KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Africa’s largest estuarine system, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The uMfolozi River, long artifically separated from the lake, is again flowing into it, restoring the...
Greg Butler, Australian conservation agriculturalist, recently spoke to SA farmers about smart production strategies and innovation in a competitive farming environment. Jacques Claassen reports from the Conservation Agriculture Western Cape...
Leopard populations are at risk across their range. Research conducted by the Limpopo Leopard Project has resulted in an adaptive management system for leopard conservation. Carnivore ecologist, Ross Pitman, spoke...
The red meat and wool grower industries levelled serious accusations against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in parliament recently saying that the department was failing them and...
Agricultural systems will have to change to adapt to climate change and improve food security. This was the message that emerged from delegates at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change...
The recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Namibia at the end of 2020 was largely contained and did not pose a threat to areas south of the veterinary cordon fence...
With factors such as climate change, sustainability, and difficult access to markets putting pressure on Africa’s millions of smallholder farmers, efforts were needed to help increase the resilience of such...
While South Africa is currently in a “very serious” situation with regard to water shortages, there is no need for the public to panic “at this stage”.
The SA pomegranate industry is in its infancy, with growers facing many more difficulties than anticipated. But these are being overcome, writes Robyn Joubert.
If South Africa’s beef industry wants to become a serious competitor on the world stage, it must replace exports of ‘cheap meat’ with higher-value cuts, says livestock genetics consultant, Dr...
Volatility has become the norm in agricultural markets. Nico Groenwald, head of agriculture at Standard Bank, advises how farmers can keep their heads above water in uncertain times.
Five years ago, Beefmaster Feedlot near Christiana embarked on a strategy to encompass the entire value chain. Today, its operations extend from producing feed to selling its meat at retail...
With solar energy becoming increasingly affordable and reliable, more and more farmers are using it to reduce their electricity costs and dependence on Eskom power. Claude Peters of RenEnergy spoke...
Mpumalanga farmer Johannes Simelane is thankful for the agricultural expertise his late employer shared with him, and is now sharing it with others in his community.
A Biblical meal (Ruth 2:14) and the standard nosh of Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, hummus can be made with ease in your own kitchen. It can also be...
With champion racer Koert Grobler having retired from the sport – for now – it’s an apt time to review his achievements and see what advice he has for us,...
For 50 years sheepdogs have proven themselves indispensable workers on many livestock farms. But for KwaZulu-Natal farming sisters Ragni Pretorius and Ingrid Fricke, Border Collies are absolutely critical in managing...
The Agricultural Research Council recently presented its 44th instalment of the annual National Beef Performers Awards, which recognises outstanding achievements across seven categories of beef cattle performance and production. Farmer’s...
According to agronomy expert Leonard Oberholzer, weeds’ resistance to herbicides is expected to be one of the greatest threats to food production in years to come.
Readers will recall my regular updates on Project Rebirth. Launched by the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (Imasa) at its 2011 AGM, it seeks to facilitate the upgrading...
With some areas of South Africa having the ideal conditions for growing coffee, the country has the potential to produce a world-class product. However, only a few farmers are planting...
For thousands of years, Southern African communities have used the bark, leaves, fruit and kernels of the marula tree for their medicinal and nutritional properties. Martin Rust spoke to Magda...
The Ernst family, owners of Allesbeste Boerdery in Tzaneen, are renowned for their pioneering research and development work in the avocado industry. Zander Ernst, director of marketing and production at...
