Hands-on grass farming
It’s a hard day’s work for the team as livestock farmer Gary Mitchell runs his commercial Drakensbergers and stud Dorpers in the KZN Midlands with minimal labour.
Alternative energy: Throwing caution to the wind?
Clean renewable energy or an imperfect solution? Are wind turbines the magic bullet for energy problems? Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Herding tractors: managing a large machinery fleet
Agricultural machinery and implements are vital to any commercial farming operation. It’s equally important that this equipment is well managed and maintained. Lloyd Phillips reports.
Game or the stock exchange?
Johan Rabie compares the investment performance of high value game species – with specific reference to buffalo and sable antelope – with investing on the JSE and other prominent stock exchanges.
In the family business
Two generations of Kotzés farm more than a dozen different lines on their historic Sandveld farm between Velddrif and Hopefield. For them, the pros far outweigh the cons of farming with the family. Keri Harvey reports.
Young Free State farmer works towards partnerships
Laurens Schlebusch believes business associations between commercial farmers and farm workers will become increasingly important in the future. He talks to Annelie Coleman about grooming selected members of his staff for partnership positions.
Maize outlook 2012/2013
World maize consumption is expected to increase by 31,9 million tons this season. Loffie Brandt of Absa AgriBusiness reports on these and other trends both locally and globally.
The Kruger boosts its firepower
A new, environmentally sensitive fire management system is being introduced in the KNP. Peter Mashala spoke to Nick Zambatis, manager of biodiversity, and Danie Pienaar, head of scientific services, about the changes.
Communal stock owners go commercial
Transport costs and traditions have made it difficult for communal farmers to play a major role in the commercial livestock industry.
In KwaZulu-Natal, this situation is changing as auctioneers mobilise to take business to the people. Lloyd Phillips reports.
‘Know something about everything’
Petrus Bosman (31), the Santam-Agri Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year 2012, is the managing director of his family’s wine and vine farming business in Wellington. He spoke to Denene Erasmus about having a positive attitude in the wine industry and the satisfaction of looking after employees.
Walmart’s ‘direct farming’ revolution
Worldwide, small-scale farmers struggle for market access. Retail giant Walmart assists growers by sourcing produce directly from them. Peter Mashala accompanied Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to Costa Rica to view a case study of the model’s success.
How agri-food value chains work
Farmers and retailers are often accused of ramping up prices. But Professor André Jooste of the NAMC maintains that consumers should also consider the non-food costs in agri-food value chains. Lloyd Phillips investigated the matter.
