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.
Extensive veldfires continue in the Free State
The annual scourge of veldfires was continuing in the Free State, with numerous major and widespread fires actively burning on Sunday night in the areas of Smithfield and Reddersburg, as well Steynsrus and Ventersburg, among others.
Sourveld and rocks no obstacles to this Simbra producer
Rocco Botha runs a commercial herd of Simbra cattle on North West’s Klipveld, an aptly named area noted for its rocks and sourveld. Annelie Coleman spoke to him about his veld and animal management.
Three hundred sheep killed by veldfire in the Free State
Free State Agriculture (FSA) urgently called on members of the public for donations of animal feed after the past weekend’s devastating veldfires in which, among others, 300 sheep and 18 in-calf cows succumbed to the flames on a farm near Winnie Mandela (previously Brandfort).
How elephant populations are being controlled using contraceptives
Contraceptives are now being successfully used to prevent elephant overpopulation in South Africa. Approximately 75% of all breeding-age female elephants outside of the greater Kruger National Park had been successfully treated with immunocontraceptives in 47 reserves to prevent overpopulation.
New export destinations for livestock producers
The conflict and political unrest in Sudan have opened up an additional export market for red meat from Namibia in the Middle East. This was according to a statement by the Namibian Meat Board following a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
Aquaculture programme aims to counter unemployment in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe had so far stocked 37 dams with fish countrywide as part of its multi-million-rand aquaculture programme that was announced in 2022.
Namibia’s Meatco expects a profitable year
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) expected a significant turnaround for the financial year running from February 2023 to January 2024.
SA beef cattle producers must ‘up their game’ to meet future demand
The South African agriculture sector currently had to feed a population of 60,3 million people, according to Dr Ben Greyling, research team manager for the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Beef Cattle Improvement scheme.
Angora: good money from a great breed
Mohair production is a valuable farming option even outside the Karoo. This is being demonstrated at two studs in North West’s Wolmaransstad district, as Annelie Coleman found out on her visit to three brothers-in-law: Petrus Marx, Reco Pieterse and Stephan Erasmus.
SA record price for Beefmaster semen
Ten Beefmaster semen straws achieved a South African record price for the breed of R20 000 each at the recent national Beefmaster auction in Parys, Free State.
Deadly virus strikes SA rabbits and hares again
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) urgently called on farmers and members of the public to report unusual deaths of wild hares and domestic rabbits to the trust and their nearest state veterinarian after the second outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) was confirmed earlier in July.
Bonsmara bull sold for record price of R4,4 million
A Bonsmara bull recently set a new South African record when he was sold for R4,4 million. The bull, LAR 19 373, was characterised by outstanding conformation, a strong head and exceptional depth, said Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA.
More red meat exports needed to stabilise market
Exports of beef could be increased from the current 4% of local production to 20%, according to Koning Scholtz, newly elected chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Northern Cape (RPO Northern Cape).
Land Bank on the path to financial stability
Despite its recent financial troubles, Themba Rikhotso, CEO of the Land Bank, told Annelie Coleman the institution was on its way to recovery.
‘Legalise trade in rhino horn to save populations’
South Africa has to legalise the trade in rhino horn to save rhino populations from poaching, according to Pelham Jones, chairperson for the Private Rhino Owners’ Association.
SA Mutton Merino ram sets record-high price of R255 000
A new South African record price was recently achieved when R255 000 was paid for the SA Mutton Merino ram 1038 TOP. The sale of the ram underlined that demand for the breed was significantly on the rise, according to Jan Vosloo, president of the SA Mutton Merino Breeders’ Society of South Africa.
Carryover stocks ease concerns over Zambia’s lower maize crop
Zambia’s 2022/23 maize harvest is expected to be 25,2% lower than last year’s. The crop has been forecast at 2,7 million tons, compared with 3,62 million tons recorded in 2021/2022.
Agribusiness confidence sinks in second quarter
The latest Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) shows that agribusiness has significant apprehension about business conditions in South Africa.
Zimbabwe sells record of 261 million kilograms of tobacco
Zimbabwe has recorded its best tobacco season yet on record, having sold at least 261 million kilograms so far in the 2023 marketing season.
US calls for 2023 AGOA summit to be moved away from South Africa
US lawmakers recently published an open letter in which they asked the White House to move the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Summit, scheduled to take place this year in November, away from South Africa, citing the latter country’s seemingly close relationship with Russia.
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