Pieter Dempsey
Climate-proof, no-till crop production in the maize triangle
Cocky Mokoka has been farming since 2007, but only started incorporating conservation agriculture principles to improve his soil in 2015. He spoke to Pieter Dempsey about the practices he implements on his 740ha farm.
Fuel price reprieve welcomed by farmers
The slight reduction in the price of diesel that came into effect on Wednesday, 5 May, will only bring relief for farmers if it is sustained over several months.
Bright future for Ankoles as bull nets R3 million at auction
The recent sale of the eight-year-old Ankole bull ‘Sebastiaan’ (A12 36), for a record price of R3 million, has highlighted the bright future of the breed in South Africa.
SA’s tomato volumes expected to normalise by early May
Following a shortage of tomatoes and resultant sharp spike in prices since February this year, the situation is expected to normalise in the next two weeks, with supplies on South Africa’s fresh produce markets increasing and prices dropping.
SA on high alert after second avian flu case is confirmed
A second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been reported on a North West broiler breeder farm, where 14 000 birds have been culled.
15 000 pigs to be culled after AFS outbreak in North West
The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is expected to start culling 15 000 pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF) on a farm near Potchefstroom in North West.
Mentorship: lessons from a pioneering Boran breeder
Johan Erasmus, who farms near Derby in North West, is one of the pioneers of the Boran cattle breed in South Africa. He uses his experience as a stud breeder and a commercial crop farmer to assist and mentor new farmers in a number of Southern African countries.
Botswana and Mozambique stop poultry imports from SA
The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food security in Botswana has announced an immediate ban on the importation of all “domesticated and wild birds and their products such as meat, eggs and feathers from South Africa”.
Poultry industry on high alert after bird flu confirmation
The South African poultry industry is on high alert after the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on a commercial chicken layer farm in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng on Monday, 12 April.
Helping small-scale farmers reach commercial status
Sinelizwi Fakade is a successful grain farmer in the Eastern Cape, but it is his passion for helping small-scale and subsistence farmers improve production that makes him particularly compelling, says Pieter Dempsey. He spoke to Fakade about his farming operation and his role in mentoring future farmers.
Room for further increases in SA’s record maize estimate
Although the Crop Estimates Committee's (CEC), second production estimate for the 2020/2021 summer grain and oilseed production area was only adjusted upwards by 1%, there is room for further upward adjustments.
How trusting her instincts has paid off for Brahman breeder
From small beginnings, Lizemari de Klerk, who farms just outside Pretoria in Gauteng, has expanded her Brahman cattle operation from only three cattle to a breeding herd of around 200 animals. Her relentless quest to improve the quality of her animals has earned her a loyal client base.
Fuel price increase to drive up grain production costs
South Africa’s summer and winter grain farmers will be particularly hard hit by the expected fuel price increases in April.
Current tomato shortage expected to be short-lived
The heavy rainfall experienced across some of South Africa’s tomato production regions in recent weeks has resulted in a shortage of this produce on the country’s fresh produce markets, and a resultant sharp increase in prices since January.
Business confidence in SA drops in first quarter of 2021
Business confidence has declined during the first quarter of 2021 according to the Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Business Confidence Index (BCI). The BCI had declined from 40 to 35 points.
Niche kiwiberry market offers opportunities for SA farmers
There is a novel opportunity for South African farmers to enter the kiwiberry fruit market, which is relatively unknown locally. This is according to Wouter le Roux, owner of fresh produce export company It’sofresh.
January tractor sales up 28% year-on-year
Market sentiment in the agriculture machinery sector remains positive with a significant increase in tractor sales for the month of January.
Good weather aids SA’s 2020/2021 table grape crop
Intake volumes for South African table grapes are expected to increase to between 65,3 million and 69,8 million 4,5kg-equivalent cartons, according to the South African Table Grape Industry’s (SATI) third crop estimate for the 2020/2021 season, released on Wednesday, 3 February.
Sustainable game farming in the bushveld
On his 2 500ha game farm near Lephalale in Limpopo, Willem Frost aims to provide local and international hunters with an authentic hunting experience, which promotes the farm’s overall sustainability goals.
Latest crop estimates show gains in maize, soya beans
The recently released 2020/2021 summer crop planting estimates from the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) indicate that farmers have planted about a 6,2% larger area to grain and oilseed crops at 4,19 million hectares.
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