Farming Basics

There are two insects and four diseases that SA avocado producers should particularly watch out for.

It is perfectly possible to farm sheep profitably on a small piece of land, says Jannie Fourie, National Wool Growers’ Association production advisor. To do this, never exceed the carrying...

Tomatoes are not difficult to grow. Here are useful tips on how to produce an even better crop.

Eskom has the right to enter your property at any time. Gerhard Uys spoke to Eskom’s Arthur Smith about what this entails.

Eskom has the right to enter your property at any time to build or fix power lines. Gerhard Uys spoke to Arthur Smith of Eskom’s Mpumalanga unit about what this...

This is a locally developed medium-to large-framed sheep, with both rams and ewes polled.

It’s the world’s most prolific weed, and we have two species of it here in South Africa, says Bill Kerr.

Salmonella is a notifiable disease, often resistant to antimicrobials. Control should focus on eliminating, as far as possible, the sources of infection.

Certain weeds are more of a risk to crops and veld than others. Leaving them to gain a foothold can have disastrous results, says Bill Kerr.

One of the difficulties in fighting the spread of infection is that cattle might appear healthy even while they are spreading disease.

From an agricultural perspective, the 2015/2016 grain production season will probably force many farmers to take an in-depth look at their strategies.

Farmers often struggle to grow crops for food, yet weeds flourish on their own without any effort on our part. Bill Kerr explains why.

Bovine tuberculosis is a controlled animal disease in South Africa because of the long-term negative effect of the disease on people and the economy.

One man’s weed is another man’s food. So, what exactly is a weed, and what functions do these plants perform in nature? Bill Kerr provides some insights.

One of the oldest purebred breeds in existence is the trusty Braunvieh.

Coping with adversity is not the same as being resilient, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Everything a farmer needs to know about what the law says about vegetation removal, soil cultivation and erosion.

Many emerging farmers lack the resources to produce crops needed to feed their livestock when grazing becomes scarce. But with a little innovation, they can overcome this challenge, suggests Shane...

Correcting nutrient imbalances takes time, but the process is well worth it – the results will determine your fertiliser programme and the success of your crop.

Think carefully before choosing farming as a career, urges Roelof Bezuidenhout.