Farming Basics

Breeding in a beef herd can take place all year, or in a short breeding season. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Use the best one for your needs.

When planting a crop on a continuous basis, the tendency is to plant the same quantity regularly. This seems logical, but it's not the best way to proceed, as yields can vary greatly from week to week.

Potatoes are nutritious vegetables and form the staple diet of millions of people.

Onions are one of the first crops of spring. They are very versatile and can be stored during winter. They are frost resistant and grow in most climates.

Proper management of goats is very important because they can cover a large area in a day searching for food. They are also intelligent and can get through fences and into other people's yards and vegetable gardens, creating problems between you and your neighbours.

Carrots grow well and develop long straight roots when planted in loose, deep, rock-free, sandy loam soil.

To provide eggs for your family, start off small by keeping about 12 layer hens, and then start your own small business. You can grow as your resources grow and you gain experience.

There are many complicated financial topics that concern all farmers, from pay as you earn (PAYE), value added tax (VAT), provisional taxes, income tax, management accounts and financial statements.

Farming with pigs on a small scale can be economically viable, but invest in proper infrastructure and good feed from the start. It's not easy to farm with pigs, but the industry offers a lot of support to emerging farmers.

With farming profitability under pressure, it often happens that a farmer works all year to produce a crop to sell, but at the end of the season does not have enough money to repay the production loan.

If you don't want to buy seedlings from a commercial nursery, you can grow your own. If they are successful, you could maybe even sell them.

Last week we discussed planting seed directly into the ground. While this works for some plants, for most it's better if the seed is first planted in seedling trays or containers.

Now that you are done with preparing your beds and ready to plant, you have to decide how you want to go about planting your seeds.

Fertile, good-quality sheep are key to better production, healthy lambs and high-quality meat. Since one ram mates with up to 40 ewes in a season, and its genetics make up half of the lamb flock, a good ram is very important. Buy the best ram you can afford, from a reputable breeder that you trust.

Preparing a vegetable plot can be hard work, but it's rewarding when you harvest your first crop.

Chicken manure can add many nutrients to your soil, and works better than most other manures.

Considering a chili crop? Two of the biggest aspects to consider before buying your first chilli plants are sowing and selling.

There is very little room for error when applying nitrogen to beans. Too much or too little will reduce yields.

Much attention should be given to planting bean seed as carelessness at this stage can be very costly.

Labour Legislation Has Forced many farmers, who used to plant by hand, to mechanise their planting and harvesting. However, mechanical planting can damage vulnerable bean seeds.