Did irrigation wheat beat the heat in 2015?
The ARC-Grain Crops Institute’s recently published 2015 National Irrigation Wheat Cultivar Evaluation trial results suggest a considerable number of cultivars produced profitable yields, despite high temperatures.
Market agent fraud
When a market agent is caught defrauding a farmer, a long and complex legal process is put in motion. Yet often it seems as if nothing is being achieved.
When lettuce goes viral
We focus on spotted wilt and lettuce mosaic virus. Both can be controlled, and even avoided, with the correct agronomic practices.
Visit the market!
I hammer on about the importance of farmers visiting the market whenever there is an opportunity.
Proactive fruit farming techniques
Oak Valley Estate in the Elgin Valley grows apples and pears, among many other product lines, on a commercial scale. Key to the farm’s production for the export market is...
Dealing with thrips and the pea leaf miner
The pea leaf miner (Liriomyza huidobrensis) probably originated in South America.
The Produce Marketing Association welcomes new representative
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) recently announced the resignation of Marianne van der Laarse as its Southern Africa representative.
Planting vegetables: 3 things to consider
What should you ask yourself when deciding which vegetables to plant? Vegetable expert Bill Kerr explains.
Economical pest control
Having already addressed bollworms, this week we discuss the control of aphid, cutworm and leaf miner in lettuce crops.
Simonsig: SA wine route pioneers
Wine estate Simonsig pioneered Méthode Cap Classique – a traditional style of producing sparkling wines – in South Africa. The method has since been adopted by a number of estates....
Keep the market free!
I’ve heard rumblings from on high that it should be compulsory for bigger farmers to allocate, say, 20% of their produce to a black-owned market agency.
Controlling bollworm in lettuce
One pest has caused severe damage on almost every lettuce farm at some time or other: the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera).
Taking control of the apple value chain
Five Mpumalanga apple farmers have pooled their resources to establish their own packhouse, but each producer is independently responsible for producing a quality product in the orchard. Producers Jan Grey...
Integrity is profitable
In his Managing for Profit column of 5 February, Peter Hughes tells how leadership expert Fred Kiel found that businesses managed by people of character made returns up to five...
Increase wine grape profits with successful mechanisation
Izak de Beer may be one of only a few farmers in Olifantsriver in the Western Cape who is making a profit out of wine grapes. Creative use of mechanisation...
What to do after transplanting lettuce
The manner in which lettuces are transplanted makes all the difference to the profitability of a crop, as all subsequent practices and expenses up to maturity remain the same.
Korkom annual producers and market agents’ information day
I recently attended the annual producers and market agents’ information day hosted in Ceres by Korkom.
Planting and fertilising lettuce
When planting lettuce, it is very important to ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist to reduce transplant shock.
Strawberry trial passes with flying colours
Drought in the northern Eastern Cape played havoc with this season’s raspberry crop of the Berrynice Berry Company. Fortunately, a small land of strawberries planted as a trial provided a...
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