Business
Farmer's Weekly
Macadamia prices hold firm amid smaller crop
Despite the challenges faced by the international macadamia industry during the past season, the current crop is looking favourable.
2 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling nematodes in grain crops
The grain production season is approaching and soil-dwelling nematodes are re-emerging after winter. Farmers should start monitoring these pests now, say Prof Driekie Fourie and Dr Gerhard du Preez at North-West University’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management.
5 min |
September 25, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Why You Need To Budget
A comprehensive and all-inclusive budget is critical to the success of any production operation, according to Anche Suurd, an agricultural economist at NWK. Without this basic financial tool, it is extremely difficult to obtain a clear idea of the actual performance of the business, or sustainably create and build wealth.
4 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Farming Sector Under Siege By Criminals
The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant national lockdown in South Africa have produced a plethora of negative socio-economic consequences. Amongst these is a wave of crime against the country’s farmers. Lloyd Phillips reports on this phenomenon and on how government’s consistent failures have made a difficult problem significantly worse.
7 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Piecing Together Historic Climate Events
Researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia, Dr John Hellstrom, Prof Russell Drysdale and Ellen Corrick, have managed to assemble the most precise records of major climate events from thousands of years ago. They explain what their research has revealed.
4 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
All You Need To Know About Cutworm Control
The common cutworm is a prominent maize pest in South Africa. Professors Johnnie van den Berg and Hannalene du Plessis, researchers at North-West University’s Integrated Pest Management Research Group, provide some useful tips on identifying and controlling this pest.
4 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Healthy Eating Is Getting More Expensive In SA
According to the latest 10-year agricultural outlook published by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, the cost of healthy eating as a percentage of monthly household expenditure is rising in South Africa, driving consumers towards cheaper food options.
4 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
‘Give Us What You Promised' – Black Farmer To Government
Land reform in South Africa has, by and large, been labelled a failure. After 26 years and billions of rand spent on farms and inputs, successes are still few and far between. Solly Letsoalo, a farmer in Limpopo, spoke to Lindi Botha about his experiences over a 13-year period as a land reform beneficiary.
6 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Auctions Go High-Tech
Digital technologies are revolutionising auctions, resulting in better exposure for sellers and a broader purchasing base for buyers. Glenneis Kriel reports.
8 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Parasitoids: pest control for free!
I am frequently asked, especially by emerging farmers, to provide spray programmes for various crops.
2 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Passion and discipline drive young cattle farmer's success
Kgomotso Bantsho has been farming Bonsmara cattle and goats full-time in North West since 2017. He says that support from other farmers is critical, and that each farmer needs to learn which management practices will work best for him or her.
6 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Small, but strong utility vehicles
Some jobs on the farm are too small to be done using regular farm machinery, but too large to be done by hand. John Deere’s range of turf and utility vehicles are just the right size to perform these smaller tasks.
2 min |
September 18, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Second-Quarter Agri Expansion Could Be Somewhat Milder
South Africa’s agriculture sector had a solid start to the year, with first-quarter gross value-added figures growing 27,8% quarter-on-quarter (q/q) on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis.
2 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Record-Breaking Bull Sale As Richter Simbras Goes Virtual
Simbra stud farmer Chris Richter set a new record price and averaged R95 000 per bull on offer during his 15th production sale in July. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about how the stud will go forward in the age of digital marketing after the success of its inaugural online auction.
7 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
SA Sugar's Master Plan: Not As Sweet As It Seems
The much-vaunted, but yet to be signed, South African Sugar Cane Value Chain Master Plan is aimed at getting the country’s long-ailing sugar industry out of its financial difficulties. But as admirable as its goals are, the plan has overlooked a number of critical socio-environmental sustainability aspects, according to Boudewijn Goossens, Bonsucro’s regional director for Africa.
5 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Know The Needs Of Seedlings
Different species of seedlings face different hazards and have differing needs; it is wise to take note of these so as to be prepared.
2 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Getting More Crop Per Drop!
South Africa’s water scarcity and the necessity to import well over one million tons of wheat annually mean that the country’s winter wheat growers increasingly have to optimise their water-use efficiencies. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Egon Zunckel spoke to Lloyd Phillips about his family’s own efforts to achieve higher wheat yield from less water.
7 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Identifying Non-Host Sweet Potato Cultivars To Combat Nematodes
The root-knot nematode can cause major financial losses for sweet potato farmers if not managed effectively. Dr Kgabo Pofu and Dr Sunette Laurie of the Agricultural Research Council’s Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute, and Prof Phatu Mashela of the Green Technologies Research Centre, University of Limpopo, report on trials of nematode-resistant sweet potato cultivars.
4 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Farmer Development Based On Solid Plans
In 2019, professional services company Optimal Agricultural Business Systems (OABS) launched its Integrated Farmer Development Programme to facilitate sustainable transformation in agriculture. Daan Louw, chairperson of OABS, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the programme.
5 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Lack Of Transformation Bedevils Agriculture
In this first instalment of a new monthly column, agricultural economist Dr Sifiso Ntombela discusses the lack of transformation in South Africa’s farming sector.
2 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Crop Sprayers, Big And Small
Even though most major agricultural shows have been cancelled for 2020, equipment manufacturers are forging ahead, bringing farmers improved machinery and technology solutions. Denene Erasmus looks at some of the latest releases in crop spraying technology, from large, self-propelled sprayers to small, backpack models.
5 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
NAMPO VIRTUAL: The show goes online
Nampo Harvest Day has become a staple on the South African agricultural calendar. And while COVID-19 means that the physical event cannot continue, the show goes on.
4 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Keeping rhythm
A well-balanced horse and rider will move rhythmically at all paces in all disciplines, says Dr Mac.
2 min |
September 11, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Mycorrhiza: The Symbiotic Relationship In Soil That Promotes Plant Health
Healthy soil is essential for profitable and sustainable crop production. And a key component of healthy soil is mycorrhizae, root-colonising fungi that send out filaments into the soil to increase plant nutrient uptake. Regenerative agriculture experts Gary Farr and Lindy Anderson explained this amazing symbiotic system to Lloyd Phillips.
7 min |
August 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Bread - Nutella & Chocolate Babka
Babka is a sweet Jewish bread that originated in Eastern Europe. While traditional babka calls for a cinnamon and jam filling, this version, submitted by Janine Ryan, uses the chocolate and hazelnut spread Nutella, and chocolate chips.
2 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
The Quest For Healthy Farming Systems
Changing to a healthier production system may pose new challenges, but is worthwhile in the long run. Glenneis Kriel spoke to a number of influencers and pioneers about making the switch.
10+ min |
August 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Healthy Yields Start With Healthy Soil And Roots
Biodiverse, nutrient-rich soil is the basis of consistently good harvests. Madumbi, a South African distributor of proven bioproducts, helps farmers build up and maintain optimal soil conditions.
3 min |
August 28, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Widespread relief as ban on tobacco sales is lifted
South African tobacco producers, who have suffered greatly since the ban on tobacco products was announced in March, have expressed relief about the lifting of the ban. Annelie Coleman reports.
3 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
What SA farmers can learn from Kenya's smallholders
Prof Cyril Nhlanhla Mbatha, director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University, writes that by embracing digital solutions, like those used by farmers in Kenya, South African small-scale farmers can achieve greater market access and be better prepared to weather disruptions.
3 min |
September 04, 2020
Farmer's Weekly
Sowing the seeds for the future
The South African National Seed Organisation is determined to build capacity in the seed industry to ensure that its members acquire the best talent to take the industry forward.
6 min |