Cucumber farming: volume and quality trump shrinking margins
Over the past 15 years, Alan and Russell Heger have grown their farming operation into a major supplier of cucumbers in the Eastern Cape. Grant Hollins spoke to this father-and-son team about their successes, as well as the challenges they face in trying to grow the business.
The famous flattie
Why did the chicken cross the road? It wanted to be a flattie. A feeble joke, I grant you, but here is one heck of a fine way to cook a fowl. Especially when you add a delicious dipping sauce.
Veld rearing & good dam selection: key to top Dorpers
Adél van der Merwe’s Plusline Dorper Stud was a 2016 Stud Book Elite Awards finalist. Mike Burgess visited her on Pinegrove, in the Eastern Cape, to find out how she achieved this.
Global food demand and prices to decrease over next decade
The “Agricultural outlook 2017-2026” report, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, forecasts that over the next decade, demand for agricultural products will slow considerably, causing real prices of most agricultural and fish commodities to follow a slightly declining trend, thereby keeping them below previous peaks.
Keeping your horse clean
Whether you manage a riding stable, stud, or herd of trail horses, a wash bay is very useful, says Dr Mac.
Free State Young farmer intends farming into the future
Free State Young Farmer of the Year 2017, Johan van Huyssteen, is working to ensure the sustainable productivity of his family farm for future generations.
Game & small-stock: different management, the same care
Sheep and antelope production combine the best of two worlds for energetic farm manager, Emilize Vögel. She spoke to Roelof Bezuidenhout about her passion for this demanding job.
Namibia’s top Santa Gertrudis stud
Ingo Rix’s Black Nossob Santa Gertrudis stud near Witvlei in Namibia, is the only stud in Southern Africa with a Breedplan 5-Star Completeness of Performance accreditation. He told Annelie Coleman how this hardy, adaptable breed has proven itself to be the ultimate breed for extensive farming conditions.
Small land, big dreams for urban veggie farmer
Clement Tshuma believes his small-scale vegetable operation near Kempton Park in Gauteng, not only ensures the sustainability of his own future, but a similar model could be the answer to food insecurity due to large-scale urbanisation in South Africa.
Drought in perspective
The unbridled misuse of natural resources guarantees a future of environmental and socio-economic crises.
Harvesters, sprayers, planters at Vegetable Farmers Day
Exhibitors at the National Vegetable Farmers’ Day near Bapsfontein, Ekurhuleni, displayed harvesters, sprayers and planters.
How the state is ‘capturing’ aquaculture
Legislative control of the aquaculture industry in South Africa is so restrictive that it impedes any development.
