Farming Basics

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

Nitrogen in fertiliser: why it is important

Nitrogen in fertiliser: why it is important

Nitrogen is found in the chlorophyll of plants and is responsible for good vegetative growth.

Backgrounding cattle

‘Backgrounding’ is grazing an animal on pasture or in a veld camp and feeding it a supplement in preparation for more intensive feeding in a feedlot.

Tools for better energy efficiency

You can find hidden ‘tools’ on your electricity bill to help keep the cost of consumption down.
Growing cowpeas

Growing cowpeas

This protein-rich nitrogen-fixing legume has a beneficial effect on follow-up crops.
Using draft animals to plough the fields

Using draft animals to plough the fields

Animal draft power still has an important role to play in agricultural development, says Bruce Joubert.
The advantages of liming

The advantages of liming

There are many advantages to using lime. It neutralises acid soil and rectifies the pH so that the highest yield can be obtained.
Protect your cattle against brucellosis

Protect your cattle against brucellosis

All involved with cattle farming and milk processing must work together to control and eradicate this disease.
Advice on how to mark your livestock

Advice on how to mark your livestock

Marking your livestock proves ownership, and it's part of the record keeping that's essential if your farming enterprise is to survive and do well.

Cleaning your borehole

Regularly checking for tree roots that grow into a borehole, usually just above the water level but as far down as 15m, can save you a lot of trouble.
How snakes can help farmers

How snakes can help farmers

Most people know about the destructive effect of insects on crops, but rodents can be equally destructive. This is where snakes enter the picture, says Paul Donovan.
Get the best value from your abattoir

Get the best value from your abattoir

A misunderstanding about how prices are determined can leave a farmer seething at the abattoir. Here are some guidelines from Estelle van Reenen of Sparta Beef in Welkom, where 700...

Valuing irrigation lands on a farm

The value of irrigation land is based on type, soil, distance from water source and orientation.
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