ALCO-Safe (Pty) Ltd is the major supplier of quality electronic Breath Alcohol Detectors and accessories in South Africa with 43 years of experience in manufacturing, distribution, and s...
Obtaining silkworm larvae or eggs to begin your farm is the most essential step in the process of starting a sericulture (silk production) operation. In the second part of this series...
Bees are subject to pests and diseases, and beekeepers should be on the lookout for symptoms. In many countries beekeepers are required to register with the relevante authorities and in ...
The first vaccine for honeybees to prevent the fatal bacterial American foulbrood disease (AFB) has been conditionally approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ...
Humankind’s search for new materials to use within the agricultural value chain continues to evolve. The evolution is spurred by various factors that influence material choice, such as...
Greenhouses make optimum agri-production possible. However, this achievement is only possible if they are used properly, ensuring that the right plants are grown and conditions are set w...
The JVA Cloud Router™ App allows you to arm and disarm energizers, view your electric fence voltages, open and close relays through any Android or IOS device. The JVA Cloud Router™ A...
The exploitation of greenhouses from their creation has contributed immensely to optimise agricultural production systems. Be it for fruit, nuts, crops, grain, horticulture, or herb prod...
There is a growing demand that all agricultural industries take into account the environmental consequences of whatever process they undertake. One of the areas of concern is the use of ...
Suitable forage is essential for the survival of honeybees. Strong, healthy bees are in turn needed to provide sufficient pollination for the country’s agriculture in general, and the ...
Named after its founder, George Kynoch, the Kynoch brand has been part of agriculture in Southern Africa for the last 104 years. The original company, known today as Kynoch Fertilizer...
First, the shaft is set up with all its main gear. Next drilling cubbies are created. The electrical infrastructure is then installed before horizontal drilling is done. For more i...
As the use of greenhouses spreads over Sub-Sahara Africa, it is more than paramount to ensure that the artificial climatic conditions created are optimally maintained. Not only does s...
A better view of your water Keep an eye on your tank levels with wireless water monitoring that gives you certainty of how much water you have available. It has 3 parts: Water lev...
The Waatic system is a smart spray solution specifically designed for orchards that easily integrates with your sprayer. It enables you to take more control of the spray in the sprayi...
Step 1: Planning It is never too early to plan your silage-making process. Early and proper planning will not only help you to avoid certain potential challenges, but will also provide ...
A conference on new and advanced techniques in aquaculture, aquaponics, and hydroponics was presented in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch from 22 to 24 N...
Sericulture is the process of raising silkworms to get raw silk and is the topic of this series. The feed that an animal is given to sustain its growth and reproductive potential is t...
A need for a durable waterproofing product, that has bonding and elastic qualities, was identified by the proprietor in the late 90’s. After extensive experimentation, the first app...
Drilling a borehole, mineshaft or well into the soil is not that simple. There are many variables on site to be considered. Some of these are the level of the aquifer and the water qu...
With the right technology, oils and lubricants can help support the agricultural sector, by helping farmers to identify the right lubrication for tractors, help to better maintain valuab...
Dealing with batch applications means that everything needs to run smoothly. That is why you need a solution partner you can rely on. That is why you need Carl Hamm. For more infor...
Boreholes are vital for deep soil water extraction. Much like everything else on your farm, taking care of your borehole will ensure that it takes care of you. That is why you need quali...
Freeze branding is not new, it is a method of identifying cattle that goes back decades. Whether identifying animals is done for legal requirements or simply to make farm management easi...
Interest rates greatly influence the efficiency and effectiveness of productivity for farmers, especially smallholder farmers that rely on capital they have to obtain against their colla...
Integrated turnkey pumping solutions start with the correct pipes and connections. These are connected to the pumps. More sections can be added across the area that needs to be draine...
To prevent a surge to the motor, and pressure from building up in the column, the soft start controller jolts the machine, limiting the inflow of an electrical current. This relieves ...
New triple-action formulation of Shell FuelSave Diesel cleans even more thoroughly than before to help improve fuel economy and recover power in heavy-duty engines. Shell Commercial F...
Two businessmen of George in the Southern Cape have tackled the thorny issue of invasive, alien cactus species that are adored as garden plants, but which are seriously threatening to de...
Starting with a raise-bore pilot before finishing the drill, the surface support is then added and base plates are installed. Next, the pipes are then fitted and secured. The ZSM cabl...
Acid mine water is a disaster that is wreaking havoc in the depths of mines across South Africa. It is an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen. By abstracting this dangerous li...
Redundant mines have an environmentally friendly solution with the ZSM riser pipes from Carl Hamm. Now you can use them for safe water abstraction. Look at how easy the installation o...
As South Africans prepare for what will be another sweltering summer, present and future JoJo Tanks owners can be rest assured that their tank has been engineered to resist the ravages o...
Self-reliant farms, the 21st-century utopia for most farmers, are what farm operational activities are slowly moving towards. These are systems that depend less on outside sources when i...
