Posts by Jandrie Klopper
Soft rot and blackleg in potatoes
Soft rot and blackleg are often treated as ‘bad luck diseases’: the kind that appear late, ruin a portion of the crop, and then vanish until the next season. In…
Read MoreRip tillage proves its value in 12-year Sandveld potato trial
Potato production in the Sandveld is carried out in deep, sandy soils that are well suited to cultivation. However, these soils are vulnerable to compaction, wind erosion, and declining organic…
Read MoreGrowing potatoes under challenging soil conditions: GRIMME has the solution
Growing potatoes in stony and cloddy soil can be challenging, but it’s possible. Effective and precise soil preparation and cultivation enable the production of high-quality crops while maintaining production efficiency.…
Read MoreWorld potato markets: Oversupply and uncertainty
The contemporary global potato market is characterised by a pronounced imbalance between supply and demand, particularly in Europe and North America. The 2025 harvest generated a substantial oversupply, which continues…
Read MoreFirst 13 weeks of 2026 at FPMs
The average weekly price of potatoes during the first 13 weeks of 2026 at South Africa’s fresh produce markets (FPMs) showed a week-on-week increase of 25%. Figure 1, which tracks…
Read MoreOVS Groentoer 2026 kweek kennis en innovasie
Die aartappel-groentoer word jaarliks deur die Oos-Vrystaatse of OVS-aartappelwerkgroep in Bethlehem aangebied. Die geleentheid bied ’n belangrike platform vir die uitruil van kennis en tegnologievernuf, en bied ‘n netwerkgeleentheid vir…
Read MoreEie aan ’n unieke kusstrook: Die Sandveld se aartappelprodusente
Sleutelpunte soos die voortgesette produksie van hoë-gehalte aartappels, navorsing, monitering van bestaande projekte en die beskikbaarheid van volhoubare water, was onder die soeklig by die jaarvergadering van die Sandveldaartappelkwekersorganisasie (Sako).…
Read MoreNuwe dryfkrag vir innovasie by Aartappels SA
Aartappels SA het op 1 Maart vanjaar die aanstelling van Annemarie van der Merwe as bestuurder van navorsing en innovasie aangekondig. Annemarie, ’n boorling van George, se belangstelling in landbou…
Read MoreSouthwestern Free State product trial under irrigation at Petrusburg, 2024 to 2026
The Southwestern Free State potato production region produces around 1.86% of the country’s commercial potatoes on 954 ha. The most prominent cultivars produced as part of this region’s main harvest…
Read MoreEastern Free State cultivar trial under dryland conditions at Reitz in 2024/25
The Eastern Free State is a major potato production region where nearly 19% of the country’s commercial potatoes are produced on roughly 9 523 ha. The most prominent cultivars produced…
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