In this issue

Winemaker explains how he pulls off blind tasting at international championships. Women in
agriculture: Part 1- Meet one of SA’s queen bees in apiculture. Get the basics right to improve yields! Success story of a Brangus stud on an Eastern Cape dairy farm. Jobs market
recovering but unskilled left behind.

Job creation slanted in favour of the skilled

The labour market in South Africa is recovering from COVID-19, but unskilled and less educated people are still being left behind, writes Derek Yu, professor of economics at the University of the Western Cape.

4 mins

Harvester helps to unlock Taung farmers' potential

Huge benefits for North West farmers as they receive much-needed equipment, writes Glenneis Kriel.

3 mins

Eco-summit to show 'what we want is possible'

The 2024 EnergyWater- FoodClimate Nexus International Summit hosted by the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) School of the Environment, will take place at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban in July.

2 mins

Anti-cruelty organisation moves to change UK law on carrying chickens

The UK’s Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) has made recommendations with regards to the proposal to legalise carrying chickens by their legs.

1 min

Farmers benefit from course on hemp production

One hundred local farmers in the Eastern Cape have received training in the cultivation and value chain of industrial hemp production.

2 mins

Top trends at this year's Fruit Logistica

South Africa's logistical challenges came under scrutiny at the highly regarded international fruit and vegetable producers' gathering.

2 mins

Legal wine flounders as illicit alcohol triumphs

Sin taxes have again increased this year, serving a blow to the wine industry. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his 2024 budget that tax revenue for 2023/24 was R56,1 billion lower than estimated in the 2023 budget. This was due to lower-than-expected economic performance.

2 mins

Cattle and goats handed to farmers to promote superior genetics in Eastern Cape

Driving the charge to enhance red meat and animal fibre development in the province, the Eastern Cape government handed over cattle and goats to farmers at the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute in Stutterheim recently.

2 mins

Spring water project opens taps for farmers in Eastern Cape

Initiative brings relief to rural communities battling to access fresh, clean water.

2 mins

Beware the negativity bias and land ownership myth

Many of us believe that government is tardy on delivering title deeds to applicants, but a quick Internet search will dispell this idea.

4 mins

Production strategies for formal versus informal markets

Feedlots do not purposefully discriminate against certain breeders, but the animals may not always produce the carcasses that their market segment want.

3 mins

Sharpen those blind-tasting buds with these great tips

Winemaker Chris Groenewald led the South African blind-tasting team in the international championships for the second time last year. He shared some blind-tasting tips with Glenneis Kriel.

5 mins

A buzzing success in apiculture and agriculture

In this first part of a series on successful women farmers in agriculture, Cobus du Plessis speaks to Elizabeth Lamond, a beekeeper in the Marquard region, about her rise in the apiculture industry.

6 mins

Banking on Brangus

In 2001, Steve Kretzmann, introduced a beef component to his dairy farm, Edendale, in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited him recently to better understand the impact that the Panorama Brangus stud has had on his agricultural venture near East London.

4 mins

Go back to the basics for best production

Bennie Diedericks, head of consultants at Resalt, said at the SA Olive field day that farmers would succeed if they focused on the things under their control.

7 mins

Further experience with Tuta control in my tomatoes

This year, Tuta absoluta was present with such a light concentration that the pest did no damage in my tunnels.

2 mins

Get your combine harvester ready with a pre-season check-up

Your combine harvester is one of the workhorses on the farm that must be in top form, so the Case IH Pre-Season Check is not just a pit-stop but an investment in boosting your bottom line.

2 mins

What generator should I buy?

Husqvarna provides a simple guide to choosing the generator that is right for you.

2 mins

Precision brings clarity in murky waters

Delivering the right amount of water and nutrients can slash water usage by up to 50%, fertiliser needs by up to 30% and elevates crop procuctivity by 30% to 50%.

3 mins

Farm equipment: change and upgrade frequently

In the agriculture industry, mechanisation and technology are constantly changing to make machines and processes more effective. New Holland uses their 40 research and development centres to achieve this, writes Jaco du Preez, product and marketing specialist for tractors at CNH.

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.