Home Authors Posts by Gerhard Uys

226 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Gerhard Uys grew up as a real city lad, but spends his free time hiking and visiting family farms. He learnt the journalism trade as a freelance writer and photographer in the lifestyle industry, but having decided that he will be a cattle farmer by the age of 45 he now indulges his passion for farming by writing about agriculture. He feels Farmer’s Weekly is a platform for both developed and emerging farmers to learn additional farming skills and therefore takes the job of relaying practical information seriously.

Western Cape farmers’ water allocations restored

Gugile Nkwinti, the Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), recently announced that farmers in the Western Cape would soon be allocated 90% of the water volume they were receiving before the province was hit by drought three years ago.

Hire a farmer to grow your food

Herenboeren is taking the Netherlands by storm, with city dwellers and urbanites paying farmers to produce food according to their exact specifications. Gerhard Uys spoke to Boudewijn Tooren, a board member of the co-operative, about this radical approach to farming.

‘Careful planning needed to ensure success’

Before starting any farming venture, new farmers must plan how they will reach their goals and how they will manage all aspects of their farming operation, according to Cois Harman, winner of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) mentor of the year award.

Farmers welcome sharp decline in fuel prices

The large drop in the diesel price that can be expected for December, as announced by the Automobile Association (AA) on Thursday, will be especially beneficial to crop producers who had yet not planted, according to independent economist Fanie Brink.

Using insects as animal feed

Animal feed produced from insects can deliver more tons per hectare than feed from traditional crops like soya, says an insect expert.

Only cage-free eggs for Famous Brands by 2025

Famous Brands CEO, Darren Hele, has announced that Famous Brands will be using only cage-free eggs by 2025. Speaking on ‘The Money Show’ on Radio 702, Hele said the company had agreed to source only eggs that were produced in cage-free layer systems by 2025.

More animal neglect allegations against award-winning farmer

New allegations of animal neglect have emerged against a former national winner of a top agricultural award.

Farm sales under pressure due to demand slowdown

Despite the debate about expropriation without compensation and the economic impact thereof on the agriculture sector, there is still demand for agricultural land in South Africa, according to Karl Markram, CEO of Farm Expert Properties and Auctioneers.

Agri interventions key to Ramaphosa’s economic stimulus package

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government has reprioritised funding towards an economic stimulus package that would focus on agriculture, among other sectors.

Shot hole borer pest found in SA pecan trees

Shot hole borer pest found in pecan trees

The East-Asian polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. nr fornicates) has been discovered in pecan trees in Hartswater, Northern Cape, according to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

Farmers, ANC discuss land expropriation

A large group of farmers and members of Agri SA, met ANC delegates in Pretoria on Friday to voice their concerns about the expropriation of land without compensation.

Rapid increase in SA blueberry production – Absa report

Blueberry production in South Africa is increasing at a faster rate than previously anticipated, according to a recent Absa Agribusiness Outlook report.

‘Grain farmers, beware of using harmful chemicals!’

The grain industry must be concerned about possible endocrine-disruptive chemicals in pesticides and insecticides, says Prof Riana Bornman from the department of urology at the University of Pretoria.

Drone technology: a step towards zero defect orchard management

Drone technology maximises macadamia production

Drone technology, combined with satellite images and soil samples, provides macadamia farmers with more precise orchard health data than ever before. Gerhard Uys spoke to Martin Taljaard and Jaco Prinsloo about how they’re helping producers cut input costs and increase profits.

North Africa and Middle East markets must be explored

South Africa has to explore North African and Middle Eastern markets, which will grow exponentially in the next decade. Those countries do not have the capacity to grow their own food, according to Dr Holger Matthey, an economist in trade and markets at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.