Farming Basics

When rounding off cattle for slaughter, you can either grow and mix feed on the farm or buy ready-mixed feed. If you have only a few animals, buying a mixed...

The repo rate in South Africa has been slashed from 6.75% to 6.5%. Typically, a decrease in interest rates causes house price growth, so it’s great news for the property...

By law, you are required to store or dispose of waste responsibly. Failure to do so may result in a fine. More seriously, it harms the environment.

So many home gardeners find it difficult to grow these vegetables, but there’s no need to give up on carrots, says Bill Kerr.

A big concern for farm owners is how to ensure their farms stay in the family for generations to come.

Proper estate planning can spare future generations much unhappiness and legal costs especially where the succession of agricultural property is involved.

The assistance of a land surveyor is key to ensuring lawful procedure. Altus Strydom, chairperson of the South African Geomatics Institute, spoke to Gerhard Uys.

It’s important to adapt and revise your management strategies as the cropping environment, yield potential, commodity prices and input costs change.

A number of diseases and conditions can result in cattle and other ruminants being unable to stand up.

Manure can be used to produce biogas, electricity and fertiliser. In the process, you will recycle nutrients and increase profits while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Many people think that growing new plants or trees from cuttings should be left to qualified horticulturists. In fact, this technique is relatively simple, says Shane Brody.

Holding a disciplinary hearing must follow due process. This includes taking into account when to postpone the hearing.

This vegetable is ideal for the home garden. It’s easy to grow, tasty, and highly nutritious, says Bill Kerr.

This is one of the most destructive diseases of cowpeas, according to Dr Alina Mofokeng of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute.

Many novice farmers make the mistake of not starting off with the best possible animals in terms of genetics and environmental suitability, says Shane Brody.

Herd health should focus on prevention rather than cure. Chris Nel spoke to Piet Wolmarans about his practical, down-to-earth animal health management programme based on solid scientific principles and four...

Farm input costs include items such as feed, labour and machinery. The following general cost input terms are useful in calculating precisely how much your farm costs you to run.

Jan Louis Venter, production advisor for the National Wool Growers’ Association, discusses how farmers can prevent wool and mohair clip contamination.

According to Stats SA, only 6% of South Africans can afford to retire comfortably, while retirement planning was highlighted as the biggest financial planning concern amongst commercial farmers in a...

With good preparation, this phenomenon can be prevented in communal areas, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle.