CATEGORIES

SA litchi farmers rethink production and markets

Market constraints and climate change have slashed profits for local litchi growers, leading to many exiting the industry. Komati Fruit in Mpumalanga has persevered, and is amongst the pioneers of positive change in the industry. Cornel van der Merwe, marketing and packaging director of Komati Fruit, spoke to Lindi Botha.

Capitalising on unused land with goats

The subtropical Lowveld is hardly prime goat country, but with good management, a farmer can add a valuable component to the crops cultivated in the area. Divan Maritz spoke to Lindi Botha about how he manages his goat stud of 300 animals for optimal farm profitability in this climate.

Making hay while the sun shines

The annual Balfour Hay Day held in Mpumalanga serves to whet farmers' appetites for the upcoming hay- and silage-making season. And this year's event, which was held on 19 January, was no exception. The latest equipment was demonstrated on lush, rain-watered veld, and farmers were spoilt for choice.

The impact of China's declining population on SA agri trade

The National Bureau of Statistics of China recently reported that the population in that country is declining. Absa AgriBusiness explores the possible impact of this megatrend on South Africa's agriculture sector.

Hold on input price increases needed to keep citrus industry afloat

Citrus stakeholders in South Africa are appealing for a moratorium on price increases of inputs in an effort to save the industry from collapse. Lindi Botha reports.

Green Week: subdued attack on meat consumption

Calls to end meat consumption and halt livestock farming were noticeably subdued at this year’s International Green Week conference held in Berlin, Germany, in late January.

Hempseed cake a good protein alternative in goat feed

New research has found that including hempseed cake in the diets of goats could produce a number of positive results for producers. Glenneis Kriel reports.

'South Africa sitting on a bluetongue time bomb'

Bluetongue poses a serious danger to sheep production in South Africa, and the spread of the disease is expected to escalate until early autumn 2023.

Grain SA on the road to improving circumstances for local grain farmers

Glenneis Kriel recently attended Grain SA's regional meeting in Moorreesburg, Western Cape, where the industry body summed up its activities over the past year.

England offers incentives to farmers to 'save' the environment

Farmers in England could receive funding from the government for up to 280 separate actions that aim to protect the environment, according to an article recently published by The Guardian newspaper

Black arm, boll rot and wilting in cotton plants

There is much hope for South Africa’s cotton industry as new players enter the market. However, as with all crops, there are several diseases that can cause serious economic losses. Janine Ryan examines a few.

The true value of pets and companion animals

Dr Jan du Preez, a veterinary specialist in public health, looks at the emotional, social and physical contributions that pets and companion animals make to the lives of their human owners.

Tiger 'farming' in SA: cruel, dangerous, and against global norms

Dr Neil D'Cruze, head of wildlife research and policy at World Animal Protection and Visiting Researcher at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; and Angie Elwin, wildlife research manager at World Animal Protection and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Reading, spoke to Moina Spooner, assistant editor at The Conversation Africa, about the captive-bred tiger industry in South Africa.

The overhaul of the Volvo XC90

Last year, Volvo launched the updated version of the all-wheel drive XC90, which marks the next step in the company's ambitious electrification strategy, says Siyavuya Mbaduli of CAR magazine.

Getting seeds to germinate under hot conditions

Each species has an optimal temperature for seed germination. The faster the seeds germinate, the better they do so, and the more likely they are to gain the upper hand over weeds, says Bill Kerr.

Parasitic cysts and lesions in organs

Parasitic cysts can result in the meat produced by your animals being downgraded. They also point to the presence of diseases that can make people very sick.

New online academy seeks to offer farmers and farmworkers greater opportunities

Ellis Mnyandu reports on the launch of a new online academy that seeks to upskill farmers and farmworkers in animal health and agricultural sciences.

DA calls for fewer power cuts to Free State farmers

Rolling blackouts have had a severe impact on the Free State's agriculture sector and it was crucial for Eskom to manage the sector as an essential service in terms of power distribution in order to not harm food production. This was according to the DA's Dr Roy Jankielsohn, leader of the opposition in the Free State Legislature.

Balfour Hay Day proves the value of farmers' days

Balfour Hay Day recently celebrated its 10th year, attracting a record number of visitors to the small Mpumalanga town. Just over 1 200 people attended the event, which showcased the latest silage and haymaking equipment.

Tractor sales set to moderate after highs in 2022

Sales of agricultural machinery are not expected to reach the record highs of 2022 this year, as inflation rates and high input costs weigh on farmers.

Strategies to eliminate rabies globally by 2030

A strong international drive is under way to put an end to all indigenously acquired dog-mediated rabies cases among humans by the end of this decade. In this article, researchers in the field set out the challenge.

The state of SA's flower industry: Part 3

Carol Sutherland asked flower growers Dirk van der Merwe and Micky de la Porte how the industry has changed.

The slow transformation of SA's dairy industry

Effecting change in the dairy industry is not for the short-sighted or faint of heart. Simpiwe Somdyala, CEO of Amadlelo Agri, spoke to Susan Marais about the agricultural investment company’s quest to uplift rural farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and the challenges it faces in the process.

Macadamia nuts: has the bubble burst?

Driven by high prices and attractive profit margins, macadamia plantings have exploded over the past seven years. Unfortunately, these large volumes have now combined with a downturn in the market to force farm-gate prices down, and many macadamia farmers are concerned about their future. Charles Cormack, CEO of Marquis Marketing, spoke to Lindi Botha about the road ahead for the industry.

Committing to Bonsmara

Mthobeli Dintsi was a 2022 provincial winner in the National Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Farmer of the Year competition, a category of the Agricultural Research Council's National Beef Performers Awards. Mike Burgess visited him recently on his farm in the Eastern Cape to better understand his journey to commercial beef production with Bonsmaras.

Can South Africa become independent of Eskom?

The trend of getting off the grid is gathering pace, but total independence is still some way off, says Hartmut Winkler, professor of physics at the University of Johannesburg.

Have a ball in colourful Sea Point

Exciting cuisine, stunning ocean views and invigorating surroundings are all available in spades on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard, says Brian Berkman, who particularly recommends The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel as a place to stay.

The Christmas Day massacre of 1850

On 25 December 1850, four British military villages recently established along the Cape's Eastern Frontier were attacked by the Xhosa. Mike Burgess explains the background, and results, of this bloody day.

THE HITCHING POST

I’m a 58-year-old lady who lives in East London and runs a small farm. I am stylish and take very good care of myself, yet I get stuck into farmwork and do a lot of it myself.

A 'farmhouse' in the Klein Karoo

Dear Jonno, My wife and I have bought a site in the Klein Karoo, inland from Mossel Bay. The site has a slight slope (about 10°) from back to front.