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Knowledge is the foundation of any enterprise, says Free State farmer Michael Ramoholi. The knowledge he gained from participating in Grain SA’s study groups and agricultural courses contributed to his success as a producer, he told Annelie Coleman.

Theoretical ideas about growing the smallholding agricultural sector sound uncomfortably like trying to re-invent the wheel, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

General guidelines for establishing and handling this legume.

Carel Nel and his family pioneered breeding Drakensberger cattle in the western and central Free State. His Drakensberger stud’s Afrikaans name, Grasmunt, refers to the breed’s ability to generate good profits under extensive conditions.

SA Stud Book-Farmer’s Weekly 2014 Mentor of the Year, Pat Hobbs, is highly respected among the Nguni breeders’ community – not only for producing top quality stud cattle, but for his willingness to assist inexperienced Nguni breeders with advice gained through years of farming. Grant Hollins travelled to the Eastern Cape to learn more about Pat’s breeding and mentoring skills.

After several years of weak profits, beef producers are more optimistic. Tracy Davids of the Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy explains why she is bullish on beef.

Sakkie van Zyl, Agri North West’s 2014 Young Farmer of the Year, is so positive about the economic prospects of SA agriculture that he left the corporate world to join his family’s enterprise near Bloemhof.

As noted last week, the balance between fruit set and leaf volume can have a major effect on the yield and bearing pattern of a pepper plant through its lifetime.

Dodder is a major threat to Sericea, and demands rigorous control. Neglecting the problem can lead to a drastic reduction in forage yield.

Choosing an appropriate veld management system for your farm can be tricky and expensive. Roelof Bezuidenhout provides some tips.

A farmer is a farmer is a farmer, irrespective of where you farm and what you farm with.

Supply and demand remain in tight balance and highly volatile. However, international prices will probably remain near to current levels.