Lloyd Phillips
Lloyd Phillips joined Farmer’s Weekly in January 2003 and is now a Senior Journalist with the publication. He spent most of his childhood on a Zululand sugarcane farm where he learned to speak fluent Zulu.
After matriculating in 1993, Lloyd dreamed of working as a nature conservationist. Life’s vagaries, however, had different plans for him and Lloyd ended up sampling various jobs in South African agriculture before becoming a proud member of the Farmer’s Weekly team.
Farmer’s Weekly joins Xtractor Around the World Tour
Farmer's Weekly's senior journalist Lloyd Phillips had the privilege of travelling with the XTractor around the World team for five days through KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Watch his journey here.
Knock-on effect of record diesel price on grain value chain
The latest 87c/ℓ increase in the wholesale price of diesel will have a significant knock-on effect on the South African grain value chain, according to Corné Louw, a senior economist at Grain SA.
‘Constitution not an obstacle to land reform’ – Kwanalu
In its current form, Section 25 of the South African Constitution does not pose an obstacle to successful land reform.
Tea importer’s modern business plan for a classic product
Consumers worldwide are increasingly demanding varied flavours and health benefits from tea. Meeting this demand is what German-based Teehaus Shila excels at. Lloyd Phillips spoke to deputy manager Arpan Chatterjee at the International Green Week 2018 in Berlin.
Breeding Bonsmaras for versatility and profit
With Bonsmaras having been bred for decades in South Africa for local conditions, the standards for this beef breed are firmly established. One Free State farming family is building on this solid foundation to make their cattle even more adaptable and profitable.
SA tractor sales continue positive trend
Nationwide tractor sales continued their positive monthly trend with the 459 units sold in April 2018 a 15,3% increase on the 398 units sold in April 2017.
Extension of comments on land expropriation welcomed
Major organised agricultural bodies in South Africa have welcomed recent news that the window period for written submissions on the National Assembly’s proposal to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation has been extended.
XTractor Expedition close to 6 000km goal
The ambitious 2018 XTractor Expedition aims to drive four McCormick X7 and X8 series tractors, on 16 BKT tyres, over 6 000km across South Africa.
Do you know how healthy your ‘soil skin’ is?
The crucial link between soil health and optimal, sustainable crop yield is well established. Dr Neil Miles, a soil scientist with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute, explores this subject, focusing in particular on the upper surface of the soil.
Arson suspected in citrus packhouse fire
Arson is suspected of being the cause of a raging inferno that gutted an Eastern Cape citrus packhouse on Monday, 7 May.
‘Soil Sista’ profits from the informal vegetable market
With competition fierce in South Africa’s vegetable production arena, finding clients and then adapting to their requirements are essential for success. Award-winning vegetable farmer Zama Buthelezi tells Lloyd Phillips how she does it.
Government purchases boost March tractor sales
It is believed that large-scale purchases by the South African government were what contributed to the dramatic increase in the country’s tractor sales during March 2018.
XTractor Around the World expedition set for SA
In the second stage of the XTractor Around The World expedition, four of the latest generation McCormick tractors will cover 6 000km of South Africa’s toughest terrain in 48 days.
Free State farmworker empowerment initiative
A commercial farmer in the Free State, Eddie Prinsloo (63), is empowering his farmworkers through a land ownership initiative in which he sold a 1 500ha farm to the government on condition that his farmworkers be joint owners of the farm.
Smarter ways to irrigate sugar cane
South Africa’s irrigated sugar cane farming region was hard hit by the recent drought. This prompted Dr Abraham Singels, principal agronomist at the SA Sugarcane Research Institute, and his colleagues to begin researching options aimed at maximising water-use efficiencies in sugar cane irrigation.
Levies expected to cancel out fuel price decrease
Although fuel prices are expected to decrease early in April 2018, any benefits that this may have had on consumer pockets, including those of farmers, will be cancelled out by increased government fuel levies.
February tractor sales down
The 11,9% drop in year-on-year national tractor sales between February 2017 and February 2018 has been described as “quite disappointing” by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA).
Expropriation motion could dent high agri confidence
Confidence within South Africa’s agribusiness sector for the first quarter of 2018 (Q1 2018) was at its highest since the third quarter of 2016.
Western Cape scrambles to take on oriental fruit fly
All hands are reportedly on deck to speedily eradicate the oriental fruit fly (OFF) outbreak that was identified recently in the Western Cape’s Grabouw area.
January tractor sales up but combine harvester sales down
January 2018 tractor sales of 527 units were 10,3% up on the January 2017 figure of 478 units. However, last month’s combine harvester sales of eight units were half the number of those sold in January last year.
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