Caxton Magazines
Building a family home in Zambia
Clint wants to build a double-storey family home in Mazabuka in Zambia. See what design Jonno has come up with.
Make your own insect-repellent hanging garden in your stable
Hanging baskets will brighten up your stable yard and keep away flies, mosquitoes and other annoying pests, by Kim Dyson.
The benefits of cover crops for CA smallholder farmers
A cover crop is a fundamental and sustainable tool used to manage various functions of soil health. It is defined as any type of plant grown to improve any number of conditions associated with sustainable agriculture.
Welpic Dormers: breeding for exceptional genetics
At the 2016 National Dormer Sale in Bloemfontein, a Welpic Dormer ram achieved the second-best price of R51 000. Mike Burgess visited JP Potgieter (26) to see how and why he is making an impact in the Dormer stud industry just three years after settling on the farm, Oude Woning, in the Lady Grey district of the Eastern Cape.
How to develop and manage a small beef cattle herd
Raising cattle properly requires money, land and skill. Do you have enough of each to enter this business? Equally importantly, do you have a genuine interest in cattle?
Basic goat health management: all you need to know
For producers to benefit from the growing national and international demand for live goats and goat products, it is essential to have healthy flocks. Dr Alan Rowe, chief state veterinarian for the Harry Gwala District Municipality, shares tips on goat health management.
Compiling a fertilisation programme for a barley crop
As with any crop, fertilisation can be successful only when the minimum acidity requirements are met.
Hydroponics: know your plants’ growth requirements
In this instalment of our series on alternative crop production methods, international hydroponics consultant, Prof Gert Venter, outlines the various elements that plants need for optimal growth.
Understanding fodder flow
It’s crucial for livestock health and economic efficiency to bring herd size in line with the fodder production of the farm, so that sufficient quality dry matter is provided on an uninterrupted basis.
Resurrecting the Nagenoeg Polled Hereford Stud
The Nagenoeg Polled Hereford Stud was established by Gerhard Botha and his father, Manie, on their family farm near Barkly East in 1975, but by the 1990s only commercial animals were being farmed. The stud was re-registered in 1997 and has excelled.
Habitual abortions in goats
Habitual abortions can cause devastating financial losses, and culling will be required to bring it under control.
Rift Valley Fever in sheep and goats
Rift Valley Fever causes abortions and death of lambs, and can be fatal to humans. Vaccination is crucial.
The many advantages of pigs
Today’s domesticated pig has most of the qualities that the modern farmer looks for in livestock, including high profitability, explains Shane Brody.
Beneficial insects can help farmers control pests
Crop farmers often unknowingly lump all insects into the ‘destructive’ category. However, according to Dr Annemie Erasmus of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute, many are beneficial to crop farmers.
Are worms troubling your horse?
Is your horse in poor condition, despite receiving good food? Worms could be the problem, says Dr Mac.
Securing a market for your chickens
For emerging poultry farmers, the key to success with day-old chicks is to buy rather than breed them.
How to cure your soil after years of nutrient depletion
Taking crops off the land without returning nutrients to the soil is called ‘mining’ the soil. If you do this for some years, your crops may grow slowly, have a stunted appearance (small plants with thin stems and small leaves), have pale green or yellowish leaves, and produce a poor yield.
Using a knapsack sprayer on a big farm
Many farmers think that using a knapsack sprayer is taking a step backwards as large spray rigs are fast and effective. However, knapsack sprayers still have their uses on big farms.
Considering growing malting barley? Here’s a useful guide
Research programmes since 1991 have identified barley cultivars that ensure an economical, optimal yield and grain conforming to SAB Maltings’ quality specifications. This is an overview of the research.
The need for manure to be broken down
Suggested application rates for some common crops, including tomatoes and potatoes.
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