Straight from the field
Explore the latest insights, stories, and updates from our farm. Discover topics on agriculture, sustainability, and our commitment to nurturing the land and community.
Soil health is often misunderstood. We separate common myths from proven science to explain what truly builds fertile, productive farmland.
Dryland farming remains one of the most important — and most challenging — agricultural systems in South Africa. With increasing climate variability, rising input costs, and pressure on natural resources, farmers operating without irrigation must rely on strategy, resilience, and sound decision‑making to remain profitable over the long term. This cornerstone guide provides a comprehensive, [...]
Farm value is often discussed in terms of land size, rainfall, infrastructure, and recent production figures. While these factors remain important, they tell only part of the story. Increasingly, the long-term valuation of agricultural land is shaped by deeper, less visible variables: soil health, ecological resilience, input dependency, and management flexibility. Regenerative agriculture directly influences [...]
Regenerative agriculture has become one of the most discussed concepts in modern farming. It is often presented as a silver bullet for soil degradation, climate resilience, and long-term farm profitability. Yet, for many farmers, particularly in Southern Africa, the real question is far more practical: What actually works on local farms, under real conditions, with [...]
Learn how to prevent heat stress in livestock during South Africa’s mid-summer months. Practical tips on water, shade, feeding, parasite control and more.
Maize is central to South Africa’s food security and agriculture—fuelling families, livestock, and a multi-billion-dollar farming economy.
Discover how the Maritz Nel Family Trust integrates maize and grazing to build healthier soil, stronger cattle, and sustainable dryland farming in the Free State.
Discover how Maritz Nel Farming prepares livestock for market with care and sustainability — from pasture management and feeding to transport and humane slaughter practices.
Discover how Maritz Nel Family Trust integrates maize, soya & cattle in the Free State to build resilient, sustainable, and profitable farms.
Discover how Maritz Nel and his team are applying cutting-edge innovations in maize, soya, and livestock farming to improve quality, efficiency, and sustainability across South Africa.
Get insights on Foot and Mouth outbreaks in South Africa 2025, vaccine supply updates, and trade restrictions affecting the agricultural sector.
Up-to-date FMD guidance for SA farmers: 2025 stats, how to identify symptoms, proven biosecurity steps, what to do and who to call, plus movement and control-zone essentials.
Introduction Dryland farming – producing food without irrigation – is one of the oldest and most resilient forms of agriculture in South Africa. It is also one of the most demanding. The Free State, widely regarded as the country’s breadbasket, has long been at the heart of this story. Here, farmers contend with erratic rainfall, [...]