Business

Farmer's Weekly
The Dawn Of Motoring
The earliest motor cars were built by hand and cost a small fortune, yet were liable to frequent breakdowns. The introduction of interchangeable parts made production easier, and reliability also improved.
2 min |
August 2, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Landowners Help Conserve Birds Of Prey
Landowners Help Conserve Birds Of Prey
3 min |
August 2, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
'Ensure Sensible Veld Management After Drought'
The heavy snow and rain that fell recently in parts of the Karoo will aid the recovery of grazing destroyed by the devastating drought, but much more rain was needed for the veld to return to its full potential. This was according to Johan van den Berg, specialised crop insurance manager at Santam Agriculture.
1 min |
August 9, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
New Markets Vital To Facilitate Avocado Industry Growth
Despite a current undersupply of avocados in European countries and the fact that these markets are growing year-on-year, South Africa did not have an opportunity to significantly increase exports to the EU.
1 min |
August 9, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
New Thoughts On Animal Thinking
Prof Aliza le Roux, head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free State’s QwaQwa campus, says the latest ideas in animal behaviour hold farreaching implications for livestock farmers.
4 min |
August 9, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
The Female Tractor Technician Who Is Breaking Stereotypes
Lerato Baloyi is currently the only female agricultural equipment technician employed by John Deere Sub-Saharan Africa. Siyanda Sishuba spoke to the 29-year-old Baloyi about her often-challenging journey in this male-dominated industry, and her passion for her career.
5 min |
August 9, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Milco SA's Acquisition Of Clover On Track
The Competition Commission (CompCom) has given conditional approval for the Milco SA consortium’s intended acquisition of all issued shares in Clover for R4,8 billion, also referred to as the Clover Scheme.
1 min |
August 9, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Expert Tips To Get The Most From Irrigated Wheat
Irrigated wheat is grown by many South African grain farmers in rotation with summer grains such as maize and soya bean. André du Toit, a senior wheat breeder with Pannar Seed SA, shares his knowledge and experience on how farmers can maximise the productivity, and therefore profitability, of these wheat crops. Lloyd Phillips reports.
5 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Addressing The Challenges Facing SA's Wheat Industry
The latest wheat production estimate for the 2018/2019 season is about 1,8 million tons, which means that South Africa will have to import about 50% of the country’s wheat demand, according to Mariana Purnell, general manager at Agbiz Grain.
1 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Africa Needs Cannabis Income
Since the legalisation of cannabis for private use in South Africa last year, there has been much confusion over the legality of farming and trading in cannabis and cannabis-related products. With its ideal climatic conditions for cannabis cultivation, the country is optimally placed to profit from the enormous economic potential of the crop. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Long-term Load-shedding Could Bankrupt Fish Farmers
Fish farmers depend on reliable, affordable power. Load-shedding and off-the-grid solutions are both problematic.
2 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Electric Tractor Powered By A Cable
John Deere’s new concept tractor can develop up to 300kW
1 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Saanen Basics
This goat breed is known for its milk and milk products, including a variety of hard and soft cheeses and yoghurt.
1 min |
April 05, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Farming Abalone For Export
Today, there are about a dozen abalone farms along the coastline between Port Nolloth and East London. One of the first to be established was Jacobsbaai Sea Products in the West Coast hamlet of Jacobsbaai. In the 24 years since it started farming abalone, the farm has produced an ever-greater number of these delicacies, and now exports millions annually.
4 min |
April 19, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Weaner Theft On The Rise In North West And Free State
The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF) has expressed concern at a recent increase in the theft of weaner calves and large groups of mature cattle in South Africa.
1 min |
April 19, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Tips To Reduce Antibiotic Usage
Rising concern over antibiotic resistance is forcing livestock producers across the world to change their production management practices. Dr John Patience explains to Glenneis Kriel how pig producers can benefit from reducing antibiotic usage.
5 min |
April 19, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
MPO Urges Milk Buyers To 'Act Responsibly'
While some milk buyers have announced increases of up to 20% in the producer price for raw milk, others have not yet done so.
1 min |
April 19, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Pork Goes High-tech
Pork producers lost millions of rand and hundreds of people lost their jobs due to the listeria hysteria last year. Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the crisis and how it has reshaped the industry.
5 min |
April 19, 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Developing Land: Getting The Infrastructure Right
When developing a natural area, it is crucial to integrate all facilities with the surrounding environment, thus minimising their impact.
3 min |
Farmers Weekly 15 March 2019

Farmer's Weekly
New-look LAMMA Displays Latest Agri Innovations
The first all-indoor LAMMA show represented a new era for the UK’s largest farming equipment event. Attracting 40 000 visitors, it was a showcase for international exhibitors.
1 min |
Farmers Weekly 15 March 2019

Farmer's Weekly
The Future Of Weed Management
According to agronomy expert Leonard Oberholzer, weeds’ resistance to herbicides is expected to be one of the greatest threats to food production in years to come.
5 min |
Farmers Weekly 15 March 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Common Watermelon Diseases
Watermelons are usually grown in warm, dry areas and marketed as early as possible when prices tend to be higher. Diseases are also less likely in a drier climate.
2 min |
Farmers Weekly 15 March 2019

Farmer's Weekly
Cultivar Branding: A Game Changer For Growers
Fresh produce branding is gaining momentum as farmers seek to ensure a market for their fruit in an industry where supply is dramatically increasing. The success of the ClemenGold mandarin brand has spearheaded the marketing of specific premium citrus varieties. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
Afrino Excels In Producing Mutton And Wool On The Veld
Hendré Calitz, the chairperson of the Afrino Sheep Breeders’ Association of South Africa, manages the Koppiesfontein Afrino Stud near Smithfield for Piet and Theo Delport of Wesselsbron. Mike Burgess visited him to better understand the value of the Afrino under extensive conditions.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
New Net Solution For Sunburn
Some growers in the Southern Cape are using nets that can easily be draped over tree rows to protect pome fruit against sunburn. Apart from their convenience and flexibility, the new nets cost a fraction of fixed net structures. Daan Brink of Two-a-Day and Ebbie Raubenheimer of Nulandis spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the technology, which was developed in Australia.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
Irrigate Sensibly And Economically
Most home vegetable gardens are irrigated incorrectly. Here’s how to get it right, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
Never Stop Learning!
When you think about it, every farm is in some respects a trial farm.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
North African Chicken Worth Waiting For
Attempting unfamiliar cuisines often means encountering unknown or unavailable ingredients. In the case of food from North Africa and the Levant, preserved lemons are an absolute must. One downside: they take three weeks to mature!
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
A Used Car: Let The Buyer Beware!
Dirt, rust and oil leaks are just some of the signs of neglect on a used car. Jake Venter explains what faults to look out for, and when to walk away from that ‘never-to-be-repeated’ bargain.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 14 September 2018

Farmer's Weekly
The Difference Half A Degree Of Global Warming Can Make
The recent ‘Global Warming of 1.5 C’ report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights several climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1,5 C, compared with 2 C or more. For example, at 1,5 C warming, the Arctic Ocean is likely to be free of sea ice in summer just once a century on average, whereas at 2°C global warming, the likelihood rises to once a decade.
5 min |