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...
A beginner’s guide to planting potatoes in South Africa
Potatoes are a high value crop that requires a well-thought-out production strategy. With high demands for moisture, fertiliser and crop protection, farmers considering this crop need to pay attention to...
Soil preparation for wheat and other cereals
For seed to germinate and plants to grow, soil often needs to be prepared. The manner in which it is done depends on the type of soil, the organic matter...
Advice for aspiring farmers
Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA, offers some advice to prospective farmers about how to go about setting up a cattle farm for future success, and stresses the importance of...
Soil health 101: a guide to sustainable production
Whether you’re growing winter crops or raising livestock, healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. Sheila Storey, co-founder and consultant at the Soil Health Support Centre, spoke to Glenneis...
Small-scale broiler production essentials and possible profits
Competing with ‘the big guys’ as a small-scale broiler farmer is possible if you keep the importance of fiscal discipline, cash flow, infrastructure, and biosecurity – among other factors –...
Protecting farmworkers from hazards in the field
On Workers' Day, 1 May 2025, Linda Piegl takes a look at how farmers and farmworkers can protect themselves while working in one of the most hazardous industries in the...
Breaking down the principles of regenerative farming
Jean Hugo, a post-graduate student at the Tshwane University of Technology, and Leon Hugo, author on environmental matters and former professor of geography at the University of Pretoria, write about...
Understanding the F94L gene in Limousin cattle
Limousin breeder Manjo Stiglingh and biomedical scientist Ilinde du Plessis explain the role of the F94L variant of the myostatin protein when crossbreeding with Limousin bulls, as well as the...
Phalaenopsis orchids: tips to help them survive and thrive
Orchid expert Jacques Botha spoke to Linda Piegl about how to nurture the Phalaenopsis orchid, which requires precise watering and needs to be kept in a temperature-controlled environment.
