Gerhard Uys
Gerhard Uys grew up as a real city lad, but spends his free time hiking and visiting family farms. He learnt the journalism trade as a freelance writer and photographer in the lifestyle industry, but having decided that he will be a cattle farmer by the age of 45 he now indulges his passion for farming by writing about agriculture.
He feels Farmer’s Weekly is a platform for both developed and emerging farmers to learn additional farming skills and therefore takes the job of relaying practical information seriously.
Australia aims to become top medicinal cannabis exporter
The Australian minister of health, Greg Hunt, has announced plans to make that country the world’s number one exporter of medicinal cannabis, according to a report by Reuters.
How to prevent gut problems in your dairy herd
Inaccurate feeding practices and poorly formulated diets in dairy herds can lead to subacute rumen acidosis, and result in decreased milk yields, higher than normal cull rates and profit losses for producers. Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) CEO and specialist vet, Dr Chris van Dijk, and dairy feed specialist, Kenneth Botha, spell out the causes and cures to Gerhard Uys.
The benefits of planned and measured irrigation
Measuring soil moisture content and water extraction has an obvious advantage: more efficient water use. In addition, it creates an optimal environment in which plants can grow and utilise fertilisers more effectively. Dirk Mercker from DFM Technologies spoke to Gerhard Uys.
Government’s agri jobs target not attainable, Agbiz
Creating 500 000 jobs in agriculture by 2019 as government was promising to do, was not viable with current farming technologies, prevailing rainfall patterns in the Western Cape, or the current appetite for investment in agriculture.
How global trends will affect local agriculture
Speaking at the recent Agbiz media day held in Pretoria, Agbiz CEO John Purchase, said the local agricultural sector was operating in a challenging and complex global economy.
EU blamed for local poultry labelling mistakes
There was great confusion about packaging and labelling requirements for imported poultry meat. This was revealed at a recent meeting in Johannesburg between EU delegates, Fair Play, and Country Bird Holdings (CBH), where the influence of alleged ‘dumping’ of EU poultry was discussed.
Canada’s livestock industry in pictures
Farmer's Weekly's journalist, Gerhard Uys recently visited Canada and got to experience its dynamic livestock industry.
Agri SA will not join AfriForum’s march against farm murders
Agri SA has announced that it will not participate in the march against farm murders on 25 November, which has been organised by AfriForum.
Macadamias: a growing industry, but challenges await
South Africa’s macadamia industry is expected to double production over the next few years. But processors will have to find new markets and add value to nuts to maintain exports, according to Alex Whyte, sales and marketing manager for Green Farms Nut Company.
E. coli levels a threat to Gauteng crops
Levels of E. coli in catchment areas in Gauteng have been increasing and could affect agricultural crop production, according to Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development.
Land audit provides new figures on ownership
A land audit conducted by Agri SA and Agri Development Solutions has provided new figures for land ownership changes between 1994 and 2017.
The economics of producing aged, premium beef
Gary Jackson of Jackson’s Real Food Market, Chris Paulsen of the Bull and Bush butchery, restaurateurs Steve Maresch and Llewy Mateza of The Local Grill, and Roelie van Reenen of Beefmaster, are determined to offer the finest traceable, aged and ethically produced beef to discerning clients. But doing so is not without challenges, writes Gerhard Uys.
Macadamia production slowly bouncing back
Despite adequate rain in many of South Africa’s macadamia-producing regions, production was taking longer than expected to return to normal.
Intermediaries could ensure success of farmer relationships
Independent bodies or third parties could facilitate partnerships between commercial and developing farmers. This was the opinion of ANC presidential candidate, Mathews Phosa, speaking at the 2017 Agri SA congress held in Pretoria recently.
Bird flu kills over 500 wild birds in Johannesburg
An avian influenza outbreak that has been confirmed in Gauteng, has forced the Montecasino Bird Gardens to temporarily close its doors, while biosecurity measures have been taken to protect the bird population at the Johannesburg Zoo.
Affordable solar geysers for farm workers
With 40% to 60% of all household energy-use spent on water heating, conventional geysers are unaffordable for many South Africans.
Dumping, bird flu, cripples SA poultry and grain producers
Poultry dumping and avian flu losses have severely affected the country’s grain industry, as 70% of poultry production costs were feed costs, said Marthinus Stander, CEO of Country Bird Holdings (CBH).
Small land, big dreams for urban veggie farmer
Clement Tshuma believes his small-scale vegetable operation near Kempton Park in Gauteng, not only ensures the sustainability of his own future, but a similar model could be the answer to food insecurity due to large-scale urbanisation in South Africa.
Zimababwe hosts 6th Stockmanschool
The Zimbabwe Stockmanschool will run for the sixth time this year at Ant Farms, a cattle farm, outside Harare.
Lesotho grants SA company medicinal marijuana grower’s licence
Lesotho has granted one of its first licences for the production of medical marijuana to South African company, Verve Dynamics. The company has a branch in Lesotho.
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