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 from minimum till to no-till.

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 than last year. Jaco Visser analyses the domestic and world outlook for soya bean production and prices.

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 has done just that. Jacques Claassen visited the farm and reports.

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 the crop correctly. Jacques Claassen reports on what is expected of the 2015 season.

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 hardy and high-value legume crop for marginal soils.

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 and will not cross with P. vulgaris by conventional methods.

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 ago, to attract young people into the broader agricultural community.

The Bathsheba Syndrome

Recently, I read an interesting article entitled ‘The Bathsheba Syndrome: the ethical failure of successful leaders,’ by Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longenecker.

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