Annelie Coleman
Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape.
Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business.
Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds.
‘Fair compensation needed to mitigate crop damage caused by wildlife’
Small-scale crop farmers in the Zambezi region of Namibia recently called on the Namibian government to compensate them for the actual value of crops destroyed by wildlife such as elephants and hippos.
Severe drought in Namibia a cause for concern
A major part of Namibia is experiencing an acute drought, with the situation particularly serious south of the capital, Windhoek, with little or no rain received during the 2022/23 rainy season. According to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation, some parts south of Keetmanshoop had not received any rain.
Shortage of snake antivenom in South Africa a “major disaster”
The shortage of snakebite antivenom in South Africa was a source of serious concern as this threatened the lives of animals and humans, according to Johan Marais, CEO of the African Snakebite Institute.
Despite easing, Zim’s food price inflation remains highest in the world
Food price pressures that have beset Zimbabwe have persisted, giving the Southern African country the unenviable position of having the world’s worst inflation, despite some slight moderation, a recent report by the World Bank showed.
What feedlots expect in the ideal weaner
The South African feedlot industry produces about 75% of all beef eaten in the country. Annelie Coleman spoke to Lynette van Rooyen, group director at Sparta Beef, and Charles Mathewson, Sparta’s head of cattle procurement, about their company’s weaner requirements and how farmers can satisfy these.
Beware of deregistered stud breeders, says Namibian Meat Board
The Namibian Meat Board (NMB) recently issued a warning to livestock buyers in Namibia to beware of buying animals from stud breeders who have been deregistered and are no longer allowed to sell their animals as such.
‘Unity in SA’s grain production sector vital for the future’
The time had come for all role players in the South African grain production sector to re-evaluate their relevance and to co-operate in good faith. This was according to Derek Mathews, who was unanimously re-elected as chairperson of Grain SA (GSA) during the organisation’s 2023 congress.
North West’s road maintenance plan welcomed
North West Premier Bushy Maape announced in his recent State of the Province address that a multibillion- rand routine road maintenance plan was to be rolled out in all four districts of the province.
Namibian mutton and lamb exports on the increase
Since its reopening in the second half of 2022, the Farmers’ Meat Market export abattoir in Mariental, Namibia, has processed payment of R10,9 m, excluding VAT, to 46 sheep producers in that country.
Drop in agri employment a cause for great concern – Agri SA
The decrease in employment in the agriculture sector in the fourth quarter of 2022 (Q4 2022) was cause for serious concern, according to Johan Wege, chair of Agri SA’s Centre of Excellence: Labour.
Scepticism abounds over Zimbabwe’s compensation offer to farmers
Zimbabwe’s few remaining commercial farmers who lost their land during that country’s large-scale expropriation of white-owned farms were sceptical about the Zimbabwean government’s recent compensation offer. This was according to Dr Theo de Jager, chairperson of the board at the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI).
‘Stock theft statistics do not paint a true picture of the crime in SA’
The South African stock theft statistics as recently released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) is not a true reflection of the impact of the crime in the country, according to Dr Jane Buys, risk and safety analyst at Free State Agriculture.
Industry hits back at leather production criticism
It is reckless of animal welfare organisations to make unfounded assumptions about the treatment of livestock in South Africa, according to James Faber, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.
Role players hope to see government support agri sector in Budget Speech
Role players expect Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana to announce support for the agriculture sector as load-shedding and rising input costs see farmers battling to produce affordable food. Godongwana will deliver the annual Budget Speech on 22 February.
How to keep livestock calm and stress-free
Over and above their physical needs, animals have emotional needs, and these are often overlooked. Stress in livestock should be avoided at all costs, Leon Kruger, a lecturer at the University of the Free State’s Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, told Annelie Coleman.
Inclusion of Soetendalsvlei wetland in Agulhas park welcomed
Estuaries and wetlands are the most threatened and least protected ecosystems in South Africa. The inclusion of the Soetendalsvlei wetlands into the Agulhas National Park on World Wetlands Day earlier in February was therefore to be celebrated, according to Dr Luthando Dziba, SANParks managing executive for conservation services.
African swine fever spreads to commercial farm
Any outbreak of African swine fever (AFS) is a serious concern, but it is disconcerting that the latest outbreak in Gauteng has spread to a commercial pork production enterprise where strict biosecurity regulations were in place. This was according to Dr Thandi Chiappero of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation’s (SAPPO) consumer assurance unit.
Cactus pear: one crop, three profitable markets
One of the most important decisions the Van der Berg brothers ever made was to include the production of cactus pear in their farming operation. Dewald van der Berg spoke to Annelie Coleman about their business.
‘South Africa is sitting on a bluetongue timebomb’
Bluetongue posed an extremely serious danger to sheep production in South Africa and the disease was expected to escalate markedly during the rest of summer and in early autumn of 2023.
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 crossbreeding.
