In this issue

Grain storage insurance not a nice to have but a necessity. Finally identifying the fungus that kills pine trees in SA. Environmental and energy economies can give the Karoo
a new lease of life. Visiting an impressive forklift factory in Ireland. How Savanna goats are beefing up a farmer’s prospects.

Mysterious tree disease of the 70s and 80s unmasked

A mystery disease hit South Africa's pine trees 40 years ago. New DNA technology has found the killer, say Andi Wilson, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pretoria, Brenda Wingfield, previous vice-president of the Academy of Science of South Africa and DSI-NRF SARChI chair in Fungal Genomics and professor of genetics at the University of Pretoria (UP), and Prof Michael John Wingfield, adviser to the executive at UP.

4 mins

Fighting the Kalahari

Farming in the desert is not for the faint-hearted. If it’s not drought, it’s invading plants one has to battle with, and this farmer is winning the battle.

3 mins

KZN government launches hunger-buster multi-planting season campaign

Agriculture put at the centre of province's turnkey programme to assist smallholder farms, alleviate poverty and bring relief to the indigent and vulnerable households

3 mins

Communication: the foundation of profitable businesses

Communication is paramount in business, and yet many managers give little thought to its importance. Are you one of those, asks Peter Hughes, or are you giving it the attention it deserves?

2 mins

Summer is parasite time

Dangerous parasites as well as ticks, which can cause potentially fatal livestock diseases such as redwater and heartwater, thrive in rain and high temperatures

3 mins

Happy anniversary, Fruit South Africa!

As this industry body celebrates a decade in service, it must indeed pride itself on the gains it has achieved in promoting fruit sales in South Africa and abroad

3 mins

The future of the Karoo

Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to Prof William Beinart about his fascinating book, The Rise of Conservation in South Africa, Settlers, Livestock, and the Environment 1770-1950, and the current state of the Karoo.

6 mins

Forklift innovation for the future

Combilift recently invited more than 200 journalists from across the globe to visit their warehouse and celebrate their 25th anniversary in Monaghan, Ireland.

5 mins

Prevent criminals from stealing your animals

Stock theft has a serious economic impact on farmers all over South Africa. In this article, we look at ways in which farmers can thwart incidences of stock theft.

7 mins

White Savanna goats add meat to beef enterprise

Desmond Siteti, the Agricultural Research Council's Eastern Cape emerging beef farmer for 2021, believes that his flock of white Savanna goats is the perfect complement to his beef operation near Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.

5 mins

The right cover helps you take control

Insurability within the grain storage sector is essential but can be complicated, the delegates at Agbiz Grain's recent Grain and Oilseeds Value Chain Symposium told Magda du Toit.

4 mins

Give cashmere a go

Cashmere is one of the finest fibres in the world and is much warmer than wool. Products made from this fibre are in great demand, especially in Western countries.

2 mins

Why location is important

A number of important aspects need to be considered before beginning production, starting with the site of the production unit.

2 mins

Before going into carrot production, read this

Carrrot farming has changed considerably over the past 30 years, making it difficult for new entrants to get into the market

2 mins

Suzuki Jimny 5-door review: Part 1

CAR editor Damian Adams drove the Suzuki Jimny 5-door from Durban to the inaugural Suzuki Jimny Gathering in Clarens.

2 mins

Remote, rugged and unforgettable

A fly-in safari experience transports guests into one of the last great remaining wilderness areas

4 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.