Are you in or out?
The industry-related initiative to help improve markets launched by the Institute of Market Agents of SA (IMASA) last year seems to have gained a lot more momentum than expected.
Putting old ideas to pasture
How we can use grasses as an intercrop to improve water-use efficiency and yield stability in semi-arid conditions. Rohan Orford reports.
Sweet success: from miner to jam maker
In the deeply rural area of OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, a fruit tree project is changing lives. Jaco Visser visited a farmer who is benefiting.
Up your game for higher kiwi fruit yields
South African kiwi fruit growers can lift yields by following best management practices, as well as by exploring new high-yielding gold varieties. Robyn Joubert reports.
Climate, soil and potatoes
Potatoes have to be ridged and lifted. These two operations can be troublesome with certain clay soil, especially when the weather doesn’t play along.
Potato pieces
Sports medicine expert Dr Tim Noakes caused a minor flurry recently when he referred to the exclusion of carbohydrates, which includes potatoes, in an athlete’s diet.
World-class maize seed
How does maize seed breeding in South Africa work? Annelie Coleman visited Pannar’s research facility in Klerksdorp and spoke to seed breeders Dr Willie Venter and Chris van Zyl to...
Herbs – a beginner’s success story
While many emerging farmers usually battle to survive, being thrown in the deep end helped organic farmer Jimmy Ka-Botha to succeed. Today he supplies Woolworths and Pick n Pay. Peter...
Starting off with potatoes
Potatoes are an amazing crop. The amount of nutrients produced on a hectare of potatoes is staggering. It’s virtually a complete food, with a high nutritional content and a good...
Doing their job?
Some market agents believe BEE agencies operating on markets are solely responsible for assisting and promoting small-scale farmers.
Use your herbicides more effectively
If you want lands free of weeds, herbicides must be used properly. The first principle is timing.
It’s happening!
I regularly attack politicians and their bedfellows, and highlight the damage they’re causing to SA’s fresh produce markets.
Other weeds to watch out for
There are a number of particularly bad weed species which can be tough and costly to deal with once established.
Success: it’s all in a positive attitude
Hendri Jansen van Rensburg is the latest farmer to join the ranks of the Free State Young Farmers of the Year. At 35 he just made the cut-off age for...
Success at Last?
Many role players have for years lamented the lack of commitment by municipalities when it comes to their fresh produce markets.
Follow me!
Many of my colleagues are worried about the future of commission markets in this country.
Dragon fruit farming in South Africa
Kwasizabantu Mission is venturing into exotic fruit production, with a focus on the bright pink dragon fruit, to sustain its missionary work. .
Coping with nutsedge
Officially, the world’s number one weed is nutgrass, more correctly called ‘nutsedge’, as it’s not a grass but a sedge. (Sedges don’t have nodes as do true grasses.)
A man of soil
Umkomaas Valley farmer Johnny Sfaelos forged a farming career for himself 52 years ago – and the cost-effective ways of his generation have helped him cap his costs. Robyn Joubert...
Watch out for weeds
The appearance of one or two unknown weeds on my land has reminded me of the danger of leaving them unattended just because they appear to pose no threat due...
ADVERTISEMENT
MUST READS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
