Business
Farmer's Weekly
How to create a closed terrarium
It’s rewarding to watch a self-sustaining ecosystem flourish in a sealed glass container; even more so if you created it yourself, says Linda Piegl.
2 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stories with strong social messages
In her selection this week, Patricia McCracken reviews both fiction and non-fiction titles, placing the spotlight on crime, online red flags for teenagers, and some delightful dog-walking tales, too.
2 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Road Freight Association marks 50th anniversary
In a celebration that brought together industry leaders, policy experts and long-time members, the Road Freight Association (RFA) marked its 50th anniversary at its annual convention held at the Champagne Sports Resort ina KwaZulu-Natal’s Central Drakensberg.
1 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Onion prices higher at the start of winter as demand strengthens
This week, Absa AgriBusiness provides an overview of the current market trends, expected price movements, and the factors influencing key vegetable markets during winter.
2 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
June means it's time to vaccinate against African horse sickness
Dr Mac suggests some practical ways for horse owners to pool their resources and make annual vaccination time a trouble-free experience.
2 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Foton Tunland: not perfect, but offers bang for your buck
Unlike many other Chinese bakkies making their way to South Africa for the first time, the Foton Tunland is a more familiar face. The Citizen's Charl Bosch put two of the returning manufacturer's bakkies to the test.
5 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'The functionally efficient and profitable Beefmaster'
Guy Rensburg, owner of Rensgrow Beefmasters near Komga in the Eastern Cape, spoke to Janine Ryan about why he chooses to farm easy-to-care-for Beefmasters.
5 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Cutting-edge tech and equipment can improve profitability in apple and pear orchards
To truly grow more with less, farmers need to explore new technologies and keep these in mind when planning and planting new orchards. Magda du Toit spoke to industry experts about the latest and best equipment and technology available, all designed with one goal in mind: to improve production and cost-effectiveness.
8 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Calf rearing: the secret to dairy success
Calves play the most important role in the production chain, according to this Caledon farmer.
3 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Revised White Paper could see a shake-up of local government
While everybody was focused on the recent Trump-Ramaphosa White House discussions, and other geopolitical conflicts, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa made a very important announcement regarding local government in South Africa. He announced the beginning of a review of the White Paper on Local Government.
3 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Avo waffles with savoury mince
Want to make Belgian waffles green with envy? Try these avocado waffles loaded with savoury mince and topped with slices of fresh avocado. Recipe and photo: South African Avocado Growers' Association.
1 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The importance of standardised testing in accurate livestock genetic evaluations
Freek Botes and Melville Ferreira, senior research technicians, and Dr Ben Greyling, research team manager, all of the Agricultural Research Council's Beef Cattle Improvement Scheme, explain why consistency is crucial when calculating estimated breeding values in livestock production. They also review the importance of standardised performance testing procedures.
4 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Innovation in apple and pear production
Advancement in the pome fruit industry includes cultivar development, enhanced production methods, and upgraded logistics to overcome barriers in export channels. Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, and Henk Griessel, Tru-Cape's quality assurance manager, spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about the industry's view on innovation in apple and pear production and exports.
5 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Unpacking the EU’s plastic and packaging waste requirements for SA exporters
South African exporters are being urged to comply with the EU's packaging rules or risk market loss and missed sustainability opportunities. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.
3 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Can farmers cash in on retail trends?
Farmers are largely supplying their produce to the wholesale trade, but with a distinct global shift to online shopping, more producers should be engaging these consumers, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.
3 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Beware the burn of the Capsicum chinense!
The habanero chilli pepper is native to South America. With its distinct fragrance and flavour, it is enjoyed by many people as a condiment, and its varieties include some of the world’s hottest chillies, writes Bill Kerr.
2 min |
June 27, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Make yourself indispensable to ensure your future in farming'
Not only is Johan Odendal farming to leave a legacy for his three children, but he is also looking out for the interests of his fellow farmers through his role as chairperson of the Young Farmer Committee at Free State Agriculture. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about his approach to farming and his thoughts on the sector.
8 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Karan Beef managing impact of FMD outbreak
Karan Beef has suspended cattle intake at its Heidelberg feedlot following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which was confirmed in early June.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
US trade relationship is damaged beyond repair
While the US's 'Liberation Day' tariffs could be seen as a negotiating tactic, it may have backfired, irrevocably changing trade relations around the world.
1 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Marrying the old with the new: a young farmer's perspective
The roots of the Battenhausen family in the Upper Karoo are as deep and meaningful as their family tree. For six generations, they have farmed sheep near Philipstown, and their contribution to the community is well known. Today, it is up to Carl Battenhausen to walk in the footsteps of those who came before him and continue building his family’s legacy.
4 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Feeding garden birds to help them survive the winter
During the warmer months, birds have access to plentiful seeds, fruit, and insects, so supplementary feeding is unnecessary. It's also an important time for fledglings to learn how to forage. However, in winter, when food sources are scarce, feeding your garden birds helps them survive the harsh conditions
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
African armyworm makes its way to Porterville
An outbreak of African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) has been confirmed on farms near Porterville in the Western Cape, marking a shift in the pest’s usual pattern of migration.
1 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The stories behind South Africa's best extra virgin olive oils
SA Olive and Absa celebrate the country's top olive oil producers, from the Breede River Valley to the slopes of the Swartberg Mountains.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Mixed fortunes for timber sector, including Sappi
South Africa's timber industry has struggled to recover from subdued consumer demand post-COVID-19. Demand for pine timber remains especially low, while eucalyptus used for dissolving pulp (DP) is faring better.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Crop rotation is key in vegetable and crop production
The continual practice of ‘monoculture’ planting by farmers is becoming increasingly detrimental to the quality of produce in the longer term, so cyclical rotation is a better option, writes Shane Brody.
3 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Navigating an uncertain regulatory environment
While various regulations and policy developments might be causing uncertainty in the agriculture sector, farmers should remember that previous radical attempts at land reform failed to materialise, or had minimal impact.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a down-to-earth, 57-year-old woman and former farmer, seeking a single, white gentleman farmer in his 50s or 60s in the Emalahleni area. He must cherish the outdoors, fishing, gardening, music, and Yahuah, our Elohim.
1 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Opening up opportunities for future farmers by exposing them to technology
Magda du Toit attended the launch of a strategic collaborative partnership between Earth Hub Africa, MTN SA Foundation, and Shell South Africa, aimed at creating scalable smart farming in rural areas.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Eco-paradise: exploring South Africa’s hidden botanical gem
Travel writer Brian Berkman discovers why the pristine Kogelberg Nature Reserve, east of Cape Town, offers the perfect off-the-grid escape for botanical lovers in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
4 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Rabbit farming on the rise in South Africa
Rabbit farming is gaining traction in South Africa. Farmer Daisy Moleko spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the breeds, biosecurity, and market access opportunities driving growth in this niche livestock sector.
6 min |