Farming Basics

Willem van der Westhuizen, business development manager at Orizon Agriculture, speaks to Zunel van Eeden about what regenerative agriculture entails, and how farmers can potentially earn an income from it.

Buying a farm is a financial strategy. From bank loans to investor partnerships, farm financing requires long-term planning and realistic calculations. Andreas Greeff, managing director of Vleissentraal Eiendomme, explains the options and the potential pitfalls.

Andrew and Colette Masterson run an expanded farming concern on the farm Milagro in the Humansdorp district. Their farm includes, among others, a Simmentaler stud and an Angus stud. The Mastersons are active participants in the show ring.

Bearing in mind the inhibiting cost of commercial synthetic fertilisers to communal farmers, Shane Brody highlights the significant benefits of using animal by-products.

Cattle breeders have used best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) to produce estimated breeding values (EBVs) for over 20 years and can use genomic evaluations to improve accuracy. But are they applying EBVs correctly? Bonsmara SA technical chairperson David Cock explains.

A solid contract underpins any successful rental relationship. With more producers choosing to rent rather than buy, contract fine print is more important than ever. Andreas Greeff, managing director of Vleissentraal Eiendomme, explains how to avoid legal pitfalls.

With rural crime on the rise and police resources stretched thin, farm watches across South Africa are stepping up to protect farming communities. These volunteer-led safety networks are preventing millions in losses, deterring criminal activity and helping police solve major crimes, proving that when farmers unite, the benefits ripple far beyond the farm gate.

Dr Dave Midgley, CEO of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, believes that parasites’ growing resistance to anthelmintic remedies and an increasing parasite load among beef cattle in South Africa is a serious cause for concern. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

To keep your livestock healthy and disease-free, it’s essential to adhere to sterile procedures and proper techniques when administering injections.

When buying or selling a farm, one factor can make or break the deal: value. Emotion skews judgement, with sellers overestimating their land and buyers underbidding. In a market driven by production potential, location, and demand, independent valuators are crucial.

Corine Steyn, manager liaison at the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, spoke to Cobus du Plessis about the importance of branding animals and the regulations that govern this practice in South Africa.

Martin Booyens, InteliGro’s biological solutions technical specialist, spoke at the Bio-Alliance SA-Brazil 2025 Conference in Pretoria, hosted by the South African Bioproducts Organisation and the Brazilian Embassy, outlining steps to implement integrated pest management programmes.

Dairy flavour profiles are often overlooked. Many factors can affect how milk looks, smells, and tastes. Rina Belcher, co-owner of Belnori Boutique Cheesery in Bapsfontein, Gauteng, explains how goat’s milk characteristics change with the animals’ living conditions.

The continual practice of ‘monoculture’ planting by farmers is becoming increasingly detrimental to the quality of produce in the longer term, so cyclical rotation is a better option, writes Shane Brody.

Farm security measures enforced by farmers and supporting organisations play a crucial role in preventing attacks and livestock theft. Farmers are also adopting tools to discourage criminal activity and strengthen prevention.

Farmers living in communal farming regions may feel that they are unable to grow cabbages because they don’t have access to places selling seedlings. Shane Brody has a solution for them.

Biosecurity in feed management is a crucial aspect of disease prevention. Bonita Cilliers, technical and regulatory adviser of the Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association, spoke to Nichelle Steyn.

At the 25th Nematological Society of Southern Africa Symposium in Mpumalanga, Hans Helder, associate professor at the Laboratory of Nematology at Wageningen University & Research, highlighted soil health and how long-read DNA sequencing can identify beneficial and harmful nematodes.

Farming is a risky business that’s not for the faint-hearted, says Paul du Plessis, manager of Hollard Agri. He adds that although we are made to toil the earth and enjoy the fruit thereof, thistles and thorns are part of the package.

A proper biosecurity strategy should be in every South African farmer’s toolkit, and Dr Sello Maboe, veterinary services manager at Ceva Animal Health in Midrand, Gauteng, believes it is the cornerstone of a profitable farming business.