CATEGORIES

From street art to feats of engineering, Bristol has it all

Brian Berkman visits the vibrant UK port city of Bristol and says two days are not enough to explore renowned graffiti artist Banksy's hometown and pop in at all the historical taverns.

Managing broodmares and foals profitably and safely

Broodmares and their foals are at high risk of stress, diseases and injuries if their management is suboptimal, says Dr Mac.

Double cab's leisure features find favour

The GWM P500 2.0T HEV 4x4 Super Luxury AT has launched in South Africa, and the bakkie takes aim at the more premium, leisure-focused offerings from rival brands. Car Magazine's Marius Boonzaier writes.

More fungal diseases that can infect beans

Bill Kerr explains the symptoms of angular leaf spot and anthracnose and how to avoid infection in your fields.

Keeping invasive insects at bay

Featuring an array of delicious fruit from peaches to cherries, stone fruit is attractive to a variety of bugs that can be effectively controlled with integrated pest management, writes Zunel van Eeden.

The Government of National Unity should bridge the gap when disaster strikes farms

South Africa is hindered by insufficient and incoherent policies regarding disaster relief for farmers, say Dr Theo de Jager and Francois Rossouw of Saai. A solid policy on disaster relief is needed to support farmers, including those recently been affected by the devastating fires that swept across several provinces.

Africa's unique trees defy climate challenges and continue to flourish

Dr Sarah Venter, a baobab ecologist at the University of the Witwatersrand and the founder and director of the Baobab Foundation, looked at the health of adult baobabs in Southern Africa and then in Africa as a whole to establish if more recent human-induced climate change has started having an effect on these magnificent trees.

Planting the seeds of change: the rise of Limpopo's young agripreneurs

Fidelis Zvomuya spoke to two of Limpopo's young agripreneurs about their hopes and ambitions for the future, and how, with the right support, the impossible becomes possible.

Pioneering sustainable farming in Eastern Cape

In the heart of Thornhill in the Eastern Cape, you'll find Crossways Farm Village, South Africa's first contemporary new rural town and smart village. Octavia Avesca Spandiel visited this innovative community, where conservation, agriculture and sustainable living are seamlessly integrated.

Preventing and treating reproductive problems in cattle

At a regenerative farming day held earlier this year in Paarl, Western Cape, Willie du Plessis, chairperson of the Southern Dexter Club, shed some light on ways to treat calving and reproductive emergencies. Glenneis Kriel reports.

New Holland to make waves at Nampo Cape

Some exciting new products will be available for public viewing at agricultural manufacturer New Holland's stands at this year's Nampo Cape, says Jaco du Preez, New Holland's marketing manager for Southern Africa.

Students test the new Case IH sprayer series

When Case IH embarked on a roadshow to introduce its new range of Patriot sprayers, the first stop was Thabazimbi, Limpopo, where students from the University of Pretoria's Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences had the chance to put the new Case IH Patriot 350 through its paces.

Enhancing your soil solution

For plants to thrive, the soil solution must be balanced in terms of nutrient concentration as well as pH and moisture levels

Helping small-scale farmers produce quality maize during a drought

Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, senior lecturer at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology at NorthWest University, and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, senior lecturer and researcher at North-West University, discuss how a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in the dry North West.

Managing large-scale retrenchments

Dismissals due to operational requirements are usually considered the last resort for employers after alternative measures have been considered first

The importance of knowing how to grade slaughter livestock

Whether you're a big or small producer, knowing how to grade your lifestock is essential for the profitability of your business

The three common bacterial leaf diseases of beans.

Bill Kerr gives advice on how to recognise and treat halo blight, common blight and bacterial brown spot in a bean crop.

Using animal impact for better grazing

Simbra farmer Kobus Bester spoke to Zunel van Eeden about the advantages of high-density grazing, which entails the grouping of high numbers of livestock to graze small areas of land over short periods.

Why are Japan's melons so expensive?

Japan is renowned for its culinary delights, including Wagyu beef and expensive melons. In this article, we take a look at why Crown melons fetch such exorbitant prices.

Upsurge in maize exports is expected in 2024/25 marketing season - Agbiz

Local supplies of grains and oilseeds are deemed adequate, as the Crop Estimates Committee places South Africa's 2023/24 harvest of these crops at 15,9 million tons

A simple calf feeding system

An Eastern Free State Farmer used this cheap, effective, labour-saving method to raise his calves.

South Africa makes strides in protecting rhino populations against poaching

A significant drop in the number of rhinos poached was recorded during May and June as a result of dehorning and policing efforts. Lindi Botha reports on the efforts behind this significant development.

Financial management of a farm: the basics of budgeting

Cobus du Plessis explores the fundamentals of budgeting for farm management, explaining its importance, the different types of budgets, and key concepts like fixed and variable costs.

The profound importance of the feed conversion ratio

To grow an aquaculture concern efficiently and profitably, the quality of feed and the price point need to be correct, writes Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions.

New Zealand abandons green policies to bolster economy

New Zealand’s green credentials are in jeopardy following the government’s decision to backtrack on key environmental reforms in a bid to bolster the economy and live up to the promises it has made to voters, according to Reuters.

Opening the doors to finance for SA farmers

Agriculture is a crucial pillar of South Africa's economy, providing livelihoods for millions and contributing significantly to the nation's GDP. However, farmers face numerous challenges, including securing adequate financing to sustain and grow their operations. Cobus du Plessis looks at some of the key features and pros and cons of the financial opportunities available to producers.

'My mentor played a huge role in my success'

According to Vincent Mhlonitshwa, making the transition from a communal to successful commercial farmer requires mentorship. Mike Burgess visited him near Elliot in the Eastern Cape to better understand how a mentor helped establish the foundations on which he built a mixed farming operation on less than 1 500ha.

Choosing the right show for your horses

Should you take your stud horses to an agricultural show or a riding show? It depends on what you want to achieve

Happy, healthy flyers win the big prizes

In this article, the final in a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at ways to help your birds settle in a loft, as well as the best nutrition to enhance their health and stamina during long races.

Banking on Beefmasters

The Stapelberg family will be hosting their first Beefmaster production sale in Indwe, Eastern Cape, on 3 September. Marcel Stapelberg, co-owner of the Cornish Beefmasters stud, spoke to Mike Burgess to give him a better understanding of why and how the family established their stud in less than a decade.