Agriculture stories

When I first walked into the offices of Farmer’s Weekly thirteen years ago, I could never have foreseen the impact that its staff and readers would have on my life. It was just another job, I thought.

The advent of a new year has done little to lift our spirits. South Africans are worried about our lacklustre economy, student protests and unabated crime.

For a few days at the end of 2015, South Africa’s working class could allow itself to be blinded by fireworks and twinkling Christmas decorations.

At the end of every year, most of us are naturally drawn to reflection. This habit is encouraged by news-carrying media, which often focus on the stories that made headlines during the year.

South Africa was treated to a taste of Chinese propaganda with President Xi Jinping’s visit earlier this month.

The global population hit the seven billion mark in October 2011, and with it came greater public awareness of food security.

The Big Bang left the universe in a constant state of change, and the climate here on planet Earth is no exception.

I like to think of myself as being reasonably even-tempered. But, like everyone, there are certain things that get my blood boiling. One of these is cruelty to the helpless and innocent.

Who would have thought that the simple act of handling could be so detrimental to an animal’s health?

The agendas of Afasa and Agri SA’s recent conferences, held a week apart at the same venue in Pretoria, had striking similarities.

There was a palpable buzz during the course of last year’s Agri SA congress, something that I felt was missing at this year’s event.

In the midst of the recent heat wave and prolonged drought, city folks were reminded of man’s dependence on water.