CATEGORIES

Walking the wild apple forests of Kazakhstan

Two experts in South Africa’s pome fruit industry recently undertook an adventure to an ancient forest in Kazakhstan, known as the birthplace of the modern apple. Brian Berkman reports.

New compact Landini offers versatility and driver comfort

Landini’s new specialised orchard and vineyard tractor range, the REX 3 F Series, has been nominated in Europe’s Tractor of the Year 2021 awards in the category for best specialised tractors.

SA must take a ‘bold step' towards fiscal sustainability

The re-evaluation of govenrment spending, although much needed, will not be enough to address South Africa’s immense economic challenges. There also needs to be stronger political will and leadership from government to address poor implementation, writes Dr John Purchase, CEO of the Agricultural Business Chamber.

Learning from your mistakes

As farmers, we should make every effort to learn from our mistakes. In fact, we should go out of our way to turn our errors to our advantage.

Addressing inefficiencies through improved budgeting

Tshepo Moloi and Prof Johann Kirsten of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University suggest that a zero-based budgeting approach could offer an opportunity to reassess the role of the state in rural development. The agriculture department should also consider adopting a loan, rather than a grant system, when providing production support to new farmers.

Fine Dining And Tractor Game Drives On A Free State Farm

Since diversifying into accommodation and fine dining in 1991, Free State Merino farm De Oude Kraal has become a landmark. Brian Berkman recently visited it and soon understood why it has gained its excellent reputation.

African Farmers Test-Drive Case IH Combines

The Case IH Axial-Flow 4088 proved its suitability to tough African farming conditions, and specifically to the needs of emerging field crop farmers, during extensive field tests conducted recently on a variety of crops in Kenya. The machine’s rugged simplicity also won it praise.

Papaya Production: A Delicate Balancing Act

Papaya production poses few challenges, says Mpumalanga-based papaya producer Giovanna Secco. But with high volumes and unstable demand, farming the fruit requires careful management to ensure that the crop remains profitable. Lindi Botha reports.

A Lean, Mean Sheepproducing Machine

Sheep production has become a numbers game, with an operation’s profitability being largely dependent on the farmer’s ability to produce large numbers of sheep at low cost. Farm manager Dirk Liebenberg spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how he achieves this goal.

Broiler Producer Uses Her Position To Uplift Others

Jo-andra Cloete, who farms in Joostenberg Vlakte near Cape Town, started producing broilers only a few years ago. She is now mentoring over a hundred farmers, whom she supplies with day-old chicks. She spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the growth of her highly successful operation.

BRIDGING THE GAP Going online to optimise farm equipment leasing

Mechanisation is key to improving food and fibre production. But traditional linkages between companies that lease agricultural machinery and their clients are often problematic. A new online platform promises to take the stress out of hiring and leasing. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Feeding Africa's fast-growing cities

Africa’s rapidly growing urban food markets offer significant opportunities for the continent’s farmers and agribusinesses. Yet, according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’s ‘Africa Agriculture Status Report 2020’, food can often be imported at lower cost from international suppliers. African farmers will have to become globally competitive if they hope to successfully supply growing domestic markets.

Concern over rural and gender-based violence

Based on alarming ongoing reports of farm murders, as well as assaults of women and children, it seems that South Africa is becoming a more violent country than ever. The harsh reality is that women, and specifically women farmers, simply don’t feel safe in this country.

Top Santa Gertrudis breeder's endless search for perfection

Having farmed Santa Gertrudis cattle for nearly half a century, Amy Williams is sought after for her professional advice, and many farmers credit her for their success. Moreover, her stud has continued to produce award winning animals year after year, proving that her expertise and passion are undiminished. Lindi Botha reports.

Tilapia farming Untapped SA market holds opportunity for growth

David Fincham has more than 30 years’ experience in aquaculture and is one of South Africa’s foremost tilapia specialists. Through his business in Muldersdrift near Johannesburg, he has supplied 450 fish farming production units to farmers in Africa. He spoke to Pieter Dempsey.

