Business
Farmer's Weekly
Wool: keeping a competitive edge
To maintain competitiveness, the South African wool industry must maintain high standards of quality control and best practice. Nichelle Steyn explores some of these aspects.
5 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Lessons learnt on the journey to build a Nguni stud from scratch
When Cecilia Prinsloo-Van der Linde started exploring the idea of cattle farming, she was advised to farm animals that are suited to the land, so she decided on Nguni. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about the pros and cons of setting up and developing a stud in a relatively short period of time.
6 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Special OCTA Black and Trophy Edition models keep the Defender fresh
Since introducing the Defender in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover has kept its British adventure brand fresh by introducing desirable model editions throughout the past five years. The latest two come in the form of the OCTA Black and Trophy Edition, writes The Citizen's .
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA heritage from different perspectives
Despite the diverse range of titles on the bookshelves, Patricia McCracken has picked out a range of stories with a distinctly South African flavour that includes history, nature, comfort food and some suspense too.
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's extraordinary baboons
The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) has a special place in the South African past, as reflected by the stories of two of our most famous primates, Jack and Jackie.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Technology at the forefront of Nampo Cape 2025
Technology has become indispensable for South African farmers to circumnavigate the future and for them to retain a competitive edge. Therefore, ‘Smart Technology for Efficient Resource Management’ is the theme for Nampo Cape 2025. Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo, spoke to Annelie Coleman.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Building South Africa's hemp future: from cultivation to textile processing
The local hemp industry is taking root, with Green Route Hemp Industries pioneering local trials, farmer training, and fibre processing to unlock opportunities.
8 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nguni cattle: carrying on a legacy
Nguni cattle are an established breed in the local cattle farming industry, known for their unique hides and excellent adaptation to South African conditions. Jennifer Speedy, a fourthgeneration Nguni farmer, spoke to Henning Naudé about the benefits of choosing such a well-performing breed and her experience taking the reins from her father.
5 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Nip fetlock injuries in the bud
Fetlock injuries can cause severe lameness, but effective treatment requires an accurate diagnosis,
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
World-class mohair producer adds value with clean clip practices
Michau Nortjé is not new to Angora farming. His father began farming Angoras more than half a century ago, and the family has been breeding purpose-suited Angoras for their farm near Willowmore in the Eastern Cape for as long as he can remember. Improvements in his management practices and selection over the last five years, however, have seen Nortjé enter the ranks as one of the top mohair producers in the world.
7 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ngunis: low-cost, high-value production for South African farmers
This article details the resilience, adaptability, and economic value of Nguni cattle in South Africa, with insights shared by a Nguni farmer on their heritage, fertility, and farming benefits.
6 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'When timing is everything, speed counts' - Grain Farmer of the Year
Get it done, and get it right, is perhaps the best way to summarise Michael and Gareth Allen's farming philosophy.
9 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Cotton farming: what's not to love?
The co-owner of Wilkot Boerdery in the Northern Cape, Johan Maree, shares his cotton farming journey with Nichelle Steyn and explains why there is so much more to the crop than meets the eye.
4 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Strategic partnership turns a rubbish heap into a vegetable harvest
Mathabang Lekhula-Legula has transformed a smelly dumping site in Welkom, Free State, into a thriving vegetable farm. Her success is proof that when a producer is supported by the right partners, waste can be turned into wealth, and despair into growth.
4 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Farmers urged to step up veld fire mitigation efforts
As fire season gets underway, farmers are being urged to strengthen their fire management plans. Dawie Maree of FNB Agriculture warned of rising risks to food security and meat production.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Heritage, wool and excellence: a gathering of Merino breeders at Nampo Cape 2025
The 2025 Merino showcase at Nampo Cape offers breeders, exhibitors and wool enthusiasts a unique opportunity to celebrate progress rooted in tradition.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Cape Wine Masters welcomes four new graduates
The Institute of Cape Wine Masters' four new graduates takes the total number of achievers of this elite qualification to 120
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Value chain upgrade is vital to handle bigger pigs
The slaughter weight of pigs has increased as genetics have improved, bringing greater financial viability for farmers.
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ingenuity at the forefront of Boereplanne competition
Grain SA invites all inventors, farmers, students and technology enthusiasts to come enjoy the popular Boereplanne (Farmer Plans) competition, which will take place during Nampo Cape at Bredasdorp Park.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Exciting equestrian events to enjoy
Visitors to Nampo Cape 2025, which takes place from 10 to 13 September at Bredasdorp Park, are in for a thrilling experience as the Western Cape Lubricants Arena transforms into a stage for world-class equestrianism.
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Expropriation Act: what it really means for property rights
In general, the law is consistent with the provisions of the Constitution, including the right to equality, secured property rights and lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair administrative action.
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
California heatwave hits broccoli, lettuce and strawberry crops
According to the Fresh Fruit Portal, heatwaves in California in the US are having a negative impact on lettuce, broccoli and strawberry crops, among others.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Working dogs in the spotlight
From the intelligence of sheepdogs and the power of Boerboels to the precision of the SA Air Force's Canine Unit, visitors can look forward to a series of live demonstrations highlighting the unique role dogs play in agriculture and security.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
World-leading yields prove success of seed levies
South Africa's investment in seed technology has brought substantial yield gains, ranking the country first in terms of yield growth in soya beans.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Choosing the 90, 110 or 130? There is a Defender for everyone!
Introducing a successor to the popular Land Rover Defender (L315/L316) that was in production from 1983 to 2016 was always going to be a tough ask.
4 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA rooibos industry pushes back against 30% US tariffs
South Africa's rooibos industry is pushing for the removal of a new 30% US tariff, arguing the speciality tea poses no competition to American agriculture and supports US jobs
3 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Trade risks and logistic woes limit SA fruit industry growth
South Africa's fruit exports are booming, but trade barriers, rising costs and logistical inefficiencies are holding back the sector's potential.
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Greenhouse cannabis: navigating power costs and grid reliability
Your lighting strategy has become a critical business decision that connects plant biology with power management, especially as South Africa's electricity landscape continues to evolve
2 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Japan invests in Ghana's agri sector
Degas Limited, a Japanese agri-fintech, recently announced a US$100 million (almost R1,8 billion) investment into Ghana over the next four years to help establish the country as the continent's first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered agricultural hub, Developing Telecoms reported.
1 min |
September 12-19, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
US companies shine during AgTech Breakthrough Awards
The AgTech Breakthrough Awards, now in its sixth year, awards entrepreneurs and innovators in the agriculture and food value chain.
3 min |