Business
Farmer's Weekly
Avocado farmers prove the value of ridging
Limpopo farmers Kosie and Manie Eloff, faced with the need to re-establish their avocado orchards, decided to conduct a multiyear experiment comparing the yields of trees planted on ridged and level soil surfaces. They discussed their methods and results with Lindi Botha.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
Beef Shorthorn: a breed made for crossbreeding!
The Beef Shorthorn has a long and successful history in South Africa. Stud owners Hendrik, Henco and Johann Strydom spoke to Annelie Coleman about this adaptable animal that shines at crossbreeding.
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
Cocoa eclipses coffee in Côte d'Ivoire
Despite being a major producer of coffee in the early 2000s, Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee production has declined significantly. However, cocoa production is still massively on the rise, cementing the country’s place as the world’s top producer.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
The true cost of agricultural crime in SA
The South African agriculture sector is heavily burdened with crime. Using the Free State as a case study, Annelie Coleman spoke to industry stakeholders about the true cost of crime to the local farming community, and the threat it poses to the longterm sustainability of food production in the country.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
How agri insurance can help protect your business
With more diversification comes more risk, says Andries Wiese, national business development manager and head of agri insurance at Hollard. Producers need to work on a risk management strategy tailored to their business’s specific needs to protect them against loss and financial liability. He spoke to Susan Marais about how to approach this task, and where to get the right sort of advice.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
The challenges facing the adoption of green hydrogen
Dr Rod Crompton, visiting adjunct professor in the African Energy Leadership Centre at Wits Business School, and Dr Bruce Douglas Young, senior lecturer at the centre, explain green hydrogen’s potential benefits, and the challenges that need to be overcome before it can be used on a wide scale.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 28 October
Farmer's Weekly
Fine-tuning blueberry nutrition for optimal yield and quality
Blueberries are a challenging crop to cultivate, as the plants don't readily absorb key nutrients, and the berries can therefore vary in flavour, quality and size. With an increasingly picky market, farmers need to optimise plant nutrition to obtain a consistent crop that commands high prices. Lindi Botha spoke to Dr David Marks.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
India's 'White Revolution': the power of the collective at work
In a move that is being called production by the masses rather than mass production, India has successfully mobilised 100 million subsistence and small-scale dairy farmers to make that country the world's largest milk producer. Lindi Botha visited India to see how this remarkable feat has been achieved.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Social rejuvenation on a Western Cape fruit farm
Pome fruit farmer lan Cunningham, named Agri Western Cape Santam Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year for 2022, has improved much more than just the orchards on his apple farm near Villiersdorp. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the various initiatives and incentives aimed at bettering the lives of his farmworkers.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The dos and don'ts of owing a firearm
South Africa has strict legislation governing the licensing, purchase and use of a firearm. Magda du Toit explores the rules and official processes that regulate gun ownership, and speaks to experts in the field.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Somalia: will aid efforts fail marginalised again?
Nisar Majid, a research associate at the London School of Economics and Political Science, writes about the burgeoning famine crisis in Somalia, and the lack of sufficient aid for that country's minority groups.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
SA's ostrich industry gets serious about animal welfare
South Africa's ostrich industry unveiled its Ostrich Production Standard in 2021, and 85% of farms are currently participating in the programme. Dr Adriaan Olivier, industry veterinarian at the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the origins of the standard and what is required of producers.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
The Table Bay Hotel: unashamed luxury, superb cuisine, and a view like no other
She may be a quarter of a century old, but the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront is as fresh and elegant as the day she was built, says Brian Berkman. It's no wonder this iconic hotel continues to draw so many visitors.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Pest and disease control in pearl millet production
Chinch bugs, nematodes, mildew, seed rot, rust and other pests and diseases are all threats to pearl millet. Here's how to deal with them.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
'Food loss and wastage squander precious resources and exacerbate climate change'
Food loss and wastage hold dire consequences for both producers and consumers, with scarce resources wasted, and greenhouse gas emissions rising as a consequence. Lindi Botha reports.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Get rid of colour in wool
In this article, an expert stated that careful observation and strict selection were needed to combat pigmentation in sheep flocks and improve the quality of the clip.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 21 October 2022
Farmer's Weekly
A vaccine bank could reduce disease panic
Dr Baty Dungu believes South Africa should take lessons from countries that have been using stockpiles for years to ensure adequate vaccine supplies before outbreaks occur.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Read this before buying a bull for your beef herd!
Sechaba Majola, a researcher in the Animal Unit at the University of the Free State, gives advice to small-scale beef cattle farmers on how to buy a quality bull and improve herd genetics.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Running a successful Simmentaler stud in the Barkly East mountains
The dual-purpose Simmentaler is known for its adaptability and good temperament. Tjokkie Nel, who runs a stud near Barkly East, spoke to Gavin Isted about the success he has had on this seemingly harsh terrain.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Brothers turn apple farm into top producer
The Lingenfelder brothers have made significant changes to production methods and orchard management since joining their family's apple and pear farming operation in the Western Cape's Overberg region. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their techniques, precision-farming technologies, and yield increases.
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Growing the river indigo shrub
This graceful shrub or small tree attains a height of up to 4m and has small, sweetly scented flowers that are pink and white in colour.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Experience the sun and surf at Dolphin Beach Hotel
Brian Berkman says the Table View coast may be close to the city, but has beaches and lagoons that make it feel like a resort.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Two world wars: one exceptional airman
Leonard Slatter's contributions to aviation, both in war and peace, were remarkable. He was a First World War ace, led the team that flew the Supermarine S.5 seaplane to victory in the Schneider Trophy races, and was responsible for providing air cover for convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. Graham Jooste tells his story.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Husqvarna launches new range of demolition robots
The top priority when designing Husqvarna Construction's new range of demolition robots was safety, says Lionel Zietsman, national sales manager at the company.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Reducing the risk of bacterial diseases in tomatoes
These days, with the availability of good-quality hybrid seed, an infection is less likely to occur in your tomato crop. However, you still have to safeguard against bacterial canker and other threats, cautions Bill Kerr.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Jagersfontein: how to avoid another tragedy
Mine tailings dams need stringent management based on international best practice procedures and underpinned by a strong legal framework with clearly defined responsibilities, says Charles MacRobert, a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 30 September 2022
Farmer's Weekly
'Go-to tractors' for dairy farmers
Nick Stubbs owns and runs a large dairy in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and says a reliable tractor is vital to his operation's success.
3 min |
September 23, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Jamaican farmworker exploitation controversy in Canada
Complaints about mistreatment on farms in Canada by migrant workers from Jamaica have been rejected by the latter country’s labour minister, Karl Samuda.
1 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Pear and blue cheese pizza
If you think the combination of pear, blue cheese and tomato sounds strange, think again. This gourmet pizza brings together sweet and savoury flavours, making it the best of both worlds.
1 min |
September 16, 2022
Farmer's Weekly
Isuzu makes a splash in the Eastern Cape
In the Wild Coast region, where very poor roads and rough conditions are the norm, Isuzu trucks are valued for their ruggedness and reliability.
2 min |