Business
Farmer's Weekly
From fallow land to award-winning wines: the Newstead story
Newstead Lund Family Vineyards, a relatively new wine estate, has established itself as one of the best producers of sparkling wine in South Africa. Owners Doug and Sue Lund spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their production philosophy, rise to success, and possible expansion plans.
7 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Fact file of fungal diseases in wheat
Wheat is a significant crop, and like other crops, is susceptible to a range of infections. Here, we provide information on the most important fungal diseases that affect wheat.
1 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Soil preparation for wheat and other cereals
For seed to germinate and plants to grow, soil often needs to be prepared. The manner in which it is done depends on the type of soil, the organic matter and moisture it contains, the crop to be planted, as well as the previous crop that was planted in the field. Magda du Toit spoke to cereal experts and farmers for guidance.
6 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The origin of the Bonsmara
The Breed of the Month for March is the Bonsmara. In this first article, we take a look at the man behind this popular cattle breed, as well as how it was developed.
2 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The Southern Sun Cape Sun hotel is once again a destination of choice
While some of its contemporaries have suffered from inner-city neglect, the Southern Sun Cape Sun hotel has bounced back in elegance and style, writes Brian Berkman.
4 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Age catches up with the Nissan Navara
The Navara line-up was increased last year in Nissan's effort to win back market share. The Citizen's Mark Jones sampled the top-of-the-range Pro-4X to see how the double cab compares with modern bakkies.
2 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Growing onion sets
Bill Kerr discusses what onion sets are, and how and when to produce them to obtain the maximum financial benefit.
2 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Phalaenopsis orchids: tips to help them survive and thrive
Orchid expert Jacques Botha spoke to Linda Piegl about how to nurture the Phalaenopsis orchid, which requires precise watering and needs to be kept in a temperature-controlled environment.
2 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Milking, the hi-tech way
This leading dairy farmer installed the largest rotary milking unit in the Southern Hemisphere.
3 min |
March 07, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Onion sowing choices
Your particular growing conditions will dictate whether you should use seedbeds, direct seeding, or plugs for sowing onions
2 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Golden cattle for the bushveld
This article showed that a carefully selected new crossbreed offered sound advantages for extensive ranching in harsh areas.
3 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The ins and outs of alpaca farming
The South African alpaca industry is on the rise, says Alison Notley, president of the South African Alpaca Breeders’ Society and owner of Helderstroom Alpacas near Villiersdorp. She spoke to Sinenhlanhla Mncwango about the origin of this gentle camelid and how its fleece is being processed into quality products.
7 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Cheese and Rosemary Scones
Easy-to-make savoury treats that are great for lunch boxes.
1 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Cape Town on a budget: a smart stay at the Holiday Inn Express
What's the best way to enjoy Cape Town's top food and nightlife without having to splurge on a five-star hotel? Brian Berkman has some good suggestions.
5 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Managing grazing and hay production in Eragrostis fields
Summer is almost gone, so it’s time to start thinking about your pastures and hay for winter
2 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Protecting the king of the hornbills
It is estimated that the southern ground hornbill’s original range in South Africa has decreased by two-thirds over the past century. Mike Burgess looks at the threats facing this iconic hornbill species and what is being done to halt its decline, including custodianship programmes that motivate landowners to protect it.
3 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Jam-packed year for Volkswagen
It is going to be a busy year for Volkswagen as the German carmaker introduces a host of new passenger and commercial vehicles to the South African market. Charl Bosch attended the annual VW Indaba in Kariega, Eastern Cape, to get a glimpse of its 2025 product roll-out.
4 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to achieve ostrich product perfection
Ostrich farming is a well-established industry in South Africa which, aside from meat, produces feathers and leather that are in demand around the world. Dr Anel Engelbrecht, ostrich researcher at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s Oudtshoorn Research Farm, shared tips with Glenneis Kriel on how farmers can improve the quality of their ostrich feathers and leather.
6 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Building the macadamia puzzle one insight at a time
Trees that produce good yields of quality nuts form the foundation of a successful macadamia farm. Leaving no stone unturned in his approach, farmer Hentie van der Merwe has proven that paying attention to every factor that influences his crop yields the best results.
7 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Industrial-scale farming is flawed: what ecologically friendly farming practices could look like in Africa
African Perspectives on Agroecology is a new book with 33 contributions from academics, non-governmental organisations, farmer organisations and policymakers.
4 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Language in agriculture
In South Africa, there are 12 official languages. And while these languages should be celebrated for representing diverse cultures, it does make it difficult to include everyone equally at all times.
3 min |
February 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
When short-term rentals make sense
Bianca Smit, national operations manager at CFAO Equipment SA, outlines factors to consider when choosing a rental equipment partner.
2 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The timing of onion sowing is critical
Each onion variety has a different resistance to bolting, thus growers need experience and knowledge to guide them,
2 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Understanding cannabis and hemp regulations in South Africa
South Africa's cannabis and hemp regulations remain a topic of debate and uncertainty, particularly when it comes to commercial use and small-scale production. Cannabis experts Shaad Vayej and Trenton Birch spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the challenges that small-scale cannabis and hemp farmers face.
10 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
European seed's influence on the US cannabis market
The expansion of European cannabis seed onto the US market is not just about economic growth; it’s also about enriching the landscape of US cannabis with diversity, innovation and education,
3 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'It's important to get the right tool for the job'
The adoption of technology is crucial to sustaining efficiency gains and beating the cost-price squeeze in the agriculture sector.
1 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A brilliant bushveld break between Bela-Bela and Modimolle
The distinctive touch, diligence, and 24/7 customer care are just a few of the reasons you should visit four-star Tourism Council-graded Pumula Game Farm,
4 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
John Deere: elevating performance and efficiency in modern farming
In the fast-paced world of farming, the right tools make all the difference.
2 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The naval disaster Winston Churchill tried to hide
Three British warships were sunk by German naval gunfire on a dark day early in World War II, but the heroes who fought back received only muted recognition, possibly to avoid bad publicity,
3 min |
February 21, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Breaking down the principles of regenerative farming
Jean Hugo, a post-graduate student at the Tshwane University of Technology, and Leon Hugo, author on environmental matters and former professor of geography at the University of Pretoria, write about the importance of regenerative agriculture for small-scale farmers, and the challenges related to making the shift.
4 min |