritious food to her many loyal clients in KwaZulu-Natal. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Is The Agri Sector Focusing On The Wrong Kind Of Growth?

Dr Sifiso Ntombela, a trade economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, argues that, contrary to some of the suggestions in the National Development Plan, the grain and livestock industries have greater potential than the horticultural industry to create better-paying jobs and alleviate poverty.