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.
CLA supplementation for healthier pork
Research by two doctoral students the University of the Free State has shown that supplementing pig feed with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could add considerable value to the pork industry. Annelie Coleman spoke to Cobus Ferreira and Carina Bothma.
Man among men
“He who sees the invisible will achieve the impossible,” said Helen Keller, and coming from that great man Brand Pretorius it’s not just another nice quotation one remembers for a while and then forgets about it.
Give credit where credit is due
Our commercial farmers must get credit for the good that they do in their local communities.
An apology to Ian Player
My heart bleeds for Ian Player, that grand old man of nature conservation in South Africa. Oom Ian, I’m so sorry for what they’re doing to the rhinos you and your band of brave men worked so hard for.
Reworking Grain SA
Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers highlighted the organisation’s goals and objectives for 2012 at regional meetings that precede the annual congress on 7 and 8 March in Bothaville. Annelie Coleman attended the Bothaville regional meeting at which it was announced that Grain SA’s management structures will be revisited.
New energy at the 2012 Grain SA congress
Hats off to Jannie de Villiers and the Grain SA team for an exciting new approach to the organisation’s 2012 congress!
Vaaljapie
Forget about the international economic meltdown, the inequalities of the past and or the beautiful pie in the sky dreams of the politicians --- the one thing that is holding South Africa back now is a lack of common sense.
Providing water in the Kalahari thirstland
Agri Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year finalist Johann Bekker says a reliable water supply is crucial for successful commercial sheep farming in the western Kalahari. Annelie Coleman visited his farms in the Mier district to see how he gets it right.
Targeting gerbils
Following a report in Farmer’s Weekly of 27 January on gerbil damage to grain in Free State, North West and Mpumalanga, Annelie Coleman interviewed Dr Gerhard Verdoorn on the best way to get rid of these rodents. His advice? Get to them before they get to the crops.
Invest in your WORK FORCE
An effective labour management system is one of the most important investments 2011 Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year Gog van der Colff made in his grape and raisin enterprise. It afforded every worker the opportunity to take responsibility in this major enterprise and resulted in better production. Annelie Coleman reports.
Breed for efficiency, not size
Dr Roger Hunsley, former animal science professor at Purdue University in the US, told cattlemen how they can breed for feed efficiency without producing over-sized animals that burn through expensive feed. Annelie Coleman reports.
Good udder health paramount at Reynshire
Free State dairyman Riaan Reynders ascribes his success to a directed programme of cost-effective animal health, udder health monitoring and a consistent hygienic milking routine. This approach has significantly improved milk production and is keeping it at a sustainably high level. Annelie Coleman visited his farm Vaalhoek near Bethlehem.
Why biosecurity systems are a must-have
New livestock can bring disease as well as new genetics into your herd. That's why a good biosecurity system is vital, Pfizer's Dr Chris van Dijk explains to Annelie Coleman.
From farm worker to award-winning farmer
Koos Mthimkulu, Grain SA's 2011 Developing Farmer of the Year, started off as a farm worker and is today a successful grain producer. He ascribes his achievement to hard work, solid mentoring and the support of Grain SA. Not content with resting on his laurels, Koos plans to expand his business and become an independent commercial farmer, as Annelie Coleman found out when she visited him.
No place for pampered stud animals in beef cattle production
Don't pussyfoot around with stud cattle - to be effective in the commercial market, they must be managed as commercial animals, with the ultimate test being performance. So says stud breeder John Burgers of the Victory Brangus Stud. Annelie Coleman visited him on his Wakkerstroom farm to find out more about his approach.
Farming to make money
From restaurant manager to Grain SA's 2010 Developing Grain Producer of the Year - how did William Matasane from Senekal do it? The secret to his success is chasing profits, he told Annelie Coleman, when she visited his farm Verblyden in the Free State.
Sussex a top feedlot contender
Sussex cattle perform so well in a feedlot that the Huntersvlei and Skietlaagte Feedlots in the Free State pay a premium for Sussex or Sussex-cross weaners.The feedlots belong to the Rhys Evans Group in Viljoenskroon. General manager Arno Cronje told Annelie Coleman about the growing interest in Sussex bulls for crossbreeding because of the breed's exceptional weaning weights.
Adding value with frozen vegetables
Angelo De Andrade has earned Agri Gauteng's Young Farmer of the Year award by processing his own produce on the farm while still supplying fresh produce markets. His family partnership with his brother John Paul and mother Fernanda has maintained a share in the highly competitive local fresh produce market. Annelie Coleman visited Angelo on Lucky Farm near Westonaria.
Cowpeas replace maize on a Free State farm
The declining profitability of maize on a Viljoenskroon farm in the Free State forced Cobus van Coller to diversify into livestock.
Increase profits with scientific pasture management
Frans van den Berg is the 2010 recipient of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa’s (GSSA) Peter Edwards Award for Best Conservation Farmer in South Africa. A Controlled Fodder Flow Pasture Management strategy implemented in 2002 has enabled him to increase the carrying capacity on his land by 45%. Annelie Coleman spoke to him and Riaan Dames, the rangeland scientist who developed the strategy,during a GSSA tour to Frans’s farm Op die aarde near Reivilo in the North West.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
MUST READS
- ADVERTISEMENT -
- ADVERTISEMENT -
