Undefined
Farmer's Weekly
History's most famous musket
The Brown Bess musket was the standard issue firearm for British forces from 1722 to 1838. As Mike Burgess writes, this much-loved weapon contributed significantly to the consolidation of the British Empire that by 1922 was in control of a quarter of the earth's surface.
4 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Muddy soil can cause lameness due to footrot
It is important to clean legs and hooves and check for lameness in horses on a daily basis, especially when there is heavy rain
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The role of family farmers in sub- Saharan Africa
As part of the United Nations' recognition of family farming as a vital component of the global agricultural landscape, the decade between 2019 to 1928 was declared the Decade for Family Farming globally. Annelie Coleman compiled this report.
6 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Key challenges for South Africa's cattle farmers in perspective
As South African breeders and producers close the chapter on 2025, the bovine genetics and livestock industry reflects on a year shaped by mounting pressures, rapid adjustments, and shifting market dynamics.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A year marked by a shared focus on sustainable food systems
As we draw closer to the end of another eventful year, I would like to take a moment to extend my sincere gratitude to Farmer's Weekly for its continued partnership in sharing the story of agriculture in our province.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
We remain committed to farmers
As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank every farmer, peer, and team member who has walked this journey with us.
1 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ask Our Vet Rift Valley fever protection
Dear Prof McCrindle.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Let's see challenges as opportunities
It has been another year filled with turbulence, marked by numerous ups and downs, but this is something to which we South Africans have been well accustomed for more than a century.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
2026 is shaping up to be a good year
As we head into the festive season, the South African pig industry reflects on a year that brought challenges, but also many opportunities.
1 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Crafting excellence in the Green Kalahari
Bezalel Wine and Brandy Estate has evolved from a bulk grape supplier to a producer of small-batch, high-quality wines, brandies, and infusions. Martiens Bezuidenhout spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his family's journey.
7 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's 2025/26 winter crop production prospects remain positive
We have been concerned that the unfavourable weather conditions in parts of the Western Cape would result in further downward revisions of South Africa's 2025/26 winter crop production prospects.
3 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Early Christmas traditions in agriculture
While Christmas is commemorated by Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ, and by non-Christians to celebrate family and togetherness, farmers and rural communities from as early as the 12th century saw Christmas as not only a time of celebration, but as a time to prepare for the upcoming spring and summer season. It was believed that if farmers didn’t follow some of these prescribed traditions, their crops and animals would fail come summer. This perhaps explains why these traditions lasted for hundreds of years; people were simply too afraid to not adhere to them!
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Christmas trees: a symbol of family celebrations
Hundreds of millions of Christmas trees are grown and harvested across the world annually for festive celebrations. Cameryn Watling from Trendy Trees spoke to Sabrina Dean about how they diversified their business with imported live trees.
7 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
New VW Transporter keen to shake off 'joint venture' stigma
The Volkswagen Transporter holds a sentimental space in South Africa where it was built at the Kariega plant from 1955 to 2002. But yet another production collaboration means that the new Kombi is actually a Ford and not a VW under the skin, writes The Citizen's Charl Bosch.
3 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Maximising calving rates: insights from a commercial beef producer
Dwayne Kaschula, a commercial mixed-farming producer in Maclear, Eastern Cape, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about strategies to increase calving rates in beef herds. This feature explores nutrition, herd health, genetics, record-keeping, stress management, reproductive technology, and practical farm strategies to optimise reproductive performance in South African beef herds.
6 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
A Christmas feast to crown all meals
We wish you a Merry Christmas! Christmas Day brings together family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere around the table to tuck into a feast of customary dishes.
5 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Get ready to sharpen your pencils!
This past year was, once again, a year that felt both familiar and very different.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
From mushroom waste to livestock feed
Dr Ingrid Malebana and Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, are exploring whether a simple farm by-product can help South African farmers cut costs.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Keeping the dream alive
André Diederichs, co-founder and CEO of the Family Business Association of South Africa, spoke to Jedrie Harmse about why family businesses tend to fall apart after the third generation, and why succession planning is essential to keep a farming operation alive.
6 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The farmer's Christmas loaf
The tradition of the Christmas loaf was prevalent from as early as the 13th century, and was practised to as late as the 19th century. Farmers would set aside some exceptional wheat from the summer harvest to bake a loaf during the Christmas period to bless his animals and land for the coming season.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Duck farm takes flight with free-range Pekins
Within the poultry market in South Africa, the individual consumer demand for duck meat and eggs has yet to compete with its feathered competition. However, up-and-coming producers are now finding their feet to satisfy niche markets nationwide wanting free-range ducks. Amoré Mannsberger spoke to Henning Naudé about how innovative practices helped her build her duck farm from the ground up, and how she manages to overcome a lack of commercial hormone-free feed.
6 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Not such a silent night
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, farmers and rural communities believed that cattle and sheep would gain the ability to speak on Christmas Eve to commemorate the birth of Christ. Farmers and rural communities were strictly warned against spying on the animals during this time.
1 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to manage grazing effectively in South Africa
Dr Mias van der Westhuizen spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the core principles of effective grazing management for commercial and emerging farmers, with practical insights on stocking rates, rest periods, monitoring, animal performance and drought planning.
6 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The Wassailing of the orchard
This tradition goes as far back as the 12th century. It peaked between the 16th and 18th centuries, and was revived in modern times for the sake of keeping tradition alive. Farmers and farming communities believed that evil or malicious spirits had to be chased away from their orchards through loud noise and cheers after the Christmas period had come to an end.
1 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA estates shine in World's Best Vineyards
Two South African wineries have secured spots in the Top 10 of the 2025 World’s 50 Best Vineyards, which features vineyards from 15 destinations across six continents.
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Economic outlook for 2026
The global economy is in a state of continuous change with massive uncertainties. The same is true for South Africa where very low growth is expected in 2026, says Dr Koos Coetzee.
3 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The year ahead is a time to innovate and grow
The past year has been filled with challenges, achievements, and valuable lessons, and it is the dedication and resilience that farmers in South Africa show that enables the industry to remain robust.
1 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Look back on the blessings of the year, and forward to tomorrow
A well-known person in the agriculture sector tells the story of when he became a corporate high-flyer and was telling his father how busy he was, his father was quiet for a moment and then asked: when are you going to stop being busy and start doing something?
2 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How school nutrition programmes can boost nutrition and drive transformation
The National School Nutrition Programme feeds more than nine million school children every day and remains one of South Africa's most meaningful interventions for supporting learning and reducing hunger. But with strategic partnerships, the programme could do far more, strengthening childhood nutrition while helping to drive transformation across the agriculture sector.
8 min |
December 19-26, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Ending a year of mixed fortunes in SA agriculture
We are ending another year of decent performance in South Africa's agriculture.
1 min |