CATEGORIES

Using Nitrogen Smartly: Part 1

You can’t say nitrogen is the most important nutrient, as a deficiency of any of the essential nutrients will have a serious effect on your crop. However, the ‘temporary’ nature of the element and the many forms it takes do make it necessary to develop a good understanding of nitrogen.

Prescription Or Participation?

Uncertainty over environmental management policy and a heavy-handed government approach are adversely affecting people and biodiversity.

Severing The Umbilical Cord

As a rule, you should avoid tying off the umbilical cord after birth. However, if very heavy bleeding occurs, it’s time to act, advises Dr Mac.

From Our Archives

Give them all a good start.

Virtual Irrigation Academy Aims to Teach Water Management Online

A website and visualised data make up the Virtual Irrigation Academy, which teaches farmers to develop effective irrigation infrastructure through soil monitoring. Siyanda Sishuba reports.

Grain Sellers Must Learn The 'pitch' To Close The Deal

According to Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s manager for grain economy and marketing, South Africa’s producers are technologically advanced, but lack marketing prowess. However, marketing opportunities abound, particularly in the volatile free market system. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

Supplementary Feed in Dry Times

Ritlee has introduced an optional grinding attachment for the 225 model chipper.

New Landini Tractor Models On Show At Nampo 2017

Argo Tractors in Italy has redesigned its medium- and low-kilowatt Landini tractor ranges, replacing some of the old models already available from Argo Industrial in South Africa.

Labradors: Pets Or Working Dogs?

Many novice owners of this breed do not realise that ‘working dog’ and pet or show varieties may have very different traits, says Shane Brody.

Why Is My Horse Shaking Its Head?

Pathological head-shaking that interferes with normal activities such as riding and eating can be due to a number of factors. Fortunately, a process of elimination can determine the root cause, enabling an owner to deal with the problem.

Crop Trials Aim To Improve Forage Management Decisions

The provincial government’s Outeniqua Research Farm in the Western Cape is conducting trials to assist dairy farmers in making informed decisions when selecting forage crops. Sigrun Ammann spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the trials’ methods and objectives.

Setting Up A Viable Community Project

Viable community-based aquaculture projects could pave the way for growing this sector on the African continent.

The Benefits Of Farmers' Days And Agri Shows

Agricultural events such as shows and farmers’ days provide a wealth of information for farmers in particular and the public in general.

Investing In Animal Welfare Pays Off For German Piggery

With the welfare of farm animals under close scrutiny in Europe, farmers there are increasingly utilising technologies and systems that balance animals’ well-being with profitability. Lloyd Phillips recently toured a modern sow unit near Magdeburg in Germany to witness this approach first-hand.

Maximise Yield And Starch Content In Maize Silage

Maize silage is a commonly used stored fodder in South African dairy farming. The quantity and quality of the maize crop that goes into silage has a direct effect on milk production and dairy profitability. Grant Pringle, an agronomist with Pannar Seed, tells Lloyd Phillips how a farmer can get the best out of a silage maize crop by using the correct planting and management methods.

Growing Tea

Tea plants can be grown from seed, and are not difficult to propagate. Weed control and fertilising are both required to ensure a good yield.

Africa's Culture Of 'Agreement' Holds It Back

Prince Mashele, the executive director of the Centre for Politics and Research, argues that to achieve sustainable transformation, Africans must learn from other cultures, and incorporate those aspects that will take them forward.

From Our Archives

Plucking poultry with wax: quick and affordable

New Zealand's New Fatter, Healthier, Tastier Te Mana Sheep

A decade of intense research and development in New Zealand, involving geneticists, food technologists and more than 50 farmers, has led to a new breed of lamb that is claimed to offer improved health benefits, while retaining excellent flavour. Alan Harman reports.

Berries: Earning Profits And Changing Lives

Dr Birgit Andrag, a former dentist, runs a berry processing enterprise with her husband, Paul, on their family farm, By den Weg, near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. What started out as a hobby has expanded into a steadily growing packing and processing business, which has empowered their farmworkers. Jeandré du Preez reports.

Measurement And Management: A Winning Combination

Conscientious management, and the effective use of technology, enabled the Western Cape’s Young Farmer of the Year for 2017, Johann Nel, to increase his dairy herd by 30%, and more than triple his sheep flock. He was also able to add Boer goats to his operation. All this was achieved within five-and-a-half years, and without buying or renting additional land. By Jeandré du Preez.

Spacing And Pruning Tomatoes

The spacing of your tomato plants will depend on the type of tomato being grown, and relevant proposed practices. Row spacing is not dependent on water or fertility, which can be managed, but on shading and practical management aspects. 

The Chinese Motor Industry: A Growing Giant

There is no doubt that the general quality of Chinese vehicles has risen over the last decade. Six Chinese brands are in South Africa already, says Jake Venter.

Looking After Your New Puppy

In order to become healthy dogs, young puppies require care and guidance, says Shane Brody.

Starting With Dressage

Patience, gentleness and positive reinforcement are crucial for getting horse and rider to work together smoothly, says Kim Dyson. Here she offers simple, effective exercises to achieve this.

Pork Adobo - Rich And Satisfying

Adobo is a Philippine cooking style, just one of the components of a singular cuisine. A friend who cooks like a pro returned recently from a conference in the Philippines, and this is his reconstructed recipe of an Adobo dish. It’s amazing what you can learn at overseas conferences, isn’t it?

Food Label Claims: True, Misleading, Or Outright Lies?

Consumers face a barrage of confusing, sometimes dubious, claims on food labels. This could end up harming consumer trust in the food value chain, and substantially damaging the industry and the environment.

Planting hope one tree at a time

The journey of Themba Trees Tree Farm near Grabouw started in her backyard, says Caroline de Villiers, the Western Cape department of agriculture’s Top Commercial Female Entrepreneur for 2016. Today, the 12ha wholesale tree farm boasts more than 50 000 indigenous and ornamental trees. Jeandré du Preez reports.

Continual Improvement: The Key To Successful Beef Production

KwaZulu-Natal beef farmer Rustin Shawe was recently crowned the province’s 2018 Young Farmer of the Year. He told Lloyd Phillips that planning strategically and then putting those plans into action had helped him take his already thriving farming business to even greater heights.

Positioning SA For The Future Of Beef Production

In this second of a two-part series, well-known cattle breeder and judge Llewellyn Angus provides more feedback on this year’s Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention, held in Loveland, Colorado, in the US, as well as the post-congress tour.