Animals

How to consistently breed the best cattle

‘Dexters carry us through the drought’

Paving the way for a greener dairy industry

Healthy soil means healthy cattle

Optimising nutrient availability for cattle

Hurwitz Farming’s record-breaking success with Boran cattle

Profitable free-range chicken production in the Swartland

From backyard chicks to top show poultry breeder

Quality feathers give Oudtshoorn ostrich farmer the edge

How to keep your chickens happy and healthy

Limpopo hatchery goes to the next level

First-aid basics for small-scale poultry farmers

Production principles for hatchery success

The hatchery is the foundation of a fish farm. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, says that by following his six hatchery principles, farmers can set a trajectory for...

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...

The benefits of recirculating aquaculture systems

A powerful set of attributes has established recirculating aquaculture systems as a cornerstone of global temperate fish farming, writes Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions.

High-tech Meatmaster farming in the Klein Karoo

Unlocking value through livestock exports

Breeding productive, well-adapted Angoras in the Eastern Cape

Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming

Running a Meatmaster stud on just 65ha

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...

Managing weaners and growers for maximum efficiency

Effective pig farming requires a delicate balance of care, precision, and innovation to ensure the well-being and performance of weaners and growers. Dr Alex Westerink, an expert in swine health...

Equine dentistry: is ‘bit seating’ really necessary for all horses?

While most horse owners agree that it’s a good idea for riding horses to be examined by a dentist at least once a year, the need for bit seating depends...

Plough for more

Focused pricing for avocados will sustain the industry

Avocado growers are set to start the new year with a range of new market options as years of negotiations have come to fruition. This is especially prudent since South...

Focussing on Africa’s potential

Fairtrade in South Africa has experienced dramatic growth over the past few years and the annual Fairtrade Week currently taking place is set to further increase Fairtrade awareness among local...

New Holland hits the road for baby rhinos

New Holland planned to traverse 3 000km in a tractor to raise funds to build a rhino orphanage.

SA white maize harvest delayed

The 2016 white maize harvest has been delayed because of late plantings and the fact that crops are taking longer to dry off because of the shorter days and lower...

Negativity about SA agriculture unfounded

The drought has had a devastating effect on agriculture in large parts of South Africa and many farmers will face much difficulty regaining losses caused due to the impact of...

Producing organic food just isn’t paying

Organic farming has come under fire by one of the world’s leading organic food producing countries. Helena Jonsson, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), said that Swedish farmers aren’t...

Business

Opportunities for SA in Botswana dairy industry

The Botswana dairy industry produces about seven million litres of milk annually, while more than 53 million litres will be imported in 2020/21.

Harrison Hope -The Eastern Cape’s first wine estate

American missionaries Ronnie and Janet Vehorn travelled to South Africa to preach to the Xhosa. Now they've fulfilled their dream of establishing the Eastern Cape's first wine estate along the...

Why a Cape winemaker bought a vineyard in Slovenia

Looking for an investment opportunity beyond the borders of South Africa? Slovenia might just be the answer. Pieter de Waal spoke to Glenneis Kriel about part-time wine production in this...

Helping livestock farmers control data on the farm

In order to lower production costs and become more efficient, farmers need to track and keep records of their animals. This is where the Farm4Trade app comes in.

A passion for herbs blooms into business success

The Kasselhoft estate near Leeudoringstad in North West evokes the French countryside with its fragrant lavender and rosemary fields. This is where Trudi and Rina Kasselman run their herbal business...

From business exec to farmer

Andy Tladi was 53 when he swapped the life of a business executive for full-time farming – on the land he once ploughed as a small boy. Today, eight years...

Lifestyle

Anchovy pasta with nam pla

Overcome by the unexpected dinner-time arrival of the hungry multitudes demanding something warm to fill their bellies? Here’s what you do to provide a splendid combination of fish flavours and...

Room to expand

Jonno Smith designs a four room house for a reader.

Southern fried chicken

There’s a mysterious colonel down our street who sells this by the bucketful. Given the complexity of the Deep South of the US, there are many variations of this much-loved...

Linguini with basil, blue cheese & chicken

The invention of pasta is almost as important as the discovery of bread. And the genius of both is their ability to trigger so many different flavour combinations.

Three quick soups: green, white & red

There are times, usually when the night is dark, the wind howling and the rain beating on the windows, when all you want out of life is a bowl of...

A great starter home

Cathryn from Pietermaritzburg contacted me to discuss the possible options for cost savings in building a cottage featured in a previous issue of Farmer’s Weekly.

Animals

A top Afrisim stud built with award-winning cows

The success of a beef cattle operation rests largely on the performance of its cows, says Dr Hentie van Rensburg, who bred the 2022 Agricultural Research Council National Best Elite...

Kitchenbrand pigeon secrets

The performances of Kitchenbrand family are unequalled in the history of South African pigeon racing.

Preparing cattle for summer production

Winterfeeding, according to Free State commercial cattle farmer Johan Dannhauser, should not be seen as a separate operation. Rather, it is part of a year-round system that involves all aspects...

The care unit that treats neglected horses and donkeys

The Highveld Horse Care Unit cares for neglected equines. Farryn Day of the unit says that a lack of education is the main reason for the mistreatment of these animals.

How to train a horse to lift its leg

Dr Mac discusses how to train a horse to lift its leg on command so that its hooves can be cleaned.

Beef Shorthorn: a breed made for crossbreeding!

The Beef Shorthorn has a long and successful history in South Africa. Stud owners Hendrik, Henco and Johann Strydom spoke to Annelie Coleman about this adaptable animal that shines at...

Crops

Saffron: harvesting ‘red gold’ in the Karoo

Bennie Engelbrecht is breaking new ground for saffron production in South Africa through his company Saffricon. He spoke to Wouter Kriel about his journey so far and his plans for...

Making lucerne hay while maximising soil health

Free State irrigation farmer Freek Strauss grows lucerne for the local and export markets. At the same time, the crop improves the soil’s condition, thus increasing the yields of other...

Butternuts: know your market and maintain quality

Butternuts are a reasonably easy crop to grow, with few in soluble problems. The real challenge is to match the cultivar with the market. Mpumalanga-based producer Francois Steyn spoke to...

Reducing water loss from soil

There are various ways to ensure that soil loses as little water as possible. These include plastic sheeting to cover the soil, the use of mulch, and loosening the soil.

Mealybugs: villains of the vine

Last week's article showed the impact that leafroll virus can have on vine quality and production, and stressed the need for vigorous measures against mealybug. This week Glenneis Erasmus covers...

Watch out for glyphosate contamination

The repeated use of the herbicide glyphosate has been found to compromise fruit production. James Dick, co-owner of production consultancy DNS Crop Institute, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this problem.