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.
Big decisions ahead for new Land Bank CEO
Themba Rikhotso has been appointed as the new CEO of Land Bank, effective from 1 April. He takes over from Khensani Mukhari, who in May last year was appointed as acting CEO, following the resignation of Ayanda Kanana, who served in the position for two years.
Another challenging pome fruit season ahead
The outlook for pome fruit this season is still uncertain, with various factors threatening the financial viability of producers, according to Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape. Pienaar was speaking during a virtual meeting on the forecast for the year ahead.
Empowerment through winemaking: Farmworkers make top-quality wines
As part of an empowerment project, farmworkers at Kleine Zalze wine estate have released the first wines produced from grapes grown in their own vineyards. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their achievement.
Plant health: Protect your canola from blackleg
With blackleg being amongst the worst diseases of canola, South African researchers are conducting trials to find the most resistant cultivars and most effective fungicides for local conditions. Dr Gert van Coller of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture offers advice on control of the disease.
Renewed calls to exempt chicken from VAT
FairPlay has renewed calls for government to remove South Africa’s 15% value-added tax (VAT) from chicken portions because of “rising agricultural costs, including unreliable and increasingly expensive electricity”.
Widespread flooding declared a national disaster
On 13 February, government declared a national state of disaster in response to the floods affecting Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West.
The small town with big plans for hemp production
A company and a farmers’ association recently joined hands to start hemp production in Gouda in the Western Cape. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their plans to scale up the project to achieve commercial success.
Organised agriculture wants SONA promises backed by action
Agricultural role players are unmoved by the commitments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 9 February.
Huge expectations from the State of the Nation Address
Solving South Africa’s energy crisis should be at the top of the agenda of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 9 February, according to various agricultural stakeholders.
Load-shedding and uncertainty threaten fruit processing industry
The fruit processing industry is experiencing tremendous challenges because of the power crisis and uncertainty over the future of Langeberg & Ashton Foods, according to Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association (CFPA).
Poor economy and logistical problems take their toll on wine exports
Wine export volumes have declined by 5%, from 388.1 million in 2021 to 368,8 million litres in 2022, while export value dropped by 2,4%, from R10,2 billion to R9,9 billion, according to the recently released Wines of South Africa Export Report 2022.
Illicit trade deals SA tobacco industry another blow
South Africa’s largest tobacco manufacturer, British American Tobacco (BAT), has entered into a process of restructuring, because of an “explosion in illicit tobacco sales” following the ban on cigarette sales during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in 2020.
Challenges and opportunities for potato farmers
Even as South Africa’s potato industry feels the weight of adverse production conditions, high input costs and rolling blackouts, producers have reason for optimism.
Why nutrition is crucial for dairy cow fertility
While genetic improvement can go a long way towards improving dairy profitability, cows and calves will not reach their full potential if they suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
Farm sales in South Africa looking bullish
A total of 3 864 farms were sold in South Africa between January and October 2022, a significant increase from the 3 133 over the same period in 2021, according to Johann Bornman, chairperson of Agri Development Solutions.
Maximise dairy profits with beef semen
Improved breeding technologies and practices have resulted in many dairies ending up with more replacement heifers than they need. To add value to surplus animals, farmers can use beef semen on some of their cows. Glenneis Kriel explains what this process entails, and how it should be approached and implemented.
Table grape volumes expected to decline
The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) expects volumes of table grapes for exporting to decrease by almost 8% in the 2022/23 season, down from the previous season’s 77,7 million 4,5kg-equivalent cartons to about 71,7 million.
Agri department issues rabies alert for the Festive Season
A warning has been issued for members of the public to be on high alert for incidences of rabies in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the area on the border between the Free State and Lesotho.
SA’s ostrich industry gets serious about animal welfare
South Africa’s ostrich industry unveiled its Ostrich Production Standard in 2021, and 85% of farms are currently participating in the programme. Dr Adriaan Olivier, industry veterinarian at the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the origins of the standard and what is required of producers.
High meat inflation makes for expensive festive season
As South Africans entered the festive season, meat inflation reached its highest level in 14 months at 10,5% year-on-year, making this a “very expensive braai season”, according to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Agri-Business.
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