Trapsuutjies is an environmental initiative owned by Susan Botha, who formerly worked at CapeNature. The name Trapsuutjies literally means ‘tread lightly’ and is the Afrikaans word f...
As the adverse effects of climate change increase result in destructive weather conditions that affect the agricultural sector, there is also an increase in agricultural participants i...
Orange is the colour of success for KwaZulu-Natal-based Trewirgie Timber. The flourishing farming enterprise relies on an orange-liveried Wood-Mizer sawmill line at its Orange Farm Sawmi...
Leading supplier Bearings International (BI) grew its countrywide distribution network by four branches this year alone and is looking to add a completely new complementary business unit...
Tippers are one of the true workhorses of the commercial vehicle industry, carrying heavy loads in conditions that are less than ideal. Every load represents money, making a reliable veh...
With the constantly rising fuel price, it may be wise to get an electric car from EV Global. EV Global is South Africa’s biggest independent electric transport business since 2009. “...
‘The Suid Bokkeveld is where my heart lies, with the farmers who share this beautiful landscape. They are very keen to learn new things and one of the woman farmers told me she will ne...
Taking proper care of your skin is something that goes beyond taking showers and avoiding the sun as much as possible. It also has to do with the quality of the products that we use to k...
There was once a time when weather patterns were stable, and the effect of destructive weather patterns was not a great threat; a time when farmers had a more than 70 percent guarantee t...
Gone are the days of guesswork over animal performance. Gallagher Animal Management’s livestock scales give farmers Immediate, accurate, and easily accessible information. It provides ...
In a world of rapidly changing technology and creation of more efficient systems, manual labour is slowly becoming a thing of the past, and with this conception of new technology, the ap...
The need to put carbon back into the soil where it belongs instead of being released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide that contribute to global warming, is very real. There is no ti...
In this day and age, reliable network connectivity is critical when you operate a farm. Your pivots, pumps, and fleet of tractors all need to connect to the Internet and share data to th...
In September 2021 a veld fire broke out in the Free State. According to an article by SABC News, more than 25 000 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed due to veld fires. ...
It has been said that data is the new oil. That’s certainly true of the agricultural environment where farmers are increasingly using the power of data and data analytics to make bette...
Bearings International (BI) remains the one-stop shop for all your bearing and lubricant needs on tractors, pumps and machines. With their new warehouse in the Western Cape and their hei...
Outside, drones fly overhead, keeping an unflinching eye on crops and cattle, while driverless tractors plough the fields precisely and robots methodically gather the harvest. Meanwhile,...
If you are looking for a compact off-road trailer or camper, look no further than Bushwakka 4x4. Bushwakka aims to build the lightest, toughest and best off-road camping trailers in...
Do you have a passion for the great outdoors and camping? If so, Bushwakka is the company to go to for all of your needs and wants related to the great outdoors. "If you are in the ma...
It goes without saying that the welfare of your soil is intrinsic to agricultural health because when soil is healthy, it provides the nutrients and moisture crops need. A healthy soil c...
Part of the AutoX family, Rentech was established in 2001 as a dedicated provider of renewable energy products and services. With a focus on supplying local and selected African markets,...
Game poaching is an enormous problem in the Lowveld and a large portion of a game farmer’s security expenditure goes towards his first line of defence – the fence around his farm. ...
In this last article of our series on dam building, we wrap up the last few, but very important points that you should consider when building an earth dam. Connecting an earth wall an...
The core must consist of the densest available material at the site, such as clay. The material must be moist and well compacted or rolled in thin layers of uniform thickness. If the cla...
In this article we share a collection of cross-sectional dam wall designs for different scenarios. We also look at polypropylene as a sealing material. [caption id="attachment_4018"...
In a natural catchment area, rain and run-off water will always flow downhill and collect in a body of water such as a stream, a river, or a dam. Man-made catchment areas follow the same...
Don’t let rainwater run away; use these techniques to effectively collect water from your own roof. Usually, large roof surfaces are equipped with gutters and down-pipes. These feat...
A dam wall may seem to be a simple construction, but when you are dealing with the incredible force that water exerts, you have to be very careful with your calculations, building proced...
A valuable, crucial asset for any farmer is water. Every drop of water should be coveted and fully utilised. The term ‘water harvesting’ generally refers to the collection of rainsto...
The consequences of a blown borehole pump are catastrophic and far-reaching. Added to the initial financial outlay of up to R60 000 to replace a pump are the effects of not being able t...
Healthy living begins with healthy eating. The social media rave about superfoods, warns about allergies that may be caused by poisonous substances, promote eating habits without sugar a...
Despite the pandemic and a contraction in some sectors within agriculture, 2020 was a good year for the South African agricultural sector which experienced a 13.1% annual GDP growth rate...
“We want to prove that agriculture can succeed in harsh conditions and then we can replicate this concept elsewhere,” says Christopher Kahle, Managing Director of Shalom Farm outside...
The first thing to know about thermal cameras is that they operate differently from regular cameras. Regular daylight cameras and the human eye both work on the same basic principle. V...
The pivot still reigns as king in the irrigation world, but limited access to a reliable power supply, or expensive electricity and inadequate water pressure often prevent farmers from t...
