Farming Basics

Master farming basics with practical tips on crop growth, livestock care, irrigation, soil management, and effective farm operations.

Establishing a conservancy

Conservancies promote and encourage habitat and species conservation.

Carrot pests and diseases

Protecting carrots from nematodes, leaf and bacterial blight and white mould.

Veld and flock management

A goat farmer must plan veld and flock management in advance, advises Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Spinach: a step-by-step guide on how to grow it

Spinach: a step-by-step guide on how to grow it

Spinach is a cool weather crop that doesn’t grow well in hot summer months when the days are long. The best temperature for growing spinach is between 16ºC and 24ºC.

Fighting flies in horse stables

Some practical fly control strategies from Dr Mac.

Protecting a carrot crop

Weeds have a negative impact on plant growth and reduce crop yields.

Constant inspection of your flock is crucial for success

If you want to be a successful livestock farmer, your animals must be the last thing you think about at night, and the first thing you think about in the morning.

Responsible landownership

Laws dictate what farmers can and can’t do. They are for the good of the land as well as beneficial to the farmer.

Solving soil problems improves uptake

Compost can make soil healthier and more productive without costing the earth.

Inbreeding

Can cattle breeders benefit from mating related animals? Leslie Bergh provides some answers.
Don’t mix your staples

Don’t mix your staples

The KwaZulu-Natal Wool Growers’ Association recently expressed its concern about the number of the farmers mixing different wool lengths into bales for sale.

Protecting your plants

One of the most important functions of the food web is to suppress pests and diseases.
Cross-bred or pure-bred: designing a herd

Cross-bred or pure-bred: designing a herd

Weigh up the advantages for your situation and decide accordingly, says Leslie Bergh. Good management is the key to successful cattle farming.

What to look for when buying breeding goats

Just like with sheep, fertile, good-quality goats are important for better production, healthy kids and good quality meat.

Caring for carrots

Ways of keeping your crop healthy and profitable.

Labour basics

One of the many challenges you’ll face as your farming business grows is deciding how many people to employ, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Choosing a breed that’s right for you

One of the first things beginner cattlemen want to know is: what’s the best beef breed to farm with? Leslie Bergh of the ARC provides a few broad guidelines.

A guide to growing carrots

A short overview on carrots for those interested in producing these nutritious vegetables.

The Dexter breed

A hardy, docile breed, the tiny Dexter is often favoured by smallholder farmers.

What you need to know as a farmer

You need textbook knowledge, practical experience and creative thinking to make it as a farmer, says Susan Pletts.
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