Bloodlines, training, and trust: the story of a top sheepdog

At this year’s South African Sheepdog Association Nampo Cape exhibition, dogs herded with precision, reflecting years of training, trust, and patience. Jurie van der Vyver, owner of border collie Cap,...

How biotech crops are created

Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on how biotechnology has revolutionised agriculture, offering innovative solutions to challenges such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, and food security.

Unusual plants with strange names and how to grow them

From living stones to wandering dudes, Linda Piegl looks at strangely named plants and how to grow them in your garden.

How to set up a small-scale hydroponic vegetable farm

Hydroponic production offers an alternative for small-scale vegetable growers who without access to arable land or sufficient space. While upfront costs tend to be high, hydroponic farming can be a...

Some handy on-farm water saving tips

With climate change intensifying the risk of droughts, and urban development putting pressure on already scarce water supplies, farmers are under increasing pressure to make every drop count.

Getting started with lettuce

Lettuce has a relatively short growth cycle and can be harvested multiple times a year, providing farmers with a consistent income stream. However, successful production depends on careful cultivar selection,...

Rabbit farming on the rise in South Africa

Rabbit farming is gaining traction in South Africa. Farmer Daisy Moleko spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the breeds, biosecurity, and market access opportunities driving growth in this niche livestock...

A drought-proofing how-to for South African farmers

As droughts become more frequent and severe across South Africa, farmers are under increasing pressure to adapt their practices to protect their livelihoods.

The role of cover crops in regenerative farming

As global human populations surge and climate volatility intensifies, the pressure on South Africa’s agriculture sector continues to mount. The demand for more food, produced more sustainably, has never been...

Feeding garden birds to help them survive the winter

During the warmer months, birds have access to plentiful seeds, fruit, and insects, so supplementary feeding is unnecessary. It’s also an important time for fledglings to learn how to forage....

What makes good feed … good?

Feed quality is influenced by many factors. Magda du Toit spoke to feed manufacturers to find out how they ensure quality, from the handling and storage of raw materials to...

Bonsai: combining horticulture with artistic expression

Bonsai, the traditional Japanese art form of cultivating miniature trees in containers, involves the careful pruning, pinching, and wiring of trees to train them into various shapes.

Renewed interest in egg yolk antibodies

It is well known that feeding newborn mammals sufficient volumes of good-quality colostrum in the first hours after birth sets them up for a productive life. This is especially true...

Growing cannabis legally: What farmers need to know?

South Africa’s cannabis industry faces regulatory challenges, with medical cannabis and industrial hemp as the only legal cultivation routes. Trenton Birch, co-founder and CEO of Cheeba Africa, spoke to Octavia...

Conserve water and reduce costs with DIY irrigation

Instead of farmers incurring huge costs to install drain fields, French drains, or septic tanks in areas without municipal infrastructure, they can create their own multipurpose irrigation systems, says Shane...

Growing onions as a market gardener or small-scale producer

When choosing which vegetables to plant, factors like demand, shelf life, and pest resistance should be considered. Shane Brody says onions are a good option in this regard, and explains...

Getting started with dry beans

Dry beans are highly water efficient, making them an ideal crop for drier production areas. They are advantageous in crop rotation systems, helping to reduce input costs and manage risk.

Swiss chard: a simple crop for large and small scale farmers

Growing Swiss chard is simple, making it an easy crop for new and small-scale farmers. With its ability to withstand cooler temperatures, it can be cultivated across South Africa.

Choosing the right cultivar for profitable potato production

Before planting, it is essential to consider the market, as well as climatic and overall farming conditions. South Africa has over 80 potato cultivars available, although commercial producers primary focus...

Get your cattle through winter with these strategies

The challenges facing small-scale farmers during winter are significant, and there seems to be very little government support for these farmers. Cattle farming plays an important role in South Africa’s...

Farming Basics