Caxton Magazines
Understanding nitrogen fertilisation in vegetables – part 1
Of all the plant nutrients, nitrogen has the greatest influence on the success of any crop. While a shortage of any element will be a limiting factor, its effect on crop performance will be related to its function, importance and shortage.
Taking your sweet potatoes through to maturity
Even though sweet POTATOES are a generally low-care crop, some pests can cause a complete wipe-out. You need to do regular inspections and know what to look for.
Castrating your beef calves
Castration stops a bull calf’s testicles working so that it can’t reproduce, and also prevents the production of male hormones.
Culling latecomers? Think again!
Many frustrated fanciers get rid of their under-performing pigeons. But is culling the best option? There are certain factors to consider before deciding to cull a weak pigeon, writes Thomas Smit.
Catch & release – alive!
As the tigerfish is our premier inland gamefish and because its numbers are dwindling, Abré J Steyn feels strongly about the art of catch-and-release. But with this fish, successful release is no easy feat.
Diarrhoea in sheep and goats – part 1
How to identify and treat diarrhoea in animals.
Learn more about your horse’s personality
Horse lovers can chat for hours about their horses and their wonderful personalities – but what are their animals’ actual strengths and weaknesses? How do they get along with other horses?
Growing sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes originate from South America. Their heat tolerance makes them a useful summer crop for areas that are too warm for most vegetables.
Downside of a One-Day Loft
In a One-Day Pigeon Loft, many difficulties can put the enterprise and the pigeons in jeopardy. Thomas Smit looks at the weaknesses of this system.
No land for this promising pig farmer
Ivan Cloete started farming with pigs in Blackheath near Cape Town seven years ago.
Choosing the right pig breed for your farm
Choosing the right kind of pig for your level of management is very important.
How to draft a business plan – part 3
An important part of your business plan is describing where and how the product produced on the farm is to be sold and the prices that will be achieved.
Farming hydroponically – part 1
Over the next few weeks we’ll be taking you through this interesting and potentially profitable form of farming.
Surviving a two-year drought
The southern Western Cape is experiencing the worst drought in more than a century and running a profitable dairy has become next to impossible. But with clever management and stringent production methods, Brian Hume and his family are confident their dairy farm in Riversdale will survive. Denene Erasmus visited him on his farm.
Why land reform MUST succeed
Richard Tate, a former top farmer and leader in Zimbabwean farming circles,says it’s time for South African consumers and business people to realise that failed land reform will seriously affect the whole economy. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to him.
Treating chronic joint disease
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, can affect any joint, but it’s most common in the knee, hock, fetlock and coffin joints.
Save our game farms!
Two wildlife ranching experts call for more support from the authorities but warn that over-regulation could kill the industry.
Getting it right with sweet potatoes
You could say sweet potatoes are easier to grow than weeds. The important thing is to keep the planting material disease-free.
Don’t ignore the small guys
I suppose it’s human nature – or is it just greed for people to favour big clients?
Choosing your maize cultivar
Seed companies are outdoing themselves in developing new maize cultivars.The national maize cultivar trials, conducted by the Agricultural Research Council, looked at newcomers and old favourites to give maize producers independent research to help them select cultivars for the coming season. In this first part of a series, the focus falls on KwaZulu-Natal. Alita van der Walt reports.
