Business
Farmer's Weekly
Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms
Farm attacks, murders, livestock and crop theft, and other rural crimes are a growing concern in South Africa. As a result, more and more farmers are turning to advanced security technology to protect their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to experts about the security strategies that producers can adopt to combat these threats.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
The impact of theft on farms in South Africa
A high number of livestock are being stolen every year in South Africa. Insurance is expensive and farmers are battling to find solutions to the problem, says Dr Lindie von Maltitz, agricultural economics lecturer in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze
John Hudson, head of agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the importance of environmental and social sustainability for a prosperous agriculture sector.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month
Free State Agriculture (FSA) is very concerned about the extremely poor state of rural paved and gravel roads in the province and has very little, if anything, to celebrate during Transport Month, which takes place every October.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'
The Just Transition Agenda for Food System Policymaking in SA webinar, hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in October, highlighted the role that South Africa’s food system plays in contributing to climate change and how vulnerable it is to the impact thereof.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Beekeepers urged to address forage shortage issue
The growing number of beekeepers in South Africa is compounding existing challenges rather than alleviating them. With soaring honey surpluses and a diminishing availability of forage, experts say the industry is at a crossroads.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Cut VAT on sorghum to secure South Africa's food future, says agri economist
While staple foods like maize meal are zero-rated, sorghum products are subject to 15% VAT, making them less competitive to produce and more expensive for consumers. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
New Zealand scientists' tech targets weeds with laser precision
A group of scientists and engineers based in New Zealand has developed a highly accurate artificial intelligence technology called Map and Zap that uses laser to eradicate weeds.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
The best of the best in extra-virgin olive oil
Just over 30 gold medal winners from the SA Olive Awards, held earlier this year, competed for a spot in the 2024 Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, which honours South Africa's 10 highest-ranking extra-virgin olive oils. The winners were announced at an event hosted in Paarl, Western Cape, in mid-October.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Promising prospects for South African canned fruit
The outlook for canning fruit production is better than it was last year, but prices might move sideways.
1 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Collaborative partnerships are the key to unlocking new opportunities for all farmers
The Agricultural Development Agency, in partnership with Absa, hosted an influential Agribusiness Ministerial Stakeholder Dialogue in September at the Maslow Hotel in Pretoria.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Get a good bleeding cow
Serum from the blood of a highly immune cow is the best thing for healthy calves, said a large-scale dairy farmer.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Farmer's Weekly
South African Bakkie of the Year winners
The winners of this popular competition were announced at Nampo Cape, held in Bredasdorp, Western Cape, in mid-September.
5 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Think of your farm as a trial plot in part
Always keep an eye out for different situations on your farm and analyse them so that you can fine-tune your methods and raise your yields. Learn from experience and don't repeat your mistakes
2 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Biological crop protection: it's tricky but possible
Integrated pest management is a complex process that takes each farm's uniqueness into consideration. With growing support from all spheres, biological solutions are gaining traction.
8 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
The critical role of proper nutrition in pig and poultry production
Proper nutrition is vital for the health and productivity of pigs and poultry. Dr Sipokazi Nyeleka and JD Mostert spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about exploring essential nutrients, common feeding mistakes, and best practices for feed safety to optimise livestock growth and reproductive health.
6 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
How and when to dip, deworm and vaccinate your cattle
Livestock health management has evolved over the decades to include disease prevention and growing farm revenue. The most effective health management strategies are those that include dipping, deworming, and vaccinating animals. Prof Cheryl McCrindle takes a closer look at these practices.
6 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Aquaculture on the rise
This report focuses on the production and trade of aquaculture and farmed fish over the next decade, and projects where the industry is likely to end up in 2032.
9 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Food trends increase scope for valueadding opportunities
From veganism to upcycling, new food trends present avenues for value-adding and exploring new markets. After a recent visit to Switzerland, Lindi Botha reports on two companies making headway in that country.
7 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Injecting livestock: best practices and vital considerations
Improper injection techniques can lead to animals suffering and the reduced efficacy of medications. Dangerous organisms and parasites can also develop resistance
2 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Plant breeders' rights herald a new world of improved varieties
New technology to create improved varieties is being developed at warp speed. Keep up with it, but take care not to run foul of the laws that protect it
3 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
One person, hundreds of animals die in Memel fires
An elderly woman of 80 was killed in the veld fires that destroyed about 50,000 ha in the Memel and Vrede districts of the Free State in the last week of September.
1 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Poultry capital of the US dealt a major blow by Hurricane Helene
The Category 4 storm Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeast coast of the US in late September, claimed the lives of 110 people and likely those of millions of chickens.
1 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
White maize: plant now to cash in on higher prices
Irrigation farmers in the eastern parts of South Africa's summer rainfall region have a small window of opportunity to capitalise on higher white maize prices.
1 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
New pear variety promises to improve packouts
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently launched a new blush pear variety called Roselyn.
1 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Efficient management key to successful pig farming
The importance of efficient management and proper recordkeeping in pig production can never be stressed enough.
3 min |
October 18, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Review: the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC 4×4 GR-Sport III
The third iteration of the Hilux GR-Sport has finally achieved a sense of presence and style befitting its raceinspired branding. But is this the ultimate modern Hilux? Car Magazine takes a closer look.
3 min |
September 20, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Why maize prices soar in Kenya and Malawi but not Tanzania
Namhla Landani, an economist at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, and Arthur Khomotso Mahuma, economist and researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, analyse the issue.
4 min |
September 20, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming
Wet carcass syndrome continues to take a huge financial toll on South African sheep farmers. Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to two experts about the ongoing genetic research aimed at addressing this issue.
4 min |
September 20, 2024
Farmer's Weekly
Pollination innovation
Bee-Tech Group is transforming South African agriculture with pollination technologies that boost crop yields and enhance sustainability. Founder Michiel Bruggeman spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel.
5 min |