Conservation agriculture

Farmer’s Weekly brings you the latest conservation news and updates from South Africa and the rest of world.

Sericea SAVES

They don’t call this amazing legume ‘prosperity lucerne’ for nothing, and yet again it proves its worth.

Nitrogen, humus & legumes

Why it’s more profitable to fertilise a small area of grass well, rather than a large area poorly.

Grass & soil fertility

It’s time for farmers to do what the great Prof Theron envisaged more than 50 years ago – and that’s to rebuild soil fertility by incorporating a legume/grass-based pasture into...

Sainfoin surprises

Can any good come out of a devastating drought? Surprisingly, the answer is a very definite ‘Yes!’ when it comes to pastures.

Producing better Highveld beef

Improving beef production in the eastern Free State through good veld management.

Preserve and protect wetlands

A wetland can be recognised by characteristic soil, plants and wildlife. Wetlands are permanently or periodically inundated with water.

A case for the soil

Soil mineralisation is a capital cost worth every cent and one of the best investments a farmer can make.

In danger: Denham’s bustard

Denham’s bustard (Neotis denhami) is a species that deserves more attention than it currently receives. Males can weigh up to 8kg, making this bustard one of the heaviest flying birds...

The economics of soil mineralisation

Improving your soil can seem expensive only if you forget it’s a once-off cost that will see you through a lifetime.

Veld burning – how to get it right

Sometimes burning veld is needed, but it’s also possible to avoid it if you work on getting your veld right.

12 ways to protect the land

STEP 4: Protecting natural veld will create a mosaic of biodiversity.

The natural way

This radical veld improvement method doesn’t involve veld fertilisation and/or overseeding with indigenous or exotic grasses and legumes.

Shocking damage to Karoo veld

A picture is worth a thousand words. This week I have three pictures that are worth much, much more than that – and tell a sorry tale!

Lespedeza wake-up call

Is this a reminder that the time to plant Sericea lespedeza is at hand? Well, yes and no...

The Karoo’s first protected environment

The proclamation of the Compassberg Protected Environment, named after the landmark mountain, is an important step forward for conservation in South Africa. Primarily owned by game and stock farmers, the...

The way to go

The most popular planted grass pasture on the Highveld has to be Eragrostis curvula.

Turn grass into money

It makes no economic sense to produce poor quality hay.

Avoid costly hay

Even at the best of times, hay is a very expensive commodity and has a huge impact on the profitability of livestock enterprises.

Build on a strong foundation

The plant/soil ecosystem is crucial to agriculture. Failure to recognise this fact and build upon it has brought about the demise of many farms.

Conservation tillage works!

Biological farming is getting better by the day, thanks to intelligent and observant farmers.
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