Business
Farmer's Weekly
Stories of struggle from different angles
With South Africans celebrating Youth Day this month, the books that Patricia McCracken has selected this week have the past, present, and future of young people in mind.
2 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Profiting from tailor-made salad packs
In this article, we looked at how pillow pack marketing of vegetable greens and salads came as close as possible to the ultimate in farming for some.
3 min |
June 20, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Melatonin extends shelf life of fresh produce
Researchers from MIT in the US and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have found a new way to extend the shelf life of fresh produce after harvest.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The saga of the Maid of Fort Beaufort
Graham Jooste tells a moving and poignant love story set against the backdrop of the war-torn Eastern Cape during the height of the Frontier Wars in the mid-1800s.
6 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ask Our Vet Feline panleukopaenia
Several farm cats live close to our dairy.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Tsitsikamma farmer support to boost food security
Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe recently visited the Tsitsikamma community to hand over critical farming supplies as part of the department's ongoing drive to improve food security and support emerging farmers.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A walk back in time to the whaling days of The Bluff
A tour to the abandoned Old Whaling Station, now a world heritage site, brought up memories of a regrettable bygone industry, writes Yvonne Fontyn.
4 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Global politics and economics threaten wine sales
South African wine producers face significant market risks, according to speakers at the South Africa Wine Summit held recently in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Shifting weather, harvest cycles, and consumer demand
This week, Absa AgriBusiness analyses the trends that have influenced vegetable supply and demand dynamics at the major fresh produce markets over the past month.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Converting the Ford Ranger into a proper workhorse
The Citizen's Mark Jones looks at the tailor-made conversion solutions Ford offers for its range.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a down-to-earth, 57-year-old woman and former farmer, seeking a single, white gentleman farmer in his 50s or 60s in the Emalahleni area.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Wine sector's future lies in 'less is more' approach
Despite South Africa's 366-year wine heritage, wine sales have only been deregulated in the past 30 years, making South African a rather new player on the highly competitive international wine market.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Bee vectoring trial tackles apple core rot problem
Bee-Tech Group, in partnership with Woolworths and Graaff Fruit, has launched a new trial using bees to fight apple core rot in red apples in Ceres in the Western Cape.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Fusarium fungi on harvested maize can be lethal to horses
High rainfall can lead to bumper maize crops, but it can also cause rapid growth of mycotoxins, which are harmful to broodmares, says Dr Mac.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Australia's new transport task force to focus on animal welfare
A new taskforce focused on livestock transport has been set up by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to improve animal welfare, boost supply chain efficiency, and promote industry-wide education and training.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Interesting times ahead as US trade policy unfolds
While the Trump administration's tariff war will have a global impact, local factors will largely determine the outlook for South African agriculture, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.
3 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Navigating the legal landscape for emerging poultry farmers
Emerging poultry farmers face a host of legal, environmental, and practical challenges. Poultry nutritionist Dr Sipokazi Nyeleka spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the complexities of starting and running a compliant and sustainable poultry enterprise.
5 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
ECRDA repurposed to drive agri commercialisation
The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) is being repositioned to lead an agricultural commercialisation strategy aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the province's highly fertile land.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
What's in a name?
From living stones to wandering dudes, Linda Piegl looks at strangely named plants and how to grow them in your garden.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Government starts process to reform municipalities
A sober look at municipal problems is being undertaken by the Department of Co-operative Governance (DCoG), which could lead to the critical improvements needed in service delivery over the long term.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
AFMA: the voice of the South African animal feed industry
The Animal Feed Manufacturers' Association (AFMA) is the official representative body of the South African feed industry, serving the poultry and livestock sectors. Liesl Breytenbach, executive director of AFMA, spoke to Magda du Toit about the organisation's mandate, strategic pillars, and standards.
7 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South African soya bean harvests under threat from fungal pathogen
Dr Godfrey Kgatle, research coordinator at Grain SA, has warned that the seed-borne fungus Cercospora kikuchii is threatening soya bean production across the country. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on the diseases it causes, the risks of using untreated seed, and how certified seed and early monitoring can help farmers protect their yields and grain quality.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
What lies ahead for EU farmers
One year after widespread protests, Europe's farmers remain under pressure from rising costs, stagnant incomes, and policy uncertainty.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
What makes good feed ... good?
Feed quality is influenced by many factors. Magda du Toit spoke to feed manufacturers to find out how they ensure quality, from the handling and storage of raw materials to the processing and distribution of feed.
10+ min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Grapes better than printing
This article looked at a young man who gave up his job to help his father produce export-quality grapes.
3 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Wildlife poaching in North West a serious concern
The poaching of game, in all its forms, has become an extremely serious problem in North West.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Transforming wine marketing with technology
Wineries should use data technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen marketing.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Getting to know the Beefmaster breed standards
In this article, we detail some of the typical breed standards for the Beefmaster, as per Beefmasters Breeders United, the official Beefmaster breeders' society in the US, where the breed was originally developed.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stories of beer, beasts, and self-motivation
This week, Patricia McCracken reviews a broad range of books, predominantly non-fiction, which all seem to have a common thread: motivational tales of self-discovery, expression, and regrowth.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Veggie farmer proves success is possible on communal land
Thulani Magida is the poster child for communal farming in South Africa, demonstrating that commercial success is possible. But his journey also highlights the challenges this segment faces, providing valuable lessons to those questioning the slow pace of transformation.
8 min |