Needed: help for smallholders

Chicken imports could ruin small-scale SA farmers. Government and big producers must act now.

Biodynamic preparations and compost

According to Wikus, a distinguishing feature of biodynamic farming is the use of nine biodynamic preparations which are said to enhance soil quality and stimulate plant life.

Top winery dabbles in biodynamics

Haskell Vineyards in Stellenbosch has taken a giant leap of faith by converting one of the farm’s top vineyard blocks into a biodynamic farming experiment. Wikus Pretorius, general manager, shares some biodynamic farming ideas with Denene Erasmus.

The importance of humus

Among many other things, this wonderful substance feeds and protects soil life.

Rethinking the Swedish model

Sweden’s agricultural sector is largely based on environmental principles and organic farming. This has posed many challenges for Swedish farmers, who are losing market share to cheaper imports. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Helena Jonsson, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers, about overcoming these challenges.

Algal blooms pose threat to agriculture

With summer ahead, the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has warned of the high risk of excessive algal blooms and water hyacinth in a number of eutrophic and hyper-eutrophic dams.

GM health safety questioned

Claims by French researchers that genetically modified (GM) maize causes cancer have been refuted by the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa).

Grasses, grazers and grazing

If you’re changing from cash crops to livestock farming, you will have to get your veld management right, cautions Roelof Bezuidenhout.

SA far from reaching biofuels target

Government recently announced the mandatory blending of biofuels with fossil fuels, saying that at least 5% of biodiesel had to be added to all regular diesel.

Fresh action taken to fill the gap in stock theft units

There are at least 92 vacancies in police stock theft units in KwaZulu-Natal alone.

WHO proposals threaten 10 000 SA tobacco jobs

The South African tobacco farming sector stands to lose about 10 000 jobs if the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) proposals are passed.

Understanding a true original

Participate in a research project studying South Africa’s unique black-seed grass – and stand a chance of being rewarded for your efforts.

The latest South African scenarios

South Africa could go down a number of paths in the next five years. Strategist and author Clem Sunter outlined these scenarios at the recent PestBiz congress in Durban.

Fuel prices rise again

The price of petrol will increase by between 21c/l and 23c/l next Wednesday.

Saving strawberries

Since May 2012 I’ve had an incredible crop of Selecta Strawberries, picking handfuls of 100% organic strawberries daily with hardly any irrigation or fertiliser applied to the beds.