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.
How to reverse soil degradation on your farm
Livestock producers, particularly in arid climates, are struggling to remain profitable. Soil degradation and declining stocking rates have been identified as some of the main reasons for this decline. Colin Nott, a regenerative agricultural consultant from Namibia, spoke to Annelie Coleman.
SAPS members in the Free State arrested for stock theft
The arrest of five members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State on charges of stock theft, perjury and defeating the ends of justice was underpinned by the SAPS’s inertia to prevent crime and its propensity to rather follow up on crimes after they had already occurred. This was according to Francois Strydom, chairperson of Agbiz.
Urgent action needed to secure food supply – agri task team
A task team, comprising organised agriculture and the agribusiness sector, has presented an urgent document to government outlining the extensive impact of this week’s violent protests on agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal.
KZN farmers dump milk as violence disrupts supply chains
Dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal have had to pour hundreds of thousands of litres of milk down the drain since protest action, looting and vandalism started across the province in the second weekend of July.
Agri sector feels the impact of protests, vandalism in KZN
The violent protests and looting sweeping South Africa at present have far-reaching implications for the agricultural industry.
Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in KZN contained
The recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal had not spread to the rest of the province and was still largely contained in the municipal districts of King Cetshwayo, Umnkhanyakude and Zululand.
Potato prices jumped by 70% in June
The strong year-on-year price increase for potatoes during June was driven, in part, by the decrease in stock levels due to excessive rain and low summer temperatures in some of the planting regions earlier this year.
Farmers want clarity on hunting and auctions under Level 4
The agriculture sector needs clarity, as a matter of urgency, on a clause in the Level 4 lockdown regulations announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, 27 June, that says “gatherings at auctions are not permitted”.
Ten-fold increase in Free State wildfires so far this year
More than 42 000ha have so far been lost to veld fires in the Free State this year, compared with just under 3 900ha during the same period in 2020.
South Africa’s 2021 maize harvest nears halfway mark
South Africa’s summer grain harvesting is progressing well in the 2021/2022 marketing season, with maize harvesting in particular being completed at a much faster rate than at the same time last year.
Traceability to open beef export opportunities for Zimbabwe
A livestock traceability system in Zimbabwe is crucial to gain access to global markets and improve the national herd’s health status. This was according to the country’s deputy minister of agriculture Vangelis Haritotod.
SA agribusiness confidence at its highest level on record
The recently released record-high Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index figures provide agricultural producers with the opportunity to reinvest in their farming concerns and address their debt structures.
SA on track to harvest record soya bean crop
The current spike in soya bean production is good news for South Africa since it will mean that significantly less of the commodity will need to be imported.
Call to reopen abattoirs in KwaZulu-Natal
More than 3 000 head of livestock have already been tested for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal after the outbreak of the disease in the Mtubatuba area of the uMkhanyakude District Municipality in May.
Bid for removal of Namibia’s veterinary fence a risk for SA
A recent application submitted to the High Court to have the veterinary cordon fence (VCF) in Namibia declared unconstitutional is misguided, according to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation.
2021 Nampo Harvest Day cancelled
The 2021 Nampo Harvest Day scheduled for August this year has been cancelled. In 2020, the event that was to be held in May that year was also cancelled, and the decision was then taken to reschedule this year’s Nampo Harvest Day to August.
Cold weather helps contain Free State locust outbreak
The current cold spell being experienced across the Free State has greatly contributed to containing the severe locust outbreak in the Bultfontein area.
Botswana bans livestock imports from SA due to FMD outbreak
Botswana’s Department of Agricultural Development and Food Security announced on Monday, 31 May that import restrictions have been placed on the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa.
Farmers must brace for sharp rises in agrochemical prices
Agrochemical prices in South Africa continued on an upward trajectory during the past year, and should this trend continue, farmers could expect to pay much more for inputs during the 2021/2022 summer grain production season.
Aerial application of glyphosate on maize illegal
South African farmers have been warned that glyphosate-containing products used in the aerial spraying of maize are currently not registered.
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