Business
Farmer's Weekly
Obtain virus-free planting material for sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are easy to grow almost all year round, but Bill Kerr warns that you need to guard against viruses taking hold of the crop.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Growing onions as a market gardener or small-scale producer
When choosing which vegetables to plant, factors like demand, shelf life, and pest resistance should be considered. Shane Brody says onions are a good option in this regard, and explains how to grow them.
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
First steps to take when putting up a chicken house
Choosing the right site and materials to set up a chicken house or coop on your smallholding or in your backyard is essential to ensure the health and safety of your chickens.
4 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
World shearing record broken in South Africa
New Zealand shearer Aiden Copp and South African shearing contractor Tienie du Plessis recently set a world two-stand shearing record by shearing a total of 970 Merino lambs in nine hours near Steynsburg, Eastern Cape.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Bonsai: combining horticulture with artistic expression
Bonsai, the traditional Japanese art form of cultivating miniature trees in containers, involves the careful pruning, pinching, and wiring of trees to train them into various shapes
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Changes to Fruit South Africa board of directors
Fruit South Africa (Fruit SA) recently announced key changes to its board of directors.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
BYD Shark out to prove its credentials
BYD's presence in South Africa has been low-key due to the Chinese carmaker only offering all-electric models. That's about to change with the arrival of the plug-in hybrid Shark bakkie, writes The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA, Ukraine explore agri trade ties in state visit
President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to South Africa on 24 April, in a historic official visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the first by a Ukrainian head of state.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Case IH geared to support sorghum production
André Olwagen, strategic marketing manager and product portfolio manager at Case IH, spoke to Magda du Toit about how the company assists farmers during the planting and harvesting of sorghum.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The many uses of cattle rails
The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe has fond memories of holding onto the cattle rails of his uncle's bakkie for dear life, with Lovely the collie by his side, on the farm roads of Koekenaap. It turns out, though, that these rails keep more people and dogs on bakkies than they do cattle.
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
G20 agri working group: unlocking potential for all
Addressing the skewed nature of agriculture should be a priority for the G20 Agriculture Working Group.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Million-kilometre Hino truck starts new phase in its life
With regular servicing and maintenance, this trouble-free Hino 15-258 500 Series truck is set to keep going strong for many more kilometres to come.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
High rainfall-mitigation tech is available, but costly
South Africa's status as an arid country has focused much attention on water-saving technologies, placing farmers in a good position to better manage water resources.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Standing committee gears up for better oversight
The Standing Committee on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism recently engaged directly with leading industry bodies, including AgBiz, Agri Western Cape, Hortgro, South Africa Wine, the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA), the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), Milk South Africa, the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation and the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, to deepen their understanding of the agriculture sector.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Sorghum: a viable crop for summer rainfall areas
Sorghum, deeply rooted in South Africa’s heritage, is a versatile, highly nutritious, and gluten-free grain. Hardy and drought-tolerant, it thrives in various soil types and fluctuating climate conditions. However, for sorghum to be a viable crop, it must add value to a farming enterprise, fit into a farmer's rotation system, and be profitable. Magda du Toit spoke to industry experts about the best sorghum production practices.
10+ min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Western Cape honey bee population under threat
South Africa’s agricultural output could face significant disruption unless urgent steps are taken to protect the country’s indigenous honey bee populations, the Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA) has warned.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Captive big cat industry needs complete reform
The recent conviction of Thabo Masihlelo, a professor at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Gauteng, for animal cruelty (after starving captive lions were found in his possession near Tweeling in the Free State) highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reform in South Africa's captive lion industry.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The rise of the big red machine
In German, a steiger is the foreman on a mine; someone who must ensure the safety of workers rising from the depths. In the same way, the new Case IH Steiger is the latest example of how agricultural mechanisation has risen from relatively humble beginnings to powerful innovation.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
World shearing record broken in South Africa
New Zealand shearer Aiden Copp and South African shearing contractor Tienie du Plessis recently set a world two-stand shearing record by shearing a total of 970 Merino lambs in nine hours near Steynsburg, Eastern Cape.
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
MEC highlights empowerment at G20 food meeting
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa delivered a rallying speech at the G20 Food Security Task Force (FSTF) Meeting in late April in Durban, calling on global partners to \"empower youth, women and smallholders\" and embrace technology to ensure a more resilient and inclusive agriculture sector.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Favourable prospects for livestock industry, despite uncertainties
This week, Absa AgriBusiness explores some of the major factors that could have a bearing on price direction and profitability in livestock markets over the coming months.
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A closer look at land reform numbers
Johann Bornman, chairperson of Agri Development Solutions, recently released a report to set the record straight about land reform in South Africa. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the results.
7 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The American Quarter Horse: undisputed king of Western riding
Over centuries, the American Quarter Horse has been refined into the ideal work and sport horse, thanks to its history as a cow horse. Janine Ryan looks at the Western riding disciplines that have been derived from farm work, and explains why the American Quarter Horse is perfect for this sport.
8 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Surviving the storm: managing risks in a world of 'black swans'
It’s at times like the present that a professional risk-management exercise becomes so valuable.
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Flood damage exacerbated by poor infrastructure
Tarien Cooks, disaster management specialist at AfriForum, has expressed serious concern about the lack of damage-control infrastructure and management expertise across South Africa, except in the Western Cape.
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Looking forward to Nampo 2025
Nampo Harvest Day is once again upon us!
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Let the figures do the talking
Six years after starting a dairy, former chartered accountant John Knipe not only milked a massive Friesland herd but marketed the final product himself, as this article revealed.
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Focus on global food security at a major conference hosted by Joburg
The World Union of Wholesale Markets Conference 2025 will bring together industry leaders to explore innovative solutions, policies, and technological advancements that can transform food distribution networks and enhance sustainability.
2 min |
May 09, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The foundation for greatness
The 1951/52 Springbok touring side to the UK and France set a benchmark for future South African teams, and was regarded as 'world champion' before the title officially existed
6 min |
May 09, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to finance John Deere equipment
With smarter cash flow, better planning, and flexible repayment options, John Deere Financial empowers farmers to remain resilient and ready for growth — without the need for upfront payment.
2 min |