CATEGORIES

Are Rhinos Becoming Too Expensive To Keep?

It is becoming increasingly expensive for the majority of private and state-run parks in South Africa to protect their rhinos effectively from poaching, according to Anthony Minnaar, of the Department of Criminology and Security Science at the School of Criminal Justice, College of Law at the University of South Africa. He was speaking at the recent International Rural Crime Conference in Pretoria.The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly.

Agri SA: New President, New Energy, New Strategy

Free State farmer, Dan Kriek, was elected Agri SA’s new president during its congress in October. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about the association’s new strategy, and its vision to achieve ‘unity about agriculture’, a scenario in which all authorities agree on agriculture’s critical role.

Technology Without Tantrums

The latest tractor technology may be complex, but it’s remarkably easy to operate, says Joe Spencer.

Bringing Your Puppy Home

A badly brought-up dog can end up dysfunctional and even a threat to people. Ensure that your puppy is securely housed and properly socialised from the start, urges Shane Brody.

Bacterial Disease Control

Bacterial Disease Control

The Basics Of Subdividing: Part 1

The assistance of a land surveyor is key to ensuring lawful procedure. Altus Strydom, chairperson of the South African Geomatics Institute, spoke to Gerhard Uys.

Townie - Some Good News Would Be Nice

Eskom CEO Phakamani Hadebe recently promised that there would be no load-shedding this winter.

Using Nitrogen Smartly: Part 2

Using Nitrogen Smartly: Part 2

Only Private Sector Can Boost Rural Development

While rural development is supposed to be a key focus of the South African government, the state is failing in this obligation. Veteran rural development expert Jimmy Lonsdale believes the private sector should take over this responsibility to ensure that meaningful rural development is achieved as soon as possible.

Saving The Cape Vulture

Saving The Cape Vulture

Lightning Strikes And Heatwaves

Lightning Strikes And Heatwaves

Dealing With Powdery Mildew

Dealing With Powdery Mildew

On Political And Climate Change

It’s difficult, even near impossible, to run a farm without power.

TB Control Needs Farmers' Help

24years agoTuberculosis remains a serious illness in South Africa, and farmers can help with the control and eventual eradication of this disease by ensuring their workers are regularly checked for symptoms.

Finding New Export Markets For SA Key To Sector's Survival

Maize exports were being hampered by South Africa’s lack of competitiveness on the international market, which was the result of the relatively high local price, according to Jannie de Villiers, Grain SA (GSA) CEO.

Improving Piglet Health The Natural Way

Improving Piglet Health The Natural Way

Threat Of Illicit Tobacco Trade

The tobacco value chain is facing disaster due to illicit trade. 

A Spread Of Innovations

An operator who wishes to spread two different types of fertiliser in one pass, but at different application rates, can now mount an Amazone ZA-V or ZA-TS spreader on the front linkage.

Australian Wild Rice Could Boost Global Food Security

Australian Wild Rice Could Boost Global Food Security

High Prices Help Producers Recover From The Drought

Increased red meat prices during 2017 had a positive impact on the bank balances of producers still recovering from the devastating three-year drought in South Africa’s summer rainfall areas until mid-2016, according to Hendrik Botha, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal chapter of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (KZN RPO).

Stronger Rand No Threat For Wool Industry, Says Global Broker

Wool farmers are concerned that a strengthening rand could negatively affect the market but international wool broker Segard Masurel says that, in rand terms, SA wool should be able to sustain the high price levels for the first quarter of the year.

The Basics Of Growing Lemon Grass

Lemon grass requires year-round rainfall of between 700mm and 3 000mm annually. The most popular production areas are in the lowveld of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

The History Of The Carrot

Carrots (Daucus carota) originated in what is today Afghanistan. The wild parents of our modern carrots still grow there; I saw them flourishing on road verges when I visited the country.

Independent Land Audit Needed

Disparities in the statistics on land ownership in recent audits have elicit mixed reactions from role players in the agriculture sector. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Drought Puts Added Pressure On Wheat Farmers

Wheat production in South Africa is a high cost activity, and farmers struggle to compete with growers abroad. The ongoing drought has made matters far worse.

Running A Small Hunting Operation

Johann Erwee of Kuduwane Game Lodge provided Gerhard Uys with insights into what it takes to keep a small hunting operation economically sustainable, and its environment ecologically sound.

Colour Variants: A Market Perspective

The popularity of colour variants such as the golden wildebeest and black impala skyrocketed in the South African game market in 2000, and their prices reflected this. Fourteen years later, these prices dropped just as precipitously. Dr Flippie Cloete, head of Terratek at Suidwes Landbou, takes a look at the drivers that influence the price movements of colour variants.

Accuracy Is Everything!

Thanks to gunsmith Frik du Plooy, Musgrave rifles are once more available – and living up to their legendary reputation for accuracy.

Success With Sussex Against The Odds

Linden Hewson owns the 2017 Farmer’s Weekly/ARC National Best Elite Sussex cow. This achievement is significant, as the Grey Maclean Stud near East London has been kraaled every night since 2002 to keep the animals safe. Mike Burgess reports.

Onion-Growing Made Easy: Part 1

Onions are one of the easiest crops to grow in a home garden, yet many people have limited success with them. Here’s how to get it right.