CATEGORIES

Feet on the solid earth of the Klein Karoo, but with their hearts in the heavens

Brian Berkman meets hosts Bartel and Karin du Toit, who pride themselves on their luxurious yet very comfortable country boutique hotel located on a diversified farm with ostriches, alfalfa, barley and maize.

An overview of litchi production

In this article, we look at who the biggest litchi producers are in the world, the cultural significance of this popular fruit, and the most popular litchi cultivars globally.

State interference sours Irish dairy

A peek over the farm gate into an Irish dairy farm reveals that although the grass is certainly greener, farmers are facing unprecedented challenges that are placing their survival at risk. The O'Connor family spoke to Lindi Botha about countering the headwinds and sustaining production.

Boosting soil fertility to prevent soil degradation

Soil degradation presents a serious threat to food production, but there are ways to prevent it by improving soil fertility with methods such as adding organic matter and practising crop rotation.

Elevating the Cinderella of grains to princess status

In an ocean of pricey super-foods, soya stands out as being so cheap that its value is often downplayed. Used predominantly for animal feed, soya beans for human consumption faces a significant marketing problem, one which the Cloete family in Mpumalanga are tackling at every opportunity to elevate this humble bean to its deserved spot on our plates.

Focus on Auctions

Frans Jordaan, Prof Michiel Scholtz and Dr Ben Greyling from Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production and Martin Ras from the Afric Afrikaners Stud compiled these useful recommendations to assist cattle breeders in making the most of the information contained in the catalogue when they attend auctions. For more detail, email Jordaan at fransj@arc.agric.za, or call him on 012 672 9085.

Wool season kicks off

The 2023/24 wool season kicked off with an offering of 8 003 bales after 2 125 bales were withdrawn prior to the sale, according to Cape Wools.

Mohair sale beats expectations despite challenges

The first mohair sale of the 2023 winter season started with 103 985kg on offer, of which 89% was sold. Mohair South Africa said the first sale of a season was always mixed and difficult to quote due to variations in the composition of the offering.

Farmers resist fallowing their lands as Colorado River dries up

The Arizona Department of Water Resources is urging the farming community to do more to save water, even if it means stopping farming, as the Colorado River continues to shrink.

Red meat exports to Saudi Arabia welcomed

Although South Africa was approaching the finalisation of the landmark deal pertaining to the exportation of red meat to Saudi Arabia announced in late 2022, the devil was in the detail, said Roelie van Reenen, supply chain executive at the Beefmaster Group, following the official announcement that exports to that country had been approved.

Diagnosis and treatment of the main livestock diseases

While there are numerous illnesses that can affect livestock and animals such as chickens and pigs, in this article, Shane Brody concentrates on sheep, cattle and goats.

Cheap milk production

Dryland ryegrass-clover pastures are the cheapest way of producing milk. In addition, the age-old fear of bloat from this forage has been partly dispelled because it is generally acknowledged that there are several ways of solving the problem.

Link between lion farming and illegal trade

Fresh evidence adds weight to fears of a link between lion farming and the illegal bone trade, says Neil D'Cruze, global head of wildlife research at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, and Angie Elwin, wildlife research manager at World Animal Protection and visiting research fellow at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Keeping vines healthy

Leafroll virus is a destructive disease that shortens the lifespan of vineyards and lowers wine quality. Glenneis Kriel reports on ways to identify and prevent this disease.

Dexters survive for decades in national park

The relocation of a feral herd of 16 Dexters that lived in the Addo Elephant National Park's Wilderness area has caught the attention of scientists after the South African Dexter Cattle Breeders' Society became aware of the herd roaming in the park a few years ago. The society initiated the relocation of the animals to Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng, writes Annelie Coleman.

Focus on vegetable production

The basics of growing perfect carrots| A guide to onion production

South Africa's dairy sector in trouble

Despite better producer and lower feed prices, milk production in this country remains under pressure. Chances of a recovery remain slim, says Dr Koos Coetzee.

Assistance needed with research on praying mantis

The South African Mantodea group needs support in its quest to find out more about the insect commonly known as the praying mantis.

What the system means to farmers

South African crop farmers can secure remendous benefits with the use of modern precision seed-spacing drills.

The importance of routine in horse care

Fitting your riding times into a daily pattern with stable mates may help to establish an ordered way of life for your horse, writes Dr Mac.

Beware of mosaic virus in your cabbage field

Transmitted it susceptible by aphids, this virus can damage your crop and make to downy mildew, warns Bill Kerr.

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE - Growing common birdsfoot

Besides improving the physical, chemical, hydrological and biological properties of soil, species such as serradella can be used as animal feed.

Cotton, the 'white gold' of dryland crop production in SA

Cotton production in the North West has proved to be a viable alternative to maize and soya bean, with the profitability of cotton exceeding that of maize and soya bean despite extremely high input costs. Annelie Coleman attended a cotton information day in Schweizer-Reneke and compiled this report.

Feeding guidelines for various stages of production

Tara Felix, an extension beef specialist, and Nathan Briggs, a former beef extension educator, both from Pennsylvania State University in the US, provide guidelines as hypothetical scenarios that show dietary comparisons across a singular system for growing beef cattle.

What to consider when mixing your own feed

Mixing your own feed can save you money in the short term, but can also cost you in the long term if you do not pay attention to sourcing the optimal ingredients.

Nematode management starts with knowledge

Some species of nematodes, or roundworms, can become a serious problem, says Dr Driekie Fourie, technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare in Africa and the Middle East.

Symposium a great opportunity for sommeliers

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has changed its Sommelier Cup competition into a Sommelier Symposium to give more sommeliers exposure to South Africa’s unique wines and culture.

Farmers optimistic after handover

An Eastern Cape wool association, which includes a sizeable amount of women and youngsters as members, received a generous donation from government recently, writes Jyothi Laldas.

NWK asks Eskom to restore power to Lichtenburg

The demise of South Africa’s municipalities and the ever-decreasing capacity to deliver basic services such as electricity are increasingly impacting on local consumers’ ability to afford food and compromises food security, according to Dr Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist.

Villiersdorp growers excel in best producer awards

Stettyn Vineyards, owned by Hendrik and Wena Botha, took the lion’s share of the 2022 Twoa-Day Best Producer Awards.