Why many first-generation family agribusinesses don’t survive their founders
Lack of succession planning is one of the key reasons why so many family agribusinesses fail to last, writes Trevor Dickinson. Very few businesses that are simply ‘handed over’ in an informal manner will survive.
Plant citrus to supplement your income
Citrus fruits, which are rich in vitamin C, fetch a good price. Consider starting a co-operative system in your community, planting trees in a number of yards and buying inputs in bulk to save money, says Shane Brody.
The pre-purchase veterinary examination
Before you buy a horse, ask your veterinarian to give it a thorough examination, advises Dr Mac.
From communal to commercial: a Bonsmara farmer’s success story
Mthobeli Dintsi was a 2022 provincial winner in the National Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Farmer of the Year competition, a category of the Agricultural Research Council’s National Beef Performers Awards. Mike Burgess visited him recently on his farm in the Eastern Cape to better understand his journey to commercial beef production with Bonsmaras.
Fruit sector research: power-generating trees, solar nets, and more!
Soaring energy and labour costs have sparked research into new production practices in the fruit industry. Calla du Toit, procurement manager at Tru-Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about these developments.
Fertilising cucurbits: how much to apply and when to do it
Fertiliser is expensive, so it’s important to start with a soil analysis, and to get the balance right, says Bill Kerr.
Maximising poultry production: expert insights on breeding & genetics
In this video, Dr Bulelani Mazizi, a poultry researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, shares valuable insights into local poultry production.
When to wean beef calves
Calves should be weaned at the correct time so that they achieve optimal weight, and their dams can conceive again as soon as is practical.
Challenges and opportunities for farming in Senegal
Despite adverse production conditions, Senegal’s agriculture sector is an essential employer. Janine Ryan looks at some of the major commodities produced in this West African country.
Time to say goodbye to bad habits
To truly excel at what we do, we need to achieve excellence over and over again. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is thus not an act, but a habit, and it’s one that every manager needs to cultivate, says Peter Hughes.
Meat, milk or wool: choose a sheep breed fit for purpose
There are about 20 breeds of sheep in South Africa, each of which is classified according to the role it plays on a farm. Janine Ryan looks at some of the country’s most popular meat, wool and dual-purpose sheep breeds.
Preventing and controlling diseases of sunflowers
Diseases of sunflowers, such as brown rust and head rot, can cause severe economic losses for farmers. Janine Ryan looks at the signs of these and other diseases that can help farmers to identify them, as well as some control and prevention strategies.
