Sheep farming success in Goshen
When Simon Txoanyana – a retired SANDF member – decided to farm in 1999, he realised he couldn’t afford a commercial farm. Mike Burgess spoke to him about how he...
Maize by the bucketful for household producers
An Eastern Cape distributor is marketing a unique maize seed pack to communal homestead maize producers with notable success. Mike Burgess visited Border Seed Distributors to investigate why this product...
Retiring on free-range chickens
Retired broker, Hennie Lamprecht, runs a profitable, free-range chicken farming operation.
Hard work, not handouts, behind this farmer’s success
Frans Malela from Limpopo gave up his city job to farm full time. With no government help, he became an award-winning farmer, growing maize then cotton on leased land. Today,...
Alternative energy – do the sums first
Careful financial planning is required before moving off the grid. Prof Alan Brent from the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies shared some crucial cost calculations with Glenneis Kriel.
Ludwig’s Roses: For the love of the rose
German-born Ludwig Taschner is SA’s best-known rose grower and breeder. Mike Burgess visited his nursery, Ludwig’s Roses, north of Pretoria, to learn about the building of a business that defines...
From a hawker to an award-winning agro-processing farmer
Entrepreneur Gugu Mlipha went from being a hawker to an award-winning agro-processing farmer with a turnover of R2,4 million/year. Despite her success, she remains firmly hands-on, even driving her company’s...
Good management: key to poultry farming success
Producing above the norm is attainable with well-managed hens, says poultry and mixed farming producer Erik Naudé.
SA top farmer’s transformation success with lease-back model
A successful lease-back transformation project in Limpopo run by South Africa’s 2014 National Farmer of the Year, the Bosveld Group, proves that not all old land reform plans need to...
Private-sector help for an impoverished community
A poor, deeply rural Eastern Cape community is on the brink of enjoying a revival, thanks to a project to establish a commercial farming operation amongst communal farmers. The venture...
Managing for drought conditions
The drought during the past summer grain production season could result in cash flow restraints for grain producers. At the same time, livestock management has become increasingly important for mitigating...
Farmer reduces electricity usage by 20%
The farm Lushof in the Koue Bokkeveld produces stone and pome fruit on 220ha.The operation has managed to reduce its annual electricity bill by about 20%, with the help of...
