2025

FMD and vaccination: Familiarise yourself with the facts March 2025 Photo: Dijan de Waal CONFUSION REIGNED AMONGST LIVESTOCK FARMERS AFTER A MEDIA PLATFORM STATED THAT THE PUBLIC COULD PURCHASE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) VACCINES FROM ONDERSTEPOORT BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (OBP). THE NATIONAL RED MEAT PRODUCERS’ ORGANISATION (NATIONAL RPO) TOOK THE MATTER UP WITH THE RELEVANT PUBLICATION, WHICH

Keep these EPR regulations for waste management in mind March 2025 DR GERHARD H VERDOORN, STEWARDSHIP AND OPERATION MANAGER, CROPLIFE SA. FIRST PUBLISHED IN SA GRAAN/GRAIN, NOVEMBER 2024. SOUTH AFRICA IS NO DIFFERENT THAN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO WASTE. WE AS CITIZENS POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT WITH SOLID AND LIQUID

Urgent need to modernise agricultural training in SA March 2025 IVOR PRICE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FOOD FOR MZANSI GROUP AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA MUST EVOLVE RAPIDLY TO KEEP PACE WITH SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, AND THE PRESSING DEMANDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. DR TOBIAS DOYER, CEO OF GRAIN SA, HIGHLIGHTED THESE IMPERATIVES, URGING STAKEHOLDERS TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURAL TRAINING

Schools programme promotes agriculture March 2025 PGP’s SCHOOLS PROGRAMME IS AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE AIMED AT RAISING AWARENESS AMONG PUPILS ABOUT AGRICULTURE’S VITAL ROLE AND THE DIVERSE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IT OFFERS. EDUCATING THE YOUTH ABOUT AGRICULTURE IS CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY IN THE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLBOX TOWARDS MANAGING THE THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY LEVELS. In

Top tips for farmers February 2025 COMPILED BY LOUISE KUNZ, ASSISTANT EDITOR: PULA   For farmers, February is the ideal time to evaluate the crop performance and identify problem aspects so that it can be corrected. Farm management and planning form an integral part of a successful season. Here is advice from team members of

Quick identification can safeguard your crop February 2025 PROF COBUS VISAGIE AND DR DAVID READ, FABI, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA   MAIZE FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA CAN BE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE GROWING SEASON WHEN FARMERS MAY NOTICE UNUSUAL SIGNS SUCH AS WILTING, YELLOWING LEAVES OR STUNTED GROWTH. THESE SYMPTOMS CAN BE EARLY SIGNS OF PEST

A crop well-suited for dry summer production areas February 2025 DR SAFIAH MA’ALI, SENIOR RESEARCHER: ARC-GRAIN CROPS, POTCHEFSTROOM. FIRST PUBLISHED IN PULA, OCTOBER 2022.   SUNFLOWER IS A CROP THAT, RELATIVE TO OTHER CROPS, PERFORMS WELL UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY IT IS POPULAR IN THE MARGINAL CROPPING AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA. THE

Guidelines for first-time soybean growers February 2025 WESSEL VAN WYK, SOYBEAN SPECIALIST AND CONTRACTOR, PROTEIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION   A FARMER SHOULD MAKE THE DECISION TO PLANT SOYBEANS AT LEAST TWO YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST PRODUCTION SEASON (ACTUAL PLANTING) AS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE PRODUCTION BEGINS. THE

Reasons to consider crop rotation with soybeans February 2025 MAGDA DU TOIT, SA GRAAN/GRAIN CONTRIBUTOR. FIRST PUBLISHED IN AFRIKAANS IN SA GRAAN/GRAIN, SEPTEMBER 2024.   ALL FARMERS STRIVE TO ACHIEVE AN OPTIMAL PROFIT PER HECTARE IN ADDITION TO GOOD YIELDS. HOWEVER, YEARS OF MONOCULTURE PRACTICES HAVE HAD DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES IN THE LONG RUN. ALTHOUGH PEST