In this issue

See the top equipment on display at Balfour Hay Day! Boer goats making the most of unused land to beat the odds. SA’s most economically important cotton diseases. The beauty and benefits of human animal relationships. Litchi farming new markets and production methods are key to survival.

England offers incentives to farmers to 'save' the environment

Farmers in England could receive funding from the government for up to 280 separate actions that aim to protect the environment, according to an article recently published by The Guardian newspaper

1 min

Grain SA on the road to improving circumstances for local grain farmers

Glenneis Kriel recently attended Grain SA's regional meeting in Moorreesburg, Western Cape, where the industry body summed up its activities over the past year.

2 mins

'South Africa sitting on a bluetongue time bomb'

Bluetongue poses a serious danger to sheep production in South Africa, and the spread of the disease is expected to escalate until early autumn 2023.

1 min

Hempseed cake a good protein alternative in goat feed

New research has found that including hempseed cake in the diets of goats could produce a number of positive results for producers. Glenneis Kriel reports.

2 mins

Green Week: subdued attack on meat consumption

Calls to end meat consumption and halt livestock farming were noticeably subdued at this year’s International Green Week conference held in Berlin, Germany, in late January.

1 min

Hold on input price increases needed to keep citrus industry afloat

Citrus stakeholders in South Africa are appealing for a moratorium on price increases of inputs in an effort to save the industry from collapse. Lindi Botha reports.

2 mins

The impact of China's declining population on SA agri trade

The National Bureau of Statistics of China recently reported that the population in that country is declining. Absa AgriBusiness explores the possible impact of this megatrend on South Africa's agriculture sector.

3 mins

Tiger 'farming' in SA: cruel, dangerous, and against global norms

Dr Neil D'Cruze, head of wildlife research and policy at World Animal Protection and Visiting Researcher at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; and Angie Elwin, wildlife research manager at World Animal Protection and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Reading, spoke to Moina Spooner, assistant editor at The Conversation Africa, about the captive-bred tiger industry in South Africa.

4 mins

The true value of pets and companion animals

Dr Jan du Preez, a veterinary specialist in public health, looks at the emotional, social and physical contributions that pets and companion animals make to the lives of their human owners.

4 mins

Making hay while the sun shines

The annual Balfour Hay Day held in Mpumalanga serves to whet farmers' appetites for the upcoming hay- and silage-making season. And this year's event, which was held on 19 January, was no exception. The latest equipment was demonstrated on lush, rain-watered veld, and farmers were spoilt for choice.

4 mins

Black arm, boll rot and wilting in cotton plants

There is much hope for South Africa’s cotton industry as new players enter the market. However, as with all crops, there are several diseases that can cause serious economic losses. Janine Ryan examines a few.

5 mins

Capitalising on unused land with goats

The subtropical Lowveld is hardly prime goat country, but with good management, a farmer can add a valuable component to the crops cultivated in the area. Divan Maritz spoke to Lindi Botha about how he manages his goat stud of 300 animals for optimal farm profitability in this climate.

8 mins

SA litchi farmers rethink production and markets

Market constraints and climate change have slashed profits for local litchi growers, leading to many exiting the industry. Komati Fruit in Mpumalanga has persevered, and is amongst the pioneers of positive change in the industry. Cornel van der Merwe, marketing and packaging director of Komati Fruit, spoke to Lindi Botha.

8 mins

Parasitic cysts and lesions in organs

Parasitic cysts can result in the meat produced by your animals being downgraded. They also point to the presence of diseases that can make people very sick.

4 mins

Getting seeds to germinate under hot conditions

Each species has an optimal temperature for seed germination. The faster the seeds germinate, the better they do so, and the more likely they are to gain the upper hand over weeds, says Bill Kerr.

2 mins

The overhaul of the Volvo XC90

Last year, Volvo launched the updated version of the all-wheel drive XC90, which marks the next step in the company's ambitious electrification strategy, says Siyavuya Mbaduli of CAR magazine.

2 mins

Understanding the different perspectives on succession

With several stakeholders being involved in succession planning, each person will inevitably reveal a different set of fears and regrets during the process. How this is handled can determine the success or failure of the agribusiness. This week, Trevor Dickinson looks at the situation from the perspective of the founder.

4 mins

A little piece of paradise for birdwatchers and trout anglers in Mpumalanga

The Prinsloo family have added five comfortable cottages to their working farm to provide a delightful getaway for city dwellers. Riaan Hattingh paid it a visit, and came away well rested and highly impressed.

4 mins

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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.