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.
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.
Young Free State farmer works towards partnerships
Laurens Schlebusch believes business associations between commercial farmers and farm workers will become increasingly important in the future. He talks to Annelie Coleman about grooming selected members of his staff for partnership positions.
100 years of memories
Oom Jacob Coetzee of Hartbeesfontein has watched agriculture develop over the course of the last century. Born in Cradock on 17 July 1912 he moved to the farm Mahemsvlei in the Klerksdorp district in the 1940s. He shared memories of his long farming career with Annelie Coleman.
Eish, guys – watch what you say (in public)!
To invest or not to invest... The jackal was really let loose following Agri SA vice-president Theo de Jager’s recent remarks about farmers investing in agriculture. Or, rather, not investing.
The Pannar-Pioneer merger explained
The partnership between Pannar Seed and US-based Pioneer Hi-Bred was recently given the green light by the Competition Appeal Court. Pannar Seed managing director Deon van Rooyen explained to Annelie Coleman that his company had been mindful of possible concerns about the merger, and had held discussions with its customers, the department of agriculture and labour unions before taking the decision.
Staying in business from one generation to the next
More than 90% of South African farming operations are family owned. Annelie Coleman spoke to André Diederichs, family-owned business specialist and independent consultant, to find out the secret
to running these businesses successfully and the pitfalls they face.
An epidemic of criminal neglect
I seldom, if ever, agree with a politician, but I’m willing to make an exception when it comes to police minister Nathi Mthethhwa’s recent statement during a visit to Diepsloot that crime in South Africa is as big a monster as apartheid was.
Damara sheep: Adaptable and profitable
The Damara breed originated in Asia and spread to Southern Africa 2 000 years ago. Down the centuries, the extreme environment continually selected the hardiest, most adaptable specimens. Stud breeder Stan Burger spoke to Annelie Coleman about his passion for this remarkable breed.
Fighting stock theft
Advocate Jacques Swanepoel, vice-chairperson of the Red Meat Producers Organisation and chairperson of the RPO’s North West Stock Theft Forum, says indications are that the police are no longer able to control stock theft in the country. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.
Liver fluke on the increase in South Africa
Liver fluke infestation in cattle appears to be spreading. At the North West RPO Congress, Potchefstroom vet Dr Martin Ferreira explained that blood samples analysed during the past two years have shown that fluke is more widely distributed than previously thought. Annelie Coleman reports.
World-class maize seed
How does maize seed breeding in South Africa work? Annelie Coleman visited Pannar’s research facility in Klerksdorp and spoke to seed breeders Dr Willie Venter and Chris van Zyl to find out more.
