Trends in vineyard and orchard mechanisation
EIMA International, the agricultural machinery exhibition held in Bologna, Italy, in November, showcased some of the latest equipment for vineyards and orchards. Glenneis Kriel spoke to exhibitors about their machinery and whether it was suitable for SA growers.
ARC’s soya bean cultivar recommendations
The soya bean cultivar best adapted to a specific area will provide the best yield and quality. The ARC national soya bean cultivar trials are valuable in determining the most suitable varieties. Annelie de Beer, researcher at the ARC Grain Crops Institute in Potchefstroom, explains.
A pound of dedication & a pinch of luck for young farmer
Even if your father is a successful farmer, it’s important to start at the bottom to become a top farmer. This is the view of Kolver Mülke, Agri Northern Cape’s Young Farmer of the Year 2014.
A new platform for fruit picking
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.
Consistent quality: the key to Saronsberg’s success
After only a decade of winemaking, Saronsberg has firmly established itself as one of South Africa’s most consistent producers of top-quality wines.
Denene Erasmus visited owner Nick van Huyssteen and winemaker Dewaldt Heyns to learn more about their much-lauded wines.
Success with hydroponics
Hugh and Isabel Wallace farm 4ha of vegetables undercover on Silver Dawn, close to Krugersdorp. They produce high-quality vegetables for the export market and top-end local stores.
Disease & insect control in grapes
The Rossouws of Mooigezicht Estates in De Doorns in the Cape Winelands have made the science of table grape production more precise than ever. Each hectare of the 300ha produces around 50 000 bunches of grapes.
Managing weed resistance to glyphosate
Dr Charlie Reinhardt of the University of Pretoria’s SA Herbicide Resistance Initiative offers the following ‘5 Golden Rules’ for managing weed resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides.
Dealing with SDS and charcoal rot in soya
Traditionally, most of South Africa’s soya bean production has been in the cooler, wetter eastern half of the country. These environmental conditions favour the development of certain soya bean diseases.
Success with Maluti apples
In 1996, when Margie Jankielsohn and her husband Mark bought 548ha of the farm Merino in the Bethlehem district of the Free State, they had no idea that their operation would become one of the most successful apple producers in the Malutis.
Alan Sutton wins Mpumalanga Farmer of the Year Award
Alan Sutton, chairperson of the Valley Macadamias Group and owner of Sutton Crest Farms has been crowned the Mpumalanga Farmer of the Year 2014 by the Agricultural Writers’ Association.
Cool tips for hot grapes
Situated along a 350km stretch of the Orange River, Orange River Cellars uses creative production techniques to deal with high temperatures in the harsh semi-desert climate.
Smart irrigation saves water
A degree of operational loss is unavoidable when using irrigation. But water loss because of poor or non-existent maintenance of irrigation equipment, pipelines and dams, is unacceptable.
Choosing the right canola cultivar
Canola plantings in the Swartland in the Western Cape have been increasing steadily over the past few years, as more farmers recognise the benefits of including canola as a viable cash crop in rotation with wheat and other grain crops.
Sugarcane: lessons from Australia
Situated along 2 100km of the continent’s east coast, Australia’s 385 000ha sugar industry was producing a whopping 32 million tons of irrigated sugarcane in 2008. This was processed to produce 4,7 million tons of raw sugar.
Design a crop cover strategy
Agricultural practices that degrade the soil are responsible for a host of problems: erosion, nutrient runoff, waterlogging, acidification, compaction, crusting, salinisation, nutrient depletion, leaching, organic matter loss, toxic accumulation, and desertification.
From 2ha to commercial success
Ralph Swart, who has lived in Elim, Western Cape, all his life, began farming in 1975 with roughly 2ha for planting, one cow and 10 sheep. Today he farms on 1 280ha. He shares the secrets of his success with Farmer’s Weekly:
Production secrets of a top barley farmer
Award-winning barley farmer Hermie van Zyl of the Western Cape has worked with his father and uncle over the years to fine-tune their production plan. Their success, he maintains, lies in sticking with this method.
From corporate executive to successful farmer
Morapedi Mutloane left his job in the corporate world in 2012 to get back into agriculture.
Innovation drives top young table grape farmer
Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year 2014, Jaco du Toit, is never happy sticking with the status quo. His practical research approach to farming has resulted in innovations in table grape production, and he has become a role model for his peers.
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