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.
Latest articles
Heaven on earth….
I really hope heaven looks like the Kruger Park. I’ve been going to that magical place for nearly a zillion years and should by now be used to coming back to reality after a visit to God’s farm, as the little ones in my family call it. But, alas, I find it more difficult to leave every year.
The great Droughtmaster debate
I blame the past few difficult weeks in my life on Johan van der Nest and his passion for the Droughtmaster breed... Oops! I’m not allowed to say that. Sorry, I’ll start again...
Time for some ‘strategic positioning’
Oh boy, the cat was really let loose among the pigeons at this year’s Nampo Harvest Day with political commentator Max du Preez claiming that the time has come for farmers to re-evaluate deputy minister of agriculture Dr Pieter Mulder’s ‘relevance’ in commercial agriculture.
Agricultural mechanisation for economic survival
The era of mechanisation and outsourcing in the commercial agriculture sector has arrived to counter the sharp increase in labour costs, says Attie Scholtz, the 2012 Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year. He explains to Annelie Coleman why mechanisation has become vital for a farmer’s economic survival.
Grain SA 2013 congress: suave and sophisticated
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – South Africa’s grain producers run a world class business! This is underscored by the very professional and, dare I say, elegant 2013 Grain SA congress.
Inky pinky ponky, SA’s been fed a donkey!
Oh boy, how I love the South African sense of humour! Even in the worst of situations it pops up and makes us laugh at ourselves. And the current scandal regarding all kinds of unimaginable meats in South African meat products has produced a number of jokes.
Manage the breeding season for profitable production
The timing of breeding is an important technique to optimise reproductive performance, and impacts directly on the profit margin of beef cattle production. Leslie Bergh, senior researcher, Beef Cattle Recording and Improvement at the ARC, explains why.
Agriculture leaders must ‘uithaal en wys’
Mr Organised Agriculture Chairman: complacency is a dangerous thing. Don’t underestimate the value of your support base. Do not lose contact with your membership on a local level.
Cellphones and the Internet are great, but…
The world really has become a village. I’ve been on a virtual trip through southern Africa the past few months that’s been mind-boggling.
Will sanity prevail this year?
I don’t have any new resolutions for 2013, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t dream about a South Africa filled with love, light and laughter.
Friersdale’s prize-winning library
Friersdale in the Northern Cape is a small hamlet on the banks of the Orange River, roughly between Keimoes and Kakamas.
A Free State Christmas braai
How I wish I could have invited all of you to the real Vrystaat Christmas braai we’ve just had. Especially after the rains, it was a particularly festive occasion for all the members of the community.
Hoping against hope
Let me tell you what true helplessness is. It’s not merely an emotion or a feeling – it’s something palpable, something you can see and smell, and hear.
Agri-labour unrest – enough fighting talking!
Cheap politicking is a terrible thing. Cheap politicking coupled with ineptitude is even worse.
Seek out SA’s good news
The other day, one of my friends challenged me about the negative tone of my blog, saying my complaints have become so predictable.
In love with the Namib
How is it possible that a vast expanse of rock and sand, and very little else, can utterly captivate one’s heart, never to let it go again?
To life!
Oh, the joy of the first springs rains after a dark, cold winter!
How much more can we take?
“South African agriculture is a healthy, vibrant industry, and will remain so if we only keep the politicians and politics out of the business.
Shame on you, Mpumalanga!
What the hell were officials from Mpumalanga’s department of agriculture thinking when they left Drakensberger stud animals at its research facility near Ermelo without food and water?
Horror in the Free State
The Free State is in mourning. We’re all grieving about the nearly 185 000ha that’s been destroyed by veld fires in the province so far this season.