Better soil drainage

47 YEARS AGO In South Africa, a water-scarce country, farmers have to use water with the utmost care. By improving soil drainage, they can save water and ensure better yields.

Woman Vintner Shakes Up Wine Industry In The Free State

Picture the Free State, and you are likely to recall lands of maize and golden sunflowers stretching to the horizon. Near Jacobsdal, however, Tebogo Ditsebe is bucking the trend: she grows wine grapes and produces wine under her own label. Jeandré van der Walt reports.

Automated, Intensive, And Independent Soil Sampling

True farm optimisation starts with understanding your soil and its theoretical production potential. Stehan Cloete discusses some ideas around soil sampling with Sion Agri’s lead independent agronomy consultant, Thomas Strydom.

Saving The Planet Depends On A New Agriculture

Nature is essential for human existence, providing and sustaining the air, freshwater and soils on which we all depend. It also regulates the climate and provides pollination and pest control. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) ‘Living Planet Report 2020’, while more food and energy than ever before are supplied, overexploitation of plants and animals is increasingly eroding nature’s ability to provide these in the future.

Farmer Tackles Hunger And Food Wastage In The Face Of Covid-19

Farmers across South Africa have launched food aid initiatives for their local communities to ease the hardships and suffering brought about by the COVID-19 lockdown. Fruit and vegetable producer Rossouw Cillié of Laastedrif near Ceres spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about his involvement in distributing food parcels to Western Cape families in need.

Why Too Much Iron Is A Problem

Excessive iron in drinking water is hazardous to horses, says Dr Mac, and could lead to permanent liver damage or death.

Will The Pandemic Change How People Eat For Good?

During the recent 2020 PMA Fresh Connections: Southern Africa conference, Dr William Li, a scientist and the author of the bestselling book Eat to Beat Disease, in conversation with Jaco Oosthuizen, CEO of RSA Group, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had given the fresh produce industry a golden opportunity to increase its focus on health and healthy eating.

How Insect Predators Can Help You

Beneficial insects used in integrated pest management (IPM) can sometimes completely eliminate the need for crop chemicals, or at least reduce chemical spraying to a minimum. In addition, there are now crop chemicals that are much safer for parasitoids and predators.

Brahman Stud Owner Strives For Perfection

A dream to farm Brahman cattle saw Auldrich Spies switch from construction to farming. Ironically, it was his initial ignorance that led him to become a successful stud farmer today. Lindi Botha visited SS Brahmane in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

A New Disease Threat To Papaya And Citrus

Phytophthora palmivora, a disease that causes crown and root rot, poses a new threat to subtropical fruit and citrus production in South Africa. Dr Mieke Daneel of the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Tropical and Subtropical Crops division in Mbombela and Dr Wilhelm Botha of the ARC’s Plant Health and Protection division in Roodeplaat explain the disease and how to combat it.

How Predators Can Boost Profits

If you are like many farmers, you use a spray programme because it gives you peace of mind. Yet, in many cases, you can have protection and peace of mind without the cost of spraying, which, of course, includes the expense of the chemical and running a tractor.

Thorn tree leaves: a nutritious grain substitute in pig feed

Smallholder pig production in Southern Africa is constrained by feed shortages and the demand for grains to feed the ever-growing human population. This makes it important to identify alternative feedstuffs for pigs.

Making lucerne hay while maximising soil health

Free State irrigation farmer Freek Strauss grows lucerne for the local and export markets. At the same time, the crop improves the soil’s condition, thus increasing the yields of other crops in rotation. Sabrina Dean reports.

Wine: the future doesn't look like the past

The COVID-19 lockdown and its effects have undeniably changed South Africa’s wine landscape, according to Mike Ratcliffe, founder of Wine Business Advisors. Jeandré van der Walt spoke to him about what the wine industry would look like after the pandemic and how it should navigate the next few years to stay profitable and build big brands in a fiercely competitive world.

Growing avocados: Part 4

Avocado trees can be arranged in an orchard in a number of ways. Each has its advantages.