The giant stirs
At the recent Potatoes SA Marketing Seminar held in Pretoria, Africa came under the spotlight.
Practicing IPM with cabbages
It requires a lot of observation and experience, but Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be practiced with cabbages.
IPM for cabbage aphids
When it comes to cabbage aphids and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), success will depend on the crop being grown, the season and other considerations.
Why we need integrated pest management
Vegetable farmers are increasingly expected to supply produce with low pesticide residues.
Think about it!
I’m not against a farmer supplying direct to a supermarket. I am, however, not in favour of a farmer giving everything to a supermarket. This can rebound on a farmer in a variety of ways.
Saving labour
One of the hot topics these days with vegetable farmers is ways of reducing their dependence on labour.
A valuable asset
I was most interested in Peter Mashala’s article (27 July, pg 58) about his recent trip with minister of agriculture Tina Joemat-Pettersson and others on a fact-finding junket to Costa Rica, courtesy of Walmart.
More common potato diseases
Early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani, and attacks tomatoes as well as potatoes.
Learning the ropes
Many people think that when they plan to market their fruit or vegetables, their first stop should be a supermarket.
Late blight: fast & very destructive
Late blight in potatoes is caused by airborne spores of the Phytophthora infestans fungus. The disease manifests as irregular dark lesions on the stems and leaves and spreads quickly.
Co-operation works!
I was paging through the archives of the Institute of Market Agents of SA (IMASA) the other day when I came across the minutes of a joint meeting of the executive committees of IMASA and the Institute of Market Masters of SA (IMMSA) held 25 years ago, on 19 October 1987.
Potato tuber moth and other spud pests
Many pests target potatoes but most of these occur very occasionally and are likely to do minimal damage.
Tomatoes year-round – new cultivars
Producing tomatoes in tunnels is highly scientific, expertise-intensive and efficient in terms of area, water, nutrient and resource use. Keri Harvey visited Amanda Viljoen to find out how she does it.
About bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is a “system of administration distinguished by its clear hierarchy of authority; rigid division of labour; written and inflexible rules and regulations; and impersonal relationships.
The risks of nematodes in potatoes
Nematodes are often referred to as ‘eel-’ or ‘roundworms’ because they resemble the common earthworm, but these parasites belong to a different grouping or phylum.
It’s Conference season again
On 22 and 23 August, the Produce Marketing Association of Southern Africa (PMA) will host its annual international conference, ‘Fresh Connections’, at the University of Pretoria.
Likely potato insect pests
One pest will invariably occur if provision isn’t made to deal with it. This is cutworm.
Supervision is all
In the 22 June issue of Farmer’s Weekly, Paul Lynch, chairperson of the SA Wool & Mohair Buyers Association, bemoans the lowering of wool classing standards, saying: “Farmers are not spending as much time in shearing sheds as in the past.”
Controlling nitrogen application is important
Your basic fertilisation of the potato crop should have been done according to a soil analysis, leaving the main variable, nitrogen, to be managed as circumstances require.
