Crops

In addition to seedling hardness, there’s also the matter of seedling size, which, of course, depends on the size of the cell – or plug – in the seedling tray.

The results speak for themselves and it’s not for nothing that lime can be called the soil’s ‘antacid’.

Edward Taylor, winner of this year’s Hex Valley Table Grape Association’s Block Competition, produced Red Flame seedless grapes with good colour and berry size by employing strict bunch management practices and using new spray application technology. Edward, a member of the ASV Boerdery group, tells Denene Erasmus how he did it.

Henk Conradie adopted no-till practices four years ago on the nine farms he manages in Mpumalanga. He tells Peter Hittersay how he converted to this system and why it has benefited the operation.

Since it opened six or seven years ago, I have had a love-hate relationship with the Kei Fresh Produce Market (KFPM) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Seedlings need to be hardened to enable the plants to survive in the new environment where they are planted. But, as you will see, hardening has another advantage.

A wise farmer adapts his production methods to his farm’s environment. Gerhard Keeve, an award-winning soya bean producer, shares his approach to obtaining the maximum yield under rainfed conditions with Lloyd Phillips.

This week I want to discuss orderly marketing on the local fresh produce commission markets. This can be a harsh school for the unwary, but it can also be beneficial for those who understand how local markets work.

Vegetable seedlings vary quite a bit, so make sure you tell your seedling grower what you need.

By early 2012, the maize price had nearly doubled year-on-year, with serious implications for livestock farmers who buy in large quantities of maize for feed. Western Cape dairy farmers, already struggling due to the low milk price, are now opting to plant maize to produce their own silage, despite water and weather constraints.

I came across one of my previous columns (Farmer’s Weekly March 2002), and make no apology for repeating it, because it is sound advice that applies to all fresh produce.

There’s absolutely no reason for leaf miners to be a problem any longer – other than in isolated cases, that is. .

A young farmer recently asked me about marketing. His two basic questions were, “How do I go about supplying the markets?” and “What about...

The leaf miner, which was once so feared, should now only be a mild irritation or no problem at all. If this is not...

The ARC-Grain Crops Institute recently published its annual report on the 2010/2011 and the multi-seasonal results going back to 2008/2009 for the national cultivar trials for maize.

With all eyes on the road ahead in 2012, I would like to share a few thoughts with you. A positive ending to 2011...

Many vegetable farmers are currently unhappy about the low prices they’re receiving for a wide range of vegetable products. Add increased input costs and...

The South African-developed African Delight plum cultivar has been enthusiastically welcomed by farmers and consumers, and promises to become the country’s third most-planted variety within five years. Denene Erasmus spoke to Culdevco’s Dr Leon von Mollendorff, one of the driving forces behind the new cultivar, and producer Anthony Dicey, to learn more.

The two organisations have hardly spoken to each other in 20 years or more.

Agri Gauteng's 2011 Young Farmer of the Year Richard de Freitas (28) was honoured for his role in the family farm, which produces cabbage, carrots, lettuce and beetroot. Annelie Coleman spoke to Richard about the secrets behind the success of their vegetable farming business.