Farming Basics

Shell recently released a groundwater atlas of the Karoo as part of its ongoing campaign to win approval for shale gas exploration in the Karoo. Prof Maarten de Wit, geologist and director of the Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON), says we need to do our own research but we lack the expertise. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

Theo de Jager stands at a crossroads. He can choose to sell his farm to one of 16 land claimants or he can fight to stay in business. Does Theo’s inside angle, as Agri SA’s deputy president and head of the portfolio committee on land reform, make him more or less inclined to sell? Lindi van Rooyen reports.

In 1974, the Brak River, a tributary of the Great Fish River near Cradock was transformed from a tiny stream into a fast-flowing river when water from the Orange-Fish Tunnel was released into it. This has allowed the Colletts of Grassridge Farm to produce 52kW of three-phase electricity from cross-flow turbines. Mike Burgess reports.

Angus Beef (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Angus Society of SA, is determined to add value to nationally produced Angus beef products through its Certified SA Angus Beef initiative. Chairman Hendrik Jacobs explains to Lloyd Phillips what it’s all about.

Andy and Sheryl Duthie pay careful attention to every aspect of their mixed farming operation in Northern Cape. They also involve their three children in the enterprise, running profitable mini-businesses in goats and poultry. Heather Dugmore visited the family.

In the heart of the Southern Drakensburg’s dairy production area, Creighton Dairies, a milk transporter, has taken a bold step into processing by setting up a multi-million rand UHT plant. Robyn Joubert reports.

Stuart Symington, formerly of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, was recently appointed the new CEO of the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB). He spoke to Denene Erasmus about its plans to add value to the industry and about changes in South Africa’s fresh fruit export market.

Boer Goat kids demand care and management for the first few weeks after birth. If you fail to look after them properly during this important stage, you could easily lose up to half of them.

As most farmers already have too much to deal with every day, a silage harvesting contractor can ease this burden and save the farmer money. Contractor Justin Nel tells Lloyd Phillips what such a service entails.

Part-time sheep farmer, and managing director of the International School of Tanning Technology in Grahamstown, Dr Clive Jackson-Moss, talks about the hides and skins industry.

Elize van Greunen supplies quails and pickled quail eggs to a niche market.

KwaZulu-Natal stands to benefit from a number of massive infrastructure projects. Dr Zweli Mkhize, the premier of the province, gave a round-up of developments in his State of the Province address on 21 February 2012.

Before you plant any type of crop, make sure you understand the soil. Here's a simple soil test to try out.

SA farmers naturally have to operate within the confines of labour law. Yet our legislation is onerous and erodes our international competitiveness, says Pieter Breytenbach, general manager of LWO, an employers’ organisation that offers labour advice to farmers. Peter Mashala spoke to him.

Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers highlighted the organisation’s goals and objectives for 2012 at regional meetings that precede the annual congress on 7 and 8 March in Bothaville. Annelie Coleman attended the Bothaville regional meeting at which it was announced that Grain SA’s management structures will be revisited.

Award-winning farmer Steve Botha has managed to remain successful in the niche market he created through innovation, extending his product range, maintaining a close relationship with his clients and growing baby vegetables and herbs that are hard to find in SA.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers in more than 200 countries with over 1,7 billion servings daily. Denise Knight, the company’s director of sustainable agriculture, recently visited South Africa. She spoke to Robyn Joubert about Coca-Cola’s initiatives to promote sustainable sugar cane production.

Instead of integrating with African cultures, the first European settlers adopted a strategy of social escape and more recently used conservation to justify their sense of belonging, which fuelled land invasions in Zimbabwe. This is according to American anthropologist David Mcdermott Hughes, who spoke to Sean Christie about the provocative statements he made in his latest book, Whiteness in Zimbabwe – Race, Landscape, and the Problem of Belonging.

Jasmyn in Hartbeespoort has grown from a double garage-size farm stall to a farmers’ market of choice for fresh food lovers in the Gauteng area. The farm and shop are run side-by-side, ensuring that customers gets the freshest produce, and the absence of a middleman ensures greater profits.

Land Bank CEO Phakamani Hadebe has been responsible for the positive turnaround of the bank and making the institution financially credible once again. He speaks candidly to Lindi van Rooyen about the past shortcomings of Land Bank and the bright future ahead.