Don’t drown your crop’s roots!
Where many farmers fall short is knowing how deep the water has penetrated after irrigation or rain.
Getting irrigation right
Farmers often ask me how frequently and how much they should irrigate. There is no simple answer, as many aspects must first be considered.
Crop problems: look for the clues!
We recently discussed how to identify mineral deficiencies and eelworm infestation. Many other problems can occur, of course.
Working as a market agent
The daily sales process is like a finely-tuned machine, and like any machine, it needs oil. In this case, that oil is communication.
Know your spinach variants
Chard (Beta vulgaris) is also known as ‘Swiss chard’, ‘silver beet’, ‘mangold’ and other names. In South Africa it is usually referred to simply as ‘spinach’.
Use social media apps to promote fresh produce
In late December, to market its Cuties mandarins, Sun Pacific introduced a marketing campaign on Snapchat, the social media messaging and imaging app.
Communication is key between farmer and market agent
The early part of the year is probably a good time to remind farmers about their responsibilities when dealing with a market agent.
Spraying tips: Don’t mix chemicals
When spraying different pests at the same time, many farmers try to kill two birds with one stone by making elaborate mixtures.
Don’t forget to pay Freshmark Systems
Almost every fresh produce market in South Africa has a licensing agreement with Freshmark Systems, the providers of the industry’s dedicated IT-based sales processing system.
Getting nozzle size and pressure right
As pointed out previously, the key to successful pest and disease control is optimal penetration of the spray mixture.
ADVERTISEMENT
MUST READS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
