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This beef and vegetable farmer has successfully merged organic products into his conventional spraying programme and is building the soil with green manure crops.

Weed control depends on a farmer’s particular situation. For example, where weeds are rife, a weedkiller may be needed.

Checkers is urging shoppers to step up for spekboom plants (Portulacaria afra) this Arbour Week, which runs until September 7, to be planted on their behalf in underprivileged communities.

The inventor of Organic Medium Enclosed Trough farming claims that his method has higher yields than hydroponics, and is simpler. Jay Ferreira visits Helmuth Rohrer to find out more.

The SA beef sector must improve production efficiencies to remain viable, according to former FNB agricultural advisor Jan de Jong. Speaking at a Brangus Information Day in KwaZulu-Natal, he pointed out that beef prices have remained unchanged since 2007. Compiled by Lloyd Phillips.

Corniel Louwies (29) is Agri Gauteng’s 2013 Young Farmer of the Year. He has been producing maize on 100ha of leased land in the Randfontein district while working as a farm foreman. He has an overriding passion for farming, but in an interview with Annelie Coleman said he has had to fight an uphill battle to stay in the industry.

No less than 55 000ha of grazing have been destroyed by veld fires in the Free State during this year’s fire season.

One of the greatest risks to farmers is the loss of livestock as a result of plant poisoning. So it’s important to know what promotes their growth and how to avoid them.

Although the future for pork producers will be fraught with financial danger, there will be opportunities for entrepreneurs to make money.

In spite of weaker global and local economic growth, several agricultural sectors have experienced higher returns and will continue to do so.

When John and Trish Critchley settled in the scenic Eastern Free State in 2006, their dream was to create a tranquil haven for city dwellers. Little did they know that they would end up making groundbreaking wine. Nicky Rehbock reports.

Increased emphasis will be placed on the reduction of methane gas emissions from livestock in the future, according to Prof Michiel Scholtz, ARC Specialist Researcher: Applied Animal Breeding. He says that livestock production both contributes to the problem and suffers from the effects.