As temperatures increase, fall armyworm has also been spotted in maize fields in the northern parts of Namibia, near Ruacana. According to Albertus Viljoen, manager of the government farm Etunda, the worms already occur in large numbers on young maize on the farm. The worm was first spotted on the…
The addition of a float valve to the pipe supplying water to the reservoir has helped this cattle farmer to prevent his reservoir from overflowing and wasting water – without the windmill’s brakes needing to be applied. Thanks to a float valve at the end of the pipe supplying water…
The profitability and sustainability of livestock farming is under severe pressure. Fortunately, top farmer Mecki Schneider has excellent advice for extensive cattle and sheep farmers. This is the third delivery in a three part series on ten tips for the restoration of livestock farming. 7. Utilise and apply technology There is…
The profitability and sustainability of livestock farming is under severe pressure. Fortunately, top farmer Mecki Schneider has excellent advice for extensive cattle and sheep farmers. This is the second delivery in a three part series on ten tips for the restoration of livestock farming. 2. Profitable herds An effective cow…
The profitability and sustainability of livestock farming is under severe pressure. Fortunately, top farmer Mecki Schneider has excellent advice for extensive cattle and sheep farmers. This is the first delivery in a three part series on ten tips for the restoration of livestock farming. Livestock farming across Southern Africa is struggling due…
Braunvieh cattle crossed with Brahman produce a cross-bred animal that is very popular among extensive dairy farmers in Namibia. Dairy farmers are suffering all around the world amid low producer prices and high production costs. In Namibia, with its difficult farming conditions, you can expect it to be even tougher,…
Farming with indigenous cattle breeds adapted to extreme conditions, linked to global warming and climate change, can be the salvation of future cattle farming. During an information day at the Armoedsvlakte bull test centre, Mokgadi Seshoka, animal scientist from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Animal Production Institute at Irene, said…
This farmer has developed a series of handling facilities for his cattle that save on labour – and sits in a saddle and controls his crush with ropes, just like a jockey with reins on a horse cart, to divert cattle to various pens. Skilled labour is not always available…
When Danie Jonker needed feed and water troughs, he chose to make them himself from recycled plastic. This quickly created a huge demand with farmers, and today he and his family run the company “WellFed Krippe” which manufactures troughs and other farming equipment. What began as an experiment to make…
There has been high demand for Tuli breeding material from South Africa’s neighbours over the past two years. In 2016, five stud bulls and ten heifers were exported to Namibia, while more than 100 female animals were exported to Zimbabwe. At two previous Tuli auctions, another four stud bulls and…
Here are a few agricultural implements for small-scale operations exhibited at the annual Nampo Harvest Day at Bothaville in South Africa. Prices are rounded-off and include Value Added Tax. Zambian Kwacha prices were calculated from the exchange rate at the time of publishing, and exclude any transport or export costs.…
It’s futile trying to get farming out of your blood when your family has been dyed-in-the-wool cattle farmers in the Vryburg area in the North West province of South Africa for many years. Hinner and Heino Koster, brothers and animal scientists, decided to establish an intensive farming enterprise on a…
One of Botswana’s leading Brahman breeders has set up his own AI (artificial insemination) and embryo station in Gaborone after spending time in Canada. He selects for cattle that excel and thrive in Africa’s punishing climate. The mortality rate in Africa’s herds is too high and the production efficiency is…
A cattle farm with more than 5 000 animals on 65 000 hectares can only be successful if the farmer’s management is impeccable and he ensures that everything is in place to keep things running smoothly. He started farming with next to nothing on a small piece of land –…
Marketing venison and developing tourism on game farms can be a new source of revenue for farmers. Both sectors are however still in infant stages. Adri Kitshoff-Botha, CEO of Wildlife Ranching South Africa, said farmers shouldn’t only rely on the northern hemisphere for a market. During a visit to Monate…
All too often people think that land bought with a government grant is doomed to commercial failure. This Namibian farmer, however, planned his farm meticulously to maximise its potential and has built up a large enterprise consisting of two studs, commercial livestock and a game farm. It was careful planning,…
The International Association of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) annual congress is underway with South Africa as host. Influential speakers addressed journalists yesterday. Here is a summary of their comments: Africa is not only a continent of bad news, but is also known for its ability and talent to produce food, says…
Smaller farmers should not be overlooked in food production, says South African mega farmer, Charl Senekal. He says although mega-farmers are the main producers of agricultural products and utilise the most recent technology, smaller farmers also play an important role in South African farming. Senekal is a mega sugar farmer…
Farmer and entrepreneur Mike Bosch from Bela-Bela in the Limpopo Province of South Africa is well known for his plans to improve the sustainability of his farm. And he is still hatching new plans. Africanfarming.com recently published an article on his newest concept to enable people to produce meat, eggs…
Fall armyworm is here to stay and is an extra plague grain and other producers will have to deal with in future, says Kobus Steenekamp, managing director of Monsanto. Steenekamp spoke to South African farmers at a technology day in Bethal, Mpumalanga, hosted by the company. He says the worm…
Kleinjan Gasekoma is the first black farmer in South Africa to be named Cattle Farmer of the Year. He went from communal farmer to successful commercial farmer in just 13 years. There is no shortage of success stories when it comes to emerging South African farmers making the difficult transition…
This dairy and beef farmer from Vereeniging in Midvaal, Gauteng, uses a simple, homemade apparatus to make cheap diesel from old plastic. The numbers rapidly ticking over on the petrol or diesel pump when you fill up your pick-up truck or tractor is enough to give anyone ulcers. Meinhard Peters,…
Namibia’s best extensive dairy farmer for 2015 successfully combines the production of fresh milk and the growing out of oxen in tough, dry conditions on his farm. Pure-bred dairy cows are not suitable for extensive dairy production in the toughest parts of Namibia. As a result, extensive dairy farmers prefer…
