Business
Farmer's Weekly
What a West African palm oil project reveals about SA's readiness for EU rules
As EU sustainability rules tighten, compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation is fast becoming a commercial requirement for South African agricultural exporters. A recently digitised palm oil supply chain in Sierra Leone now offers practical lessons on moving from policy to practice, writes Octavia Avesca Spandiel.
2 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
FMD detected on Free State pig farm
South Africa's pig industry is on high alert with the news that animals at a commercial piggery has tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease. Hanlie du Plessis reports.
2 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
The importance of netting in horticulture
Once viewed mainly as a shield against hail, wind and sun, netting has evolved into a core business strategy in modern horticulture. According to various sources, as margins tighten and climate risks intensify, undercover farming is increasingly non-negotiable for premium horticultural production. Petri de Beer reports.
6 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Five-ingredient chocolate pots
These five-ingredient chocolate pots are proof that a decadent dessert doesn't need to be complicated. Made with rich dark chocolate, cream, and egg yolks, they deliver a silky-smooth custard with deep chocolate flavour and just the right level of sweetness.
1 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Do you know your medicines for dosing?
Dosing sheep is an exact science, according to a White Dorper breeder.
3 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Botswana's cattle industry and the road to premium export markets
Botswana's beef industry has gained global recognition and premium market access through quality, compliance, and strategic branding. Maintaining its position as one of Southern Africa's top beef exporters will depend on sustained long-term planning and a commitment to sustainable growth. Petri de Beer reports.
3 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Balsamic roasted veggies with penne and avocado
A vibrant, feel-good meal that brings together sweetly caramelised veggies, creamy avocado and perfectly cooked pasta. A splash of balsamic vinegar and brown sugar adds depth and balance, while crunchy lemon-infused breadcrumbs deliver a satisfying finish.
1 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
2026: a year for women to prosper in agriculture
The UN's declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer highlights women's vital role in agriculture and the need to close the sector's gender gaps writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela.
2 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Zimbabwean farmers' undercover success stories
Clemence Manyukwe takes a look at the successful operations of three 'undercover' farmers in Zimbabwe, including flower grower Roelof Nugteren, hydroponics farmer Keith Chipudhla, and aquaponics farmer Joe Mugwagwa.
10 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
The Karoo's rare dwarf succulents: a lesson in survival
What may look like patches of year-round snow on the simmering Karoo plains are actually ancient quartz islands. However, they have the same effect as snow, with a carpet of bright, white pebbles cooling the surface just enough to allow a range of unique miniature succulents to grow in the harsh, salty soil where nothing else would survive, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
3 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa is losing the fight against parasites in livestock
South Africa is losing the war against internal and external parasites, according to Dr Dave Midgley, CEO of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa. He told Annelie Coleman that this is because the focus in the country is on killing the parasites and not on addressing the root cause of the problem.
4 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
How pineapple leaves help clean water and solve crimes
Bienvenu Gael Fouda Mbanga, a research fellow in environmental analytical chemistry at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, explains how discarded pineapple leaves can successfully separate toxic copper from industrial wastewater and even assist forensic units.
4 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
How lighting boosts greenhouse productivity
Supplemental lighting in hydroponic greenhouse systems can contribute significantly to the quality of produce grown in such systems, but it has to be utilised optimally as it adds significantly to the capital outlay and running expense of such a facility.
4 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Lettuce grower finds recipe for success in outdoor hydroponics
Delicate, high-value crops such as lettuce and herbs can provide high returns, but are susceptible to disease and sensitive to extreme weather. In the Western Cape, one retail supplier is getting around these challenges by marrying outdoor shade netting tunnels and hydroponics. Jeanne van der Merwe reports.
5 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Artificial intelligence shows promise in hydroponics farming
The precision farming technology sector is hard at work developing artificial intelligence-based solutions for growers, but such systems cannot simply be plugged into existing systems, says Jeanne van der Merwe.
3 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Young farmer proves broiler margins are made in the management
Attention to detail and work ethic have earned Gerrit Maritz the title of AgriCulture Gauteng's Young Farmer of the Year 2025. He runs a poultry operation producing 4,5 million broilers per year in Magaliesberg, Gauteng. He shared his lessons on keeping margins favourable with Lindi Botha.
7 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Resigning in the agriculture sector
In the same way as an employer has a obligation to adhere to the labour law when terminating the employment of a farmworker, so too the employee has to follow procedures when resigning, says James Pretorius.
2 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Rethinking vertical farming to beat the boom-bust cycle
Vertical, indoor farming addresses many of the biggest challenges facing food producers: dwindling natural resources, erratic climates, and distance to market. Lindi Botha reports.
8 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Sorghum shoot fly spotted in Roedtan, Limpopo
Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on sporadic sorghum shoot fly detection in Roedtan, outlining identification signs, weather-driven risk, and practical management steps farmers need to protect vulnerable seedlings this season.
3 min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Foragers, beware of these toxic mushrooms!
There are many, many species of mushroom that grow in South Africa, and while some of them are delicious in a stew or other dish, many are toxic and consumption could be fatal. This article takes a look at some of these.
10+ min |
January 30 - February 06, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Tropical avo smoothie
Escape to the tropics with this luxurious, creamy, and vibrant smoothie! Blending rich avocado and sweet mango with zesty lime, fragrant mint, and a punch of tangy granadilla, this recipe transforms into a nutrient-packed and silky-smooth treat.
1 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
THE HITCHING POST
I am a 60-year-old white woman who loves camping, animals, the outdoors and watching sport.
2 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
The enduring legacy of Tiyo Soga
In the 1850s, Tiyo Soga, a Xhosa man, became the first ordained black South African minister. But as Mike Burgess writes, his legacy would also be determined by his all-round intellectual abilities honed by a solid Scottish education.
4 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Isuzu D-Max shows single cabs can be comfortable companions
Bakkie manufacturers don't give single cabs to the media due to them generally being regarded as workhorses without the bells and whistles from fancier double cabs. The Citizen's Charl Bosch was gobsmacked when a single cab arrived for a three-month stay.
2 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa eyes home-grown rice as ARC expands research efforts
South Africa is taking bold steps toward reducing its dependence on rice imports by exploring the viability of home-grown upland rice. Through a major research drive led by the Agricultural Research Council's Small Grain division, scientists and industry partners are testing rice varieties capable of thriving in South Africa's diverse soils and increasingly water-scarce climate. Anelisa Gusha reports.
3 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Spanish tortilla
Bring the authentic flavours of Spain to your table with this robust and satisfying Spanish tortilla.
1 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
New year brings marvellous new titles
Patricia McCracken, like many of us, has settled back into the grind of the new year and picked up a diverse selection of books ranging from travel, to fiction, to non-fiction and a delightful local children's adventure.
2 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Nitrogen 'switch' unlocks greener crops
A ground-breaking discovery by molecular biology professors Kasper Røjkjær Andersen and Simona Radutoiu at Aarhus University in Denmark offers a significant step toward developing self-fertilising grain crops, potentially revolutionising agriculture to be greener and more climate-friendly.
1 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Sweet prospects: the current state of litchi production in South Africa
Bram Snijder, agricultural consultant and chairperson of the South African Litchi Growers' Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the litchi industry embracing new opportunities, tackling challenges, implementing innovation, and reaching markets both locally and internationally.
6 min |
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
How AFGRI uses technology to unlock farm finance from asset to market
As modern farming becomes more capital-intensive and digitally driven, AFGRI is reinventing agricultural finance by linking technology directly to lending decisions.
5 min |