Top tips FOR FARMERS

June 2025

It is June, which means that winter has officially arrived. Any season is a good time for a farmer to evaluate his farming operation and make notes of what should be done differently, so remember to make notes regularly. Here are some valuable tips for this time of the year.

It’s time to harvest
Harvesting time is here, so remember to follow up with your harvesting contractor if you do not have your own combine harvesters.

Mentor Timon Filter says it is very important that harvesting is not done until the crops are completely dry. He advises farmers to take a cob, dehusk it and take about a cupful to the silo where you will be delivering your maize for a moisture test. ‘Make sure you wait until the sun is out and there is no dew or frost on your crop before taking a sample.’

Not all markets and silos have storage available, so it is better to ensure that your product’s moisture is at the right level. ‘You can’t determine the moisture content by just looking at the crop. It needs to be measured with the proper equipment,’ warns Timon.

Keep your harvest safe
Many maize farmers who farm on communal land in the rural areas have a constant battle with livestock coming into the lands and ‘eating their income’. The problem especially occurs in the months leading into the winter, when grazing becomes scarce. Livestock owners push their cattle into the communal cropping land, where there is still plenty of food, causing huge damage to the maize in the fields.

Therefore, many farmers reap their cobs before they are dry and transport them to their homes for storage. This results in a loss of weight on the cobs and rotting cobs.

The best solution is to fence your field. If your field is already fenced, make sure that the fences are strong. Check your fence regularly, as high rainfall can cause poles to come loose and livestock can also push against the fences.

Another option is to negotiate with the livestock owners and come to an agreement to keep the cattle out until harvest time, after which they can use the stover left on the fields. Otherwise, you will have to stand guard over your field and get some family members to take turns. Just don’t leave your valuable crop to get destroyed!

Source: https://www.grainsa.co.za/always-be-on-your-guard

Publication: June 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula