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 straight.
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. Lloyd Phillips reports.
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.
Fertilising your land
Use enough fertiliser and place it correctly, so that you can be assured of a good yield, says Bill Kerr.
Better soil means healthier plants
By improving its organic content, you can make any soil more productive, explains vegetable expert Bill Kerr.
Farming pigs: how to get started – Part 1
Here are some basic facts you need to know before starting your own piggery.
Preparing a land for small-scale cultivation with hand tools
Mark out and dig planting holes accurately to reap the full benefits of your work.
What causes disease?
Knowing why an animal gets ill can help us understand how to
prevent disease and treat sickness.
Working with loam
This is the easiest type of soil to manage, and is ideal for those with limited farming experience, says vegetable expert Bill Kerr.
The basics of Angora farming
Farming with Angora goats can be easy once you understand the essentials, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
How to motivate yourself
To make your farming dreams come true, create an action plan, says Peter Hughes.
