Business
Farmer's Weekly
How to recognise stress and manage it
Stress can have a serious effect on your health, which is why it’s so important to address the problem sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there are well-established strategies for this, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Avo farm's long journey to profitability
Land restitution farms in South Africa have a patchy success rate, with many going to ruins after the change in ownership. Failure is usually attributed to the sudden change in management from those with a farming background to those without, as well as a critical lack of operating capital. Lindi Botha spoke to Tom Mdluli of the Matsafeni Trust about surviving despite the challenges, and their plans to expand the operation.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
How technology is making monitoring animal health easier
A large part of farming is keeping track of the condition and health of animals. Janine Ryan reports on the current apps available to make this process easier and more efficient for farmers.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
How to keep your chickens happy and healthy
Chickens are sensitive to temperature and may be prone to illness. For this reason, adequate housing and healthcare are essential for profitable production. Janine Ryan reports on some things to consider when keeping chickens to ensure their welfare, better growth rates, and humane handling techniques.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Vigilance: the best way to prevent farm attacks
Laurence Palmer, an independent security consultant, outlines practical steps that South African farmers and farmworkers can take to avoid becoming victims of farm attacks, and to protect themselves if attacked
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
China's population is falling: opportunities and risks for Africa
Lauren Johnston, senior researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs and Associate Professor at the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, writes about the risks and opportunities presented to South Africans as China's population drops.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Pannar's strategy to help farmers improve yield - come what may
Grant Pringle, lead agronomist at Pannar Seed, spoke to Ellis Mnyendu about the company's efforts to develop high-yielding products adapted to a fast-changing environment.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Strategies to ensure sustainable cannabis production
Cannabis growers, regardless of where they are, should practise environmentally responsible cultivation methods. This is not only the right thing to do; it’s ultimately more profitable, says Thomas Walker.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
High costs and weak demand still weighing on dairy producers
Dairy farmers are struggling with increasing input costs, leading to a sharp decrease in milk production. Yet the chances of further producer price increases are slim, as demand remains weak, says Dr Koos Coetzee.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Struggling consumers keep meat prices under pressure
While Easter festivities helped to increase the prices of mutton and beef in April, consumer spending remains constrained, directly affecting demand for meat. Absa AgriBusiness analyses trends and provides forecasts.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Soil science society celebrates its 70th anniversary
The Soil Science Society of South Africa (SSSSA) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The SSSSA was established in 1953, and soil science was already a recognised discipline in South Africa at the time. In fact, the first recorded soil survey was conducted in 1899, according to Corrie Swanepoel, a soil scientist at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
'Namibia drought could develop into a humanitarian crisis'
The severe drought in Namibia could result in the same humanitarian crisis as during the 12-year drought which ravaged that country until 2019.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Combine harvester sales up 136% in April 2023
More than 100 units of combine harvesters were sold in South Africa in April 2023, up 136,4% year-on-year. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
SA olive estate shines at international awards
South African olive estate De Rustica recently received international recognition when its Coratina Collection was awarded Best in Class, the Absolute Best Olive Oil, and Best Monovarietal at the EVOOLEUM Awards in Spain.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
SA Stud Book honours top producers at awards
The top livestock breeders, stud herds and flocks, and stud animals falling under the auspices of SA Stud Book were recognised at the organisation's national awards ceremony held recently in Bloemfontein.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Agri budget met with mixed reactions
Role players have had mixed reactions to the recent budget address delivered by Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza. Glenneis Kriel reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Cloud-seeding may not solve Mexico's water crisis, say experts
According to Nature, farmers in Mexico have asked the government to 'bomb' the clouds as the country continues to experience its second-worst drought in a decade.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Zambia aims to become Africa's food basket amid climate change
The Southern African state's President Hakainde Hichilema told foreign investors that it was well placed to fill the commodity void left by the Russia-Ukraine war, writes Jeff Kapembwa.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Strategic marketing needed to survive tough potato market, says industry body
Farmers producing spuds need to balance quality and price to survive the cost-price squeeze, according to speakers at Potatoes South Africa’s recent annual general meeting. Glenneis Kriel reports.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Tea made with indigenous fruit a 'game changer'
The production of tea from indigenous fruit is a 'game changer' for the tea industry, according to Stellenbosch University (SU).
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
RPO welcomes new vaccine against bluetongue
The recent announcement by Design Biologix, a vaccine researcher, developer and manufacturer, that it has registered a bluetongue vaccine for South Africa has been welcomed by the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO).
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Bombed sunflower seed
This article described a South African breakthrough in breeding a superior sunflower hybrid cultivar through irradiation.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Amid power cuts, there are factors working in SA farmers' favour
As farmers plant winter crops, including wheat, canola, barley and oats, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, outlines reasons to feel more optimistic in a challenging operating environment.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
An idyllic blend of beauty, comfort and privacy on the banks of the Breede
River Edge Accommodation offers a superb self-catering stay in cottages on the Breede River near Wolseley in the Western Cape. Camping on the riverbank is also possible, says Brian Berkman.
3 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Protecting and preserving nature
Husqvarna, Cape Nature, Helihack and local landowners came together on Earth Day to safeguard a UNESCO Heritage Site.
2 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Fund aims to boost regenerative agriculture
Switching from conventional to regenerative agriculture may be necessary, but it’s costly. Nic van Schalkwyk, executive director of Restore Africa Funds, spoke to Glenneis Kriel, about his organisation’s solution to this.
6 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
South African apple variety in high demand in India
Flash Gala, a full-red apple from the Bigbucks trees discovered in Elgin in the Western Cape in 2011, is receiving much attention, and there have been many requests for trees and additional information from India over the past season.
1 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Favourable outlook for summer and winter field crops such as wheat, oats and canola
According to the latest report by the Crop Estimates Committee, farmers’ intention to plant suggests a bumper harvest for winter field crops. Glenneis Kriel reports.
3 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
New strategy required to fight crime in Kruger National Park
To slow down losses of rhinos due to poaching, experts have called for the adoption of a comprehensive long-term strategy rather than the current reactive responses. Glenneis Kriel reports.
3 min |
May 19, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Coping with coffee on the coast
This farmer had 5 500 coffee trees on 2,5ha, twice the usual planting density, and believed that South Africa could ultimately produce enough coffee to meet local demand.
3 min |