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I am the editor of agricultural magazine Farmer’s Weekly, South Africa's oldest magazine. Farmer's Weekly focuses on providing role players in the agriculture sector with news and information to help them grow their enterprises.

SA’s economic growth to remain subdued

South Africa’s economy has expanded over the past three years, but the rate of progress has steadily declined, with little hope of imminent robust growth over the next three years, said finance minister Pravin Gordhan, who presented the 2013 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in parliament today.

Calibrating your crop sprayer

Manufacturers’ recommended crop-spraying rates, which are determined by careful research, are aimed at protecting the safety of consumers while ensuring the most effective results.

Imasa 2013

If you consider the role it has been playing in the fresh produce sector in recent years and its limited resources – both financial and human – then you can’t but agree that the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (Imasa) has definitely been ‘punching above its weight’.

A day at the races… in the former Transkei

The horse arrived in the Eastern Cape with the first Europeans during the 1700s, and by the late 1800s had become a central part of Xhosa life. The desire to know whose horse was the fastest fuelled a tradition of racing among the Xhosa that has survived to this day. Mike Burgess spent a day at the races in the village of Theko in the former Transkei.

Land solution?

Minister Nkwinti shares his department’s plans to reverse the effects of the 1913 Land Act.

Potberg and Suidplaas Dohne Merino production ram sale

Highest ram R46 000

Bonsmara Genepool Spring Sale

Highest (bull): R80 000

Enjoying the benefits of better genetics

Age has not prevented a group of elderly communal sheep farmers in the former Transkei from embracing change and improving their flocks. The result has been better sheep, finer wool – and improved profits. Mike Burgess investigates.

Aquaculture lessons from Egypt

Keep it simple and don’t become fixated on ‘technology’ – that’s how you’ll make a go of freshwater fish farming.

Wireworm-resistant – Majobe merinos

Merino breeder Johan Hoffman of Bothaville in the Free State has virtually eradicated wireworm (Haemonchus contortus) from his 800-strong stud flock. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

Work with government, not against it – Namibian farmer

Commercial farmers in Africa should not look for solutions to their unique problems in the US, Australia or elsewhere in the world, but rather find ways to adjust to the changing political and economic landscape in which they find themselves, said Ryno van der Merwe, former chairperson of the Namibia Agricultural Union.