Keeping pace in today’s digital world is now more relevant to the Agri sector than ever before. With the monitoring and allocation of various assets in the field, utilising a digital p...
Intensive and meticulous planning preceded Ian Wyeth’s move from the town to the farm to take up sheep husbandry. One of the solutions that accompanied him was Bonnox. “For years,...
SPECK is an industry leader in filtration and circulation in South Africa. We are committed to the innovation of sustainable products that support greener living and responsible environm...
Every day, there are more and more violent home invasions, robberies, and farm murders in South Africa. This is because unemployment is so high that it is luring thousands of people into...
Technopol Southern Africa (Pty) LTD, established in 1993, is a leading manufacturer of Expanded Polystyrene (LiteCel™ EPS) products and solutions primarily for insulation and construct...
Alpha Damme was established in 2020 during the “Hard lockdown” that was enforced by the Covid Pandemic. Even though we are only 2 years old as a registered company, we have years of ...
The manufacturing and distribution company, National Safe, has an extensive national footprint. This company has a wide range of products used by all of Africa’s leading companies. In ...
Over the past three summer rainfall production seasons, an innovative alliance has given growers access to sustainable crop solutions, technical expertise and extremely favourable commer...
An entrepreneurial farmer and son team has built a flourishing artisanal furniture and timber ware company with a Wood-Mizer LT40, ingenuity and artistic flair. Based in South Africa...
For most people, suburban life represents an escape from the hustle and bustle of high-rise buildings, traffic jams, parking fees and high food costs in central business districts and to...
Nowadays, the condition of a farmer’s fence is equally important to that of his sheep. Therefore, Johan Venter, part-time sheep farmer and broker from Middelburg, quickly erected a fen...
Ask any progressive farmer what the benefits of strip grazing are, and inevitably, the first answer will be: “It reduces wastage.” True, it does. By restricting the quantity of grass...
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) show provides the perfect ground for national, regional, and international companies to advertise their products and services to increase bra...
Technology has continuously proved to be an asset that a farmer cannot go without. It helps solve real-world problems in innovative ways. The founders of The Awareness Company witnessed ...
Technology that serves the farmer is critical to streamline the farming enterprise, but a farmer also depends on a reliable team that can assist him with product queries, advice and taki...
Erosion is caused when a lot of water runs over bare soil. Soil usually becomes bare because of overgrazing, which is caused when a farmer keeps more livestock than the land can support....
Gallagher understands the value of your farm and your livestock. They understand that you dedicate all your time and energy to your farming and therefore they are your safety partner. Th...
With the help of science, innovative light manipulation and UV management, photo- selective colour netting creates an environment that can be manipulated into optimal growing conditions ...
WILD Coolers is home to The Leader in High Performance Cooler Boxes and accessories. Centred on reliability, performance and beauty, their range is designed to withstand all of Africa’...
Prevention is always better than cure. This is particularly true about soil erosion, where the slowing down of runoff water on a steep slope can prevent the formation of gullies and deep...
What is soil erosion? Soil erosion is caused by run-off water that flows unchecked over soil surfaces that are no longer adequately protected by a plant cover. Gullies, or dongas, are d...
These methods were used in Malawi by Ken Coetzee and Wallie Stroebel of Conservation Management Services (CMS), who are based in George in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. They...
While more and more production is demanded from farmers, soil erosion is frittering away arable land. Ken Coetzee and Wallie Stroebel of the South African company Conservation Manage...
If you are in a drought, most people say you should have planned for it. But it is too late for prior planning when the drought is upon you already. Presently the question is not what fa...
In part 5's edition, we looked at wire mesh composting bins, circular, round, and pentagonal structures, as well as the rotating drum composter. Let us now look at our last three compost...
Composting methods Compost can be made by different methods. The method of composting selected will depend on when finished compost is desired, the materials to be composted, and the sp...
Compost can be used to improve the soil structure and drainage, as a mulch to cut down on water loss, and as a fertiliser to improve the soil’s fertility. Soil improvement In the beg...
A compost system can be compared to a living thing that requires the essentials of all living things: air, food, and water in a balanced combination. Choosing the ideal location The co...
A compost heap is much more sophisticated and sensitive than one would think. To ensure a highly effective system and to get optimum yields, it is important to pick and choose the materi...
Your vegetable garden at home can be transformed into a growing, sustainable food source without having to buy expensive chemical fertilisers. Making your own compost is cheap and will r...
The quality of the earth under a dam is of utmost importance. Careful surveying of the nature and depth of the topsoil and subsoil must be done by drilling or sinking test holes (especia...
The dam design in this series is limited to dams of which the maximum water depth does not exceed eight metres. Dam outlets The spilling of the dam must be designed and constructed in ...
Dams can be expensive to build and therefore a farmer should do his calculations and planning very carefully to prevent those hidden costs from rising out of control. Water seepage can a...
Earth dams protect a farmer against potential devastating dry spells and this month we start a new series on this huge, but important construction. It is a huge initial expense to build ...
