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.
Seismic surveys in the Karoo and the possibility of fracking
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe recently announced his department’s plans to conduct the first major seismic survey in 50 years in the south-central Karoo. Prof Raymond Durrheim, Emeritus Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, spoke to Annelie Coleman about this announcement and the possibility of fracking in the area.
Diesel worth millions of rands stolen in SA every year
TLU SA has expressed serious concern over the widespread and growing illegal diesel trade in South Africa, with estimates suggesting it could amount to millions, if not billions, of rands annually, according to Erika Helm, chairperson of TLU SA’s Local Government Committee.
Importance of regenerative agriculture highlighted on World Soil Day
Soil provides nearly all of the world’s animals and humans with food and gives life to all of the world’s plants, which supply much of the oxygen that animals and humans need.
Greater efforts needed to protect cheetahs
On World Cheetah Day, observed annually on 4 December, attention was drawn to the cheetah’s vulnerability. With fewer than 7000 remaining, cheetahs now occupy less than 10% of their historic global range, including small populations in the Middle East and Asia, according to Wild Africa, a global wildlife conservation movement.
SA litchi price hike likely over the festive season
Between 40% and 50% of South Africa’s 2024 litchi harvest had been destroyed by adverse weather conditions, which would invariably push up the local litchi price significantly.
Japanese aid enabling Zim farmers to grow sesame
The United Nations World Food Programme welcomed a donation of R90 million from the government of Japan to support 37 000 smallholder farmers wrestling with the effects of climate challenges in five districts in Zimbabwe.
Green Monday launched in two Western Cape schools
Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa) recently announced its Green Monday programme at two rural schools in the Genadendal Valley in the Western Cape.
Livestock producers lose millions of rands to stock theft annually
The economic losses caused by livestock theft in the red meat industry amounts to millions of rands annually and is increasingly driven by well-organised criminal syndicates, according to Joe Scholtz, vice-chairman of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum.
The winning formula behind Zimbabwe’s most fertile stud
Stud breeder Lianne Herbst has high praise for her Simbra cattle, a versatile breed known for its good fertility, adaptability to market demands, and performance in feedlots.
Video | Leopard spotted near Wesselsbron, safely captured and relocated
A young male leopard caused panic among residents of Monyakeng, near Wesselsbron in the Free State, when it was spotted in the area on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe achieves record wheat crop
Zimbabwe has, since the beginning of November, harvested a record 518 502t of wheat from 106 230ha. A total of 119 594ha were planted to wheat this year compared with 91 000ha in the previous season, when a crop of 465 546t was achieved.
Many South Africans still unable to buy nutritious food
South Africa’s food is among the most affordable in the world, but the economic situation in the country is placing immense financial strain on consumers, making it increasingly challenging for people to access nutritious food. This was according to Roelie van Heerden, supply chain executive at Beefmaster Group.
Agriculture has huge potential for reducing poverty
Growth in agriculture is in general two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than an equivalent amount of growth generated outside agriculture.
‘Namibian agriculture needs more resources’ – Calle Schlettwein
Calle Schlettwein, Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, recently called for agriculture to be recognised as a national priority and for resources to be allocated accordingly.
SA’s exploding rat population has worsened since 2016
South Africa is faced with an enormous and ever-increasing rat population that could cause serious diseases such as bubonic fever.
SA red meat consumers want a ‘special eating experience’
It is essential for South African livestock producers to recognise that the consumer is king and that the new generation of red meat buyers have very specific demands. This was according to Prof Arno Hugo, professor in Animal Science in Meat Science at the University of the Free State.
Zimbabwe commits to grow environmentally friendly tobacco
The Zimbabwean Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) recently announced a number of sustainability measures aimed at minimising the negative impact of tobacco production on the environment. This includes land clearing.
Urgent renewal needed for future of SA’s Red meat Industry
The South African red meat industry must undergo significant renewal to address future challenges, says Kobus Bester, director of the Livestock Registering Federation.
Farm with nature, says pest management expert
The agriculture sector in South Africa needs to change the way it thinks about pest management and biodiversity, according to Dr Johnnie van den Berg, manager of the integrated pest management programme at the Unit of Environmental Services of the University of North-West.
Zimbabwe to cull elephants to feed the hungry
Zimbabwe recently confirmed its intension to cull 200 elephants to feed communities facing acute hunger following the worst drought that country had seen in four decades.
