Business
Farmer's Weekly
Vicar technology: sure bet for faster and smarter spraying
European mist blower spraying technology is now available in South Africa, which allows users to work faster and with greater efficiency
5 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Opel Grandland puts on a brand-new suit
Available initially as a single model in GS Line guise, the second modern Opel SUV after the Mokka additionally incorporates the latest version of Rüsselsheim’s Bold and Pure styling language, though with a subtle difference from its smaller sibling.
2 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How the ECRDA is driving the development of rural agriculture
Simpiwe Somdyala, CEO of the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency, speaks about the agency's ambitious plans to significantly increase agricultural production in the province. Janine Ryan reports.
3 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Disease comes knocking when the chain breaks
Biosecurity in feed management is a crucial aspect of disease prevention. Bonita Cilliers, technical and regulatory adviser of the Animal Feed Manufacturers' Association, spoke to Nichelle Steyn.
5 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nuanced fresh produce trends present opportunities for sharp marketers
Werner van Rooyen, chief operating officer of the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, unpacks the fresh produce trends that will drive growth over the short to medium terms. Lindi Botha reports.
2 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Capsicum pubescens: the very different chilli pepper
This species is grossly underrated, most probably due to climatic restrictions as to where it can be grown
2 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Tricky dragon fruit: don't give up; fine-tune!
Dragon fruit farming in South Africa has been fraught with challenges, resulting in many undertakings being abandoned. But perseverance pays off, and through constant fine-tuning, Freddie Steyn has triumphed. He shared his recipe for success with Lindi Botha.
9 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Biological control not a quick fix, warns researcher
Biological pest control holds significant potential for agriculture, but growers need to understand both its advantages and limitations before adopting it, warned Dr Francois Gulu Bekker, researcher at Stellenbosch University.
2 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo Cape 2025: going from strength to strength
Nampo Cape 2025 promises something for everyone, with livestock shows, equipment on display and an international tentpegging contest.
2 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Producing your own cabbage seedlings
Farmers living in communal farming regions may feel that they are unable to grow cabbages because they don't have access to places selling seedlings. Shane Brody has a solution for them.
3 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Harnessing traditional farming wisdom in SA's cannabis boom
The methods, skills and tricks of local communities are practical and 'green', and tie us to our roots. We've got to listen to the people who've kept this knowledge alive
3 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Zimbabwe's agriculture sector on the way to recovery
According to Forbes Africa, Zimbabwe's agriculture sector is well on its way to recovery after decades of economic strain and crippling drought, partly thanks to a US$10,12 million (about R177 million) grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
1 min |
August 29 - September 05, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From backyard to business: Patricia Beleng's journey to success
Patricia Beleng, owner of Buhlebenkosi Agri Productions, is a determined farmer who went from raising broilers in her backyard to running a poultry business supplying hundreds of chickens to the local market. Lindi Botha reports on the partnerships that brought her success.
7 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Collaboration across farms and industries needed to survive mounting challenges
Stakeholders across the agriculture sector need to get used to sharing data and collaborating if they are to solve two of the biggest challenges facing the sector: biosecurity and pest control.
4 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Why the Brahman?
The Brahman is known as the 'king of crossbreeding' and demonstrates a range of economically important traits that make it an ideal beef breed.
5 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Remaining productive amid climate challenges
Volatile climate conditions pose problems to agriculture worldwide. Facing shifting weather patterns, unpredictable rainfall, and rising temperatures, farmers must adapt their practices to ensure food security and sustainability. Magda du Toit spoke to experts in the industry to find out which strategies farmers can employ.
10+ min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The essential role of boron in table grape production
The addition of micronutrients like boron are critical in the cultivation of table grapes, as Zunel van Eeden discovered in conversation with agronomist
5 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Polenta cake with stewed fruit
This moist polenta cake, infused with lemon and vanilla, is soaked in warm, fragrant rooibos tea-stewed dried fruit syrup, and served topped with the fruit.
1 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Boost your pumpkin yields by 40%
New vegetable cultivars offer improved yields, better flavour, disease-resistance and longer shelf life.
3 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Drought-proofing tips to keep your farm thriving
Vivian Beukes, owner of Green Sprouts Solutions, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies and innovative technologies that farmers can adopt to drought-proof their farms and build resilience.
6 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
CRE Brahmans: where structure meets performance
Since its inception in 2004, the CRE Brahmans stud’s motto has been ‘performance meats integrity’. Studmaster Ampie Rossouw told Annelie Coleman that one of the cornerstones of the operation is its commitment to Phase D testing for young bulls to evaluate growth and feed efficiency.
4 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Brahman societies' journey to improve meat quality
The Brahman Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa elaborates on its efforts to improve all-important meat quality.
6 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The South African pome fruit industry: a review of the 2024 season
Apple and pear production demonstrated a strong recovery in terms of output, supported by favourable climate conditions and the continued expansion of high-yielding orchards,
2 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Brahman breeder crafts progeny for future performance
Miles Dicke operates his Miles2Go Brahman Stud from Idlewild farm in the Kei Mouth area of the Eastern Cape. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about how he is using technology to improve the breed.
10+ min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to breed superior Brahmans
Careful selection and maintaining an international network is key to the success of the Serfontein Brahman Stud. Jan and Carla Serfontein spoke to Nichelle Steyn.
5 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Fencing is a big help to keep predators at bay
A group of conservationists, ecologists and scientists pooled their collective expertise to produce this article, based on their studies, to help protect domestic and wild animals in Tanzania and elsewhere.
3 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Brahman: a legacy of adaptability and strength in South Africa
Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to Wayne Porter, president of the Brahman Breeders' Society of South Africa, about the history of Brahman cattle in the country and their role in commercial and communal farming.
6 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A tree house with a view of a dam
Dear Jonno,We want to build a two-bedroom tree house on our farm in Mpumalanga.
1 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
GWM raises the bar with updated Haval H6
Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) has updated the Haval H6 four years after introducing the SUV to South Africa. The Citizen's Charl Bosch sampled the impressive new model in a cold and wet Cape Town.
4 min |
August 15-22, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA sugar industry set for a bigger harvest
South Africa’s sugar cane growers are expecting a significantly improved harvest this season, following a rebound in rainfall after last year’s drier-than-normal conditions, according to the South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers).
1 min |