CATEGORIES

Calls for support after devastating veld fires

The agriculture sector in the North West had to overcome numerous severe challenges during the past year, of which the loss of more than a million hectares to veld fires was probably the worst, said Willem de Chavonnes Vrucht, Agri North West chairperson. The large-scale foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks also added to the woes of the sector, he said.

Association says UK government must act fast on artificial fertilisers

UK-based charity The Soil Association has started a petition urging government to put a plan in place to reduce the use of fossilbased artificial fertilisers on local farms. The association said if the government did not do something urgently, they risked missing its climate goals.

AGL'S locally blended lubricants to benefit the agriculture sector

An extension of the localisation partnership between global brand ExxonMobil and African Group Lubricants (AGL) holds the promise of an abundant harvest for South Africa's agriculture sector.

Farm accidents: be very careful

Agriculture is a big employer and is also one of the deadliest professions, ranking alongside construction and mining as the most dangerous industry.

Some physiological disorders of cabbages

Oedema, bursting cabbages, tip burn and cold damage may cause concern but they can be prevented and managed

Set up marketing facilities and community structures

Avoid the situation where buyers are expected to struggle while processing and later loading your livestock because of poor or non-existent facilities

Charity always begins at home

We all know the expression 'charity begins at home', but why then do so many people make a mess of it in their own lives and businesses?

Egg and chicken meat shortages loom as bird flu gains momentum

Continuous outbreaks of bird flu may lead to egg and chicken meat shortages in South Africa.

The Rockefeller: a vibrant oasis in Cape Town's revamped Foreshore

Brian Berkman says this edgy hotel and apartments complex makes access to the N1 and N2 a breeze.

Understanding insurance

In this article, Janine Ryan looks at what specific insurance packages are available for farmers in South Africa.

The basics of cutworm management

While the presence of weeds strongly influences the pest status of cutworm, the influence of soil moisture on factors such as their biology and behaviour are often overlooked. Entomologist and Bt-maize expert Prof Johnnie van den Berg and Zunel van Eeden, a master's student at North-West University's Integrated Pest Management group, have undertaken research on cutworm behaviour, control and insecticide resistance.

Perseverance despite communal challenges

Zolani Tsheko, the second vice-chairperson of the National Wool Growers' Association, is a wool producer in the communal area of Thornhill near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess recently visited him to gain a better understanding of the production challenges faced by communal farmers, who Tsheko is obligated to lead in terms of his mandate.

'Love for agriculture' will guide new head of Agri Enterprises

Pieter de Jager was recently elected CEO of Agri Enterprises. He spoke to Magda du Toit about his plans for the company.

A last-minute rescue plan for farmed rhino

Jason Gilchrist, a lecturer at the School of Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, writes that conservation charity African Parks plans to release 2 000 rhino into the wild across Africa.

Rocky space debris that deserves our attention

Unusual finds by a South African farmer add to the country's space rock heritage, says Roger Lawrence Gibson, a professor of structural geology and metamorphic petrology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Spring is in the air and all the equine parasites are celebrating

It's time to start spraying and dosing your horses as the flies and ticks are multiplying

How to mitigate risks when sawing

In this article, Husqvarna looks at the safety precautions that should be taken when operating a chainsaw.

Nitrogen applications until the cabbages are harvested

LAN is the preferred fertiliser for post-plant fertilisation of the cabbage crop. It contains nitrate that is available to the crop but unfortunately also easily leached from the soil

Weaning your calves

The priority in beef production is to produce as many calves as possible. The main objective of weaning is therefore to enable a cow to calve every year by allowing her to regain condition after weaning.

A review of A Country of Two Agricultures

Wandile Sihlobo has once again crafted a balanced and influential book that deconstructs the complex realities of the agriculture sector in South Africa

Quick to go up, slow to come down

Price movement in value chains with dominant role players shows a 'rocket and feather' effect, quick to increase but slow to decrease

Getting citrus off the ground

To make sure his plants are virus-free, this nursery owner never allows the roots to come into contact with the soil. Producing virus-free citrus plants for sale takes rigorous management, says Trevor McKenzie of Nucellar Nursery in Simondium, Western Cape. He produces under the Citrus Superplant Scheme, which means all the plants he grows must be certified by inspectors to ensure they conform to the scheme standards.

Bank on the new improvements at this elegant hotel with Indian flair

Brian Berkman says to search the Internet for affordable deals at this five-star Cape Town establishment.

Meet a pioneer in the organic industry

Jenny Slabber, the owner and founder of Talborne Organics, has more than 40 years' experience in the organic industry.

Walnuts: a rising star in SA's nut basket

Walnuts make up the smallest portion of South Africa's nut cultivation, yet show much promise as a profitable crop that can be grown across a host of areas in the country. One of the first to take the leap, Rotondo Walnuts is paving the way for a robust future industry.

Farming of the future

Regenerative agriculture is said to be the farming way of the future. It is believed that switching to regenerative agriculture methods minimises carbon emissions, promotes biodiversity, protects the soil, and ensures agricultural sustainability

How Africa should tackle invasive alien species

Invasive alien species are a serious threat to the planet, writes Julie Coetzee, a researcher at Rhodes University. In this article, she highlights four key messages for Africa in this regard.

Getting started with organic farming

'Organic farming' has become a buzzword in agricultural production over the past decade, but it holds real benefits for farmers from a production perspective.

Quality feathers fetch a premium price

Over the years, Laubscher Coetzee has established himself as a producer of top-quality ostrich feathers. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his production strategy.

Exposing a secretive bark stripper

When Mike Burgess noticed multiple trees on his farm, De Hoek in the Eastern Cape, were being ringbarked, he was intrigued as to what animal could be responsible as since he had taken possession of the property 20 years earlier, it had never happened before.