CATEGORIES

Healthy Yields Start With Healthy Soil And Roots

Biodiverse, nutrient-rich soil is the basis of consistently good harvests. Madumbi, a South African distributor of proven bioproducts, helps farmers build up and maintain optimal soil conditions.

Widespread relief as ban on tobacco sales is lifted

South African tobacco producers, who have suffered greatly since the ban on tobacco products was announced in March, have expressed relief about the lifting of the ban. Annelie Coleman reports.

What SA farmers can learn from Kenya's smallholders

Prof Cyril Nhlanhla Mbatha, director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University, writes that by embracing digital solutions, like those used by farmers in Kenya, South African small-scale farmers can achieve greater market access and be better prepared to weather disruptions.

Sowing the seeds for the future

The South African National Seed Organisation is determined to build capacity in the seed industry to ensure that its members acquire the best talent to take the industry forward.

LAND REFORM: lack of government support at the root of community's struggles

The Mswati Communal Property Association (CPA) in Mpumalanga was one of the earliest beneficiaries of the new South African government’s land reform programme. More than 20 years later, the community is still struggling to get the crucial support from the state that would enable them to grow their farming businesses, says CPA committee member Maria Magagula. She and her daughter, Sanet, spoke to Siyanda Sishuba.

Weighty matters

Technological advances are making it easier to weigh livestock and use this information to influence herd management decisions. Glenneis Kriel spoke to a number of experts about the advantages of weighing livestock regularly.

A revered modern saint

Elizabeth Paul was an Anglican preacher and healer whose ministry in the Eastern Cape drew large numbers of people. Today, 56 years after her death and seven years after she was canonised, pilgrims still visit her prayer room in Tsolo in the hope of blessing and healing, writes Mike Burgess.

Keeping Records Of Your Animals

Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, explains the basics of record-keeping, and offers a guideline on how farmers can implement record-keeping processes on their farms.

Farm Technology On Show At New York Art Museum

Big Agriculture, Big Energy and Big Data are on display at the Guggenheim’s ‘Countryside, The Future’ exhibition, which explores the evolution of food production, as well as profound changes in rural areas.

Finding A Niche Market For Flavoured Cheeses

Kasselshoop, a small cheese factory near Stilbaai in the Western Cape, is a success story that started with a family’s compassion towards fellow farmers in the area. Co-owner Liesel Kasselman spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about the cheese-making venture.

Covid-19 And Its Effect On Small Food Businesses

COVID-19 has hit small- and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa’s food sector hard. Andrew Bowman, a lecturer at the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and Dr Reena das Nair, a senior researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development at the University of Johannesburg, discuss some of the approaches that can be followed to better support these businesses.

SWITCH TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Regenerative agriculture is well researched and documented, but what actually happens on farm level might differ from results achieved during controlled trials. Stehan Cloete provides advice on how to address these challenges and introduce regenerative practices while remaining profitable.

Performance recording in small stock

It takes discipline and effort to record flock parameters, but the data is invaluable in the long run.

‘To profit from pigs, aim for efficiency and quality'

Award-winning piggery owner Khulile Mahlalela says that to maximise profits, a farmer must get the pigs market-ready as rapidly as possible, and produce a low-fat carcass with tender meat. Siyanda Sishuba reports.

Beware of pathogens and pests

As seedlings are the start of the new crop, you need to take every precaution to ensure the plants remain free of pests and diseases. These will not only compromise the seedlings but cause an outbreak after transplanting.

Ensuring Food Safety In A Family-Run Cheesery

South Africa’s deadly listeriosis outbreak in 2018 showed how a food brand could suffer devastating consequences from shortcomings in its food safety system. The Gourmet Greek, a dairy business in KwaZulu-Natal, is taking no chances in this regard. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Debate On Live Sheep Exports From South Africa Intensifies

Agricultural organisations in favour of live sheep exports by sea have welcomed the recent all-clear verdict of veterinary health experts on Kuwaiti export company Al Mawashi’s premises in the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, as the controversy surrounding these live exports rages on, more organisations are expressing their opposition to the practice. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Backyard Broilers: Working Towards A Large-Scale Business

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and Emmanuel Gumede has taken this proverb to heart in his dream to one day own and operate a large-scale broiler farming operation. He shared his experiences as a fledgling broiler grower with Lloyd Phillips.

How Omnia Turned The Tide

Diversified chemicals group Omnia Holdings has rebounded. Its results for the year ended 31 March 2020 showed an operating profit of R789 million, up from R24 million in 2019. Headline earnings per share were positive, net debt was down, and R2,2 billion in cash was generated. CEO Seelan Gobalsamy, who took office last year, spoke to Sabrina Dean.

Brinjals Bring Stability For Vegetable Producer

Any farmer will tell you that there is no such thing as a perfect crop, as each has its own challenges. From a production point of view, brinjals are as easy as they come, but limited demand puts a brake on large-scale production. Theuns Kotzee, a director of AAL Boerdery in Limpopo, explained to Lindi Botha how they manage this crop.

Minimum tillage for difficult sugar farms

55YEARS AGOFinding a way to work with your farm’s topography may be the difference between failure and success, as this farmer came to learn.

Performance recording in small stock: Part 2

Incorporating record-keeping in your flock management requires planning and dedication, but the benefits will prove invaluable.

Israeli technologies could boost SA agriculture

The trade office of the Israeli embassy in South Africa, together with the Fresh Produce Marketing Association’s South Africa office, jointly hosted the Virtual Agritech Roadshow to South Africa 2020. This webinar showcased several new Israeli-developed agricultural technologies. Lloyd Phillips reports on three new systems designed to improve efficiency and cut food wastage.

Farmers' water rights and the law

Water is an economic enabler, and ensuring that it is used where it will have the most benefit is key to the agriculture sector and maintaining food security. However, a recent decision by the South African High Court, which confirmed that the sale and transfer of water is unlawful, has created much uncertainty about farmers’ rights in this regard, writes James Brand, senior associate of ENSafrica’s Natural Resources and Environment department.

Don't throw out surplus seedlings

Seedling growers frequently end up with excess seedlings in stock. There are a number of reasons for this.

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Popular in all respects, courteous, and with expert knowledge of the law, Francis Reitz transformed the Orange Free State into what the British regarded as a ‘model republic’, says Graham Jooste.

How To Improve Seedling Trays

As mentioned in one of my previous articles (see FW, 24 July), polystyrene seedling trays are made by heating small polystyrene beads in a mould; they expand to fill the mould and thereby form the tray. The more pellets that are placed in the mould, the denser and stronger the seedling tray.

Benefits Of A Germination Room

One of the crucial factors in seedling production is achieving high and uniform germination.

Middle Class Wants Meat, But The Rich Want Alternatives

The latest 10-year agricultural outlook by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that income growth in middle-income countries will see consumers transform their diets from staples to higher-value products, such as fats and animal-based protein. Meanwhile, environmental and health concerns in high-income countries are expected to support a transition from animal-based protein towards alternative sources.

How To Grow Healthy Food Vertically In A Small Space

An innovative vertical growing system makes it possible to grow fresh, healthy produce without owning a plot. James Dick, the inventor of the HiGro Tower Garden System, spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about his vertical-growing method.