Top tips FOR FARMERS

April 2025

The Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) Farmer Development team shares some valuable information for the month of April. April is an important month in the seasonal cycle of summer crops in South Africa, as it is harvesting time. Unlike during the planting season, farmers hope for cooler temperatures and drier conditions.

Bringing in the harvest
Remember to confirm the availability of your contractor if you use one for harvesting. This important tip comes from Du Toit van der Westhuizen, regional development manager in North West. He reminds farmers about the importance of maintaining harvesters. ‘It is also important to transport and store equipment and machinery properly.’

Du Toit and Jerry Mthombothi, regional manager at PGP’s Mbombela office, urge farmers to ensure that they still have a market for their crops as this is usually organised before planting. ‘Farmers will not get good prices if they don’t organise a market for their produce in time or before they planted their crop,’ says Jerry.

Keep your eyes open
Even if you are ready to harvest, keeping your eyes open for pests and diseases is still important. Scouting for diseases and pests should be done continually, even during the month of April. ‘If the lands are wet, it allows pests and diseases to infest the crops,’ advises Jerry.

He also advises farmers in the Highveld regions who did not plant Bt maize to spray with insecticides to prevent or control fall armyworm. ‘If the time allows it, farmers can continue spraying both weed and pest control because of the high rainfall that has been received during the past few weeks.’

Don’t forget about your livestock
‘April is the time to plan the winter feed,’ says Eric Wiggill, regional development manager at PGP’s Eastern Cape office. ‘Buy bales as soon as possible if needed, as prices will spike in the winter. As grass starts to lose its nutritional value, you should also buy animal licks.’

Also prepare for ewes lambing in the autumn. ‘Remember to inject ewes 30 days before lambing with Multivax-P Plus, as this will give the lambs immunity when they are born.’ This product may also be used in pregnant ewes as an aid in the control of lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, tetanus and pasteurellosis in the lambs – provided that the lambs receive sufficient immune colostrum during the first one to two days of their lives.  

Publication: April 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula

Author: COMPILED BY LOUISE KUNZ, ASSISTANT EDITOR: PULA