Business
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's unique coral trees
Every year in late winter, South Africa's eastern coastal belt is set ablaze with the scarlet and orange flowers of certain coral tree species from the genus Erythrina. Mike Burgess investigates the diversity of this special category of highly adaptive deciduous trees that includes the peculiar ploughbreaker.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Jaecoo J5 is ready to make waves
Chinese carmakers have been growing their local market share at the rate of knots over the last few years. The introduction of the Jaecoo J5 will further ensure the upward curve
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Farm watches take charge of rural safety
With rural crime on the rise and police resources stretched thin, farm watches across South Africa are stepping up to protect farming communities. These volunteer-led safety networks are preventing millions in losses, deterring criminal activity and helping police solve major crimes, proving that when farmers unite, the benefits ripple far beyond the farm gate.
8 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to start a farm watch in your area
Rural safety initiatives like farm watch systems are guided by the framework laid out in the national Rural Safety Strategy. Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst for Free State Agriculture, talks Sabrina Dean through the concept of a farm watch and how to establish one
9 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Farm attacks are a national crisis'
The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders continuing at alarming rates. This calls for rural crimes to be declared priority crimes as a matter of urgency, according to
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Advancing real-time data collection in South African agriculture
Dr Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle, Research Coordination Manager at Grain South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Information Hub at Innovation Africa, University of Pretoria, is transforming agricultural research through real-time data integration and collaboration across disciplines.
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stellenbosch in November: a seasonal gem and the perfect time to visit
Brian Berkman suggests you clear your diary to spend more time in November in the beautiful Eikestad.
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Adapting to the Climate Change Act: how agro-processing SMEs can build resilience
Wynand Deyzel, commercial sales manager at Solenco, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Act is shaping the operational durability of small to medium-sized agricultural enterprises and the role of indoor air management in adapting to climate impacts.
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
KWV shines at Veritas Awards with top accolades
KWV made history at the 35th Veritas Awards when it clinched the prestigious Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy – the award for the best wine in the show, excluding Museum Class Wine – for the second year in a row and third time overall.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Co-operation needed to build a resilient food system
From governments and international organisations to farmers, researchers, businesses, and consumers, including the youth, everyone has a role to play in shaping the transformation of agrifood systems of the world
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stellenbosch University confirms sheep suffocation incident and 'corrective actions
Ethical animal research training will in future be mandatory at Stellenbosch University to prevent a repeat of cruel treatment of sheep during an animal feed study.
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Vegetable prices fluctuating at the start of summer
Zama Sangweni explores how the five key vegetable commodities of cabbages, carrots, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes performed at the end of September, and the market conditions that can be expected in future.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to deal delicately with insubordination
Disobedience or the willful refusal to obey an employer's legitimate instruction is a serious offence, but as Hannes Latsky explains, the disciplinary procedure is not so straightforward.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The Groot Phesantekraal Chenin transformation
When André Brink accepted both Western Cape and South Africa's Farmer of the Year 2024 awards – arguably the industry's most prestigious titles - he could reflect on a journey that began with near disaster 20 years earlier.
4 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Absa Top 10 Olive Oils announced after tastings
SA Olive gold medal-winning extra virgin olive oils have undergone a round of meticulous blind tasting to identify the recently announced 2025 Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards.
1 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Steady improvements in port logistics bode well for the agriculture sector
Port logistics are making the news again, but this time for the right reasons.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From soil to sip: the Hanekoms' full-circle wine story
On the quiet outskirts of Piketberg, Western Cape, where the Swartland sun burns across rolling hills, a family-run wine enterprise has mastered the art of doing everything under one sky.
5 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA bags landmark stone-fruit trade deal with China
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen recently announced a major win for South Africa's fruit sector as he signed a one-of-a-kind stone fruit trade protocol with China.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Indian masala fried eggs with rotis
Ditch the plain scrambled eggs, and get ready for a burst of authentic flavour with these Indian masala fried eggs.
1 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
In search of the ultimate grazing strategy: Part 2
Prof Richard Fynn, of the Rangeland Ecology, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, explains how Facilitative Recursive Grazing (FRG) can improve grazing management
8 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Getting to the root of healthy vineyards
Vineyard success is built from the ground up, starting with the correct planting and care of new vines.
6 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Kolbroek - the unique local pig breed
The Kolbroek is well suited for keeping on small farms and smallholdings.
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Township women in waste management logistics for climate change awareness
Gaboutlelwe Trading is a women-led company that avidly advocates for climate change initiatives in previously disadvantages communities.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Rooted in pride: how South Africans turned Pinotage into red gold
Few people embody their brand quite like Beyers Truter, the charismatic owner of Beyerskloof near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. When he speaks, he has a way of making you feel as if you're the only person in the room – and you can't help thinking how lucky his winery, and the South African wine industry, are to have such a strong leader and passionate storyteller at the helm.
7 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Do you have what it takes to become a sommelier?
If you painstakingly choose your wine to pair perfectly with your food or you can name at least five major winemakers in the country, then maybe you have what it takes to be a good sommelier. Erica Taylor, vice-chairperson of the South African Sommeliers' Association
3 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Black mambas: heavy metal pollution detectors
According to researchers, toxic material builds up in snake scales, and thus black mambas can be good indicators of heavy metal pollution. Zoologist Cormac Price speaks about some of their findings.
4 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The fine print of firepower: gun laws and ownership
Since the implementation of the Firearms Control Act of 2000, legislation has given South Africans a clear framework for owning, storing and operating firearms. However, the use of a firearm for self-defence and farm safety can put farmers at risk if legal bounds are overstepped. Henning Naudé reports on the process of becoming a licensed firearm owner and the use of a firearm for protection.
5 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Smart tech for safer farms: the role of drones, Al and data tools in security
As farm attacks, equipment theft and vandalism continue to threaten South Africa's agriculture sector, many farmers are turning to technology for protection. From drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to coordinated communication platforms, innovation is proving to be one of the most effective allies in improving farm security.
6 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Disregard for law at the heart of SA's FMD crisis
South Africa's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis has highlighted a deeper problem that goes beyond government or legislation: South Africans don't abide by regulations.
2 min |
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Understanding sheep breeding specifics
Shane Brody explains some of the complexities of pairing compatible rams and ewes in the breeding process to ensure the consistent production of quality meat and wool.
3 min |