Business
Farmer's Weekly
Can regenerative agriculture provide an income stream?
Willem van der Westhuizen, business development manager at Orizon Agriculture, speaks to Zunel van Eeden about what regenerative agriculture entails, and how farmers can potentially earn an income from it.
7 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Global grains and oilseeds: shifts in trade, supply and demand
In this extract from Absa AgriBusiness's AgriTrends 2025 Autumn Edition outlook, the global production and consumption patterns of grains and oilseeds are analysed, as well as price trends.
3 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Boosting bee activity in avocado orchards
Bee-Tech Group is conducting trials with pollen removal and Apis Bloom pheromones which are showing encouraging results for pollination.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A passion for Meatmasters: a breed with a difference
Boemie Saaiman runs a Meatmaster stud in Murraysburg in the Western Cape, and says that the breed's exceptional flocking mentality, mothering instincts and adaptability makes it an ideal breed for all breeders across the country.
5 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Lawless small-scale miners destroy environment
The mining landscape is shifting rapidly from a large, organised industry to informal, lawless miners that have no obligation towards protecting the environment.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Bambara - great value as food and livestock feed
This nutritious plant, which is meeting a need among rural people, deserves better attention.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Green rooibos extract aids tilapia growth – study
Adding green rooibos extract to tilapia feed improves fish growth rates and feed efficiency, according to a recent study at Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
1 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Plush Omoda C9 not too fancy for a proper street fight
Omoda made a big splash with the introduction of the C9 PHEV, parading it around as a fashion accessory at high-profile events. But there is a hardcore performance side to this SUV, writes The Citizen's Mark Jones.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
QS Plantcare® – a natural ally in the battle for plant health
In today's agricultural landscape, farmers face a difficult balancing act - feeding a growing global population while simultaneously reducing their reliance on chemical inputs.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's risky global position
South Africa has chosen a risky approach to global politics, say Adam Habib and Imraan Valodia. They provide three steps they believe the country must take to reposition itself.
4 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Van Rooy: a highly economical sheep farming option
The Van Rooy sheep breed, developed by South Africans for South African producers, is a treasure trove of genetics and has proven itself time and time again as a decidedly economic choice. Pieter Wiese, owner of the Kasteel stud in the Northern Cape, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the value of the breed.
4 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Books to keep you in the heritage mood
Still swept up by the joy of Heritage Month in which we also celebrate South Africa's rich diversity, Patricia McCracken has selected a similarly diverse range of titles with distinctly local themes.
1 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Citrus production in Valencia under threat due to low profitability
According to FreshPlaza. com, the citrus industry in Valencia, Spain, has experienced a significant decline in production over the past few decades.
1 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
In memory of the legendary Ron Turcotte
Ron Turcotte (22 July 1941 to 22 August 2025) was the jockey who partnered Secretariat, the fastest Thoroughbred racehorse in history.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Protecting the iconic secretary bird
The endangered secretary bird depends on increasingly fragmented grasslands for survival, and as Birdlife South Africa has since 2012 been collecting data on the biology and ecology of this species to fuel conservation efforts.
3 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Genetics and breeding pave the way for Bessiesfontein's success
Dohne Merino sheep are renowned for their dual-purpose capabilities, excelling in both wool and meat production. In addition, the breed is known for its adaptability to a variety of climates and management systems. Julius Beukes, a well-known Dohne Merino breeder near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, spoke to Magda du Toit about his production system.
9 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Building a legacy of red meat in consumers' minds
Marina Fourie of Beef and Lamb South Africa describes how the organisation is actively working towards the marketing of red meat to consumers, not only for the purpose of short-term purchases, but in order to elevate red meat in the minds of consumers.
2 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The Dorper: a home-grown meat sheep
The Dorper breed is valued for its adaptability, fertility, and meat quality. Eastern Cape farmer Shane Scorgie spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about why this South African success story is thriving worldwide.
6 min |
26 September - 3 October 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Wool: keeping a competitive edge
To maintain competitiveness, the South African wool industry must maintain high standards of quality control and best practice. Nichelle Steyn explores some of these aspects.
5 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Lessons learnt on the journey to build a Nguni stud from scratch
When Cecilia Prinsloo-Van der Linde started exploring the idea of cattle farming, she was advised to farm animals that are suited to the land, so she decided on Nguni. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about the pros and cons of setting up and developing a stud in a relatively short period of time.
6 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Special OCTA Black and Trophy Edition models keep the Defender fresh
Since introducing the Defender in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover has kept its British adventure brand fresh by introducing desirable model editions throughout the past five years. The latest two come in the form of the OCTA Black and Trophy Edition, writes The Citizen's .
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA heritage from different perspectives
Despite the diverse range of titles on the bookshelves, Patricia McCracken has picked out a range of stories with a distinctly South African flavour that includes history, nature, comfort food and some suspense too.
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's extraordinary baboons
The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) has a special place in the South African past, as reflected by the stories of two of our most famous primates, Jack and Jackie.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Technology at the forefront of Nampo Cape 2025
Technology has become indispensable for South African farmers to circumnavigate the future and for them to retain a competitive edge. Therefore, ‘Smart Technology for Efficient Resource Management’ is the theme for Nampo Cape 2025. Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo, spoke to Annelie Coleman.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Building South Africa's hemp future: from cultivation to textile processing
The local hemp industry is taking root, with Green Route Hemp Industries pioneering local trials, farmer training, and fibre processing to unlock opportunities.
8 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nguni cattle: carrying on a legacy
Nguni cattle are an established breed in the local cattle farming industry, known for their unique hides and excellent adaptation to South African conditions. Jennifer Speedy, a fourthgeneration Nguni farmer, spoke to Henning Naudé about the benefits of choosing such a well-performing breed and her experience taking the reins from her father.
5 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nip fetlock injuries in the bud
Fetlock injuries can cause severe lameness, but effective treatment requires an accurate diagnosis,
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
World-class mohair producer adds value with clean clip practices
Michau Nortjé is not new to Angora farming. His father began farming Angoras more than half a century ago, and the family has been breeding purpose-suited Angoras for their farm near Willowmore in the Eastern Cape for as long as he can remember. Improvements in his management practices and selection over the last five years, however, have seen Nortjé enter the ranks as one of the top mohair producers in the world.
7 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ngunis: low-cost, high-value production for South African farmers
This article details the resilience, adaptability, and economic value of Nguni cattle in South Africa, with insights shared by a Nguni farmer on their heritage, fertility, and farming benefits.
6 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'When timing is everything, speed counts' - Grain Farmer of the Year
Get it done, and get it right, is perhaps the best way to summarise Michael and Gareth Allen's farming philosophy.
9 min |