CATEGORIES

How to control powdery mildew in vineyards

When it comes to managing powdery mildew in grape orchards, prevention is better than cure, and the key lies in taking action early in the season. Glenneis Kriel reports.

Monitor your dairy farm's emission rates online!

Milk producers face a multitude of challenges, with low profits and strict biosecurity demands high on the list. In addition, the industry is often lambasted for its perceived contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, despite efforts to mitigate these. Researcher Riana Reinecke now offers dairy farmers a tool to help them measure, and demonstrate, the effects of any regenerative conservation methods they introduce. Susan Marais reports.

The problem with inflation

Jannie Rossouw, visiting professor at Wits Business School at the University of the Witwatersrand, writes that sustained price increases erode consumers' spending power.

Brafords breed abundance

What do you get when you cross a Brahman with a Hereford? You get the Braford: a fertile animal with amazing mothering abilities that has a long life expectancy and produces a carcass that can be compared with South Africa’s best. Susan Marais travelled to Bethal in Mpumalanga to learn more about this exceptional breed from Gert van der Merwe and Johan de Jager, owners of the Bonheur Brafords stud.

Farming Simulator game adds Kubota to its fleet

The popular virtual farming game Farming Simulator has added a range of realistically depicted Kubota machinery to its ever-expanding fleet of agricultural machinery.

Transkei traders: glimpses of a bygone era

Being a trader in the verdant hills of the old Transkei had a romance, not to mention a fragrance, all of its own, recalls Graham Jooste.

WWF marks a decade of water conservation

Fifty per cent of the water in South African rivers and dams comes from only 10% of the surface area of South Africa.

UK to ask Norway for fish exports to help ailing fish and chip shops

The UK‘s National Federation of Fish Friers is appealing to Norway to send fish fillets to that country to moderate the rapidly increasing price of fried fish.

Labour shortage persists amid high unemployment

South Africa’s current official unemployment rate is 34,5%, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa.

It’s never too late to learn something new

You’re never too experienced to learn. Roelof Bezuidenhout explains why farmers’ days and other get-togethers are such a valuable resource.

A soil biocontrol agent, biofertiliser and plant growth promoter in one

Dr WJ Botha of the Biosystematics Division attached to the Agricultural Research Council’s Plant Health and Protection Research Institute explains why Streptomyces bacteria are an ideal alternative to chemical fertilisers and growth promoters.

Using micro-organisms to improve profitability

Increasing production, reducing mortality rates, and managing diseases and pests are the three pillars of success in chicken production. Studies show that a way of achieving this winning combination may lie in the use of effective micro-organisms, a unique mix of bacteria, fungi and yeast.

The cattle most at risk from lion attacks

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Pretoria attempt to explain why some types of cattle may be more likely to serve as prey for lions.

The spirit of enterprise will give rise to growth

The buck stops with government, whose policymakers should stop scapegoating and allow South Africa’s economy to flourish in a free market, writes Temba Nolutshungu of the Free Market Foundation.

The rise and rise of Egypt's orange production

Egypt has become a global powerhouse in terms of orange production and exports, and its government is aiming to improve production even further.

VEGETABLES Pumpkin and winter squash

Pumpkins and winter squashes should not be harvested until they are fully ripe and the skins are hard. This is about four months after planting.

The financial implications of a family agribusiness transition

Handing a family agribusiness over to the next generation involves financial as well as personal decisions. And personal decisions with financial implications are the most difficult of all! Trevor Dickinson reports.

Reduce your carbon footprint with the correct lubricants

Fuchs's new automotive product packaging is easy on the environment, says Andrew Cowling, sales director at Fuchs Lubricants South Africa.

Is SA's rural economy on the road to ruin?

Dilapidated country roads are a direct threat to South Africa's agricultural and rural economies, yet farmers and communities have largely encountered a wall of indifference from government. In an attempt to be heard, Agri SA and its affiliates conducted a countrywide survey amongst 311 primary production units, many of which expressed frustration over the authorities' lack of action. Susan Marais reports.

Guidelines for recording accurate and reliable BLUP breeding values

Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling of the Agricultural Research Council provide recommendations to help breeders apply good management and recording practices that can optimise their herds' genetic evaluations.

Fertilising tomatoes

Tomatoes are an expensive crop to grow, so it makes sense to fertilise them according to a soil analysis. The cost of the analysis is negligible compared with the benefits, says Bill Kerr.

Breeding for conformation

Conformation is essential when breeding horses for a specific purpose, says Dr Mac. As conformation is achieved mostly through genetic means, breeders need to choose dams and sires with care.

Braford: a superior yet affordable breed

Braford cattle are fairly new to South Africa, yet already outperform some other breeds in terms of beef quality, feed conversion, maternal qualities and adaptability. Jan Meaker, president of the Braford Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this breed's growing popularity.

Beneficial bacteria bring 98% packout for Brassica farm

They are notoriously tricky crops to grow in summer, but broccoli and cauliflower flourish on Southern Block farm in KwaZulu-Natal. By focusing on optimal soil and vigorous plants, this farm uses minimal chemical inputs. Lindi Botha spoke to the team about their winning recipe.

'Respect people' - A top farmer's winning formula

The Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year for 2021, Jan le Roux, has earned himself a reputation among his staff as a perfectionist and a stickler for detail. At the same time, he believes in giving as much responsibility as possible to his 6 000 workers in order to promote empowerment. Lindi Botha visited the Le Roux Group's operation in the Western Cape to learn more about Le Roux's methods for developing an efficient workforce.

An innovative new harvesting tool

Enter the PickLogger, a new harvesting tool developed by Agri Technovation, that allows for more accurate yield management.

US cuts red tape to increase food production and fill Ukraine gap

The US government has announced a variety of measures to encourage farmers to introduce double-cropping on their farms.

The unique pollination strategies of plants ensure their survival

South Africa is filled with an array of remarkable plant species. Landscape designer Leon Kluge spoke to Magda du Toit about this mysterious world of flora and the tricks they have developed to attract pollinators in order to survive.

Understanding a tomato seedling's instincts

Plants are programmed to fight for survival in the competition for nutrients and light. To get the best fruit out of a tomato plant, for example, you have to fool it

Thriftiness pays in cattle ranching

This article revealed some of the production secrets of one of South Africa's original Beefmaster herds.