Avoiding Slippery Mistakes With Bananas

The humble banana is usually taken for granted by consumers, but growing this popular fruit can be tricky, expensive and involve considerable risk. Having top-performing banana plantations starts with the proper establishment of the crop. Brothers Riaan and WJ Heystek shared their experiences of setting up their banana enterprise with Lloyd Phillips.

Sustaining a community-owned game reserve in tough times

COVID-19’s disastrous impact has necessitated change and adaptability in even the most rural parts of South Africa. The management of Somkhanda Community Game Reserve spoke to Lloyd Phillips about their efforts to keep this jewel of conservation and ecotourism alive and moving forward in the face of adversity.

Controlling the cat's claw creeper

The leaf-tying moth has been released as a biological control agent against this invasive alien plant.

Why an integrated approach is best

Farmers are finding more and more natural enemies to keep tomato leaf miners in check instead of resorting solely to chemicals, says Bill Kerr.

Empowerment through education

Young Bonsmara farmer Keneilwe Raphesu knew the path to achieving her dreams lay in further training, so she joined a development programme for emerging farmers. She spoke to Siyanda Sishuba about the lessons she has learnt so far.

Land rights of SA's forgotten people

In this article, Prof Philippe Burger, pro-vice-chancellor of Poverty, Inequality and Economic Development at the University of the Free State, writes that South Africa is failing the poorest of the poor by not developing legislation that would strengthen the land rights of people who are living in communal areas.

The Boer goat mentor who's changing lives

Stud Boer goat breeder Desré Ferreira from Vryburg in North West provides a valuable support network to developing and commercial Boer goat farmers. She started mentoring a group of about 30 farmers a decade ago, and now supports 150. Annelie Coleman reports.

Dealing with external parasites on chickens

These pests can cause severe problems for small-flock poultry producers (and occasionally large-flock producers) by disturbing the birds and affecting their growth and egg production. They can also spread disease.

Sugar cane and cash crop rotation helps improve soil health

Decades of monocropping has compromised soil health on many South African sugar cane farms, negatively affecting their productivity. Dreyer Senekal, co-director of Senekal Familie Boerdery, explains to Lloyd Phillips how he is experimenting with strategic crop rotation to improve the soil of his sugar cane enterprise.

Tuberculosis in cattle

Tuberculosis is an important zoonotic disease that spreads slowly in animal populations.

The influence of weather on lucerne hay quality

There is still limited research available on the effects of weather on lucerne production in South Africa, This article, written by lucerne specialist Dr Gerrie Scholtz, agricultural economist Walter van Niekerk, and others, was published by the National Lucerne Trust and offers some insight on the matter, based on recent observations.

Superior goats and award-winning cheeses

Rina Belcher runs Belnori Boutique Cheesery, a Saanen goat-breeding and cheesemaking operation near Bapsfontein in Gauteng. Pieter Dempsey spoke to her about raising her animals and creating a diverse range of products, including soft and hard cheeses, a number of which have garnered prestigious awards.

Strategic planning for families in business

When carrying out estate planning, a family business owner may be concerned only with who will inherit the business and how it will be transferred. More is required, says Trevor Dickinson; planning has to consider the family’s desires and intentions for the business, as well as strategies for the future of the operation.

Painted Persians carry sheep farmer through drought

The demand for multicoloured Persian sheep in the Middle East has helped Northern Cape breeder Koenie Kotzé endure the drought. Annelie Coleman reports on how he discovered this market.

Case IH introduces tougher, rust-resistant paint with a deeper shine

Additions to the paint shop facilities at the Case IH St Valentin tractor plant in Austria have resulted in longer-lasting paintwork on the company’s tractors. Advanced techniques now ensure that the paint adheres more tightly to metal surfaces, making the paintwork more resistant to scratching, cracking and rusting.

Illegal Sand Mining Threatens Sugar Farmers

The sugar cane farms of 175 small-scale growers are hanging in the balance as illegal sand mining in the Middle-Komati River reaches catastrophic levels.

Unsustainable Farming A Threat To Water Supply

South Africa’s estuarine and wetland ecosystems provide important ecological functions such as the purification of water. Yet 99% and 88% of these ecosystems respectively are threatened. Prof Francois Durand of the Department of Zoology at the University of Johannesburg writes that farmers, who are the main water users in the country, have a crucial role to play when it comes to reversing this degradation.

Feed Right For Your Type

For sustainable grassland management, farmers need to know whether they are farming on sweet- or sourveld, and should adapt their livestock management practices accordingly. Glenneis Kriel reports.

Starting An Essential Oils Enterprise From Scratch

After attending a farmers’ day in 2018, Oniccah and Naledi Nkoe decided to start farming herbal plants to produce essential oils. They have since expanded plantings and launched their own essential oils business. They spoke to Salome Modiselle and Sandile Mahlangu, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council.

Agriculture Alone Cannot Address The Youth Unemployment Crisis

Africa remains the youngest continent in the world, with almost 60% of its population under the age of 25.

Bidders Beware: Uptick In ‘Illegal' Auctions

With the introduction of the COVID-19-related lockdown came the unprecedented migration of auctions to online platforms as a means of selling everything from cars to office furniture.

The dog for the stockman and how to choose him

Sheep dogs have been invaluable to stock farmers for many decades and even centuries. However, the dog must be able to work. This article explored the characteristics that a farmer should consider when choosing a sheep dog.

Steady, solid progress with free-range pigs

Start small and grow with the results. This is the principle followed by young pig farmer Jason Buys of Ocean View piggery in the Western Cape. Jeandré van der Walt visited him to learn more about his free-range pig operation and how he plans to grow his farming business.

Brucellosis

This disease can cause devastating production losses. For this reason, it is a controlled disease, which means that it must be reported to government veterinary services. It is also a zoonosis.

A Unique Composer, A Remarkable Man

Inspired by the sounds and rhythms of traditional Xhosa music, Chris McGregor helped put South African jazz on the world map. Graham Jooste recalls the composer’s creativity and his contribution to nation-building.

Making The Most Of Saline Irrigation Water

Saline irrigation water can make crop production completely unviable, yet some South African farmers are overcoming this challenge to achieve results that go far beyond expectations. Glenneis Kriel reports.

Extra Care Goes A Long Way In Wagyu Breeding

The Wagyu beef breed is growing in popularity among consumers and producers, and for good reason. It offers high-quality, marbled meat, and farmers can benefit from a good return on investment. Veterinarian and stud owner Dr Anja Steinberg spoke to Lindi Botha about producing this valuable breed.

The Impact Of The New Poultry Import Tariff

An increase in South Africa’s poultry tariff appears to have reduced imports, opening up opportunities for local producers to increase output. However, it has also contributed to an increase in the retail prices of poultry products. Thabile Nkunjana, an agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, explains.

Bringing Transparency To Crop Insurance

The Fourth Industrial Revolution can aid crop insurance, although the technology still has a long way to go to reach its full potential, according to Schalk Schultz of Santam Agriculture. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel.

A Leader In Value-Added Salad Vegetables

Dew Crisp started out as a hydroponic farming operation near Johannesburg in the early 1980s and has since grown to become one of South Africa's leading producers of value-added salad products. Glenneis Kriel spoke to one of the company’s co-founders, Michael Kaplan, about the business's journey to success.