Business
Farmer's Weekly
Avo boats with scrambled eggs and baked beans
Quick and easy to whip up, this hearty breakfast is simple, satisfying, and tasty. Recipe and photo: South African Avocado Growers' Association.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Wine estates urged to tap into domestic tourism
Strategies for unlocking agritourism value were highlighted at the South Africa Wine Summit, held recently in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Reduce the risk of viruses getting into your crop
There is no way to eliminate viruses from plants once they're infected, so it is essential to do everything possible to prevent viruses from getting into the crop in the first place, writes Bill Kerr.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Countering the ‘white farmer genocide’ narrative
Instead of focusing on the discredited claim that farm attacks are racially motivated, South Africans should join hands to forge a prosperous and inclusive agriculture sector.
2 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Farmers ahead of green demands, reporting lacking
Farmers are further along in their environmental and social efforts than they are often given credit for.However, the lack of measurement and reporting on their part, combined with primitive frameworks from retailers, has led to a skewed perception.
1 min |
June 13, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Treating bluetongue in sheep
Dear Prof McCrindle, Recently, I read your previous article on bluetongue (FW, 2 February 2024). I farm Damara sheep in the Northern Cape, and many farmers in my area are losing animals due to bluetongue. How can I prevent this infection in my sheep? Kind regards, Quinton
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Books for dads and father figures
With Father's Day on 15 June, ditch the socks and treat the special man in your life to one (or more!) of the reads on Patricia McCracken's list this week - from nature and sport to biography and fiction.
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Pangolins, coral reefs, and the Big Five: a unique Zululand safari
Set in the Munywana Conservancy in the Zululand region of northern KwaZulu-Natal, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is renowned for exceptional safari experiences and fascinating wildlife, writes Linda Piegl.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The challenges holding SA aquaculture back
Despite growing demand for freshwater fish and a global aquaculture boom, South Africa’s tilapia industry remains underdeveloped due to high costs, outdated policies, and regulatory challenges. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to an aquaculture farmer and an expert in the field to gauge the industry‘s potential.
6 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ultimate egg-salad sandwich
This egg salad makes a delicious filling for rolls, baguettes, or health bread. It's perfect for lunch boxes or road trips, as it keeps well in a sealed container in the fridge for two to three days.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Vultures are intentionally poisoned by poachers'
The two cases of mass vulture poisoning that occurred in May in the Lowveld can be described as “a vulture genocide”.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Grain supplies are abundant around the world
AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How top potato farmer optimises production
Since taking over her late husband's farm three years ago, Franelyn Rossouw has been simplifying her approach to potato farming in order to streamline production. She spoke to Lindi Botha about how her focus on optimising irrigation, meticulous crop protection, and reducing in-field traffic is bearing fruit.
10 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Getting started with potato farming
Potatoes are a valuable crop for farmers with limited land and can be planted almost throughout the year. They are also ideal for use in a rotation system with maize. The crop’s value lies in its adaptability to marginal environments. Successful cultivation, however, requires strict adherence to best practices, writes Linda Piegl.
6 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Updated Isuzu MU-X hits R1 million mark
The Isuzu D-Max bakkie might be a local favourite, but its MU-X SUV sibling is miles behind segment heavyweights like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe took the updated MU-X for a spin to find out if it is capable of gaining any ground on its rivals.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Take control of your risks before they take control of you
Risk has two key components: how likely it is to occur, and the severity of its occurrence. Understanding and managing risk is crucial to the survival of your business, says Peter Hughes.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nampo Harvest Day enjoys its moment of fame
Nampo Harvest Day 2025 broke records across the board. A record 87 191 visitors attended the agricultural expo, while President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, and Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson were also in attendance.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Global envy over SA’s free market trading system
South African fresh produce traders could not contain their pride during the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) conference held in Johannesburg, Gauteng from 14 to 16 May.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Beefmaster: a 'profit breed' around the world
The Beefmaster was developed in the early 1900s by Tom Lasater, who built on the work of his father, Ed C Lasater. Since then, the Beefmaster has become a force to be reckoned with in beef cattle production, proving itself as a particularly adaptable, hardy, and fertile breed.
4 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Innovative models are needed to fix local infrastructure
This past week, more than 87 000 people descended on Nampo Park in Bothaville for the annual harvest day festival and exhibition.
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Wine industry must change approach to lobbying against sin tax
The meaningful and secure participation of black players in wine production will enable the industry to renew its call for government to align excise duties on wine with inflation, writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela.
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Instant lawn gives profit and pleasure
Having given up the stresses of a hectic business life, a couple found satisfaction and success in farming grass, as this article showed.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Moringa can transform poultry farming and consumer health
Dr Sharon Nobuhle Lungu, an animal nutrition researcher at the University of Pretoria, says that although moringa offers benefits for sustainable farming and human health, its potential as a poultry feed additive remains largely untapped. She looks at the obstacles facing the industry and how they can be overcome.
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'SA agriculture must be future-proofed' – futurist
Farmers should adapt to survive the deep structural changes that are currently taking place in the world.
1 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The basics of growing cabbages
Getting to know and properly understanding the requirements to effectively produce cabbages will always give the producer the competitive edge, writes Shane Brody.
3 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Subsistence to commercial change 'not happening'
The goal of transforming subsistence farmers into commercial farmers across Africa has largely failed, leaving food security continually in the balance.
2 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Fishing in the shadows: the real cost of unlawful activity at sea
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a global issue with far-reaching consequences, endangering marine ecosystems, destabilising fisheries, and putting economies and food security at risk, writes Linda Piegl.
7 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nutrient sweet spot for optimal potato yields
To increase potato yield and quality, nutrients need to be carefully managed, taking into account what the plant requires and how applied elements interact with each other. Charles le Roux of Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System spoke to Lindi Botha about optimising nutrition for maximum synergy.
7 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Potato profit margins hindered by municipal fresh produce markets
The insidious decay of municipal fresh produce markets over the past few decades has had far-reaching consequences for the fresh produce industry. As the largest traded commodity, potatoes have been especially hard hit. Willie Jacobs, CEO of Potatoes SA, spoke to Lindi Botha about the impact and the way forward.
7 min |
June 06, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Youth farmers celebrate a soya bean windfall
Jay Jay Farming, a rural youth-led farming business in the Eastern Cape, recently achieved its first-ever soya bean harvest, yielding between 1,5t/ha and 2t/ha.
1 min |