Field Crops

As struggling farmers, Vito Rugani and Vincent Sequeira had the courage to jettison many of the attitudes that bedevil SA farming. Today, Greenway Farms is the continent’s largest producer of carrots. Lindi van Rooyen visited the farm.

While many variables affect commercial berry production, strict management and a scientific approach are crucial for success.

Maurice Boki, top developing grain producer, farms maize, crossbred Bonsmaras and Dohne-Merino sheep near Matatiele in the Eastern Cape.

With a passion for farming and a vision of where he wants to be, Mdu Mlangeni is proving that it’s never too late to achieve a dream. As Grain SA’s mentorship programme has contributed to his success, he now contributes to the livelihood of the community.

It takes major effort and progress to become a finalist in Grain SA’s Developing Grain Farmer of the Year competition. Lloyd Phillips visited Thabang Tsephe to find out how he made the cut.

As maize is a summer crop that requires sufficient water and nutrients, most farmers won’t plant it in a winter rainfall area. But John Walker, a Western Cape farmer with access to irrigation water, produces maize to make quality silage for his Jersey cows.

Subsistence farming need not be a struggle. As Nto Mduli shows, if done right, it can be a valuable source of food and income.

A KZN vegetable co-op has given its disabled members a sense of purpose, while making a valuable contribution to the nutritional needs of their families.

Warren Bam, winner of the deciduous fruit industry novice award and the Toyota New Harvest of the Year competition, spoke to Denene Erasmus about the journey that has led to his managing an organic, export table grape and blueberry farm and starting his own farming business.

The father and son team of Pauciflora Farming in Arlington attribute their success to precision farming and reduced tillage. Dirk and Herman van Rensburg were finalists in the 2013 Grain SA Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year competition.

Being a major supplier of carrots to Woolworths for more than a decade has not been easy. But Greenpak farm has reaped the rewards of being part of this retail chain’s Farming for the Future programme, which has reduced input costs while increasing yields. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

At Andante Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Porterville, quality starts in the orchard with fine-tuned production practices.

Rossouw Cillié, Agri Writers’ SA Farmer of the Year, has a diversified enterprise with several production branches and a value-adding component. He told Denene Erasmus about his latest project – to replant and expand his fruit orchards.

Growing tomatoes in Pongola in summer is not for the faint- hearted. But the Terblanche family has fine-tuned its programme and picks tomatoes year-round, with many benefits for the sugarcane operation. Robyn Joubert reports.

Businessman, farmer and Rhodes scholar Anthony Evans, says that GM technology and advanced farming practices have contributed to the success of his family’s farming business. Anthony is Grain SA/Syngenta’s 2013 Producer of the Year.

While Steyl Willemse’s farming operation near Kiepersol in Mpumalanga is still dominated by bananas, he is gradually switching to macadamias to keep the farm running optimally.

Introducing biological practices was a brave move on the part of Pongola sugar farmer Ernst Holl – but a current yield of 120t cane/ha from 16-year-old cane shows he’s on the right path. Robyn Joubert reports.

Barley farmer Willie Beukes of Haasjeskop Boerdery near Caledon has a proven strategy for success: a crop rotation cycle that ensures effective weed and disease control. Denene Erasmus reports.

The newly formed NuGrainSA Consortium recently introduced the so-called pseudo grains quinoa, buckwheat, millet and grain amaranth to the South African agricultural fraternity. William Weeks says the consortium’s vision is to introduce broad-leaf cereal crops to the South African economy.

At the first annual conference of Conservation Agriculture in the Western Cape, low soil disturbance, mulching lands and crop rotation were recurring themes. Marius Swart was there.