Business
Farmer's Weekly
Employees who sleep on the job
Fatigue can impair an employee's concentration, coordination, and reaction speed, which in turn can reduce their productivity. Employees who sleep on duty also put themselves, their colleagues, and their employer at risk, writes James Pretorius.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Accommodation for rural workers
Dear Jonno, There are often workers in our area who require accommodation while fulfilling shortor medium-term contracts.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From cow dung to cellulose fibres and more
Researchers from University College London in England and Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland have developed a technique to recover cellulose - a natural fibre found in plant cell walls - from cow dung and turn it into useful manufacturing materials.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Rediscovered: the elusive Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew has been recorded for the first time in 46 years
One of the Western Cape's most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has reappeared, 46 years after it was last documented.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
UCT professor wins prestigious research award
Dr Katye Altieri has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) New Frontiers Research Award.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Sweet potato production
Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow, but be aware of certain pests, and also retain adequate soil moisture, writes Bill Kerr.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Upward momentum in meat complex as SA heads into winter
This week, Absa AgriBusiness considers the dynamics in the South African livestock industry to explore what prices could look like over the coming weeks.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A home with a view of Table Mountain
We want to build a house on the West Coast, not too far from Cape Town, and we want it to be reminiscent of the Cape Dutch style.
1 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Tips for buying a horse trailer
What should you consider when buying a horse box or trailer? It all depends on how many horses you'll be transporting and how often you'll be doing so, as well as how much you're willing to pay, writes Dr Mac.
3 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Leopard numbers plummet as their habitat shrinks
Global animal welfare organisations, including FOUR PAWS and Wild Africa, highlighted the exploitation of leopards in the global big cat trade on International Leopard Day on 3 May.
1 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Horse hoof care in wet weather
High rainfall can benefit crops, but without proper grooming and timely treatments, muddy fields can lead to various ailments in horses, including lameness, mud fever, and foot rot, writes Dr Mac.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From banking to birding and the bushveld
As winter starts to bite, Patricia McCracken recommends books that will keep you intrigued while you're curled up in front of the fireplace or taking shelter on a sunny veranda.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Over 100 rhinos poached in three months in SA
The loss of 103 rhinos to poaching in the first three months of 2025 is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to South Africa’s wildlife.
1 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Angora project brings mohair training to students
The Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET), in collaboration with Mohair South Africa, recently launched the Fort Cox Angora Goat Pilot Project to provide students at Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in the Eastern Cape (FCAFTI) with hands-on training in mohair production.
1 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Chianinas: big cattle, bigger benefits
Looking for a breed to maximise returns on animals and land? Garren Coetzee, who runs a Chianina stud near Uniondale in the Western Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about why this breed is the answer.
5 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Establishing a sweet potato crop
Bill Kerr discusses the simple yet effective steps needed for planting sweet potatoes, as well as irrigation, fertilisation, and weed control.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The impact of US trade policy
The increase in US import tariffs has already prompted other countries to raise their own. This could lead to a trade war that wouldn't benefit anyone, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.
3 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Treating pasteurellosis in sheep
After the heavy rains in Gauteng, my Dorper sheep have snotty noses and are coughing a lot.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Concern about the use of dogs for illegal hunting
TLU SA has expressed serious concern about the increasing incidence of illegal hunting with dogs in agricultural areas, especially in the Free State.
1 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Indigenous breeds better at surviving heat stress'
Prof Giel Scholtz, specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, has cautioned South African livestock producers about the challenges posed by heat stress.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Getting to grips with groundnut production
Groundnuts are a high-value, versatile, and sustainable crop cultivated and consumed worldwide. Requiring less water and fertiliser than many other crops, they are ideal for crop rotation, writes Linda Piegl.
5 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding top racehorses
The world reflected through the eye of a horse is at the centre of the ethos of a boutique racehorse stud set in the Breede Valley in the Western Cape. Sabrina Dean spoke to John Köster to find out how Klawervlei Stud has added value to the Thoroughbred studbook over the years.
10 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
What's hindering SA's groundnut industry?
While global demand for groundnuts is increasing, the South African industry is struggling to remain profitable amid cheap imports. Efforts to increase import tariffs are ongoing and, should they succeed, will secure a brighter future for the local groundnut industry. Lindi Botha reports.
4 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From factory floor to furniture must-haves
Pallet furniture is an affordable, eco-friendly décor trend popular around the world. It offers rustic charm and creative solutions for every space, writes Linda Piegl.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Holistic management keeps groundnut diseases at bay
Groundnuts favour warm, dry climates, but since they are widely planted under dryland conditions, they do require good rainfall. This presents a challenging scenario for disease management, as diseases that attack groundnuts thrive in warm, wet conditions. Lindi Botha investigates effective strategies.
6 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Merc hits the spot with Vito Select
With the new V-Class only offered in flagship V300d guise, Mercedes-Benz was left with a gap in its line-up for a more accessible family van. Enter the Vito Select, writes The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
History's top 10 legends of the track
The 10 most renowned racehorses of all time boast numerous record-setting achievements.
10+ min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Rift Valley fever vaccine case dismissed with costs
Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently welcomed a High Court ruling that dismissed a case regarding a viral strain of Rift Valley fever (RVF) purchased by Vetvax and Design Biologix with costs.
2 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From piano teacher to stud breeder
This article showed how a farmer intended to put the sheep and cattle studs of the farm where she had grown up back on the map.
3 min |
May 23, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Global feed demand rebounds in 2024
Increasing demand for animal protein and producer resilience to disease outbreaks and adverse weather conditions have been credited for the rise in global feed production.
2 min |