CATEGORIES
What the system means to farmers
South African crop farmers can secure remendous benefits with the use of modern precision seed-spacing drills.
The importance of routine in horse care
Fitting your riding times into a daily pattern with stable mates may help to establish an ordered way of life for your horse, writes Dr Mac.
Beware of mosaic virus in your cabbage field
Transmitted it susceptible by aphids, this virus can damage your crop and make to downy mildew, warns Bill Kerr.
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE - Growing common birdsfoot
Besides improving the physical, chemical, hydrological and biological properties of soil, species such as serradella can be used as animal feed.
Cotton, the 'white gold' of dryland crop production in SA
Cotton production in the North West has proved to be a viable alternative to maize and soya bean, with the profitability of cotton exceeding that of maize and soya bean despite extremely high input costs. Annelie Coleman attended a cotton information day in Schweizer-Reneke and compiled this report.
Feeding guidelines for various stages of production
Tara Felix, an extension beef specialist, and Nathan Briggs, a former beef extension educator, both from Pennsylvania State University in the US, provide guidelines as hypothetical scenarios that show dietary comparisons across a singular system for growing beef cattle.
What to consider when mixing your own feed
Mixing your own feed can save you money in the short term, but can also cost you in the long term if you do not pay attention to sourcing the optimal ingredients.
Nematode management starts with knowledge
Some species of nematodes, or roundworms, can become a serious problem, says Dr Driekie Fourie, technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare in Africa and the Middle East.
Symposium a great opportunity for sommeliers
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has changed its Sommelier Cup competition into a Sommelier Symposium to give more sommeliers exposure to South Africa’s unique wines and culture.
Farmers optimistic after handover
An Eastern Cape wool association, which includes a sizeable amount of women and youngsters as members, received a generous donation from government recently, writes Jyothi Laldas.
NWK asks Eskom to restore power to Lichtenburg
The demise of South Africa’s municipalities and the ever-decreasing capacity to deliver basic services such as electricity are increasingly impacting on local consumers’ ability to afford food and compromises food security, according to Dr Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist.
Villiersdorp growers excel in best producer awards
Stettyn Vineyards, owned by Hendrik and Wena Botha, took the lion’s share of the 2022 Twoa-Day Best Producer Awards.
South Coast hosts Agricultural Careers and Economic Opportunities Expo 2023
KwaZulu-Natal learners were shown the many opportunities that exist in the sector, writes Jyothi Laldas.
Two new Cape Wine Masters announced
Marlee Malan of Vinochem Specialities, and Rudolph Steenkamp, co-director of Salt Rock Wines, recently received their Cape Wine Masters diplomas from the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM).
More sustainable red rice to make a comeback in Indian rice fields
Rice farmers in Himachal Pradesh in northern India are going back to their roots and growing red rice. According to the country’s Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, red rice had many beneficial qualities and grew well without fertiliser and other chemicals.
Namibia aims to grow international sheep exports
Although the exportation of Namibian lamb to high-value markets is still in its infancy, it is paving the way for a more sustainable sheep production industry in that country. This was according to Roelie Venter, executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU).
Innovative Free State students win big
Innovation was on display at the Enactus South Africa National Exposition, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, with more than 700 youngsters attending, writes Jyothi Laldas.
The quest for healthy food
The global food system is not broken but its resilience is threatened, according to researchers looking for answers to the problems around nutritional quality and inequalities in the food chains.
BRICS, geopolitics and agriculture
South Africa has been in the global media over the past two months for all the wrong reasons. Most of it falls in the category of scoring own goals! August will be dominated by the BRICS summit that will take place in South Africa, and it is necessary to consider the context of the summit as well as the possible advantages it may have for South Africa and for agriculture specifically.
The lowdown on livestock medicines
While over-medication can be a problem, sometimes leading to poisoning, medications play an important role in functional and profitable farming
Cannabis and mental health
Understanding the endocannabinoid system is essential to understanding how cannabis may affect mental health, says Thomas Walker. Never self-medicate, but rather always consult a doctor first.
Best strategy and management practices
Business books provide a wealth of guidelines for business success, but are often too complicated. Raynor and Ahmed boil it down to three essential rules
How to cope with blackleg on cabbages
This fungus might be pretty rare these days, but it’s still worth knowing how to deal with it
Growing tall fescue
Tall fescue is a species with a relatively high water requirement, but does particularly well with irrigation, since it is a very important species used in fodder flow programmes. It has the ability to grow in dryland conditions in relatively wet areas such as wetlands.
A family success, thanks to Massey Ferguson
Rene de Schmid and his two sons, Jean and Chris, run Frumentum Farming in Namibia, which operates in the maize triangle near Grootfontein, the Otavi region, and the Otjiwarongo area.
New planter unleashes agricultural efficiency
The John Deere 1725C planter offers unique solutions that enable farmers to sow their lands with more precision and consistency.
Ford Ranger Platinum
Give the Ford Ranger chrome treatment, a silky smooth V6 engine and a comprehensive offroading package and you get the Ranger Platinum, the most premium offering within the Ranger family, bar the Raptor. While the Platinum option remains unavailable in South Africa, Oliver Keohane of CAR magazine got behind the wheel to drive it in the icy mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand.
Isuzu adds value-oriented 1.9 LS
Isuzu Motors South Africa has launched a new value-oriented version of its mu-X seven-seater sport utility vehicle in the form of the all-new 1.9 LS 4x2 AT.
Top-of-the-range seeders
Piket has a wide range of seeders available to meet any farmer's needs when it comes to planting grain and fine seed.
Get ready for your own green revolution
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting your green journey, Husqvarna has the perfect tiller to meet your needs.