Latest articles
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.
Fresh Produce sector faces challenges
Challenge. I hope that my readers will regard this word in a positive way, instead of as something to be dreaded. I say this because the fresh produce sector faces numerous challenges.
Smart irrigation saves water
A degree of operational loss is unavoidable when using irrigation. But water loss because of poor or non-existent maintenance of irrigation equipment, pipelines and dams, is unacceptable.
Choosing the right canola cultivar
Canola plantings in the Swartland in the Western Cape have been increasing steadily over the past few years, as more farmers recognise the benefits of including canola as a viable cash crop in rotation with wheat and other grain crops.
Weevils & other sweet potato pests
The sweet potato weevil (Cylas spp) is arguably the most destructive pest of this crop.
Fresh produce sector : More change for the better
The rapid changes that we witness every day in the world are well-documented, but I remain constantly intrigued by them.
Irrigation & pest control in sweet potatoes
For sweet potato runners to root, the soil around the plants must be moist. Usually, the irrigation applied just after planting will be enough, but this depends on soil type and weather conditions.
