Nan Smith spoke to Swellendam farmer Simon Goble about how regenerative pig farming adds profit and ethics to pork production.
In a secluded valley at the foot of the Langeberg Mountain’s Clock Tower subrange, 12km from Swellendam in the Western Cape, farmer Simon Goble is becoming part of the regenerative movement farming commercial Duroc pigs in this mainly winter-rainfall area.
Like many young farmers, Goble entered the agricultural arena armed with academic credentials in the form of a BAgric degree from Elsenburg. The academic environment teaches aspiring farmers much that is valuable, but leaves them with little practical experience. After graduating, Goble spent a year working for a mixed grain, cattle and sheep operation, which went some way towards filling the experience gap and gave him the confidence to apply to work in the US, where he spent three seasons.
“I would encourage every young aspiring farmer to try and work in the US for a while. Salaries for farm personnel are up to three times higher than they are in South Africa, and food and accommodation are often thrown in. I was able to pay off my student loan and save enough to pay cash for a good bakkie when I got back,” says Goble.
In the very different environment and work culture of the US, he gained valuable experience, particularly in the mechanical field.
CHOOSING PIGS
Denne historien er fra 19 April 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 19 April 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
