Consistent quality: the key to Saronsberg’s success
After only a decade of winemaking, Saronsberg has firmly established itself as one of South Africa’s most consistent producers of top-quality wines.
Denene Erasmus visited owner Nick van Huyssteen and winemaker Dewaldt Heyns to learn more about their much-lauded wines.
Space cabbages correctly
Many factors play a role in the spacing of cabbage – the process is not quite as simple as you might imagine.
Playing with inflated prices
Some (but not all) market agents have been doing it for years, but that does not make it acceptable.
Success with hydroponics
Hugh and Isabel Wallace farm 4ha of vegetables undercover on Silver Dawn, close to Krugersdorp. They produce high-quality vegetables for the export market and top-end local stores.
Disease & insect control in grapes
The Rossouws of Mooigezicht Estates in De Doorns in the Cape Winelands have made the science of table grape production more precise than ever. Each hectare of the 300ha produces around 50 000 bunches of grapes.
Nitrogen: the key to high cabbage yield
A shortage of nitrogen is the single most common reason for a cabbage crop not reaching its full yield potential. This applies equally to the quantity applied as to how to conserve it and maintain its correct level.
Fresh produce sector attracting more youth
Traditionally, the fresh produce sector has been lax in attracting youngsters into the fold. But this is changing, and it’s encouraging to see the developments in recruiting that have taken place in recent years.
How to plant cabbage correctly
Cabbage can be planted by hand or mechanically. For hand planting, the best tool is a home-made miniature hoe. This can be constructed by cutting up an old implement disc into wedges and welding a section of pipe to each as a handle.
Managing weed resistance to glyphosate
Dr Charlie Reinhardt of the University of Pretoria’s SA Herbicide Resistance Initiative offers the following ‘5 Golden Rules’ for managing weed resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides.
True farmer’s markets?
Farmers have been selling their own produce for centuries, in fact since the dawn of time.
Dealing with SDS and charcoal rot in soya
Traditionally, most of South Africa’s soya bean production has been in the cooler, wetter eastern half of the country. These environmental conditions favour the development of certain soya bean diseases.
Global roundup from the fresh produce sector
I subscribe to a selection of newsletters from overseas that keep me in the loop with what’s happening on the international fresh produce scene. What happens abroad frequently affects our fresh produce sector at home.
Start fertilising your cabbage before planting
Getting a full stand and a vigorous getaway is crucial for high yield. Some important aspects in this regard have been mentioned in previous articles.
Getting the land ready for cabbages
The first consideration when preparing land for cabbage is to get the soil’s nutrient content right.
Success with Maluti apples
In 1996, when Margie Jankielsohn and her husband Mark bought 548ha of the farm Merino in the Bethlehem district of the Free State, they had no idea that their operation would become one of the most successful apple producers in the Malutis.
APAC: Protecting your money
The Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) was established in 1992 in terms of the Agricultural Produce Agents Act.
Choose the right cabbage seedlings!
The seedling is the start of a very valuable crop and the stand and speed of initial growth will have a significant effect on profit.
The quality equation
I recently conducted a training session on marketing for a group of small-scale farmers. As always, it was a pleasure to do so because they were eager to learn.
Alan Sutton wins Mpumalanga Farmer of the Year Award
Alan Sutton, chairperson of the Valley Macadamias Group and owner of Sutton Crest Farms has been crowned the Mpumalanga Farmer of the Year 2014 by the Agricultural Writers’ Association.
Cool tips for hot grapes
Situated along a 350km stretch of the Orange River, Orange River Cellars uses creative production techniques to deal with high temperatures in the harsh semi-desert climate.
