Business
Farmer's Weekly
Why Free Land Cannot Empower A Landless Population
A colleague of mine has lambasted my views on why expropriation without compensation is not a viable alternative (FW, 27 March).
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Discarded Pig Tissue Could Save Lives
US pork supplier and the world’s largest pig producer, Smithfield Foods (Smithfield), is working on a research project to save human lives by using discarded pig tissue to grow tissue and organs for human transplants.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Good Sharon Fruit Harvest Expected
South Africa’s sharon fruit season is currently underway, and according to a statement issued by Sharon Fruit South Africa and MOR International, the industry is looking forward to harvesting excellent quality fruit this year.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo Equipment Preview
The 2017 Nampo Show will showcase the latest tractors and other farming equipment, including the mighty Fendt 1050.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2017
Farmer's Weekly
SA's Disaster Relief System: Making A Bad Situation Worse
The release of disaster relief funds is a contentious issue in South Africa, writes Dr Christo Coetzee, researcher and lecturer at the North-West University’s African Centre for Disaster Management. According to him, the country needs a proactive approach to disaster relief to ensure a sustainable, profitable agricultural industry, and to safeguard food security.
5 min |
24 February 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Breeding Stately Peafowl
28YEARS AGO Peafowl are not only beautiful, they also make good eating. In this article, Roy Billett explains how to raise your own peafowl, from hatching chicks to feeding your cocks and hens.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Imports Threaten SA's Banana Farmers
South Africa’s banana industry has expressed concern that if significant imports are allowed to continue, a large number of jobs could be lost and banana enterprises closed down. Lloyd Phillips reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
SA Forestry Sector On Alert For New Eucalyptus Pests
A call has been issued for foresters and concerned citizens to keep an eye out for specimens of the shell lerp psyllid (Spondyliaspis spp.) and the eucalyptus gall wasp (Ophelimus maskelli), and to urgently notify forestry scientists if any are spotted.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Communal Farming: Let's Start With The Basics
In his new column, Shane Brody provides an introduction to communal farming in SA and what must be done to make the sector more profitable.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
KHOI Meets French: Award-Winning Winemaker's Rise To The Top
Berene Damons, the department of agriculture’s 2017 Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the agro-processing category, started work at the Hamilton Russell Vineyards 17 years ago. Promoted almost immediately to a marketing assistant, she soon developed an interest in winemaking, and went on to produce an award-winning, export-quality Pinot Noir wine, Tesselaarsdal. Jeandré du Preez reports.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Are Tomato Tunnels Practical In SA?
In Europe, tomatoes are grown in tunnels during winter. Why, then, is the same practice not followed here in South Africa, particularly in frosty areas?
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 1 December 2017
Farmer's Weekly
From Our Archives
Calf surgery
3 min |
19 January 2018
Farmer's Weekly
How to Detect and Manage Groundwater Resources
Most of South Africa’s water comes from groundwater reserves, according to Frans Putter, a geologist from Potchefstroom. Annelie Coleman spoke to him about groundwater exploration.
5 min |
10 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
We All Want Land Reform. Let's Make It Work!
Meaningful land reform is crucial, not only to allay the farming community’s fears, but to help restore the economy and benefit South Africa’s poor.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Tsatse Fly Repallant From Waterbuck
Prof Christian Borgemeister, a leading entomologist at the University of Bonn in Germany, researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and the Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources in Kenya, as well as Rothamsted Research in the UK, have developed a tsetse fly repellent for cows from waterbuck odour.
1 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Top Young Breeder Takes Angus To New Heights
Despite being a stud breeder for only five years, the ARC’s 2017 National Young Beef Cattle Breeder of the Year, MJ Ernst, has already made his mark. Annelie Coleman visited him on the family farm between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad to find out more about his Red Angus stud.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Precision Farming: Changing Litchi And Avo Prodution For The Better
Demand for litchis and avocados has soared and encouraged producers to embrace precision farming methods. Stephan Schoeman, owner of Soetkalmoes Consultation in Nelspruit, an advisory service for the tree crops industry, tells Gerhard Uys how these practices are improving yield and crop quality.
5 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Cutting Propogation Made Easy
Many people think that growing new plants or trees from cuttings should be left to qualified horticulturists. In fact, this technique is relatively simple, says Shane Brody.
4 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Measures To Prevent Curly Stunt Virus
The tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) occurs worldwide, and was first identified in South Africa in 1997. There are several strains of the virus; South African authorities named the local strain ‘curly stunt virus’ (ToCSV).
2 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Precision Farming Clinic
KZN John Deere dealer, Mascor, held a clinic at Eston recently to demonstrate the finer points of John Deere’s Precision Agriculture systems. Joe Spencer attended the event.
1 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Ultra-Spicy! Home-Made Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is one of the Asian subcontinent’s many contributions to fine dining. A ‘tandoor’ is the Hindi word for the special clay oven used in this style of cooking. If you have no tandoor to hand, fear not. Here’s a way to produce a pretty fine imitation in your own kitchen.
2 min |
10 November 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Know the Facts Before Switching Irrigation Systems
Drip irrigation systems have a well-deserved reputation for water-efficiency. Although this gives them an obvious advantage in water-scarce South Africa, irrigation specialist, Mark Zartmann, explains that there are several factors that a farmer should consider before converting to such a system. Lloyd Phillips reports.
4 min |
10 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Different Types of Hydroponic Systems
Prof Gert Venter explains the benefits of a static hydroponic system, which can be grouped into ‘open’ or ‘closed’ categories, and broadly subdivided into three main groups: static, dynamic and aero systems.
3 min |
10 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Land Reform Can Be Positive
Roelf Meyer, former minister of defence, constitutional affairs and communication, and now head of the In Transformation initiative, told Gerhard Uys that land reform could be a positive process if all stakeholders worked together.
4 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Lack Of Land Hampers Top Developing Farmers
Zolani Tyali and his son Mandange recently won the 2017 Unistel SA Stud Book Elite Developing Farmer award. Mike Burgess visited them on their farm in the Eastern Cape to gain a better understanding of the ups and downs experienced in their stud and commercial Nguni operations.
5 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo: The Big Stuff!
The size of agricultural machines continues to increase, and there were plenty of impressive machines at this year’s show.
1 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Getting Back In The Saddle
You rode as a youngster, then concentrated on raising a family. Now you’d like to ride again. Dr Mac offers some sound advice on how to revive an old passion.
2 min |
30 June 2017
Farmer's Weekly
New Market Opportunities for South Africa's Macadamias
Alex Whyte, marketing manager of Green and Gold Nuts is convinced that the industry has potential for significant growth. He spoke to Siyanda Sishuba.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 3 March 2017
Farmer's Weekly
Positive Sentiment In The Local Cotton Industry
High maize stocks, which have put pressure on the maize price, combined with higher demand for cotton, particularly from China, have contributed to a favourable outlook for cotton production in South Africa.
2 min |
June 22, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Bright Future For Fast-growing Modern Damara Sheep
Since importing his first Damaras from Namibia in the late 1980s, stud breeder Frank Blumenthal has firmly believed in the integrity of the breed. The Free State farmer says that the modern indigenous Damara has over the years evolved into a well-muscled animal with outstanding disease resistance and fertility under the hottest, driest conditions. Annelie Coleman reports.
5 min |