Know your soil – Part 2
If you have a proper understanding of the soil on your farm, you will be able to farm more efficiently – and get more enjoyment from farming.
Zimbabwean farmers make do, regardless
I recently visited Harare with Prof Charles Whitehead from the University of Johannesburg for a two-day Banana Ripening and Post-harvest Physiology workshop for the employees of a large Zimbabwe-based farming company.
Vegetables back in vogue
In the 6 June issue of FreshPlaza.com, I came across an article entitled ‘The rise of Africa’s super vegetables’. “Indigenous vegetables are in vogue,” it said. “As people throughout East Africa have recognised the vegetables’ benefits, demand for the crops has boomed.”
More on controlling powdery mildew in peppers
I wrote a column on powdery mildew in peppers some months ago, but would now like to address this important subject more fully.
Biofumigation using an eelworm trap crop
Apart from reducing cyst eelworm, planting trap crops has other advantages.
Understanding how the market operates
I’ve always defended the producer’s right to market his produce as he sees fit. If this includes supplying direct to a supermarket, that’s fine. For a large producer, not having ‘all your eggs in one basket’ is always wise.
Beat cyst eelworm with trap crops
An integrated approach to controlling cyst eelworm usually produces the best results, but using a trap crop is perhaps the single most important method.
Dealing with direct sales – at last!
Over the years, I’ve listened to market people bemoaning the fact that producers supply direct to supermarkets.
History of the market agent
The advent of market agents in South Africa goes back to the mid-1800s, when farmers became unhappy with the service provided by the market masters.
Beet cyst eelworm: the chemical option
In the previous issue, we discussed the fact that beet cyst eelworm is impossible to eradicate once it is established on a land.
Undermining the market
Driving into the Cape Town or Port Elizabeth markets, you will see rows of people selling apples, oranges, potatoes and other products.
Learning to live with the beet cyst nematode
The cyst nematode (eelworm) get its name from the hardened cyst that it forms to protect its eggs.
Gathering momentum for the markets
There was a time, more than 50 years ago, when fresh produce markets enjoyed a market share of 80% or more. This is an ‘educated guess’ based on my own experience.
Some important green bean pests
Of the pests that damage beans, perhaps the best known is the bollworm.
Market agents and buyers
Market agents are taught from day one that the producer is their main client – and rightly so. It’s the producer who pays their commission. But what about the other side of the coin – the buyer?
Other important fungal leaf diseases in green beans
The most well-known fungal disease in beans is rust (Uromyces phaseoli). But it has become less of a problem due mainly to the emergence of resistant bean varieties.
Success for Mooketsi Market
I recently made my third visit to the relatively new Mooketsi Regional Market north-east of Polokwane in Limpopo, and came away almost in awe.
Behaviour at the markets
I often chuckle inwardly when I’m on a market floor listening to a negotiation between the salesperson and a buyer. The exchange frequently differs dramatically from what I teach about customer relations.
Avoid bacterial diseases in green beans
Bacterial diseases are a menace to all crops, because unlike the case with fungal diseases, we have few means of controlling them.
Controlling weeds in green beans
Given the high cost of labour, using chemicals is the only realistic option for weed control in most crops.
