From a security guard to a farmer
Lufuno Managa, a young farmer from Limpopo, found that big dreams don’t only come true in big cities. He left Pretoria to return home where he is now growing tomatoes...
Leading barley producer innovates & improves
Quality beer needs quality barley and there’s not enough of it in South Africa. RD Erasmus, well-known Western Cape barley producer, spoke to Jacques Claassen about how he has optimised...
Soya bean processing plant growth
With an estimated R1 billion spent on expanding and building new soya bean processing facilities, the South African soya industry is poised to unlock value for farmers and processors.
Ensuring optimal greenhouse irrigation
Irrigating in the correct quantities and at the right frequency are key to greater production in a hydroponic greenhouse system. Greenhouse specialist Martin von Holdt shared his knowledge on the...
Table grape farmer’s success
This year, top honours in the Hex Valley Table Grape Association Block Competition went to Hannes du Toit, who successfully manipulated the tricky and relatively new Sugrasixteen grape variety to...
Get the rotation right, says leading rooibos producer
Willie Nel, recipient of Rooibos Limited’s Producer of the Year Award, says sustainable rooibos production depends on a rotation cycle that will ensure consistently good quality yields. Denene Erasmus reports.
Cladodes make good business
Cactus pear cladode production is a good enterprise for farmers in semi-arid and arid parts of South Africa. It requires little input costs and is highly sought after as animal...
Learn how SAB’s hops is grown
Only a small amount of hops is needed to make beer, about 40g of the dried product for every 100l, but beer would just not be the same without it....
Ceres fruit farmer’s journey to success
From humble beginnings, Walter Williams has grown a business that today has three farms as well as a fruit packing business in the Ceres Valley. He spoke to Denene Erasmus...
Mini-tubers for the seed potato market
On top of the Piketberg, Advanced Potato Propagation propagates mini-tubers in specially adapted greenhouses. Jay Ferreira speaks to APP’s manager, Ferdi Breytenbach.
A look at the South African Apple industry
The eastern Free State’s apple orchards are doing well with a small edge in marketing time over the more established orchards of the Western Cape. Lloyd Phillips talks to Charles...
Cucumbers save the day
Janie Cilliers became a farmer out of necessity, but soon fell in love with it. And, after much hard toil, seven years down the line JC Trading in Brits has...
Conservation farming offers reprieve from mining threat
In the drive to mine the wealth of Mpumalanga, many productive farms have been turned into open cast mines while others wait to be dug up. Investing in soil which...
SA’s canola growers poised for success
Canadian canola expert Phil Thomas says producers can improve yields with innovative technology and better farming practices. Kobus van Tonder reports on Phil’s recent visit to SA.
Putting theory to the test
Left to his own devices, a young sugarcane farmer from Upper Tongaat has made great headway in developing a farming model that meets his financial and sustainability goals. Robyn Joubert...
Proven Mango success
Rénald Radley runs 30ha of mango orchards on Radley Estate. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to him about producing quality mangos through careful pruning and inducing drought.
Managing successful crop rotations
Kiewiet, Theo and Neilus Ferreira have long realised that soil is a farm’s greatest asset, so they expend as much effort on crop rotation as on growing crops. A family...
Tobacco farming in Zambia
Ten years ago, James and Rita Chance were forced off their thriving tobacco, maize and cattle farm in Zimbabwe. Since then, they have made a success of tobacco farming in...
Growing diversity in the Swartland
Western Cape finalists for 2012 Grain Producer of the Year, Francois and Pieter Eksteen, who farm in the Rooi Karoo near Piketberg, follow in the pioneering footsteps of their father,...
‘Goliath’ of the fynbos industry
In 2012, Jacky Goliath won many awards for Nursery which she co-owns and runs in Simondium near Franschhoek. She and business partner Elton Jefthas started a backyard business growing 1...
