CATEGORIES

Growing garlic: Part 2

Garlic (Allium sativum) can be grown in a wide range of soil types.

Cotton prospects for the new season remain promising

In the November 2019 Cotton Report released by Cotton South Africa (Cotton SA), the US-China trade dispute was again cited as a contributor to the challenges faced by the industry.

Transformation project stands as an example

Despite ongoing delays and red tape, Merino stud breeder Eddie Prinsloo and eight of his employees have begun farming in partnership in a business known as the Donkerhoek Farming Project. Sabrina Dean visited them on Prinsloo’s Free State farm to learn about the venture.

Tough times need tougher cattle

Cattle farmers in Southern Africa have had a difficult year, with on going drought and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, says that the Bonsmara, with its adaptability and high functional efficiency, has proved itself the ideal breed to cope with, and thrive in, these challenging conditions.

TEN YEARS IN AGRICULTURE: the winners and the losers

As another decade draws to a close, clear winners and losers have emerged on the agricultural front. While the industry is in a better position overall than 10 years ago, a bumpy road lies ahead. Lindi Botha reports.

Large-scale composting turns waste into healthy soil

Over the years, composting guru Redge Jelliman has produced thousands of tons of compost as organic fertiliser for his crop farming enterprise in the Free State. Now semi-retired from farming, and a soil health consultant, he shared his experiences with Lloyd Phillips.

How farming is making South Africa a better place

The South African farming sector deserves to be acknowledged by politicians and citizens in general for the overwhelmingly positive impact it is having on the future of all who live here. Farmer’s Weekly editor Denene Erasmus looks back at how farmers did their part this year to promote transformation and social cohesion while ensuring food security.

Autonomous equipment rivalry

A number of autonomous agricultural machinery concepts have been revealed at international agricultural shows in recent years, and several are in the testing phase. The question is, when will this equipment become commercially available?

ANIMAL ANTICS

From tool-using goats and brilliant baboons to big, angry bulls, animals can amuse, amaze and sometimes scare us. A number of people related their favorite animal stories to Glennis Kriel.

A plan for reducing food loss and wastage

In a recent study, published by the World Resources Institute, researchers explored 10 scaling interventions that could help reduce food loss and waste across supply chains and geographies. According to the report, ‘Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Ten Interventions to Scale Impact’, governments, businesses, farmers, consumers, and everyone in between need to play a role in implementing these interventions.

The fundamentals of fertility in beef cattle

Llewellyn Angus, an animal scientist, Simbra/Simmentaler breeder, and SA Interbreed Judges Association examiner, says that grazing and fertility management are both crucial to profitable beef cattle farming. Here he shares the basic principles of managing fertility in a beef herd.

World's ‘smartest tractor' coming to SA in 2020

John Deere’s 8RX tractor, which recently won the ‘Tech for a Better World’ category in the CES Innovation Awards held in the US, will be brought out to South Africa next year.

THE BEEFMASTER When only the best will do

Tabbie du Plessis, who runs the Janmarck Beefmasters stud in the Free State, says the Beefmaster breed has lowered the birthweights and increased the weaning weights of calves in his herd. He adds that the future of the breed is bright, as breeders are constantly improving their herds through the use of exceptional animals in breeding programmes.

Ultra-high-density grazing for sustainable beef production

There are a number of tools that can contribute to successful sustainable agriculture, provided farmers use them strategically. Danie Slabbert, one such South African farmer, explains how he is using ultra-high-density grazing to help ensure that he and future users of the land all benefit. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Quality counts in the business of big beef

The Beefmaster Group’s abattoir in Kimberley can process up to 800 cattle a day. Roelie van Reenen, the group’s supply-chain executive, spoke to Sabrina Dean about how the group operates and maintains its high standards.

Tomato pests to look out for

This crop is targeted by a wide range of pests. Infestation will vary from place to place, and from season to season, but some form of pest control will invariably be necessary.

Industrialise first. Free trade will follow.

Michael E Odijie, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre o African Studies, argues that implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement will not catalyse industrialisation on the continent. Rather, governments should start with regional industrialisation.

Shifting paradigms to make SA sugar cane farming more sustainable

The negative effects of more than 170 years of monocropping with sugar cane in South Africa are starting to appear. KwaZuluNatal sugar cane farmer Deon Schröder explains what these are, why they should be changed, and how he is going about this on his farm.

Carbon tax may cost farmers dearly

In a world increasingly focused on climate change, farmers have little choice but to reduce their carbon footprint. If they fail to do so, they stand to lose both market access and money. David Farrell, founder of agricultural consultants Blue North, spoke to Lindi Botha about the urgent need for farmers, particularly exporters, to carry out their calculations and take action.

Bean pests & soil diseases

One pest that every bean farmer knows is the African bollworm. This tends to appear sporadically, rather than building up its population gradually.

The case for a national agri insurance plan

South African farmers are finding their businesses increasingly at risk due to the effects of climate change. Broad-based access to a state-supported agricultural insurance scheme would enhance food security in the country, writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela, a senior agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council.

Herb farmer spices up his business with value-adding

Basil Williams, the managing director of Herbal View Hydroponics, cultivates 3t of various herbs per month on just 1ha of land. Recently, he also tapped into the enormous potential of value-adding. Jeandré van der Walt visited him on his farm in Simondium, near Paarl.

Wagyu sets the example for traceability in South Africa

The Certified Wagyu Beef system is a leading example of livestock traceability, which would allow South African producers access to lucrative export markets.

Feeding your crop properly

You can own all the machinery in the world, but if each planted seed does not receive adequate nutrition to ensure the highest possible yield, you’re on a hiding to nothing. Dr Benard Ngwene, agricultural advisory manager for AGCO Africa, explains how to achieve optimal nutrient levels.

KALAHARI RED GOATS: HARDY AND PROFITABLE

The proven economics of the Kalahari Red breed motivated Cobus Meyer to branch out into goat production on the family farm near Leeudoringstad. He told Annelie Coleman that establishing his Greenstone Kalahari Red Goat stud had been the best business decision he had ever made.

How aquaponics benefits children and the community

Two years ago, Laerskool Kempton Park embarked on an innovative project to introduce aquaponics in its school curriculum. The produce from this system not only provides nutritious food, but teaches the learners essential life skills, says Janet Lee Ogilvie. Janine Ryan reports.

AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS: the great vaccine debate

African horse sickness is endemic to Southern Africa, and the disease is often fatal. As it is caused by a virus, there is no treatment, and horse owners have to rely on vaccination to prevent the disease. However, many horse owners are vaccinating with an unregistered vaccine, which is presenting major problems. Dr Camilla Weyer spoke to Janine Ryan.

Understanding South Africa's Real Water Crisis

According to Mike Muller, a visiting adjunct professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Graduate School of Governance, low and unpredictable rainfall is not the only cause for South Africa’s water crisis. As a result, no single solution can address water challenges across the country.

Private And Government Support Helps New Farmer Flourish

Zachariah Matli’s journey to running a viable beef cattle operation has had its frustrations, but he is on his way to becoming a commercial producer. Sustaining him has been his own tenacity, and steady support from commercial farmers and government.

Manure Fertiliser: Proceed With Caution

Livestock manure is a popular form of fertiliser, particularly when budgets do not allow for commercial fertiliser. But Dr Gerhardus Nortjé, a senior lecturer at Unisa, says that because manure varies in its composition and nutrient density, farmers should take care not to over-apply it and risk damaging their crops. Lindi Botha reports.