Glenneis Kriel
Glenneis Kriel is a senior agricultural journalist for Farmer's Weekly. Her ventures into agricultural journalism started out by chance, more than 20 years ago, when someone suggested she freelance for the magazine, which turned out to be her dream job. Her passion is to write stories that inspire greatness and make people evaluate the way they are doing things.
Dry winter takes its toll on Western Cape crops and veld
Exceptionally dry conditions in June and July have affected wild flowers, grazing, and crops across parts of the Western Cape, despite the province’s relatively healthy dam levels.
South African Preserve Championships attracts record 700 entries
From traditional peach preserves to spekboom chutney and olives stuffed with cashew nuts, local producers showcased the country’s culinary heritage and flair for innovation at this year’s South African Preserve Championships.
Western Cape flood repair bill expected to exceed R2bn
Repairs to the Western Cape’s flood-damaged provincial road network are expected to cost more than R2 billion, but emergency funding is yet to be confirmed, and full recovery could take several years.
Searching for the vines of the future
Faced with a warmer climate and growing pressure to farm more sustainably, Bosman Adama is looking beyond South Africa’s conventional wine grape cultivars for vines better suited to future conditions.
Tax ruling against citrus producer could affect other farmers
A Western Cape High Court ruling that money placed in a structured self-insurance account is not tax-deductible could have implications for farmers using similar products and diminish the appeal of a tool designed to help agribusinesses build reserves against climate, disease, and market-related losses.
Protecting the harvest: Botswana farmer defends seasonal restrictions
Botswana’s vegetable import restrictions are often criticised as protectionist and disruptive to regional trade. But farmer Manjo Stiglingh says South Africans need to understand the size and dynamics of Botswana’s market, and why local growers regard seasonal protection as important for investment, food security, and job creation.
Getting the most out of spray drones
Spray drones offer clear advantages on the farm, but their success depends on how well they are managed. From drift control to logistics, careful planning is key to getting the best results. Anroé Steyn spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this.
It’s about the people: keeping a family business together
In family farming businesses, the hardest decisions are often about people, not production. At Bergrivier Besproeiing’s ‘Passion for your Farming’ farmers’ day in Paarl, Western Cape, three established farming families shared what it takes to keep both the business and the relationships intact across generations.
Balancing scale, cost and risk in ostrich chick production
Ostrich chick production can be a valuable source of income, but success depends largely on how it is done. Dr Adriaan Olivier shared key considerations with Glenneis Kriel that could make or break such a venture.
A Farmer’s Weekly adventure: the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail
When I suggested that Farmer’s Weekly start running adventure stories to encourage readers and their families to reconnect with nature, our general manager, Gary Wium, said: “You should keep a daily diary.” Risky business, considering some of the things that stay safely locked inside my head, but here goes.
Learning from biogas setbacks
Biogas promises farmers lower energy costs, improved waste management, and protection against load-shedding, but results have been mixed. Mauro Delle Donne, owner of Zandam Cheese and Piggery, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the challenges he’s faced and how he plans to make it work in future.
True cost of May floods in Western Cape still unfolding
Roads and bridges have largely been restored after the Western Cape floods earlier this year, but Ceres and Witzenberg fruit growers are still grappling with widespread damage to orchards, vineyards, irrigation infrastructure, and pump stations, as well as topsoil losses.
Pest management starts with better decisions, not more sprays
Many farmers still think of integrated pest management (IPM) as a combination of pesticides, biological products and beneficial insects. But according to ProCrop SA plant pathologist Dr Gideon van Zyl, that understanding misses the point. Glenneis Kriel reports.
FMD crisis threatens Botswana’s cattle genetics
Botswana's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis is threatening more than its commercial beef industry. Stud breeders say movement restrictions have disrupted the entire genetics pipeline, preventing them from importing new bloodlines, exporting breeding stock, and selling bulls to cash-strapped commercial farmers.
Building water resilience at Le Arc
Amid mounting pressure on water resources, and climate change expected to intensify extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves and floods, agricultural business Six33 Produce has taken proactive steps to strengthen its water resilience. Corné Oosthuizen shared how the farm is adapting with Glenneis Kriel.
Botswana farmers fear price slump after easing of FMD restrictions
While cattle farmers in Botswana have welcomed the government's decision to reduce foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) slaughter restrictions, they warn that months without income, limited market access, and a growing backlog of slaughter-ready cattle mean the financial fallout from the outbreak is far from over.
Tough sentence for poachers gives Botswana game farmers hope
After months of escalating poaching that has decimated wildlife populations, caused livestock losses, and forced farmers to spend thousands of pula on security, prison sentences recently handed down to poachers have raised hopes that Botswana’s courts are beginning to take wildlife crime more seriously.
Wheat farmers left in the lurch as government rules out tariff changes
Industry role players say government’s decision to reject Grain SA’s proposed changes to the wheat import tariff system will leave wheat producers operating under conditions that have long eroded profitability.
Ongoing investment turned Lucerne Fields into Botswana’s top carrot producer
Lucerne Fields, the Tuli Block farming business behind Botswana's B-Fresh vegetable brand, recently celebrated 15 years of carrot production by opening its farm to its trade partners. The event showcased the investments and innovations that have transformed the business into Botswana's leading carrot producer.
Testing before planting: why on-farm trials matter for new pome fruit cultivars
With an abundance of new apple and pear cultivars entering the market, producers have more choice than ever but also face greater risk, as performance can vary widely under local conditions. Dihan Blom, pome product manager at Delecta, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how on-farm trials can reduce this risk.
