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.
Implementing a holistic grazing management plan
Sandy Speedy is regarded as one of the pioneers of holistic beef cattle production in South Africa. Annelie Coleman visited him and his daughter, Jennifer, on their cattle ranch between Vryburg and Kuruman to learn more about their ‘wagon wheel’ grazing system.
Better veld management a boon for livestock farmers
Degradation of natural resources, particularly grazing, seriously threatened the livelihoods of South African livestock producers on smallholdings and under communal grazing conditions.
Uncertain weather prospects for SA’s summer rainfall region
The current El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is in a weak La Niña phase, which is expected to continue until early autumn, according to Weather SA’s long-term weather forecaster, Cobus Olivier.
South Devons: hardy, fertile, and adapted to Africa
Brothers Barrie and Gielie van Zyl, South Devon stud breeders from Windsorton in the Northern Cape, are also commercial cattle producers. They spoke to Annelie Coleman about Johstep stud’s tough, veld-reared South Devons.
No threat from Brexit for SA’s milk producers
There was no indication that Brexit would have any impact on the South African dairy industry. This was the reaction from George Kuyler, SA’s Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) chairperson, following an article in the UK’s Farmers Weekly magazine.
Stronger rand boosts drought-stricken agri industry
The South African grain production industry is faced with uncertainty around production, the number of hectares planted and the full effects of the drought, said Grain SA economist Michelle Mokone.
New category added to SA Dairy Championships
For the first time since the competition was initiated in 1834, a category for cream has been included in the South African Dairy Championships.
No leads on Free State veld fire
Johann Breytenbach, general manager for the Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association, (FSUFPA) said that as yet, no one had been apprehended for starting a veld fire that destroyed nearly 70 000ha of grazing south of Boshof in the western Free State on 6 January.
Cape Town to host international agricultural conference
The 30th Commonwealth Agricultural Conference to be held in South Africa in 2022, will create an ideal platform to showcase the high standards of local agricultural, specifically the Western Cape, to the rest of the world, according to Johan Ehlers, CEO of Agri-Expo, organiser of the event.
A better Charolais herd with in vitro fertilisation
Clara Bruwer, a Charolais stud breeder from Vryburg, is convinced that technology is the optimal way to provide the best possible gene base for her clients. She spoke to Annelie Coleman about her success with in vitro fertilisation, and why she chose to breed Charolais over other cattle breeds.
Agri sector reacts to Ramaphosa’s election as ANC president
The agricultural sector will have to wait and see what the newly elected ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will prioritise in terms of the sector, as he is obliged to implement ANC policy, especially land policy.
Follow-up rain urgently needed in western summer grain areas
Grain producers in the western parts of SA’s summer grain production region were in urgent need of rain to start planting for the 2017/2018 production season, according to a Grain SA (GSA) statement.
Senwes’ interim gross profit increases 60%
Senwes announced a profit after tax of R144,9 million in its interim financial statements for the period May to October 2017. This was an increase of 60,7% compared with the previous year.
Better heifers, bigger profits
Heifers form the future of any beef cattle breeding concern, and should therefore be selected with care, says animal scientist, Danie Bosman. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about how to go about this.
How to select a top-performing beef cow
Breeding cows form the mainstay of the beef industry, according to animal scientist, Danie Bosman. Speaking at a Drakensberger information day in Potchefstroom, he said that the ideal breeding cow successfully raises a calf every year. In the first article of this two-part series, he addresses the selection criteria for a successful beef breeding cow.
Farmers urged to be on the lookout during snakebite season
The 2017/18 snakebite season was not yet in full swing yet a number of serious snakebites had already occurred.
Drought-stricken Northern Cape farmers reducing herds
Livestock farmers in the Northern Cape had thus far reduced their livestock numbers by more than 30% as a result of the persisting drought, according to Henk van Wyk, the president of Agri Northern Cape.
Swartruggens snotsiekte case postponed to February
The criminal case between Piet Wolmarans, a Simmentaler stud breeder from Swartruggens in North West, and three of his neighbours over an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (snotsiekte) has been postponed in the regional magistrate’s court to 28 February.
Senwes wins Institute of Risk Management award
The Institute of Risk Management South Africa recently named agribusiness Senwes as the best in its ‘Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing’ category at a gala dinner at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.
#BlackMonday protests raise awareness for farm murders
Thousands of people took part in a peaceful protest against attacks on farmers and farmworkers on Monday. Jaco Minnaar, chairperson for Grain SA, said that the organisation received reports on various protest marches throughout the country.
