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.
South Africans are quite an unhappy lot – apparently
Oh my word, we South Africans are apparently a sad lot. Even sadder than Zimbabweans.
World class agriculture vs land expropriation
World class agriculture – that is what South Africa’s primary food producers are all about.
Kudos to Grain SA!
Well done Grain SA! Nampo 2012 was a resounding success. For the first time in years I experienced the geniality and warm-heartedness that so distinguished Nampo in the past.
Tina’s antics are unbecoming
Let’s make no mistake – we’ve probably got the most beautiful minister of agriculture in the world. But Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s increasingly unpredictable behaviour is worrying.
Adding value to olives
Ben Visser is one of the first and most succesfull olive producers in the Northern Cape. His steadfast insistence on value adding at farm level has resulted in an award-winning business. Annelie Coleman spoke to him.
Grudging respect for the black- backed jackal.
Skêlm, cunning, clever... that is Canis mesomelas, better known as the black-backed jackal. I know I might be putting my foot in it, but I have a grudging respect for this wily creature.
Commercial potential for the humble cactus pear
Dr Maryna de Wit and her team at the University of the Free State are studying commercially viable uses for the cactus pear. The researchers argue that although South Africa produces huge quantities of the crop, its many uses have never been fully exploited here. Annelie Coleman reports.
Get involved in farm security
Why on God’s green earth would anybody want to hurl a petrol bomb into the cabin of 36-year-old Christo van Rensburg’s bakkie? What could have been the motive behind such an abhorrent action?
The danger of flash trading
Heard of ‘flash trading’? No? Neither have I and the majority of grain producers in the country. Well, Boeta, this is mind-boggling technology that might very well affect you on your farm without you even knowing it.
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.
