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...
IT in fresh produce
The other day, I met with two young people from the subtropical fruit sector. As we settled down around the table, they brought out their smartphones.
Fresh produce: A complex business
The latest South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) crop estimate makes for interesting reading, and reminds me once again of just how complex the fresh produce business can be.
The link between Arrested Ear Syndrome and chemicals
Arrested Ear Syndrome, which causes partial or complete failure of the maize ear, has recently begun to appear in local maize crops. Grant Pringle, agronomist from Pannar Seeds, details possible...
Finding the fig niche
Hanro and Karin Knoetzen produce two varieties of figs on 8ha of their 600ha mixed-crop farm near Porterville in the Western Cape. While most of the crop is bound for...
Starting a new market agency
Over the past year or so, several new market agencies have opened on some of the bigger markets.
Interesting facts about lettuce
Lettuce has its origin in the eastern Mediterranean and has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is part of the daisy family Asteraceae, and the range of varieties is...
Table grape farmer shares his netting production secrets
In 2000, farmer Wilfred Stephan became one of the first producers in the Western Cape to grow table grapes under nets, a system that offers a multitude of benefits. He...
Small markets – can they survive?
As I’ve noted before, in the 1940s this country had more than 100 markets. Today, we are down to 24.
Beating cucurbit viruses
Having ignored my own advice – given to readers in a past column – I recently ended up paying the price.
Free State apple farmers’ climate-smart management
Pitso Sekhoto and his daughter Nono farm apples near Senekal in the Free State. The Sekhotos spoke to Gerhard Uys about orchard production, climate change and drought.
