Home Authors Posts by Staff Reporter

1524 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Commercial farmers’ vital role in rural development

Largely failed land reform initiatives are leading to increased tension and uncertainty in the agriculture sector as a whole. Veteran rural development expert Jimmy Lonsdale believes commercial farmers have a key role to play in turning this situation around.

Minimising the impact of land development

Development in a natural area should maintain the integrity of the environment and never compromise the proper functioning of the ecosystem within the landscape.

Getting started with rabbits

Rabbits are inexpensive to keep and produce high- quality protein. They can also be housed in a small space, making them ideal for the small-scale farmer.

New agribusiness transformation programme

A five-year, multi-pronged programme that brings together government, academia and the private sector’s financial expertise has been launched in the Free State.

On the verge of success: SA’s ‘municipal farmers’

A new class of emerging farmer working the land on municipal commonages have similarities to the ‘kulaks’, the highly productive, early 20th century entrepreneurial Russian farmers drawn from the peasantry. Researchers Doreen Atkinson and Mark Ingle explore this phenomenon and its implications for land reform.

Focus on market access at agribusiness conference

The 2019 Agribusiness Africa Conference, hosted by South Africa’s largest English language agricultural publication, Farmer’s Weekly, will bring together top speakers and a range of stakeholders from across the agriculture, agribusiness and trade platforms to delve into the dynamics of trade between farm gate and domestic, regional and international markets.

Blowers that can clean much more than leaves!

Husqvarna leaf blowers are ergonomically designed to provide maximum comfort and ease-of-use over an extended period.

A sturdy breed: some Toggenburg basics

The present genetic stock of these dairy goats in South Africa originated from animals imported from Switzerland in 1951. Their milk is used to produce a variety of hard and soft cheeses.

Save your tyres – and save money

Reduce fuel expenditure and improve productivity by ensuring tractor tyres are inflated to the optimum pressure.

Why Bonsmara cows should be your first choice

Maternal ability is an important trait in female animals of any breed. Cows must be fertile,and able to support, protect and grow their calves into healthy weaners. Bonsmara cows are renowned for this characteristic, and produce superb results in an extensive cattle operation.

Bees the victims of irresponsible pesticide use

Honeybees are the world’s best-known pollinators of natural flora and a vast array of food and fibre crops. Yet they are frequently harmed by human activities, writes CropLife South Africa’s operations and stewardship manager, Dr Gerhard Verdoorn.

Fall armyworm larvae can cause damage to maize

Researchers advance in fight to control fall armyworm

Fall armyworm has caused significant damage to croplands in South Africa since first detected in early 2017. However, Dr Annemie Erasmus, a senior researcher of entomology at the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute, writes that an integrated pest management strategy has been shown to be an effective weapon against infestation.

Dealing with external parasites on chickens

External parasites such as mites can be a major financial threat to a poultry operation. Control is essential.

Integrated financing for smallholder farmers

Africa’s agricultural potential can only be realised if smallholders gain access to finance. But loans cannot be focused on just one aspect of the value chain at the expense of others. Antois van der Westhuizen, managing director of John Deere Financial, suggests ways to design integrated financing models for smallholders.