Business
Farmer's Weekly
Pork Goes High-tech
Pork producers lost millions of rand and hundreds of people lost their jobs due to the listeria hysteria last year. Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the crisis and how it has reshaped the industry.
5 min |
April 19, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Sowing Seeds Of Hope
Sanna Tibane and her daughter, Ingrid Lerato, believe that a successful vegetable operation requires sound agronomic practices, knowledge of how the formal market functions, the ability to stick it through the tough times, and hard work.
5 min |
20 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Red Lice Control In Sheep And Goats
This pest can lead to weight loss and blowfly strike. Fortunately, it can be controlled effectively.
2 min |
20 July 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Dramatic Savings With Low-Flow Drip Irrigation
By switching from micro-irrigation to low-flow drip irrigation, macadamia farmer Dawid de Kock has reduced his irrigation water usage by 50%. With the subsequent savings on electricity, fertiliser and labour, the system has significantly improved his bottom line.
5 min |
October 19, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Farming Without Title In Tylden
In 2010, Tembi Xamesi was awarded the 1 165ha Riversdale farm near Tylden in the Eastern Cape via the state land reform programme. He has made steady progress with livestock and a cash-crop lucerne initiative, but a lack of title has been a serious hindrance to further development. Mike Burgess visited him.
4 min |
October 19, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
SA's First Cricketing Giant
All-rounder Jimmy Sinclair played in 25 Tests from 1890 to 1911. He scored South Africas first three Test centuries and was the first player from any country to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test. He was also a rugby Springbok! By Graham Jooste.
6 min |
October 19, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Angola Or Bust!
A desire to escape from British rule, drought and hostile tribes led to the trekboers’ epic journeys. The Dorsland Trek was one of the toughest, says Graham Jooste.
4 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Rural Crime: Both Police And Farmers Need To Up Their Game
Despite being continually under the spotlight, rural crime in South Africa continues to plague farmers. Some respond by leaving the sector; others struggle on after having lost property or even loved ones. However, studies show that while the justice system receives much of the blame, farmers should be doing more to secure themselves. Lindi Botha reports.
4 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Cost Squeeze In Poultry Production Set To Hit Profits
High feed prices and lacklustre economic conditions that are depressing consumer spending will conspire to yield a tough year for poultry producers.
2 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Humane Fish Slaughter
Compared with most other agricultural industries in South Africa, the farmed fish industry is in its infancy. With no legal framework yet in place, fish farmers and animal welfare organisations are at loggerheads about how to kill fish with the least suffering. Gerhard Uys reports.
4 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Clear Combine Blockages Fast
The dynamic feed roll reverser from New Holland enables the CR combine harvester operator to clear blockages from the cab, maximising productivity and safety. Joe Spencer reports.
1 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Know Your Invasive Plant Species
This article looks at the black wattle, bloodberry and other plants that must be controlled or eradicated.
2 min |
January 25, 2019
Farmer's Weekly
Overcoming The Obstacles To Agricultural Growth In Africa
While agriculture has the potential to create jobs and ensure food security, many obstacles hamper the growth and success of the sector in Africa, says Dr Yonas T Bahta of the University of the Free State. Overcoming these challenges is the key to unlocking the true value of the sector.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Community-First Approach Ensures Sustainability
No man is an island, the saying goes, and this holds every bit as true for a farmer. Schoonbee Landgoed relies on the surrounding community to provide both a workforce and an enabling environment for its business, and this has led management to strategically align the operation to benefit local community members. Lindi Botha reports.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Roasted Boerewors & Broccoli
This recipe is a salute to our nations favourite sausage. Roasted in the kitchen rather than grilled outside, the collection of flavours is revelatory. Have a sourdough loaf standing by as a side order.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Wool And Mutton Market Trends
A drop in the local supply of wool and mutton due to the effect of the drought on sheep numbers, and an increase in global demand, have combined to support higher producer prices.
4 min |
Farmer's Weekly 12 October 2018
Farmer's Weekly
From Our Archives - Sound Management For Broiler Success
23 years ago Ilse Neethling gave up teaching to begin her own broiler chicken farm in the Rûens. According to Neethling, the quality of the end product depends largely on the quality of management.
3 min |
Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Empowered To Climb The Ranks
Hard work, dedication and showing a lively interest in agriculture have propelled Iris Mashaba and Dineo Mokhabuki from being temporary farmworkers to holding managerial positions at major agribusinesses near Mbombela in Mpumalanga. Lindi Botha spoke to them.
6 min |
Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Getting The Basics Of Tilapia Farming Right
Asian small-scale tilapia growers long ago learnt the secrets of successful greenwater fish farming. To be more productive, their Southern African counterparts need to follow the same principles.
2 min |
Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Learning From Apple Growers In Poland
Poland is the largest producer of apples in the European Union. On a recent visit to the country, Annelie Coleman met BartÅ‚omiej Brodzik from the Apple Factory, one of Poland’s major apple growers and exporters.
5 min |
Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Low-chill Blueberry Production In Limpopo
By securing planting rights to varieties bred to withstand warmer climates, Rosle Boerdery’s Charles Rossouw has become a leader in blueberry production in South Africa. Lindi Botha reports.
6 min |
July 6, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Benefits Of Organic Matter
When the soil contains sufficient organic material, farming becomes far easier and less risky. In contrast, in a chemically based system, the interaction between the minerals becomes critical and complex, and a farmer needs a great deal of experience and knowledge to get good results.
2 min |
July 6, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
The Combine Market Gets Busier
Several new combine harvester models were launched at Nampo 2018, and this year the focus was on reducing compaction. Joe Spencer reports.
2 min |
July 6, 2018
Farmer's Weekly
Better Results With A Single-breed Herd On The Highveld
After suffering the effects of a trichomoniasis outbreak in 2010, Afrikan Farms, winner of the ARC’s National Commercial Beef Producer of the Year award for 2018, decided to switch from running a mixed-breed cattle herd to a Beefmaster herd. Siyanda Sishuba reports.
5 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
Chicken Larb The South East Asian Salad
A room-temperature salad with a meat or chicken base, larb looks good on the plate, is a riot of delicious flavours, is easy to make, and will be a glorious addition to your repertoire of kitchen skills.
1 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
140 Years Of Kverneland
The history of this company dates back to 1879 when the founder, Ole Gabriel Kverneland, built his small forge in the village of Kvernaland, 25km outside of Stavanger, Norway. Joe Spencer reports.
1 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
Cherries Are Profitable
Then, as now, cherry farming was labour-intensive and required plenty of water, yet demand and price made up for these factors.
3 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
Coffee Farm: Creating Jobs And Making Profit
With the call to increase job opportunities in agriculture, many farmers have been left scratching their heads over the economic implications. But the Schroeders of Mpumalanga have found a winning recipe in coffee production: its high labour component and profitability levels make the crop viable. Lindi Botha visited the mother-and-son team on their farm near Hazyview.
6 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
Get The Basics Right For Table Grape Success
The winner of this year’s table grape competition in the Olifants River region, Morné Paxton, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about shade nets and choosing the right grape varieties for export.
6 min |
March 08,2019
Farmer's Weekly
Minimising The Impact Of Land Development
Development in a natural area should maintain the integrity of the environment and never compromise the proper functioning of the ecosystem within the landscape.
2 min |