Humus – learn to appreciate it
Chemical fertilisers came into their own after the Second World War. They were convenient to use and food production became much easier, relatively speaking.
Market agents – a special breed
An agent on the Durban Market recently made an interesting remark to me.
A robust trellis reduces labour, improves quality
Major apple producers across the world are switching to high-density planting to reduce labour costs, improve fruit quality and increase production. Willie Kotze, research and development manager at Dutoit Group,...
Cations and percentages in a soil analysis
Usually, a soil analysis gives the percentage of each cation as a measure of the total cations in the soil.
Why top brands sell
Winter came late this year and the impact on the markets has been almost disastrous for many products.
Farmer pioneers sustainable rooibos production trials
Nieuwoudtville farmer Pierre Rossouw is conducting trials and implementing conservation farming practices to improve the soil health of his rooibos tea lands and counteract soil erosion due to wind action.
Know your soil – Part 5: the value of phosphorous
Continuing with our discussion of the soil analysis, we now come to phosphorous (P).
Why does Tshwane Market want to reinvent the wheel?
South Africa’s fresh produce commission markets have a number of unique features that set them apart from other markets around the world.
The importance of sulphur in profitable crop production
In recent decades, crop scientists have increasingly come to recognise the importance of sulphur as a nutrient in crop production. Dr Elke Bloem, scientific director at the Institute for Crop...
Know your soil – Part 3
As a soil’s fertility and condition improve, so the value of the soil increases dramatically. Generally, the price per hectare of farmland does not vary much across a region, but...
Banana wars?
Shortly after the Second World War, a ‘Banana War’ erupted between the small producer countries in the Caribbean and the supermarkets, which were starting to flex their buying muscle.
Know your soil – Part 2
If you have a proper understanding of the soil on your farm, you will be able to farm more efficiently – and get more enjoyment from farming.
Zimbabwean farmers make do, regardless
I recently visited Harare with Prof Charles Whitehead from the University of Johannesburg for a two-day Banana Ripening and Post-harvest Physiology workshop for the employees of a large Zimbabwe-based farming...
Managing soil mineral ratios
It is essential that farmers understand the importance of mineral balance in their soils, says Graeme Sait, CEO of Nutri-Tech Solutions in Australia. He visited South Africa this year to...
Vegetables back in vogue
In the 6 June issue of FreshPlaza.com, I came across an article entitled ‘The rise of Africa’s super vegetables’. “Indigenous vegetables are in vogue,” it said. “As people throughout East...
More on controlling powdery mildew in peppers
I wrote a column on powdery mildew in peppers some months ago, but would now like to address this important subject more fully.
Productivity vs labour costs – a delicate balance
Although farm labour is still relatively cheap in South Africa compared with some other countries, worker output is much lower. As a result, many farmers struggle to absorb the impact...
Biofumigation using an eelworm trap crop
Apart from reducing cyst eelworm, planting trap crops has other advantages.
Understanding how the market operates
I’ve always defended the producer’s right to market his produce as he sees fit. If this includes supplying direct to a supermarket, that’s fine. For a large producer, not having...
