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 mountains, water courses, grasslands and scrub of this 42 000ha of high-lying land is the Eastern Cape’s first protected area. Heather Dugmore reports.
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.
Intelligence & observation
How to progress in your farming operation and increase your wealth, especially when it comes to biological farming.
Empowering the veld!
Improve productivity all round, especially in mixed farming regions, by looking after your veld.
The dangers of overgrazing
Ignore basic grass management principles and you’ll destroy the grazing potential of your veld for seasons to come.
Veld can produce high quality forage
We all experience defining moments from time to time that change the way we think. I recently had such a moment. It radically changed my perception of the value of veld.
