Contagious ecthyma or the orf virus
Orf is a contagious virus of sheep and goats that can be transmitted to humans, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle.
Good wool classing
Uniformity of staple length and fineness in the fleece is important when classing Merino wool.
Protect the soil by controlling erosion
The rehabilitation of areas affected by donga and sheet erosion can reduce run-off, improve productivity and stop further degradation.
Looking after your buildings pays
Don’t let everything go to rock and ruin until your farmyard looks like an informal settlement. Regular care and attention will save you a fortune in the long run, writes...
Important terms you need to know
Bankers and people involved in finance use many fancy words, and knowing what they mean is necessary if you want to make money, writes Susan Pletts.
Anyone can do maths!
We can’t escape maths, so learn to love it, because it’s something you can’t do without when it comes to running your business successfully, writes Susan Pletts.
Dealing with sheep scab – part 1
Sheep scab occurs in all provinces, and is a very serious disease that, if left untreated, can infect your whole herd and lead to stock deaths.
Better shearing
Merino wool is usually shorn when it has a good length, after 8 to 12 months of growth.
Understanding citrus – 2
In South Africa, citrus is divided into four groups for marketing and production purposes: oranges, grapefruit, lemons and soft citrus (mandarins). However, there’s often...
Building maintenance and repair
Locally sourced material can give buildings an attractive, natural, cost-effective finish. Roelof Bezuidenhout offers some examples.
Diesel rebates: keeping the right records
Keep detailed records to claim diesel rebates according to the taxman’s requirements.
The difference between vaccination and treatment
Vaccines and treatment drugs can both be injected, but the two are not the same.
Finding out about diesel rebates
SARS recently clamped down on diesel rebates, and many farmers have been hit with hefty fines. Don’t become one of them. Susan Pletts goes through the claims process.
Why organic is better and cheaper
Don’t be fooled by lab tests, healthy soil in an organic system is more fertile than conventionally fertilised soil.
Farmers, get to know your neighbour
City dwellers may get by without taking much interest in what goes on in their street or block of flats, but farmers simply can’t afford to ignore their neighbours, says...
When the bite is worse than the bark
The symptoms, prevention and treatment of the killer disease rabies.
Identifying the predator
Accurate identification of the damage-causing animal (DCA) preying on your livestock is critical to a predator management strategy.
