Business
Farmer's Weekly
Blood tests: a quick, accurate guide to your horse's health
Why do veterinarians take blood tests from a horse and what are they looking for? Dr Mac explains the basics of this crucial diagnostic tool
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
How to prepare cabbage for transplanting
Nitrogen and irrigation play a crucial role in successful transplanting and help to ensure healthy plants in the longer term
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Three Australian invaders threatening SA environment
These alien invader plant species, all of which are acacias, grow rapidly in South Africa. By law, they must be removed and destroyed
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Maize: a priceless crop
In this article, Janine Ryan looks at the importance of maize production in the world today, and its value for food security. She also explores the history of maize and how it evolved into a crop that is widely cultivated
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The importance of shows for farmers
Agricultural shows are a great way for farmers to earn recognition for their animals, while also acting as a marketing platform for them
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Global economy at a 'highly uncertain moment'
South Africa faces the same uncertainties as the global economy, as well as the effects of load-shedding, high unemployment and huge government and private sector debt
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Traceability is key to a sustainable agriculture
Justin Platt, founder and managing director of agricultural technical services companies Zylem and RegenZ, explains how South African agriculture stands to benefit by implementing traceability systems
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
What Nampo Harvest Day means to the farmers
Magda du Toit, Glenneis Kriel and Lindi Botha find out from several farmers what Nampo Harvest Day means to them
10+ min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Legend sticks of a beast that sucks goats' blood
There is no real evidence of El Chupacabra, and most sightings have been debunked and attributed to other animals. However, the myth continues to intrigue people across the world
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Diesel vs petrol. Which one is right for you?
Which car you should invest in is a difficult choice, as there are so many options on the market. First to consider, however, says Janine Ryan, is whether you should invest in petrol or diesel
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Nongqawuse's disastrous false prophecy
A grave in the Alexandria district of the Eastern Cape is believed to belong to an infamous prophetess who in the mid-1850s convinced many Xhosa to sacrifice their cattle and crops
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The ideal accommodation for visiting Cape Town's hip Kloof Street
The Mother City’s Kloof Street has become famous for its casual eating and ultra-cool atmosphere. Brian Berkman recommends the nearby Hippo Boutique Hotel if you want to explore this neighbourhood
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
A successful cabbage crop starts with good seedlings
Growing your own seedlings requires experience. Mistakes are inevitable and you’ll need to adjust your system accordingly
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Solving the kiwi puzzle for optimal production
A sunrise industry in South Africa with potential to expand markets locally and abroad, kiwifruit offers good returns on a small piece of land. Malcolm Deacon, owner of Gold Tree Farms, cautions, however, that knowledge gaps abound, and until the industry matures, farmers will have to troubleshoot their way through production
8 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Empowering communities to cope with climate change
Local communities need to be part of the process of better understanding climate change adaptation. Moreover, supporting small green economies could assist in job creation for the community. An enviromental project in Eldorado Park is seeking to do just this
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
How citizens can combat invasive seaweed
Sien van der Plank, of the University of Southampton, Kwasi Addo Appeaning and Winnie NA Sowah, lecturers at the University of Ghana, and Philip-Neri Jayson-Quashigah, also of the University of Ghana, write about the battle against golden seaweed
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
New era for Orange River raisin producers
The Vine Academy and Model Farm were officially launched in May 2022 to improve the sustainability of raisin farmers. Ferdie Botha, CEO of Raisins SA, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this development
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Old-fashioned shepherding: a solution to livestock predation?
Heidi Hawkins, research fellow, honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town, writes about how shepherding could help farmers stave off predator attacks on their livestock
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Opportunities await SA producers abroad
While rabbit production is relatively small in South Africa, there is great untapped export potential, should the industry meet its challenges head-on
7 min |
Farmer's Weekly 5 May 2023
Farmer's Weekly
De fabulous De Zalze
Brian Berkman visits the superbly upgraded De Zalze Lodge in Stellenbosch and wishes he could move in.
3 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
SA agri exporters should keep a close eye on the rest of Africa
Although I continue to argue that South Africa should expand its agricultural export markets to new frontiers such as India, China, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, this growth drive should not be at the expense of existing markets.
3 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Strategic use of growth regulator overcomes litchi budding problems
Producers need to consider that ethephon applications may be exacerbating problems with erratic flowering, according to Dr Regina Cronjé of Stellenbosch University
2 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Stable political environment needed to end poverty in Africa
On a recent visit to South Africa, agricultural economist Dr Uma Lele of the Institute of Economic Growth at the University of Delhi outlined the reasons for Africa's poor agricultural productivity.
3 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The importance of quality control in cannabis cultivation
The legalisation of cannabis has resulted in a thriving industry, with many people rushing to grow and market cannabis. This makes quality control all the more crucial,
2 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Bad ratios mean difficult times for farmers
Farmers' profitability is in decline, mainly because of external factors, but there are a few strategies that producers can use to limit the effect of the weakening terms of trade,
3 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The father and son who established and agriculture in SA winemaking
Simon van der Stel, and his son, Willem Adriaan, both left their mark on agriculture and administration in the fledgling Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope,
4 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Securing the world's food production for the future
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault's purpose is to ensure that humankind can continue producing a diversity of food crops, even in the case of a 'Doomsday Event'.
5 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
The hazards faced by farmers in the Eastern Cape
In his research dissertation for a postgraduate degree, Ross Goodwin of Stellenbosch University explores the risks pertaining to stock farmers in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
7 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Using nematodes for biological control of crop pests
Mankaba Matshidiso Whitney Matli, an agricultural economist part of the Agricultural Research Council Professional Development Programme, discusses the importance of biological control to decrease the damage caused by various crop pests without harming the environment.
3 min |
April 28, 2023
Farmer's Weekly
Land reform: what still needs to be done?
The lack of accurate data about who owns what land is seriously hampering the land reform process in South Africa, says Peter Setou of the non-profit Vumelana Advisory Fund.
3 min |