As Farmer's Weekly celebrates its 113th anniversary, we reflect on our enduring commitment to providing accurate and reliable agricultural news. Our dedication to serving the farming community with excellence and...
Consumers and legislators in the EU are pushing for food production methods that neutralise carbon emissions. What impact will this have on food availability, costs, exports and imports? Lindi Botha...
Erence Manyako, researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Natural Resources and Engineering division, looks at available technologies to offset continuous load-shedding in South Africa.

Plight of female agricultural workers in the spotlight

Statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicate that about 38% of all workers in global agricultural supply chains are female.
Beef cattle Ireland

Farmers celebrate protected status for Irish grass-fed beef

Irish grass-fed beef has been awarded an EU all-Ireland Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). According to FarmingUK, this was a protection similar to that given to champagne in France, and Irish...

Illegal orchards under scrutiny in US-Mexico avocado trade

Environmental and legal uncertainty is threatening the integrity of the international avocado market, amid rising concerns about illegal avocado orchards in Mexico.

Plough for more

Although President Jacob Zuma was clear in his State of the Nation Address that agriculture and rural development remained high on the government’s agenda...
The water crisis in the Free State is worsening, according to Roelf Jacobs, a member of Free State Agriculture’s Water and Irrigation Committee.
Agri SA welcomed government’s firm stance against Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) reported threats of farm seizures.
Although fuel prices are expected to decrease early in April 2018, any benefits that this may have had on consumer pockets, including those of farmers, will be cancelled out by...
Nationwide sales of tractors and combine harvesters have remained under pressure for the first quarter of 2019.
The prolonged drought will continue to have a severe impact on the yield, availability and prices of grain and oilseed crops.
Few consumers properly understand how food production works or have any emotional connection with farmers and farming. This is according to Lauren Murphy, who, through her Internet-based farm produce marketing...
Wine producers that switch to organic production risk suffering a severe financial knock. Glenneis Kriel reports on how Western Cape-based producer Bosman Adama has managed this risk successfully.
Too often the South African dream of a united, prosperous farming sector has turned into a nightmare of land invasions, boundary disputes and farm murders. Now a small community of...
For those already using it, a newly launched and innovative online trading platform is reportedly revolutionising the way that South Africa’s fresh produce sellers and buyers conduct their typically time-sensitive...
You Reap What You Sow is a successful agricultural co-operative located in the Mohlakeng township, west of Johannesburg. Launched in 2011, the initiative is 90% black-women owned and employs 12...
South Africa’s 2022/2023 deciduous fruit season delivered something special to the market this January: Rosy-Lwazi, a brand-new very early red blush pear.
Jonno, My husband and I will be retiring from public service in five years, but we want to start building our dream home now.
Jonno designs a bush lodge catering for 16 five-star sleeper units for Socrates all the way in Angola.
I got a call from a couple in the Midlands who bought a farm with the most magnificent view of the Drakensberg, writes Jonno.
This could just as easily be grilled pork or even the next unexpected culinary event at the family braai. Whatever the cooking method, the outcome will thrill your diners and...
Gill, Adele and Dick gave me a call to see the proposed development site on their 5000ha game farm near Vryburg.
Dear Jonno I have been following your columns every week and decided to get in touch with you. I recently saw your plan for a farmhouse in KwaZulu-Natal for a businessman...
Father-and-son team Robert and Sanele Khumalo constantly strive to maximise carcass weight in their commercial beef production enterprise. But with heavy recent rains and ever more unpredictable weather patterns, this...
Lubabalo Ngcwembe (43), from Zwelitsha near Qonce, shares his remarkable journey into farming, overcoming challenges to build Ikhasilethu, a thriving livestock and vegetable enterprise.
If you have a small body frame, are athletic and enjoy riding, this may the career for you, says Dr Mac.
Owners of broodmares should ensure that their animals’ feed is optimal and the timing is right, says Dr Mac.
Crossbreeding beef cattle is gaining ground, as SA farmers increasingly value high productivity and low production costs. Prof Michiel Scholtz, head of the Vaalharts Crossbreeding Programme, tells Wilma den Hartigh...
The distance flown is not the deciding factor when identifying a disastrous pigeon race event, but rather the speed and the losses.
Over the years, composting guru Redge Jelliman has produced thousands of tons of compost as organic fertiliser for his crop farming enterprise in the Free State. Now semi-retired from farming,...
Many farmers think that using a knapsack sprayer is taking a step backwards as large spray rigs are fast and effective. However, knapsack sprayers still have their uses on big...
Over the past few years, monocropping has largely given way to the crop rotation system, and ley farming has gained popularity in grain-producing areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free...
Marketing fresh produce is a competitive and frequently expensive business as producers seek ways to improve margins.
South Africa’s relatively young macadamia industry has a long way to go to establish optimal farming practices and efficiencies. However, with nut prices falling, producers need to focus on cost...
Germination is influenced by various factors, starting with the temperature of the growing medium.