Business
Farmer's Weekly
South Korean company leveraging AI-driven smart farming tech
Smart farming, or precision agriculture, integrates technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and the Internet of Things to tackle agricultural challenges like labour shortages, sustainability and efficiency. This approach allows producers to boost their yields with fewer resources.
1 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Crocodile farming: the importance of adapting to climate change
Crocodile farming is a profitable niche industry in South Africa that is focused on supplying premium skins to the global luxury goods market. However, as the effects of climate change intensify, maintaining ideal conditions for these reptiles becomes more difficult. Sinenhlanhla Mnewango spoke to two farmers about how they're tackling these challenges while supporting conservation and economic growth in the country.
4 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Elsenburg students shine at awards ceremony for agricultural studies
At an event held in December, graduates from the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Stellenbosch were honoured for their exceptional academic achievements in 2024.
1 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From beer to botanicals: the surprising potential uses for hops waste
Preserve Botanica is pioneering research into upcycling hops waste. CEO Wanda du Plessis spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the company’s groundbreaking findings and their potential impact on the industry.
4 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa eyes red meat export opportunities in Algeria
As Algeria's red meat demand surges, Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on South Africa's readiness to supply world-class beef and lamb to this vital market.
2 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Study urges new way for youth agri-involvement
The participation of young people in the South African agriculture sector remains low, despite various efforts to get the group more interested in the sector.
1 min |
January 24, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Agripreneur wins top award for butternut coffee
Bloemfontein-based agripreneur Chantelle de Bruyn has achieved global recognition.
1 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Final fresh produce inquiry pins low level of transformation on farming environment
The Competition Commission released its final report on the Fresh Produce Market Inquiry in mid-January, maintaining that transformation in the industry was being impeded by a lack of support for emerging farmers.
3 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Illegal fishing in Australia reveals market gap for farmed sea cucumber
Illegal fishing practices in Australia have revealed a large market opportunity for sea cucumber farming.
1 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
An introduction to the Ford Ranger Tremor
In December 2024, the CAR magazine team received the Ford Ranger Tremor to accompany them through the festive season and into the new year. Oliver Keohane looks at what the Tremor is all about.
2 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A farmer's experience with bush encroachment
Farmer David Addenbrooke has worked in the Zimbabwean beef industry for around four decades. Here, he relates his experience with bush encroachment and offers farmers some advice on battling this scourge.
10+ min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Good rains boost SA's summer grain crop prospects
This week, Absa AgriBusiness analyses several market dynamics and shares its expectations for local grain and oilseed prices over the coming months.
3 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A self-help tool for getting young people engaged in agriculture
The active engagement of the youth in agriculture is pivotal to the sustainability and growth of the sector. Empowering them with the necessary support is key to nurturing future farmers who are equipped to overcome future challenges like the effects of climate change.Dr Primrose Madende, researcher at the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State
7 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Rallying to the cackle of this raucous bird
The gregarious and territorial Green Wood-hoopoe, also known as the Red-billed Wood-hoopoe, is extremely vocal and is often heard before it is seen. And for very good reason,
2 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA coffee lovers can expect price increase
South African coffee prices are expected to spike sharply in the foreseeable future because of failed crops in the country’s main importing countries: Brazil and Vietnam.
2 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Paving the way for a greener dairy industry
The dairy industry is often criticised for its environmental impact, but a new innovation called DESTiny aims to empower farmers to take control of their carbon footprints. Riana Reinecke, the tool's developer, explained to Glenneis Kriel how it works and how farmers can benefit from it.
5 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A different seedling tray for each specific purpose
Bill Kerr explains the different types of seedling trays available to vegetable producers. They vary in type of material and shape of cavities.
2 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Production principles for hatchery success
The hatchery is the foundation of a fish farm. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, says that by following his six hatchery principles, farmers can set a trajectory for success in the grow-out phase.
3 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
veggie Award-winning farmer: don't be afraid to ask for advice!
Vegetable farmer Sophy Litshani Musabeni doesn't miss an opportunity to broaden her knowledge on agriculture. Doing her own research and speaking to those in the know, she has catapulted herself from a small-scale emerging farmer to a commercial success in just seven years.
7 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Laying the foundation: important insights= for emerging farmers.
Farming requires patience, resilience, and strategic planning. Speaking to Octavia Avesca Spandiel, Duncan Serapelwane, owner of Moalosi Bonsmara, shares essential advice for emerging farmers, focusing on sustainability, budgeting, biosecurity, and leveraging nature for long-term success.
6 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The opportunities for South Africa in the G20 year
The year 2025 is going to be very different from what we experienced in 2024.
3 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Upcycling sugar cane trash: the role of small-scale farmers
Involving small-scale farmers in the conversion of sugar cane trash to bioenergy has many benefits, write Prof Aluwani Maiwashe-Tagwi and postdoctoral fellow Unity Chipfupa, from the University of South Africa.
4 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Free fertiliser for all crops
This article showed that South African researchers were tracking bacteria that could help maize and other non-legumes bind nitrogen from the air.
3 min |
January 31, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Farmer's Weekly
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
3 min |