Avoid bacterial diseases in green beans
Bacterial diseases are a menace to all crops, because unlike the case with fungal diseases, we have few means of controlling them.
Controlling weeds in green beans
Given the high cost of labour, using chemicals is the only realistic option for weed control in most crops.
A planter for the next level of conservation farming
Southern Cape conservation farmers are continually looking for new ways to improve their operations. The latest technological advance in planters, the Tobin Bullet disc planter, now allows them to move...
Consumer Protection Act
In the Farmer’s Weekly of 17 April 2015 there is an article on the new complaint process envisaged for consumers of agricultural products.
Bean management as it affects harvesting
Harvesting is one of the big expenses in bean production and consequently needs to be done efficiently.
Training your ‘sales manager’
The relationship between producer and market agent remains at the core of a fresh produce market.
Soya bean prices propped up by surplus processing capacity
SA soya bean production has increased markedly over the past couple of years. As drought hits our western production regions, farmers expect to harvest marginally less of the oil seed...
Merger allows for investment in precision farming
Local small grain producers must optimise production through precision farming in order to stay competitive in globalised markets. Through a recent merger, the Tweekop farming enterprise in the Southern Cape...
Chinese market remains firm despite crackdown on smuggling
The local macadamia nut industry has been taken aback by a recent crackdown on illegal traders in China procuring nuts for their domestic market....
What to do after planting your green beans
Although beans are generally a quick and easy crop to grow, problems can occur before the plant emerges.
Giving value for money
Recently, I wrote about the eight marketing options available to a fresh produce farmer and the need for these to give value for money.
Counting on Canola in 2015
Canola is no longer a crop that farmers can neglect. It is a valuable cash crop that can achieve high yields, provided that producers make careful cultivar selections and manage...
Preparation and planting of green beans
Beans are a quick, easy crop – provided all the precautions are taken.
SADC markets?
A few years ago, there was a flurry of interest from Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, among others, to establish fresh produce markets.
Getting your green beans off to a good start
Green bean farming in South Africa has changed considerably over the past twenty years or so. Not long ago, beans were planted and weeded by hand.
Introducing guar – a resilient, versatile crop
Long grown in India and Pakistan, and more recently in the US, Australia and other parts of Africa, guar is now being introduced to South African crop farmers as a...
Selling produce: the best options
I always remind the market agents whom I train that when it comes to marketing options, they are one of eight available to a farmer.
Drought and disease development in maize
Adverse environmental conditions and disease are placing increasing pressure on maize crops in South Africa, says Dr Belinda Janse van Rensburg, researcher at the ARC-Grain Crops Institute.
Green beans: the basics
Green and dry beans are the same species, Phaseolus vulgaris. The scarlet runner (P.coccineus) which is still popular in many countries as a home garden variety, is a different species...
Career path in agriculture
Agriculture has never been considered a ‘sexy’ career choice for young people. So full marks must go to the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) for its initiative, launched a few years...
