Business
Farmer's Weekly
Don't forget your snakebite kit: Part 1
This article explained why every farmer should have a snakebite kit on hand, and how to use it correctly.
3 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Learners and communities benefit from holistic health and nutrition initiative
The number of children consuming vegetables on a daily basis at 342 schools in at-risk communities across Gauteng, the Eastern and Western Cape increased by 494% between 2019 and 2022, thanks to INMED's Health in Action (HIA) programme, and the Mondelēz International Foundation.
2 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Succulents under threat as thieves steal Karoo's unique plant heritage
International demand for South African succulents fuels criminality and threatens biodiversity. The Succulent Karoo is being stripped of its unique biodiversity to supply illegal markets, says Dr Carina Bruwer, senior researcher for Southern Africa at ENACT, and urgent steps are needed to halt the illegal harvesting.
4 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Drought may have led to the Hunnic invasions
In a recent study, researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK argue that Hunnic peoples migrated westward across Eurasia, switched between farming and herding, and became violent raiders in response to severe drought in the Danube frontier provinces of the Roman Empire.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
A little piece of paradise for birdwatchers and trout anglers in Mpumalanga
The Prinsloo family have added five comfortable cottages to their working farm to provide a delightful getaway for city dwellers. Riaan Hattingh paid it a visit, and came away well rested and highly impressed.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Understanding the different perspectives on succession
With several stakeholders being involved in succession planning, each person will inevitably reveal a different set of fears and regrets during the process. How this is handled can determine the success or failure of the agribusiness. This week, Trevor Dickinson looks at the situation from the perspective of the founder.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
SA litchi farmers rethink production and markets
Market constraints and climate change have slashed profits for local litchi growers, leading to many exiting the industry. Komati Fruit in Mpumalanga has persevered, and is amongst the pioneers of positive change in the industry. Cornel van der Merwe, marketing and packaging director of Komati Fruit, spoke to Lindi Botha.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Capitalising on unused land with goats
The subtropical Lowveld is hardly prime goat country, but with good management, a farmer can add a valuable component to the crops cultivated in the area. Divan Maritz spoke to Lindi Botha about how he manages his goat stud of 300 animals for optimal farm profitability in this climate.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Making hay while the sun shines
The annual Balfour Hay Day held in Mpumalanga serves to whet farmers' appetites for the upcoming hay- and silage-making season. And this year's event, which was held on 19 January, was no exception. The latest equipment was demonstrated on lush, rain-watered veld, and farmers were spoilt for choice.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The impact of China's declining population on SA agri trade
The National Bureau of Statistics of China recently reported that the population in that country is declining. Absa AgriBusiness explores the possible impact of this megatrend on South Africa's agriculture sector.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Hold on input price increases needed to keep citrus industry afloat
Citrus stakeholders in South Africa are appealing for a moratorium on price increases of inputs in an effort to save the industry from collapse. Lindi Botha reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Green Week: subdued attack on meat consumption
Calls to end meat consumption and halt livestock farming were noticeably subdued at this year’s International Green Week conference held in Berlin, Germany, in late January.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Hempseed cake a good protein alternative in goat feed
New research has found that including hempseed cake in the diets of goats could produce a number of positive results for producers. Glenneis Kriel reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
'South Africa sitting on a bluetongue time bomb'
Bluetongue poses a serious danger to sheep production in South Africa, and the spread of the disease is expected to escalate until early autumn 2023.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Grain SA on the road to improving circumstances for local grain farmers
Glenneis Kriel recently attended Grain SA's regional meeting in Moorreesburg, Western Cape, where the industry body summed up its activities over the past year.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
England offers incentives to farmers to 'save' the environment
Farmers in England could receive funding from the government for up to 280 separate actions that aim to protect the environment, according to an article recently published by The Guardian newspaper
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Black arm, boll rot and wilting in cotton plants
There is much hope for South Africa’s cotton industry as new players enter the market. However, as with all crops, there are several diseases that can cause serious economic losses. Janine Ryan examines a few.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The true value of pets and companion animals
Dr Jan du Preez, a veterinary specialist in public health, looks at the emotional, social and physical contributions that pets and companion animals make to the lives of their human owners.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Tiger 'farming' in SA: cruel, dangerous, and against global norms
Dr Neil D'Cruze, head of wildlife research and policy at World Animal Protection and Visiting Researcher at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; and Angie Elwin, wildlife research manager at World Animal Protection and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Reading, spoke to Moina Spooner, assistant editor at The Conversation Africa, about the captive-bred tiger industry in South Africa.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The overhaul of the Volvo XC90
Last year, Volvo launched the updated version of the all-wheel drive XC90, which marks the next step in the company's ambitious electrification strategy, says Siyavuya Mbaduli of CAR magazine.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Getting seeds to germinate under hot conditions
Each species has an optimal temperature for seed germination. The faster the seeds germinate, the better they do so, and the more likely they are to gain the upper hand over weeds, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Parasitic cysts and lesions in organs
Parasitic cysts can result in the meat produced by your animals being downgraded. They also point to the presence of diseases that can make people very sick.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 17 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
New online academy seeks to offer farmers and farmworkers greater opportunities
Ellis Mnyandu reports on the launch of a new online academy that seeks to upskill farmers and farmworkers in animal health and agricultural sciences.
3 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
DA calls for fewer power cuts to Free State farmers
Rolling blackouts have had a severe impact on the Free State's agriculture sector and it was crucial for Eskom to manage the sector as an essential service in terms of power distribution in order to not harm food production. This was according to the DA's Dr Roy Jankielsohn, leader of the opposition in the Free State Legislature.
1 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Balfour Hay Day proves the value of farmers' days
Balfour Hay Day recently celebrated its 10th year, attracting a record number of visitors to the small Mpumalanga town. Just over 1 200 people attended the event, which showcased the latest silage and haymaking equipment.
1 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Tractor sales set to moderate after highs in 2022
Sales of agricultural machinery are not expected to reach the record highs of 2022 this year, as inflation rates and high input costs weigh on farmers.
1 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Strategies to eliminate rabies globally by 2030
A strong international drive is under way to put an end to all indigenously acquired dog-mediated rabies cases among humans by the end of this decade. In this article, researchers in the field set out the challenge.
5 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The state of SA's flower industry: Part 3
Carol Sutherland asked flower growers Dirk van der Merwe and Micky de la Porte how the industry has changed.
4 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The slow transformation of SA's dairy industry
Effecting change in the dairy industry is not for the short-sighted or faint of heart. Simpiwe Somdyala, CEO of Amadlelo Agri, spoke to Susan Marais about the agricultural investment company’s quest to uplift rural farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and the challenges it faces in the process.
6 min |
10 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Macadamia nuts: has the bubble burst?
Driven by high prices and attractive profit margins, macadamia plantings have exploded over the past seven years. Unfortunately, these large volumes have now combined with a downturn in the market to force farm-gate prices down, and many macadamia farmers are concerned about their future. Charles Cormack, CEO of Marquis Marketing, spoke to Lindi Botha about the road ahead for the industry.
5 min |