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Rangeland (veld)

At a talk on veld management, the late John Fair (pastures consultant and agricultural writer), made a point to an audience of cattlemen that their source of income was not from livestock but from veld. The cattle were there to convert that veld into cash. After that, he had their undivided attention! Grass plays an […]

LandCare

Introduction The National LandCare Programme is a government supported initiative, implemented throughout the country. It is a community-based programme that seeks to: conserve our resources use them in a sustainable way create a conservation ethic through education and awareness create jobs and address poverty by launching various natural resource rehabilitation, improvement and conservation projects Serious concerns about […]

Invasive alien species (IAS)

Introduction See https://invasives.org.za. Invasive alien species (IAS) are species that have been introduced into an area and are able to out-compete and displace indigenous or useful alien species. They may be plants, animals or microbes, including diseases, and are widely regarded as among the biggest threats to the productive use of land and water, the ecological […]

Fire management

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Introduction Farmers are urged to make certain that fire-fighting equipment is easily accessible and in working condition, create firebreaks, participate in local fire protection association activities A fire management plan for a property should identify: the fire hazards on different parts of a property the best position for fire breaks areas where controlled burns should be carried […]

Environmental legislation

Introduction Often, environmental issues are assumed to be “green issues”, only relating to natural resources like animals and plants. In reality, a “triple bottom line” concept must be considered when understanding the environment, i.e. ecological, economic and social aspects. It is only through the interaction of these three aspects that the real environment can be […]

Conservancies and farming

Conservancies in South Africa

Introduction Conservancies find common ground and create a meaningful partnership between nature conservation and agriculture. The agricultural sector uses some 80% of South Africa’s 120 million hectare land surface, incorporating some of our country’s most sensitive ecosystems. Many of our country’s farmers are indeed good land conservationists. Unfortunately, with ever increasing financial, resource and manpower […]

Birds and farming

Birds and farming in South Africa

This article deals with the role of birds in farming. It includes a look at owls, the Red-billed Oxpecker and vultures. Avitourism and South African birds in trouble feature, as do details of role players and other sources of information.

Climate change and global warming

climate change in Africa

Introduction Several gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun – and warm the earth. Without this “greenhouse effect” life would not be possible on this planet. Our activities over the past two centuries though, especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil, have increased the building up of greenhouse gases in […]

Energy

Also refer to the “Renewable and alternative energy” page. Introduction The 2022-2031 BFAP Agricultural Outlook looked at the effect of steep input costs on farmer profitability: electricity, for example, had risen by 25% over the previus two years. Energy is indispensable to the modern economy. Without it, all plans for growth and prospects for jobs […]

Food security

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Introduction The availability of food is the starting point of all life. The main issue around food is whether people can afford it, a nutritious adequate diet that makes for healthy human beings. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defines food security as “A situation that exists when all people, at all times, […]