Keep earthworms to improve soil quality
Earthworms play a crucial role in improving soil quality, and every farmer should try to maintain a healthy population of these remarkable creatures.
Get intercropping right to achieve the highest yield
Careful plant selection and good process management will help ensure success.
Include your spouse in your will – for your kids’ sake
For many people, the yearning to spite their spouses by excluding them from their wills is irresistible. They see this as a way this as a way of settling long-standing...
A testator’s last wish – what to expect
When drafting a will, the focus is often only on compliance with the formalities of drafting it, and sometimes we fail to consider the practical aspects involved.
The importance of having a well-drafted, valid will
A will is a legal document that contains the free and independent wishes of the testator regarding the distribution of the assets in his or her estate at the time...
Growing tomatoes: know the varieties
Tomatoes are an important part of our diet, as well as being highly nutritious. Bill Kerr tells us more about this versatile fruit, and the varieties that are most suitable...
Make money from cattle hides
Selling hides can add to your overall profit margin, so it pays to protect them.
Syringa berries are highly toxic
Syringa berries are highly toxic to livestock as well as children and dogs, warns Prof Cheryl McCrindle of the University of Pretoria. No specific treatment is available, so caution is...
How to inject your livestock properly
Animal health is a cornerstone of successful farming, and at some point all livestock farmers need to inject their animals. Here are some valuable tips.
Good communication crucial for achieving profit
Farmers must spell out to workers what their duties are and regularly review their performance against set goals.
Home gardens: irrigate sensibly and economically
Most home vegetable gardens are irrigated incorrectly. Here’s how to get it right, says Bill Kerr.
Find the right market for your community
It’s important to learn as much as you can about the marketing of livestock and other agricultural commodities.
The nitrogen replacement value of soya bean
Maize following this leguminous crop usually shows no nitrogen deficiency symptoms.
A more profitable way of running livestock
Breeding is not always the best way to make money in livestock farming. You might profit more by buying young animals and rounding them off.
What you need to know about better cow management
Rest and nutrition are both key to ensuring conception, good health and maximum profit.
Growing leeks in your garden
No garden is complete without this underrated and versatile vegetable, says Bill Kerr.
Succession: are you and your farming business ready?
Succession planning of the family farm is often taken for granted as the transition to the next generation is assumed to be an uncomplicated process. Little or no thought is...
Cattle branding: how to get it right every time
If branding is carried out poorly, it can lead to infection, muscle damage, and brands that are difficult to read. Shane Brody explains how to ensure safe, effective branding.
Dealing with anthracnose
This fungal disease can wipe out a dry bean crop. Here’s how to prevent, and treat, this problem.
Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act 70 of 1970
In South Africa, a testator or testatrix has the freedom to leave their assets to whoever they please. But certain statutory limitations affect the freedom of testation. One is the...
