Easy does it!
A US academic believes farming to be one of the most stressful occupations in the world. “Profits are uncertain. Producers must adapt to rapid technological advances and consumer expectations.
More money from Merinos
Good clip preparation is vital, and opens up an opportunity to add value to the product before it leaves the farm, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Managing sows
Healthy sows are important if you want to produce the maximum number of pigs and make a good profit.
Practical tips on weeding
Weeding is one of the most important aspects of farming. If you neglect to weed, your crop yields will suffer.
Dealing with Rift Valley fever
Researchers at Onderstepoort Biological Products examine the symptoms and control of RVF.
The basics of effective irrigation
Crop expert Bill Kerr gives tips on how to ‘read’ a crop and understand its irrigation requirements.
The truth about Rift Valley fever
Controversy has surrounded RVF and the efficacy of vaccines for the disease. Dr TK Smit, Dr J Heath and P Pieterson of Onderstepoort Biological Products attempt to set the record...
Thinning the crop
Removing one in three maize plants shortly after emergence will give you a higher yield.
How to manage piglets
Care is essential to avoid piglet mortality in the first three days of life. Here's a list of tips on how to manage piglets.
Don’t forget the mulch!
You’ve dug your planting holes, fertilised them and sown your seed. Now it’s time to mulch.
Listen to your birds
According to expert Bruce Gibson, the three golden rules for best broiler house management are: look, listen and smell. This week we discuss the importance of listening to your broilers....
Better broiler house management
According to expert Bruce Gibson, the three golden rules for broiler house management are look, listen and smell. This week Lloyd Phillips reports on the importance of close observation.
Getting started with pigs – 5
Feed your pigs correctly and you’ll have efficient reproduction and growth as well as good quality meat.
Stormy time ahead for animal feed
Prospects for animal feed prices are not looking good as demand is starting to outstrip supply.
Seeding your land
You’ve dug your planting holes, and put fertiliser in them. Now it’s time to sow the seeds.
Getting started with pigs – 4
Feed will be your biggest cost when raising pigs, but they reward careful feeding with excellent profits.
Making money from arts and crafts
Arts and crafts can provide struggling new farmers with much-needed extra income, but this trade can often be full of disappointments, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
