Working capital
Make sure you can pay your bills while you wait for your farming operation to earn an income, cautions Susan Pletts.
Keep your broilers cool
Follow these tips provided by the Livestock Research and Innovation Institute of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture to reduce the effect of summer’s high temperatures on broiler houses.
Working together
Plant root systems and the soil surrounding them have a symbiotic relationship vital to plant production.
Step 3 – How to protect the land
Monitor overhead cables and other potentially dangerous structures.
Buying a farm – 3
Implement a record keeping system as soon as you move on to your new farm says Susan Pletts.
Buying a farm – part 2
Buyers often forget that they must pay the ‘tax’ portion of the purchase price of the farm, cautions Susan Pletts.
Buying a farm
Base the decision to buy a farm on sound business principles, not on emotion and sentiment, cautions Susan Pletts.
The importance of humus
Among many other things, this wonderful substance feeds and protects soil life.
Grasses, grazers and grazing
If you’re changing from cash crops to livestock farming, you will have to get your veld management right, cautions Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Retail emerging markets demystified
Land Bank’s REM financing package has some tough requirements, and many readers have asked for some of these to be clarified, writes Susan Pletts.
How to protect the land – 2
In our 17 August issue, we studied the value of mixed farming and biodiversity. In this instalment, the second of 12, we look at using poisons responsibly.
Keep stock thieves away
Stock theft and predation is widespread in the livestock industry and losses could be higher than we think.
Looking after the soil
Over the next few weeks we’ll look at repairing the damage done to our soils through poor farming practices.
Dipping tip
You don’t have to inspect an Angora goat’s fleece closely to detect the presence of lice – a quick glance at the horn tips of a couple of goats will...
Controlling insects with insects
Biological control is – or should be – an important way of managing crop pests for all farmers, whether emerging or commercial. Paul Donovan explains why.
Common pig diseases – 2
This week we look at lameness, salt poisoning, diarrhoea and other ailments common in small pig herds.
Harvesting correctly
Some simple steps will enable you to harvest in an efficient way and prepare well for the next crop. Snap the maize stalks down with your foot and lay them...
Common pig diseases – 1
Pigs, like any livestock, are prone to diseases. Some of these can be serious and even fatal. Fortunately, most can be treated if caught in time.
