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.
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.
Locally developed biochar-rock blend attracts global interest
Farmer’s Weekly in 2024 reported on promising field trial results for RegenR8, a plant growth enhancer combining biochar and volcanic rock, on wheat at Tygerhoek Research Farm near Riviersonderend in the Western Cape. Clayton Postma spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the latest developments with the product and shared his thoughts on how it is working.
Cape Town port ranked worst in the world, despite improvements
The Port of Cape Town has once again come under scrutiny after being ranked last out of 400 ports in the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence's Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025.
Case IH strengthens Steiger range with new 595, 645 models
Few names in high-horsepower agriculture carry the legacy of the Case IH Steiger range. From the early 91 and 93 series tractors to today’s advanced four-wheel-drive giants, the Steiger name has become synonymous with traction, brute pulling power, and ongoing engineering refinement.
New Holland launches T4F S speciality tractor range at Nampo
New Holland launched its T4F S speciality tractor range at Nampo 2026 in Bothaville, Free State, introducing a purpose-built solution for orchard, vineyard, and vegetable producers looking for a compact yet versatile machine.
John Deere expands flexibility with updated 6M tractor range
John Deere is positioning its updated 6M tractor range as a versatile, technology-ready workhorse aimed at bridging the gap between basic utility tractors and the company’s premium 6R series.
Case IH 475 High-Speed Disc delivers strength, speed, and time savings
The new Case IH 475 High-Speed Disc is built around a simple principle: high-speed, heavy-duty construction and efficient field performance that helps farmers save time during critical operations.
Richard Hutton-Squire named Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year 2026
Elgin pome fruit producer Richard Hutton-Squire was named the Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year 2026 at a gala event in Paarl on Wednesday, with judges recognising his focus on strong farming fundamentals and sustained production growth.
Omnia’s operating profit jumps 28% on strong agriculture performance
Omnia Holdings delivered a stronger financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, underpinned by solid volume growth in its agriculture and mining businesses, improved margins, and disciplined cash generation.
