Eastern Cape farmers learn about crop rotation January 2025 THE ZANYOKWE IRRIGATION SCHEME (ZIS) FALLS UNDER KEISKAMMAHOEK IN THE EASTERN CAPE. DESPITE HEAVY RAINFALL, MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS GATHERED HERE FOR A FARMERS’ DAY IN SEPTEMBER 2024. THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENT WAS TO PROMOTE THE GROWING OF CERTAIN WINTER AND SUMMER CROPS IN THE
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Plant Health Day identifies challenges and future priorities December 2024 DR LAVINIA KISTEN AND PFANO MUSETSHO, research coordinator interns, Grain SA. First published in SA Graan/Grain October 2024. GRAIN SA’S RESEARCH DEPARTMENT HOSTED A PLANT HEALTH DAY ON 16 AUGUST. THE EVENT FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE MAJOR CHALLENGES IN PLANT HEALTH, REVIEWING ONGOING ACTIONS,
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Big smile from a winner December 2024 Nolo Bakwa, communications intern at Grain SA At the 2024 PGP Day of Celebration, Petrus Ranko Tsotetsi’s dedication, resilience and hard work were recognised as he won the prestigious Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year Award. On 24 October, Ranko proudly received
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The Corner Post November 2024 THE 38-YEAR-OLD DIEKETSENG MAHLELEHLELE WAS CHOSEN AS A 2024 FINALIST IN THE GRAIN SA POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL FARMER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY. THIS VIBRANT YOUNG FARMER ATTENDED HER FIRST GRAIN SA STUDY GROUP MEETING WITH HER FATHER IN 2015. THIS HAD SET THE WHEELS IN MOTION TO REALISING HER DREAM. In
SOIL TILLAGE: Do the right thing, right October 2024 Martiens du Plessis, soil scientist and soil and crop consultant PLANTS NEED TO TAKE UP SUFFICIENT WATER AND NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL TO GROW. THIS IS THE FUNCTION OF THE PLANT’S ROOTS. THEREFORE, ROOTS NEED TO BE STIMULATED FROM DAY ONE TO GROW OPTIMALLY. THE
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Store seed correctly for future use October 2024 Karina Muller, SA Graan/Grain editorial team ACCORDING TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SEED ORGANISATION (SANSOR), THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SEED IS STORED ARE A DECISIVE FACTOR IN THE YIELD POTENTIAL OF THE SEED. Factors that have an influence include: Handling of seed: Do not throw down
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The Corner Post October 2024 JAN (OUJAN) MASIU (63), WHO FARMS NEAR SENEKAL IN THE EASTERN FREE STATE, IS A FARMER WHO DOESN’T GIVE UP WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE. EVEN THOUGH CHALLENGES SUCH AS THE WEATHER, A SHORTAGE OF IMPLEMENTS AND THE MARGINAL SOIL MAY HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON HIS FARMING SUCCESS, HE IS STILL
Helping farmers become better farmers September 2024 IN SOUTH AFRICA A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRAIN IS BEING PRODUCED BY DEVELOPING FARMERS. THE PHAHAMA GRAIN PHAKAMA (PGP) FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (FDP) IS TAILOR MADE FOR FARMERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS WHO WANT TO KEEP ON PRODUCING GRAIN PROFITABLY AND SUSTAINABLY, ACHIEVING OPTIMAL YIELDS. The programme offers a
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A word from… Johan Kriel August 2024 While writing this article in June, it was clear from daily reports received by the PGP team that yields from the harvesting of soybeans, sunflowers and maize are even lower than the crop estimates promised because many farmers suffered losses as a result of the drought and
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Do your homework before buying seeds August 2024 JOHAN TEESSEN, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST INTERN, GRAIN SA Among all the expenses incurred by a farmer, the cost of seeds often goes unnoticed on the production budget. Depending on the plant population, the cost of seeds can range from 10% to 17% of the total input cost
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