Deur Elise-Marie Steenkamp Foto’s en video Carmé Naudé Vroeg in Maart vanjaar het ‘n windstorm Grabouw en omgewing bykans 24 uur laat steier. Met winde wat plek-plek tot 90 km/uur gehaal het, was swaargelaaide vrugteboorde kwesbaar. Dramatiese foto’s in die…
The United States is the second-largest global producer of apples and 70% of these apples come from Washington State. The main apple-growing areas in Washington State are semi-arid. Summers are characterised by high solar irradiation and temperatures that frequently exceed…
Hortgro has launched two new platforms to help keep industry stakeholders informed: The Quick Identification Guide for Key Phytosanitary Pests of South African Deciduous Fruit and the Postharvest/Packhouse Action Group App. Dr Shelley Johnson compiled the Phyto ID Guide several years…
Dr Ivan Meyer, Provincial Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape, has officially announced Dr Mogale Sebopetsa as the new Head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA). Minister Meyer: “I am looking forward to working with the newly…
Text: Elise-Marie Steenkamp Last week, a diverse group of agricultural stakeholders gathered in Stellenbosch to discuss the future of pesticide regulation in South Africa. The Department of Agriculture (DoA) called for the colloquium, themed “Transforming Agricultural Regulatory Policy within the…
By Kara van der Berg A new phytosanitary facility dedicated to deciduous fruit will help improve access to new markets and maintain current ones for the industry. Hortgro approved and funded the building of a new phytosanitary research laboratory that…
Post-harvest expert Dr Cheryl Lennox discusses the challenges facing the industry and her vision for the Department. Dr Cheryl Lennox completed her PhD in plant pathology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal before first joining Stellenbosch University in 1991. In 1995,…
Hortgro is fast-tracking the process to get a new national qualification for horticultural supervisors and junior managers off the ground. Kyra-Kay Rensburg investigates. The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) qualification for Horticultural Foremen, an NQF4 vocational qualification, was…
HORTGRO spoke to Wolfe Braude, Agbiz Fruitdesk Manager South African deciduous fruit may have access to new markets in the coming years, thanks to two new trade agreements. In the meantime, however, a new tariff for fruit has been introduced…
Langkloof Representative: Neil-Pierre Strydom The Langkloof had an above-average harvest this year. For the first time in years, all farmers had enough water in their dams to see the season through. On the Western side of the Kloof, rain decreased…
Pictured: Juan-Ivan and Grant Smuts Brothers in farms … By Gerrit Breytenbach Those incredibly blue eyes are looking at me. Straight in the eye. Sorted, happy eyes, however, not icy eyes. I have just met Grant Smuts, the most senior…
Next Generation Series: Some prophets of doom believe farming is on its way out (because farmers are a threatened species, they say). Finding a farming concern going stronger than ever after six generations cast a different light. Gerrit Rautenbach visited…