South Africa

Explore South African farming insights, including crop production, livestock, agribusiness, and sustainability tips for profitable agriculture.

ANC appealing hate speech ruling

“Shoot the Boer” will come under scrutiny once more on 3 September when the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein will decide whether the song constitutes hate speech or not.

Better food access, not production needed to solve hunger

Too much focus is placed on food production instead of access when it comes to finding solutions for food insecurity.

Farmers need information on FMD control progress

While South Africa’s livestock farmers appear to be in the dark on the subject, government veterinary health authorities are reportedly making headway in getting the country’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease-free status back.

Record table grape harvest

The 2011/2012 table grape harvest season has come to an end with the biggest harvest season ever recorded since deregulation.

Dark days ahead for dairy, but hope looms

Challenges for the dairy industry abound as raw milk production increased, while demand decreased, leading to a greater drop in producer prices.

SA must take advantage of Africa’s economic growth

The economic outlook for the EU, one of South Africa’s core markets for agricultural exports, isn’t very good, and SA’s agriculture sector needs to diversify when it comes to export...

Decoding bat droppings

Macadamia farmers could benefit from collaborative work between South African and Danish scientists, who aim to identify the insect prey contained in bat guano.

Training hub for developing pig farmers

A state-of-the art training facility for developing pig farmers was opened in Baynesfield near Pietermaritzburg recently.

Eaten alive!

Screwworm outbreaks cause problems in communal farming areas where parasite controls are inadequate.

SAMGA resists plans for change

In what has been described as a tragic day for the industry, Louw Retief, mohair farmer and long-time member of the executive committee of the SA Mohair Growers Association (SAMGA),...

Drought bad in northern KZN

Livestock farmers in northern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Zululand are desperate for rain.

Racism, politics must be kept out of farming – Salam Abram

Government appointments made according to political favour, rather than ability, is one of the biggest problems facing the agricultural industry.

Fracking fears are for real

Swayed by the evidence, geo-hydrologist Prof Gerrit van Tonder told Roelof Bezuidenhout why he no longer supports fracking.

New cases of bird flu a blow to ostrich farmers

The H5N2 avian influenza virus that has plagued the local ostrich industry since it was first detected on a farm near Oudtshoorn in April last year has reared its ugly...

George Nicholas moves to Eastern Cape

George Nicholas, who has been associated with Farmer’s Weekly since 1944, was recently treated to a farewell luncheon at AgriSA’s Centurion offices.

Sheep scab campaign to kick start in N Cape

Organised agriculture has welcomed the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Veterinary Services’ plan to launch the sheep scab campaign.

Pontiff focuses on the Horn of Africa

Pope Benedict XVI recently held a private audience at the Vatican with José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Tough year for apples and pears

It has been a tough season for apple and pear farmers who have had to cope with heavy rains during the flowering season, which negatively affects fruit quality and the...

Organised agriculture has many questions for new police commissioner

South Africa’s farmers’ unions are keen to meet the new National Police Commissioner, Mangwashi Phiyegi, to find out her plans on dealing with rural safety and security concerns.

One agriculture, one vision

The theme for Agri Mega Week 2012, which takes place in Bredasdorp from Thursday, 13 September, to Saturday, 15 September, is “One agriculture, one vision”.
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