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.
Macadamia harvest set for 20% boost this year
The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association’s (SAMAC) 2018 yield forecast is 20% higher than last year, which totalled 44 610t, This is according to Barry Christie, SAMAC’s operations manager.
Powerful lowveld hailstorm causes long-lasting damage
The effects of a violent hailstorm in the Lowveld on 27 May will be felt by fruit and macadamia farmers for a long time to come, according to Barend van Rensburg, Agri Mpumalanga representative in the Nelspruit area.
Extensive hail damage in Mpumalanga
Farmers in Mpumalanga’s Onderberg region are still assessing the damage after the devastating hail storm that hit Malelane, Komatipoort and the southern part of the Kruger National Park on Sunday night (27 May).
Successful new farmer development projects around Upington
Wiaan van Rensburg, Orange River Agricultural Union’s (ORLU) president, praised the organisation’s members for their support and active involvement in 13 new farmer development projects that had been established on 2 261ha in the union’s irrigation area.
The danger of policy uncertainty
Policy certainty formed the root of successful land reform. This was according to Simba Makoni, who had been the minister of finance and economic development in former President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe’s cabinet from 2000 to 2002.
The indigenous Kolbroek pig – a South African success story
South Africa’s indigenous Kolbroek breed is ideal for contributing to food security in rural areas, according to Wessel Pistorius, a Kolbroek breeder near Magaliesburg. The modern animal, bred from a wide variety of breeds, offers many advantages: it requires little space, is an indiscriminate eater, has excellent maternal traits, and is generally healthy.
Top new grain farmer: from working on a farm to running one
Grain SA’s 2017 New Era Farmer of the Year, Thulo Mahlatsi, ascribes his success to hard work, careful planning, financial accountability and sound mentoring.
Herefords in Namibia: 100 years of genetic improvement
Since the first Herefords arrived in Namibia in 1918, the breed has steadily adapted to the harsh realities of beef production in the country. A century later they have emerged as a fast-growing, highly fertile, medium-maturing beef breed, according to Heinz Gruhn, Namibian Hereford Breeders’ Society chairperson.
Increase in rabies outbreaks among Namibian kudus
The decimation of Namibia’s kudu population due to rabies, especially on game-fenced farms, poses a severe and long-term threat to the country’s game industry.
R610 000 raised for Free State Agriculture’s VKB Safety Desk
The R610 000 that was raised at the annual VKB agribusiness Annual Golf Day was vital to ensure the Free State Agriculture (FSA) VKB Safety Desk could continue to offer ongoing service to the province’s agricultural sector.
High red meat prices fuelled by inflation, says Stats SA
Red meat prices in South Africa have increased at the highest rate of all food products year-on-year, despite a marked slowdown in food inflation, according to a statement by Statistics SA.
New cellphone app a boost for farm safety
The Free State Agriculture (FSA) safety and security mobile app, ‘Die Plaaswag (The Farm Watch)’ has already been downloaded by hundreds of users since its launch last month, according to FSA safety and risk analyst Dr Jane Buys.
Namibia’s Swakara excels at Kopenhagen Fur
All 41 809 Swakara pelts on offer from Namibia were sold at the annual Kopenhagen Fur auction, held last week in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to the Namibian Agricultural Union.
DNA testing ‘an essential tool for wildlife industry’
Genetics was a tool that should be used by the South African wildlife industry in the same way it was used in the livestock industry, according to Dr Munro Marx, head of Unistel Medical Laboratories.
SA’s top young Angus breeder – a star at 26
Despite being a stud breeder for only five years, the ARC’s 2017 National Young Beef Cattle Breeder of the Year, MJ Ernst, has already made his mark. Annelie Coleman visited him on the family farm between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad to find out more about his Red Angus stud.
Concern over lack of training for future farmers
The agricultural industry had a role to play in revitalising the South African economy, said agricultural economist Prof Mohammad Karaan at the recent Grain SA congress held in Bothaville.
Source of listeriosis outbreak identified
The Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced on Sunday that the recent listeriosis outbreak which had resulted in 176 deaths across South Africa since January 2017, had been traced to meat processor Enterprise’s Polokwane facility.
Single-step genomics: a game changer for livestock breeding
The Single Step method makes it possible to include genomic information in BLUP breeding values. This has put SA Stud Book at the forefront of genomic methodology, says Dr Japie van der Westhuizen, SA Stud Book CEO.
SA’s groundwater needs to be carefully protected
South Africa’s groundwater needs to be jealously guarded; it is a scarce and extremely valuable resource. Proper management is therefore vital to ensure sustainable farming for generations to come, according to Bloemfontein geohydrology consultant, JL van Vuuren.
NWGA to offer training courses in Eastern Cape
The National Wool Growers Association plans to conduct nine training courses in various districts of rural areas of the Eastern Cape during February and March.
