Citrus farming: off-season tasks
‘Off-season’ is a misnomer, says Marble Hall citrus farmer Piet Engelbrecht. This is when crucial tasks such as pruning take place. Gerhard Uys visited him.
Communication is key between farmer and market agent
The early part of the year is probably a good time to remind farmers about their responsibilities when dealing with a market agent.
Addressing the risk of polluted irrigation water
A recent study published by the Water Research Commission highlights the urgent need for identifying on-farm treatment options to help reduce the high levels of microbial contamination in irrigation waters,...
Great returns with tobacco, the ideal cash crop
Tobacco producer, Peter Kok, says that tobacco is a cash crop that can assist diversification and expansion.
Spraying tips: Don’t mix chemicals
When spraying different pests at the same time, many farmers try to kill two birds with one stone by making elaborate mixtures.
Don’t forget to pay Freshmark Systems
Almost every fresh produce market in South Africa has a licensing agreement with Freshmark Systems, the providers of the industry’s dedicated IT-based sales processing system.
Getting nozzle size and pressure right
As pointed out previously, the key to successful pest and disease control is optimal penetration of the spray mixture.
Safety at markets
Occupational health and safety (OHS) play a crucial role in the workplace. So much so, that the Occupational Health and Safety Act lays down a host of precise legal requirements...
The Sandveld’s 75t/day family potato business
JH Laubscher Broers has one of the largest potato-growing concerns in the Western Cape, with 300ha under irrigation all through the year.
Making an effective spray mixture
There is more to a spray mixture than chemical product and water. You also need an adjuvant – a substance added to the water to enable the sprayed product to...
Reasons to be proud of our farmers
So today I’m offering a general optimistic comment on South Africa’s farmers that I hope will resonate with you.
How to calibrate a spray rig
All too often, I come across farmers who are not accurate enough with their sprayer calibration.
Biological wine farmer achieves twice regional average yield
Seven years ago, Fritz Breytenbach, a wine grape producer in the Robertson Valley, embarked on his biological farming journey. Today, he is reaping the benefits by producing almost double the...
Precision farming, new technology and an eye for opportunity
Grain SA’s Grain Producer of the Year 2016, Jozua du Plessis, was one of the first grain producers in South Africa to implement precision farming practices in the late 1990s....
Is the Hamilton Option still relevant today?
When Charles Hamilton left his post as CEO of Cape Town Market in the early part of the new millennium, he opened his own market using an entirely new business...
Using a knapsack sprayer on a big farm
Many farmers think that using a knapsack sprayer is taking a step backwards as large spray rigs are fast and effective. However, knapsack sprayers still have their uses on big...
Adapting to change within the markets
Had I written this 15 or more years ago, I would have bemoaned the attitude of market agents and said that the sooner they adapted to transformation, the better, otherwise...
Sugar cane: prevent soil compaction and improve yield
Since the introduction of industrial agricultural practices in South African sugar cane production, soil compaction has led to a steady decrease in average yield and profitability. Dr Rianto van Antwerpen, a...
Producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil
In the Paardeberg near Wellington, Slent Farms are producers of superior quality olive oil. Michela Sfiligoi and Attilio Dalpiaz spoke to Jay Ferreira about their successful operation.
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