Increasing the nutrient use efficiency of potatoes
In today’s agricultural playing field, the focus is being directed at sustainably producing crops for a growing world population. Concepts like ensuring food security, soil quality and fertility, nutritional value...
The pitfalls of gambling with vegetables on the market
The decision of what to plant should be based on average market prices in the long term, which enables vegetable growers to calculate what the market price fluctuations will be,...
Blueberry production: a steep learning curve but worth the effort
Blueberries have been identified as an ideal crop for boosting agriculture’s contribution to South Africa’s gross domestic product. Given the labour-intensive nature of this crop and its lucrative export market,...
How quality and marketing drive success for small farms
It is one thing to have a good product, but we need to bring its outstanding features to the attention of the purchaser, writes Bill Kerr.
Why a dairy farm turned to producing pineapples
In 2019, dairy farmer Jonathan Willows and his business partner, Laine Collett, launched a pineapple operation on a dairy farm in the Eastern Cape. They spoke to Mike Burgess about...
From the corporate world to macadamia cultivation
With the support of his wife, Andrew Doré has changed his approach to macadamia farming by adopting organic practices. He spoke to Sinenhlanhla Mncwango about his farming experience, challenges, and...
Optimising stone fruit production with biological control
Featuring an array of delicious fruit from peaches to cherries, stone fruit is attractive to a variety of bugs that can be effectively controlled with integrated pest management, writes Zunel...
Sorghum: boosting rural economies and enhancing soil health
Sorghum can transform rural economies by boosting food security, supporting local processing, and enhancing soil health. Nate Blum, CEO of Sorghum United, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the potential...
How to build up humus in your vegetable crop
The importance of building up humus in vegetable fields cannot be overstated. Without achieving this, the soil will not become self-sustainable, writes Bill Kerr.
Bacterial diseases in beans are your crop’s biggest threat
Bill Kerr says he can’t overemphasise the importance of making sure that the bean seed you purchase is disease free.
Ways in which soil microbes and plants interact
A very important part of the success of this project is an understanding of the soil food web, in other words, how organisms that live in the soil interact with...
Pomegranates: easy to grow in the right climate
As unfussy as they come, pomegranates are a relatively easy crop to cultivate. With market conditions picking up, the fruit offers first-time, part-time and long-time farmers an attractive option should...
Pest and disease control under shade netting
As fruit-importing countries become increasingly intolerant of pest infestations and diseases posing phytosanitary risks and equally intolerant of the use of pesticides, South African fruit producers have had to revisit...
Boost soil health and yields by increasing organic matter
Bill Kerr says that increasing the organic and microbe content of your soil is the first step to ensuring healthier crops and greater yields.
The real reason fresh produce transformation has stalled
Transformation in the fresh produce sector faces a significant challenge in that small-scale producers are unable to stay the course. Lindi Botha reports on how overwhelming obstacles, such as defunct...
Precision irrigation: empowering agriculture amid water scarcity
Precision irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, maximising efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. Zunel van Eeden spoke to Netafim South Africa’s Charl van Reenen about this irrigation technique, which...
Tasty, nutritious beans come in many forms
Beans originated in Central and South America and have been domesticated for thousands of years, says Bill Kerr.
Avocado production: Western Cape vs the northern provinces
Avocado production in South Africa has traditionally been linked to the hot and humid northern provinces. Recently, though, Western Cape plantings have grown. Louis Vorster, who has extensive experience in...
Managing macadamia production when margins are low
Macadamia nut farms have been in dire straits over the past two seasons as prices have dropped and input costs have risen. With little relief on the horizon, orchard management...
Choosing the right nitrogen fertiliser
Various nitrogenous fertilisers are available. Your choice will depend on environmental considerations, cost, availability, and so on, writes Bill Kerr
