2015

Nkgono Jane says… December 2015 The month of December is always a very special and happy time for most people as the schools and universities are on holiday and many people take their annual leave at this time. The wheat farmers in the Western Cape are also most likely to be having a well-earned rest.

Nurture your maize from germination to harvest December 2015 December is always a busy time of year for a maize farmer. There is always a rush to get the crop in before Christmas and the festive period, especially in a year when the rains arrive late. This rush should however not translate into neglect and

RECORD KEEPING: A necessity or just nonsense? December 2015 Thus far in our series of articles regarding management, record keeping has always been indicated as part and parcel of the management of all aspects of a farming business. When we refer to record keeping it includes all types of record keeping such as production records,

Post-emergence weed control December 2015 Weeds compete with maize plants for sunlight, nutrients and water particularly during the first 3 – 5 weeks after the plants have emerged so it is important to control the weeds before they get too tall and vigorous. Late season weed infestations do not negatively impact the yield nearly as

You’ve made your bed, now lie in it November 2015 You made a decision and now must accept its consequences– this old idiomis normally used in response to peoplewho are complaining about problems theyhave brought on themselves. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of taking the preparation of your seedbed for your new maize

Take control of your debt November 2015 It is a fact that this year due to the drought conditions, production was not what it should or could have been. Therefore many farmers are burdened with debt, especially for production purposes, that cannot be repaid in full or none at all. So-called outstanding or carry-over debt

When to plant soybeans November 2015 Soybeans and maize react in more or less that same way to heat units. The more heat units that are available during the growing season, the later you can plant. In cooler areas you should plant earlier to obtain the best results. The other factor to be taken into