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.
How to grow broccoli
Many of the techniques described for cabbage and cauliflower apply to broccoli.
‘It’s a privilege to earn my living from the soil’ – David Maleleka
Grain farmer David Maleleka ascribes his success to hard work, perseverance and mentorship. He was chosen as a beneficiary of the Omnia New Business Development project because of his proven...
Can the fresh produce markets survive?
In the 1940s, there were about 135 fresh produce markets scattered around South Africa. Almost every dorp had a market.
Sugarcane industry – beating the dry season
The sugarcane industry contributes 11% to agri-employment, and creates around 79 000 direct jobs. The crop is resilient, with the ability to bounce back despite tough growing conditions.
Advice on how to grow cauliflower
Growing cauliflower is very similar to growing cabbage. Nevertheless, there are some important points that need to be considered to ensure successful production of cauliflower.
SA’s experts on implementing conservation agriculture
Grain SA recently hosted a conservation agriculture promotion day for smallholder farmers growing crops on communal lands in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. A number of knowledgeable speakers...
Co-operative marketing
Farmers around the world use some form of co-operative marketing to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables.
‘Know your vineyards and workers well’- top grape farmer
Award-winning table grape farmer, Pieter Joubert from De Doorns, says that attention to production detail and a professional and dedicated workforce are equally important in successful grape farming.
A new, very dangerous cabbage disease
As if a cabbage farmer does not have enough to contend with, a destructive new disease is currently doing the rounds.
Needed: good managers
A senior manager at a large market said to me the other day that market managers (MMs) “need to get out of their fancy offices and on to the market...
Promising new cultivars for Western Cape
Willem Kilian and Ernest Dube of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Small Grain Institute in Bethlehem, and Henzel Saul of the institute’s branch in Stellenbosch, report on trials conducted on...
Physiological disorders in cabbage
A pathological condition in plants is caused by disease, whereas a physiological condition is caused by non-living (abiotic) factors such as physical injury, frost, water stress or something similar.
Too much regulation?
Some pundits maintain that our fresh produce markets are over-regulated. I confess that I cannot make up my mind on the issue.
Mineral deficiencies in cabbages
It is very important to recognise and correct mineral deficiencies as soon as the first signs appear. Any delay is likely to have a profound influence on yield.
From a hot, dry, barren land to an irrigated farm
Dissie Kruger established his wheat, maize and soya bean farm on undeveloped land among the barren hills around Orania in the Northern Cape – and created an economically sustainable model...
Fiduciary responsibility
Act 12 of 1992, which regulates market agents, places strong emphasis on what a market agent may and may not do with a producer’s money.
Irrigating in extreme heat
The Lower Orange River, the country’s second-largest table grape-producing region, is known for its extreme summer temperatures during the peak harvesting season. Farmers have to plan carefully to optimise water...
Be informed about Albugo (white blister)
White blister (Albugo candida) is also sometimes referred to as white rust.
