Business
Farmer's Weekly
SA to focus more on Africa as an export destination
By boosting its agricultural exports to other African states, South Africa has an opportunity to generate foreign earnings and expand the industrialisation of agriculture. This, in turn, could optimise the sector's contribution to the country’s development and prosperity, writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela.
3 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How intercropping added value to this Free State farm
The main goal of intercropping is to achieve the highest possible yield on a particular piece of land by using the available resources to their full potential. And that is precisely the route that father-and-son team Francis and Mike Mandy took on their crop and cattle farm in Harrismith. Annelie Coleman reports.
4 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Trump tariffs could harm SA's high-value exports
The newly introduced 30% import tariffs on goods from South Africa to the US, which, at the time of writing, were paused for 90 days, are set to have far-reaching consequences for South Africa's high-value agricultural exports.
2 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The right tomato cultivar pays dividends
This story showed how in the Eastern Cape some varieties of tomatoes can stand wet weather, cold, strong winds, and drought and still maintain good yields and resistance to disease.
2 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Record shattered twice at Giant Pumpkin Festival
This year’s Giant Pumpkin Festival winner, Piet Lotz of Riversdale in the Southern Cape, broke the South African biggest pumpkin record with his first pumpkin that weighed in at 1 062kg, and then bettered the record with his second pumpkin that tipped the scales at 1 120kg.
2 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Optimal nutrition for happy, healthy pigs
In this article, SwiNE Nutrition Management and the South African Pork Producers' Organisation provide an explanation of pigs' nutritional needs during different times of their life cycle.
4 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Conserve water and reduce costs with DIY irrigation
Instead of farmers incurring huge costs to install drain fields, French drains, or septic tanks in areas without municipal infrastructure, they can create their own multipurpose irrigation systems, says Shane Brody.
3 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Chinese influx continues with Changan and Deepal
The number of Chinese car brands on offer in South Africa will grow to a staggering 15 when Changan and Deepal are introduced later this year. The Citizen's Charl Bosch looks at the products these manufacturers plan to roll out.
2 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Where Bauhaus meets beach life in a vibrant Cape Town suburb
The primary reasons to stay at 82 on Regent in Sea Point, Cape Town, are its competitive rates and brilliant location, offering direct access to the beach, restaurants, bars, and more, writes Brian Berkman.
3 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Fake news lurks in agri, but it can be stopped
At the Africa Agri Tech 2025 conference held in Pretoria in March, Alan Hardacre, co-founder of Advocacy Academy, spoke about how disinformation campaigns wreak havoc on agribusinesses. He highlighted the challenges and opportunities in using artificial intelligence in the fight for truth. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Meatless diets will decimate global food security - documentary
Eliminating meat consumption and therefore livestock production globally wouldn't necessarily improve environmental health, as often touted by activists against livestock production. In a new documentary, A World Without Cows, the case is put forward for sustainable livestock production as a solution to global warming. Lindi Botha reports.
3 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Steenhuisen looks to Japan for agri market access
South Africa's agriculture sector needs fresh market opportunities to sustain growth and resilience in an unpredictable global trade environment, according to Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen.
1 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
An inside look at South Africa's meat safety standards
South Africa's Meat Safety Act sets strict regulations to ensure meat quality and protect consumers, covering every stage of the food value chain. Dr Gerhard Neethling, general manager of the Red Meat Abattoir Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about inspections, traceability, and industry compliance.
5 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stutterheim hemp producers receive hands-on training ahead of harvest
The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, hosted a Hemp Harvest Demonstration in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, in March.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Escape to Russia
Willie Steyn slipped quietly into the waters of Colombo harbour in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) behind his fellow prisoners.
6 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'You don't have to lock your front door at night'
The Coves estate on the Hartbeestpoort Dam offers residents water sports, walks through a mini forest, a restaurant, and a working farm, all in a secure environment, writes Lucille Davie.
5 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Blackpool Senepol stud reaches new heights
In 2024, Blackpool Senepol sold a bull for a new South African record price of R165 000. Owner Chris Sheard spoke to Mike Burgess about how he built a stud capable of producing one of the best Senepol bulls the country has ever seen.
4 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA must use the moment of optimism to tackle long-standing challenges in the agri sector
AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE by Hamlet Hlomendlini
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The most common mistakes to avoid in broiler production
Most mistakes in broiler farming regard the need to introduce good management practices rather than the need to spend heaps of money, writes
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Blooming difficult: growing finicky orchids for a finicky market
A high-maintenance crop, if ever there was one, orchids demand attention to detail. With over 35 years of experience in orchid production, LVG Plants combines its expertise with new advancements in greener technologies, ensuring its flowers are beautiful allies for people and planet.
7 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Castles in the countryside
Escape to a bygone era by visiting a countryside castle. The outskirts of Johannesburg are home to no less than three castles, two of which offer guest accommodation, says Linda Piegl.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Harvesting and curing onions, extending marketing season
To achieve a better price for your onions, it is important to present properly cured bulbs of uniform size to the market, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Maize virus progress
This article showed how maize streak virus-resistant maize could reduce crop losses.
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The typical conformation requirements of a top-quality Limousin
In this article, we explain the typical breed standards of the Limousin, as per Limousin Southern Africa and the British Limousin Cattle Society.
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Renault Duster enters new era without diesel engines
The big news around the all-new Renault Duster’s local introduction was the discontinuation of the venerable diesel engines. The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe looks at how the crossover is gearing up for life after diesel.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The best of British hospitality under warm African skies in Mossel Bay
You don't have to be a full-on British royalist to enjoy Betty's Boutique Hotel in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, writes Brian Berkman. There's a mix of good hospitality and service on offer at this establishment.
4 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Promoting beekeeping in South Africa
Elizabeth Lamond, chairperson of the Free State Beekeeping Association, and Enid Brown, member of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association, director of the World Beekeeping Awards and a beekeeper for more than 30 years, spoke to Janine Ryan about the upcoming honey and mead competition in the Free State, challenges facing the industry, and what can be done to promote beekeeping in South Africa.
6 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Small yet mighty: farm's integrated approach to sustainability
In an era where small to medium-sized farms are struggling to stay afloat, Charlesford Farm near Knysna is bucking the trend with a combination of traditional agriculture, value adding, and agritourism. Owner Cathy Shearer and farm manager Cobus Erasmus spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their approach.
8 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Real leaders do apologise
Apologising isn't easy, says Peter Hughes, but it's a critical requirement and essential to successful management. When last did you offer a heartfelt apology?
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA's unsafe water supplies: licensing service providers won't solve the issue
The national government's plan to amend the Water Services Act to ensure clean and drinkable water for all depends on local government reforms, writes the University of the Witwatersrand's Prof Tracy-Lynn Field.
4 min |