Denene Erasmus
Denene hails from a sugar cane farm in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, but after school she relocated to the Cape Winelands to study, for many years, at the University of Stellenbosch. She worked as a journalist for Farmer’s Weekly since 2009 and in 2015 moved to Johannesburg as Deputy editor for the magazine. In 2016 she was appointed editor, and at the end of 2021, she stepped down from her position to pursue her journalism career.
Land reform: a clear purpose, but no plan
The most frustrating aspect of the current status of the land reform process is the total lack of any clear plan or vision for the road ahead.
Coffee with Mantashe
I was recently paid a visit by an Eastern Cape farmer who is an ardent reader of the Farmer’s Weekly. You might know him better as the secretary-general of the ANC.
The safety of our farming communities
Every time I hear the news of another farm attack, I immediately stop and phone my parents to reassure myself that they are safe.
Agriculture in Africa still lagging behind
The development of agriculture in Africa was high on the agenda at this year’s SIMA Paris International Agribusiness Show in France.
Addressing the risk of polluted irrigation water
A recent study published by the Water Research Commission highlights the urgent need for identifying on-farm treatment options to help reduce the high levels of microbial contamination in irrigation waters, thereby reducing the associated food safety hazards for consumers. Denene Erasmus summarises some of the report’s key findings.
Celebrating 106 years on the land
Today we celebrate Farmer’s Weekly’s 106th birthday. This is not only a celebration of 106 years of publishing, but of over a century of commercial farming in Southern Africa.
Get ready to live in a different world
I read an article a few weeks ago about one of Elon Musk’s – Tesla and SpaceX CEO – latest projects: the development of neural lace, an invention that would add ‘a digital layer of intelligence to our brain’.
Transformation in SA citrus industry
Citrus production is a long-term investment, requiring technical expertise to ensure profitability. As a result, new entrants to the industry need to be trained, educated and mentored in order to become competitive and sustainable.
Globalisation – a subjective concept
The campaign that flung President Donald Trump into the White House introduced the world to the concept of alternative facts.
Mechanisation in Africa: AGCO on its plans for the continent
Global agricultural equipment company, AGCO, recently announced plans to restructure its Asia-Pacific region to include Africa and increase its operations in Africa. Gary Collar, senior vice-president and general manager (GM) for Asia-Pacific and Africa and Nuradin Osman, GM for AGCO Africa, spoke to Denene Erasmus about AGCO’s plans for expansion in Africa that will be driven from the company’s new regional headquarters in Johannesburg.
Global challenges facing farmers
During the first week of January, the University of Oxford in the UK hosted the annual Oxford Farming Conference. Reading through some of the presentations given at the event, I was reminded of how globalised the challenges and opportunities in farming have become.
Farming in Poland, Europe’s growth engine
Poland’s agricultural sector has undergone significant changes over the past 25 years, and the country now has the potential to become Europe’s major food production and processing hub.
Is farming in SA worth the risk?
I recently asked Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, whether or not, all things considered, he would, in good conscience, advise someone with no current investment in agriculture to go ahead and buy a farm in South Africa.
Farming lessons from Poland
I have previously written about the serious threat posed to the future of agriculture because young people are no longer interested in following a career in farming.
Lesotho and SA farmers face similar challenges
I was reminded recently that many of the challenges faced by our country’s farmers are, if not universal, at least shared by others in Southern Africa.
In Mike Mlengana we trust
South Africa’s agriculture sector breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that Mike Mlengana had been appointed the new director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
Beware the time bar in future payment agreements
A High Court judgement clarifies the issue of capital gains when a property is returned, as well as the time limits for making objections to SARS rulings.
Does farming make you happy?
Considering the serious business of farming, the question, ‘does farming make you happy?’ may seem silly and perhaps superfluous.
Smart farming solutions
More than 100 products were presented at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture. Denene Erasmus looks at some of the inventions that can improve efficiency on smaller farms.
“Government has a plan to respond to drought” – Gordhan
Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan assured South Africa that government had a plan to respond to the drought and set the country’s ailing economy on a new path.
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