In this issue

The mid-term budget Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Cut insect damage by installing bat and owl boxes. Irrigation technology to help boost crop yields. Bird flu counting the cost on society and industry.

Breaking down the Mid-Term Budget

South Africa's Medium-Term Budget reflects difficult and contested decisions, says Seán Mfundza Muller, a senior research fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Johannesburg.

5 mins

Huge vulture relocation project gets the green light

The largest relocation of vultures ever undertaken reached a critical milestone when approval was granted to move a first tranche of 155 birds to a new home in the Eastern Cape.

2 mins

The huge cost of weeds

Losses due to weeds in lands and weed seeds in commercial grains in South Africa in 1985 were estimated at R1 billion a year [R11,5 billion today], according to Dr WP Grobbelaar, [then] chief director of agronomy of the [then] Department of Agriculture and Water Supply.

2 mins

SA Canegrowers says sugar tax will kill jobs and put livelihoods at risk

SA Canegrowers says the tax increase was decided on without any consultation with the sugar industry and other affected stakeholders

3 mins

Salmon farming could halt in Tasmania to protect rare fish species

The salmon farming industry could be completely halted in Tasmania due to the decline of the Maugean skate, said the Australian federal environment ministry.

1 min

Farmers showcased at market day

Rising farmers from 40 community food gardens across South Africa were given the opportunity to sell their fresh, organically grown produce to the public through the Shoprite and Checkers’ Market Day recently.

1 min

Cape beekeepers excel in UK honey competition

A 23-year-old beekeeper from St Helena Bay on the West Coast, Dawid Rooifontein, is taking the honey industry by storm after winning one of the international categories in the UK’s National Honey Show.

2 mins

AfriForum presents memorandum to president

Civil rights group AfriForum handed a memorandum to President Cyril Ramaphosa recently as part of their efforts to address and arrest the spate of farm murders in the country.

2 mins

Support for African women in agriculture

African women in agriculture have can take their agribusiness to the next level with investment opportunities from the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub.

2 mins

Do we need generic advertising?

In South Africa, the major generic adverting programmes are run with very low budgets and the benefits probably exceed the cost of these campaigns, says.

3 mins

Ensuring the survival of landrace cannabis genetics

In the bustling landscape of the cannabis industry, a silent movement is underway, one that seeks to protect the past amid the relentless wave of innovation, says.

2 mins

Keep the pest police on call

Bats and owls have a significant contribution to make to controlling pests on farms. Provide them with adequate housing, and these insect and rodent eaters will offer a cost-effective, consistent pest-control service. Lindi Botha looks at best practices for building and erecting owl and bat boxes.

4 mins

Counting the cost of the highly pathogenic avian flu outbreak on country

Zimbini Mdlulwa, director of Agricultural Economic Services at the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, looks at the socio-economic impact of the bird flu outbreak sweeping the poultry industry across the country.

5 mins

Africa needs to take advantage of these technologies

In this article, we look at irrigation technologies that can help improve African farmers' crop yields and profits. prikkel extended

4 mins

Getting your soil ready for carrot planting

Carrots have a deep root system and this needs to be taken into account when preparing the soil for this crop

2 mins

Global warming and heat stress in horses

The maximum daily temperatures are climbing globally, and stable management approaches may have to be changed

2 mins

A 'flop' that turned into a winning wine

If you are looking for a dessert wine or something different to pair with a cheese board or oysters, try Delheim Estate’s Noble Late Harvest, Edelspatz Riesling.

1 min

The impressive GWM P-Series LTD

It is remarkable how the motoring industry, much like the agriculture sector, goes up and down. The technological advancements recently introduced in multiple vehicles across various price brackets demonstrate how affordable technology has become.

2 mins

Read all stories from Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly Magazine Description:

Farmer’s Weekly is an agricultural magazine based in South Africa, targeting the whole of Southern Africa. The magazine is committed to advancing the interests of the region’s farmers and its agricultural industry by serving as a mouthpiece for the industry and by keeping its readers informed of the latest developments in the agricultural sector.