How Heidel’s BEE laid the golden egg

When a commercial farmer decides to sell his layer enterprise, it's not often that he goes out of his way to enable his workers to buy it from him. Five years later, with the help of grants and assistance from Land Affairs, Heidel Eggs has plants in three countries and is enriching the lives of 221 beneficiaries. Sharon Götte spoke to managing director Nic Elliot about their achievements and challenges along the way.
Issue date : 10 October 2008

An exceptional cow from great origin

Cow #739, a three-quarter Simmentaler-Limousin, comes from an exceptional line. Her dam won the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Cow in 1999 with 13 calves, a first-calving age of 23 months and an intercalving period of 375 days, and her dam again had 12 calves, a 375-day intercalving interval and average weaning index of 109, writes Robyn Joubert.
Issue date : 10 October 2008

The art of breeding rare birds

Parrots are admired, collected, hunted and exterminated as pests. Some species cling to the brink of extinction, others' habitat is so severely degraded their wild populations are unlikely to re-establish. These are some of the challenges inspiring specialist aviculturist William Horsfield, owner of endangered parrot-breeding facility Amazona, writes Robyn Joubert.
Issue date: 10 October 2008

The water doctor

For the first time, a test for water pathogens in water is both quick and accurate, learns Alan Harman.
Issue date : 10 October 2008

townie back where he belongs

So how was your visit to Jozi?" Neighbour Jan asked
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Critically endangered Renosterveld

Fertile soil makes Renosterveld attractive to crop and livestock farmers, and this is why it was some of the first land to be exploited by farmers. Today only 10% of the original extent still exists, writes Cameron McMaster.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Solutions to bacterial wilt in tomatoes

In this country we basically face three soil wilt diseases. They range from sudden death to a gradual decline depending on the wilt and on conditions.
Issue date: 03 October 2008

Grass is always greener elsewhere – or is it?

The 'grass is greener syndrome' can be destructive to good management. Keep it at bay. But when you feel an attack coming on, go take stock of how others in the same field are doing.'
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Lessons from Bloemfontein champion Nico Dreyer

Having won the Point's League Championships of the Bloemfontein Racing Federation three times, and the National Show Champion title a record-breaking three times, Nico Dreyer has decided that family comes first and decided to take a break from the sport. S aying goodbye wasn't easy.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Dairy’s virtual marketplace

With the advent of an online milk exchange, dairy farmers and buyers are able to trade from the comfort of their own homes. Etienne Terre'Blanche, managing director of the Milk Producers' Organisation explains their role in terms of this new trading forum.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Good foundation for the difficult year ahead

Farmers generally fared well during 2007/08. This will help them to face the challenges and uncertainties posed by 2008 and 2009.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

South Africa – where are we heading?

At the recent Pork Producers' Association Symposium in Gordon's Bay, Theo Venter, political analyst and conflict resolution facilitator at the North-West University, spoke about the effect the current political climate has on policy-making in South Africa, and what it means for farmers.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

When a good product pays off

The hydroponically-grown lettuce of William and Mark Fox has become increasingly popular among consumers in East London. Foxy Fresh has created this market with a high-quality product, attractive packaging and supply throughout the year, writes Orrock Robertsen.
Issue date: 03 October 2008

Afrikaner Elite Cow 2008

Owner and breeder of the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Afrikaner Cow for 2008, Dr Jan Buitendag, farms on the leased 1 500ha farm Kareeboom in the Theunissen district, Free State. His grazing veld is predominately red grass and the average annual rainfall of the area is around 500mm. Wayne Southwood reports.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Energy farming to fight bush encroachment

Bush encroachment is an enormous problem for Namibian farmers. Since the 1950s invader species have covered an area of about 26 million hectares, costing the economy an annual R700 million. new energy initiative could help farmers regain their grazing land while cashing in on supplying power to the country. Servaas van den Bosch reports.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Bovlei charts course for more exotic shores

South African wines are major players in the UK and EU - almost too much so, as the market is starting to saturate. Now, in a daring venture, Bovlei Winery is striking out to the more exotic shores of Thailand and Vietnam, and the resistant markets of the US. Wouter Kriel spoke to Bovlei's Marius Erasmus.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Better ways to battle ryegrass

With ryegrass herbicide resistance on the rise, wheat farmers are working with Bayer to find a solution. Wouter Kriel found out.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Wool market lifts its head

Amidst the turmoil in international financial and commodity markets, the wool market ended firmer and the Merino indicator gained 1,3% to close the day of the last sale at R53,46/kg (clean), according to Ona Viljoen of Cape Wools.
Issue date: 03 October 2008

Black farmers out of Zimbabwe land case The Southern African Development Comm

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) tribunal in Windhoek, Namibia, has rejected an application by 343 resettled black farmers in the case between white land owners and the government of Zimbabwe. he landmark court case was
Issue date : 03 October 2008

Government, logistics strand emerging farmers

Steven Mohale, a tomato farmer in the Modjadji region of Limpopo, lashed out at the Department of Agriculture for indirectly killing the sector through bad implementation of the land reform programme.
Issue date : 03 October 2008

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