Sorghum

LOOKING BACK OVER THE SHOULDER OF 2017 March 2018 The Grain SA Farmer Development Programme (Grain SA FDP) has become recognised nationally as a flagship for successful farmer development at a time when land reform and transformation has been a national imperative. In the same period there have been countless unimaginable economic and social pressures placed

More than 3 500 farmers empowered in 2017 January 2018 ‘Learning experiences are like journeys. The journey starts where the learning is now, and ends when the learner is successful. The end of the journey is not about knowing more, it’s about doing more’ – Julie Dirksen, learning strategy and design consultant. When we consider

Analyse the profitability of your summer grain crops October 2017 The oilseed industry has recently shown a growing trend in South Africa, with industry growth led by the soybean market. In its 6th production forecast, the Crop Estimates Committee has estimated that soybean production for the 2017/2018 marketing season could reach a record 1,3 million

Grain SA interviews… Organ Gasetswele Serema June 2017 Hard work, dedication and determination are the qualities that make Organ Gasetswele Serema the successful farmer he is. Organ believes that if you put your mind to something, in his case, working and living on a farm, you can achieve it. Where and on how many hectares

MYCOTOXINS in cereals and other crops May 2017 In our previous article (April 2017) we dealt exclusively with maize. This time around we are going to focus on other cereal crops (winter and summer) and then move on to sunflower, peanuts, legumes, fruit products and tree nuts. Summer and winter cereals The summer cereals under

Important mycotoxins relevant to maize April 2017 South Africa is renowned for its good quality maize and this crop is important to commercial and subsistence farming communities. Although maize has many uses, the most important is that of the production of food and feed. Maize and maize-based products are consumed by the majority of South

Using heat units and rainfall records to determine crop yield potential March 2017 Previous Pula Imvula articles have covered using rainfall records, rainfall patterns, soil moisture conservation to evaluate the potential, sustainability and economic viability of crops in your farming environment. Another tool that can be used to maximise the yield potential of crops on

Control of bollworm in soybeans January 2017 The African bollworm, or referred to as Helicoverpa armigera as its scientific name of the insect order Lepidoptera (butterflies) and the family of Noctuidae or owlet moths is a major pest of soybeans and other crops. It is also hosted by field bean, cotton, maize, peas, peppers, sorghum

FARMERS AND INDUSTRY celebrate the result of learning and perseverance December 2016 The Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson said, ‘Do not judge a day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant’. Commercial producers who are involved in Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme may not have had a harvest to yield the

Grain SA interviews… Edwin Thulo Mahlatzsi October 2016 Edwin Thulo Mahlatsi was born on a farm in the Bothaville district. Both his parents were farm workers. He was born on 2 August 1942 and is 74 years old. He attended a farm school and passed Grade 6. When the farm Edwin grew up on was