Business
Farmer's Weekly
Unlocking the soil's potential with biochar
Biochar, the residue created by burning biomass, has been increasingly recognised for its remarkable ability to improve soil fertility and store carbon. Kobus Stoop, director of Cape Town-based Senfore Soil Conditioning, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the substance and its potential for agriculture.
6 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Controlling pests and diseases in cannabis cultivation
New technologies can help growers overcome the difficulties involved in producing a healthy and profitable crop as the cannabis business continues to expand and change, says Thomas Walker.
3 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Better times ahead for dairy farmers
For several years, milk producers have been squeezed by stagnant and lower producer prices and higher input prices.
2 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
'EU's false codling moth phytosanitary rules threaten citrus sector'
The South African citrus export industry is under immense financial pressure following the EU’s implementation of stringent new phytosanitary regulations.
2 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Guidelines on how to reduce wind damage in citrus orchards
New research has revealed the benefits of planting windbreaks in citrus orchards to prevent wind damage to the fruit.
2 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Renewed calls to exempt chicken from VAT
FairPlay has renewed calls for government to remove South Africa’s 15% value-added tax (VAT) from chicken portions because of “rising agricultural costs, including unreliable and increasingly expensive electricity”.
1 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Legislation to keep 'foreign adversaries' out of US farming
New legislation tabled in the US House of Representatives and the Senate seeks to prevent China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying farmland or agricultural companies in the country, according to the National Agricultural Law Center in the US.
1 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Regional winners of 2022 AYuTe Africa Challenge
ThriveAgric, a Nigerian agri-tech company, has emerged as the West African winner of the annual Agriculture Youth Technology (AYuTe) Africa Challenge, receiving a US$1million (about R17,5 million) grant as reward.
2 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Global uncertainty spells trouble for cost of living
The current unprecented level of global uncertainty is not expected to abate in 2023.
1 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Afrikaner breed's surprising water-intake efficiency
The latest research results released by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) have shown that South Africa’s Afrikaner beef cattle breed is ideally suited to counteract the expected impact of climate change on cattle production.
1 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Tough road ahead for South African farmers and consumers
South Africa’s consumer price index inflation remains far above the South African Reserve Bank’s target, despite the most recent interest rate increase since the current cycle of hikes began in November 2021.
3 min |
24 February 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The state of food security and nutrition in the world
In 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its global partners released a report titled ‘The state of food security and nutrition in the world’.
3 min |
24 February 2023
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 |