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.
The importance of risk management
Daan Hugo, managing director of CertiSure, says that while avoiding risk in the South African agricultural sector is out of the question, various risk management tools are available to help in the assessment and prioritisation of risks. Annelie Coleman reports.
Bonsmara-infused Afrikaners: enhancing performance
Bothaville Stud breeder, Herbert Bruinette, has succeeded in breeding Afrikaner cattle with excellent breeding values and muscling through the introduction of Bonsmara genetics into his herd. He started in 2008 in consultation with animal scientist Danie Bosman. Annelie Coleman spoke to them to find out more about the project.
Financial advice for farmers
Many farmers are not only struggling with the environmental effects of the drought, but experiencing monetary difficulties. Marius Volschenk, Nedbank’s area manager of agriculture in Bloemfontein, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the importance of long-term financial planning.
Calling on our commercial and mega farmers
Developing South Africa’s emerging farmers will only be successful if the country’s commercial and mega farming sectors become involved, says Nick Serfontein, chairperson of the Sernick Group.
The first Malawi Brangus stud makes its mark
Brangus cattle are making an indelible impression on the Malawian beef industry. The breed is well-adapted to farming conditions in Malawi, says Peter Tselingas, Brangus breeder and owner of the Pananyama Brangus stud in that country.
Value-adding ensures long-term sustainability and profitability
Through a number of value-adding enterprises, Free State agribusiness VKB has created a viable downstream market for the commodities in its production area. Annelie Coleman asked Sas Kasselman, VKB Managing director of industries, to explain the thinking and the systems behind his company’s value-adding drive.
Why is it important to brand?
Now is an excellent time for South African products to enter global markets, according to
Prof Melville Saayman, director of Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society at
North-West University. He explains why the branding of our agricultural products is so important.
Photo gallery: A roadtrip to Gariep dam
The area along the border between the southern Free State and the Eastern Cape is steeped in history. Annelie Coleman compiled this photo collage during a road trip to the Gariep Dam.
Agricultural financing and its challenges
The drastic increase in the cost of agricultural inputs, among others, has resulted in an increased demand for alternative production finance, according to Prof Sanlie Middelberg, associate professor at North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus’s School of Accounting Sciences. Annelie Coleman asked her about the provision of production finance in the sector.
Learn about SA’s indigenous trees
Southern Africa has about 1 700 different native trees. Annelie Coleman investigated a few of the most common trees found in the Free State and North West and compiled notes on some of them.
Agribusinesses compete to support school
Eben Dönges primary school in Bothaville in the Free State has enlisted the support of the private agriculture sector in an innovative way, says Annelie Coleman.
Keeping track of livestock production profitability
The Namibian Agricultural Union’s Production-Cost Index is a valuable tool for determining and monitoring price trends in the country’s livestock production industries, according to Jaco Hanekom, the union’s assistant manager of commodities.
The index has lately shown an alarming negative price trend in cattle production.
The importance of the agri water footprint
The agriculture industry’s water footprint is expected to play an increasingly important role in the future. A responsible footprint will add markedly to water conservation in a dry country such as South Africa, Dr Henry Jordaan, senior lecturer at the University of the Free State’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, told Annelie Coleman.
Inside Namibia’s stud-breeding industry
The Namibian stud livestock breeding industry currently consists of 79 000 head of registered livestock. Annelie Coleman spoke to Jacque Els, CEO of the Namibian Stud Breeders’ Association in Windhoek, about the distinguishing features of the industry in his country.
North West looks like a desert
The drought has left large parts of North West so dry that the landscape now resembles a desert.
Buying agricultural land – know your market
Buying a farm in South Africa calls for careful consideration and in-depth investigation. The purchase of high-potential agricultural land is a costly affair which should be approached with sound knowledge of the market.
Smallholders double yields with drought tolerant maize
The locally developed Wema conventional drought tolerant maize hybrids have proven to be a resounding success.
Managing for drought conditions
The drought during the past summer grain production season could result in cash flow restraints for grain producers. At the same time, livestock management has become increasingly important for mitigating the effects of the drought, Annelie Coleman reports.
Fire has no mercy
Ouboet – I find it exceedingly difficult to wrap my head around the fact that veld fires have destroyed more than 400 000ha in the Free State so far this year.
Conference shenanigans
Thank goodness we’ve eventually come to the end of the 2014 congress season.
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