Jeandré van der Walt
Jeandré Du Preez is the newest addition to the Farmer’s Weekly team. Originating from a Riversdal farming family, she has farming in her blood. After school she furthered her studies at Stellenbosch and has been working as an agricultural journalist for the past two years.
She says she feels privileged to write about an industry paramount to the survival of all South Africans and is inspired by the innovative solutions with which the farming community bridges the many challenges they face. She enjoys being able to combine work with travel and appreciates the modesty and friendliness with which South Africa’s farmers share their accomplishments.
She enjoys being able to combine work with travel and appreciates the modesty and friendliness with which South Africa’s farmers share their accomplishments.
If she is not writing or visiting farms, you’ll find her relaxing with a good mystery novel or exploring her other passions: travelling and cooking.
Good summer rain boosts tractor sales
The prospect of a promising summer rainfall season has resulted in a 24,9% year-on-year increase in tractor sales for November.
Rabbit farming: how to enter this ’money-making’ market
*Farmer’s Weekly reported in November 2019 that Coniglio Rabbit Meat Farms was liquidated in October 2019.
Egg price expected to rise 20% due to tight supplies
South African consumers should brace themselves for a steep hike in the price of eggs, according to Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Business.
Western Cape drought: province entering unchartered water
The drought in the Western Cape was becoming a colossal challenge as the province headed into uncharted waters. This was according to the WWF’s Fresh Water senior manager, Christine Colvin.
Drought impacts red meat prices in Western Cape
Consumers will have to be prepared to spend more on their favourite cuts of meat, or even go without it, this festive season.
A call to wear black in tribute to murdered farmers
A farm manager from Franschhoek in the Western Cape, Chris Loubser, has posted an emotional video filmed in his bakkie on social media, calling on all South Africans to wear black on Monday 30 October, to pay tribute to all the farmers who have lost their lives in farm attacks.
North Africa: South Africa’s next prime export market?
North Africa is a market with rising incomes, a growing number of sophisticated consumers, increasingly open economies, and ever-greater Internet access. Cornelis van der Waal, chief research officer at Wesgro, spoke to Jeandré du Preez about trade opportunities in this region.
Western Cape counts the cost of drought and bird flu
More than 35 000 jobs are on the line in the Western Cape’s agricultural sector, with losses expected to run into the billions, as a result of water allocations being capped due to the drought.
Fresh produce market agents face price-fixing charges
Up to 14 fresh produce market agents and the Institute for Market Agents of South Africa have been charged with price fixing and have been referred to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution.
Stable outlook for table grape harvest, despite drought
Despite the drought and more stringent water restriction in the Western Cape, the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) expects a good season.
Absa awards SA’s top 10 olive oils
Ten extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) were recently awarded as the best in the country of the 2017 harvest at the Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards ceremony, held at Val de Vie Estate outside Paarl in the Western Cape.
Millions of birds culled in Western Cape
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is devastating the Western Cape poultry industry with millions of birds being culled this week.
Agri recovery aids SA’s second quarter GDP growth
The agriculture sector has emerged as the largest contributor to the 2,5% increase in South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the second quarter of this year, according to Statistics South Africa (SSA).
Less rain and less wheat for the Western Cape
The Western Cape, the country’s largest wheat-growing region, was likely to produce 236 950t less wheat this year than in the previous season, according to the Crop Estimates Committee's first production forecast for winter grains.
Fuel price increase ‘comes at a bad time’ for agri sector
The sharp rise that is expected in the fuel price comes at a bad time for the South African agricultural sector, according to Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture.
SA’s top Chenin Blanc wines announced
The winners of the fourth annual Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge were recently announced at the Delaire Graff Estate outside Stellenbosch.
Convenience shopping a growing trend in fresh produce
Convenience shopping, both in the formal and informal sectors, is becoming a major factor in fresh produce retailing.
SA honey production on a downward spiral
The decrease in SA honey production would result in increased prices, and a local producer market that was fast facing international competition.
Second Astral farm hit by avian flu
Poultry producer, Astral Foods, has confirmed an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza at a second of its poultry breeding facilities, Welbedach, outside Standerton in Mpumalanga.
Bergsig Estate wins big at Terrior Wine awards
Bergsig Estate, in the Breedekloof, received the Novare Trophy for South Africa’s Top Wine Estate for the second consecutive year, as well as the Novare Trophy for South Africa’s Top Terroir Producer.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
MUST READS
- ADVERTISEMENT -
- ADVERTISEMENT -
