The true cost of agricultural crime in SA
The South African agriculture sector is heavily burdened with crime. Using the Free State as a case study, Annelie Coleman spoke to industry stakeholders about the true cost of crime to the local farming community, and the threat it poses to the long-term sustainability of food production in the country.
The pros and cons of tunnel tomatoes
Growing tomatoes in tunnels is not as easy or affordable as some people think. Do your research before committing yourself, cautions Bill Kerr.
Protecting the jewel in SA’s biodiversity crown
Jan Coetzee, land programme manager at the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa, explains how one man’s vision changed the trajectory of conservation in the Succulent Karoo.
Using horses to manage large herds of cattle
With fuel costs being so high, using horses to manage extensive beef cattle herds makes increasing financial sense, says Dr Mac.
Beefmaster: ‘Perfectly bred for the beef producer’
The Beefmaster, which was developed in the US, is a popular beef breed in South Africa due to its adaptability, short intercalving period, and other key traits. Gerrie Jansen van Rensburg, president of the Beefmaster Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa (Beefmaster SA), told Susan Marais more about this hardy all-rounder.
Yes, SA has challenges, but we can fix them! – Dr Imtiaz Sooliman
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, does not believe that South Africa is collapsing, despite its current political, economic and infrastructural problems. One reason for hope, he argues, lies in the compassion and patience of South Africans. He has seen it first-hand for 30 years.
Why nutrition is crucial for dairy cow fertility
While genetic improvement can go a long way towards improving dairy profitability, cows and calves will not reach their full potential if they suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
Family fun on a working farm in the Karoo
Whether you love hiking, mountain biking, conquering 4x4 tracks, or simply soaking up the tranquillity and vistas of the vast Karoo, this livestock farm off the N9 near Graaff-Reinet won’t disappoint, says Riaan Hattingh.
Optimising fuel usage on your farm: Part 1
With fuel contributing heavily to a farmer’s input costs, every fuel price hike has a negative impact on the bottom line. Godfried Heydenrych, managing director of Argo South Africa, spoke to Magda du Toit about what a producer can do to mitigate the effects of rising fuel costs.
Why a zebra’s stripes may confuse horseflies
There are many hypotheses on why horseflies may be put off by a zebra’s stripes. In a recent study, researchers concluded that this may be a result of the temperature on darker stripes, rather than the stripes themselves.
All you need to know about three-day stiff sickness
While the mortality rate of three-day stiff sickness is usually less than 1%, morbidity is high, with most animals never reaching the same level of production after recovery.
A brief overview of the agricultural landscape in 2023
In the 6 & 13 January 2023 issue of Farmer's Weekly, we provide our readers with an outline of the agricultural landscape for the New Year, as well as analysts’ predictions in terms of upcoming local production seasons and commodity prices.