Glenneis Kriel

You don’t have to own a farm to make money from agriculture. Getting involved higher up the value chain is easier and less risky. Derich Priga, owner of D&M Fresh Products, tells Glenneis Kriel how he became a packhouse owner and fruit distributor.

The use of picking platforms for fruit tree management and harvesting is still relatively new in South Africa. Thomas Babl, who has been using the technology for the past two years, shares some of the lessons he has learnt with Glenneis Kriel.

The oxygen/ethylene cycle is tied up with soil microorganism activity. This influences the rate of decomposition of plant residues, the uptake of nutrients by plants, and the general state of soil health. Glenneis Kriel got the lowdown from Dr Paul Syltie.
Issue date : 03 July 2009

The first Cape Agri Show in Paarl exhibited a huge variety of equipment aimed at fruit and wine production. Glenneis Kriel reports.
Issue date :22 May 2009

Soil management is heading in a new direction. Soil microorganisms and the role they play in enhancing soil-mineral levels, soil structure and composition is increasingly getting more attention in agriculture. Stephanus Malherbe, manager of the Soil Food Web laboratory, established by the farming company ZZ2 at the University of Limpopo, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this new thinking.
Issue date: 08 May 2009

Farmers should not panic over the International Monetary Funds' shocking prediction the world economy would shrink for the first time in about six decades by an estimated 1,3%, said Absa Agribusiness head Ernst Janovsky. "It won't have a significant impact on agriculture as a whole," he judged. "People have to eat."

Soilmix Africa is breaking all the limits on crops' root systems, from annual grains to perennial orchards. Their machine mixes and homogenises soil to a depth of 1,2m, compared to an ordinary plough's 20cm and also applies a cutting-edge soil correction programme. Mastermind Koos Stofberg, a winemaker and soil preparation expert, spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
Issue date : 01 May 2009