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.
Painted Persian sheep demand a handsome profit
The demand for multicoloured Persian sheep in the Middle East has helped Northern Cape breeder Koenie Kotzé endure the drought. Annelie Coleman reports on how he discovered this market.
Negligence blamed for wildfires in Namibia
At least half of the recent wildfires that have been destroying thousands of hectares of grazing in Namibia have been caused by negligence, according to Piet Gous, Namibian Agricultural Union president.
Early predictions all positive for SA’s 2021 wheat harvest
Production conditions for wheat are currently very good and should they continue, an excellent 2021/2022 South African wheat crop can be expected.
Genetics forged in the Alps help Braunvieh excel in SA
Since its introduction to South Africa 114 years ago, the Braunvieh, with its good walking ability and non-selective grazing habits, has adapted well and can thrive under some of the harshest conditions in the country. Hans Bester and his three daughters run the Witbek Braunvieh stud on Sussiesdeel farm in Vrede, Free State, and spoke to Annelie Coleman about the advantages of this hardy breed.
Northern Cape sheep farmer’s lessons from the drought
The devastating drought in the Northern Cape that lasted from 2018 to 2020 taught award-winning new sheep farmer Etienne van Wyk many lessons about sustainable farming. Annelie Coleman visited him on his farm, Spes Bona, near Marydale.
Support streams in for KZN towns ‘destroyed’ during riots
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) farming community has lauded the way in which South Africans have come together to support people affected by the recent rioting and looting in this province and in Gauteng.
Farmers cautioned against panic buying of agrochemicals
The impact of the recent widespread unrest and rioting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng on the distribution of imported agricultural chemicals and fertiliser was extremely worrying, said Corné Louw, economist at Grain SA.
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.
