You proceed from paddock to paddock down a winding country lane, under a venerable canopy of oak trees.

You pass flashes of woolly Dohne Merino sheep and Angora goats, sneezewood gateposts still standing, gaunt and gnarled, beds of heritage roses, a moss-covered crypt where ancestors rest, a wood-and-cable suspension bridge across a large stream, a shearing shed that once served as a military mess, and an ancient mill that used to grind all manner of grain in its day.

The sneezewood posts, each one pocked with many holes drilled by various generations, were harvested centuries ago from the forested hills above Glen Avon and remain untouched by wood bugs or decay.

The birding is quite incredible.

About 270 species have been recorded on Glen Avon, including specialities like the Knysna Woodpecker, buff-streaked chat, striped flufftail, scops owl, and breeding pairs of Verreaux’s and martial eagles.

Fittingly, these days, you could be accompanied by a trio of Border collies called Timmy, Sammy, and Georgie, who love to walk with farm guests.

A Walk with Greg brown

Once he’s tended to his chores, young farmer Greg Brown will take you up to the family cemetery. Ask him, and he might tell you some Gothic tales of a granduncle, or one of a wife dying and her husband committing suicide.

He might also tell you about his Scottish ancestor, Robert Hart, who came over to South Africa as a military man in 1795. In 1816, Cape Governor Lord Charles Somerset sent him to these parts to take over Somerset Farm, which supplied food and fodder to the British troops on the frontier.

Later, when the 1820 Settlers pitched up, this was the farm that initially supplied them with grain and fruit, right up to 1825. Somerset Farm later became the site of Somerset East.

A small but highly fertile and well-watered piece of ground was granted to Robert Hart in 1821 in recognition of his services to the Crown and successfully managing Somerset Farm. He named it Glen Avon.

Since then, his descendants (the Harts and later the Browns) have been able custodians of this remarkable property beneath the densely vegetated Boschberg mountain.

The Glen Avon Mill

The Glen Avon ancestors left gifts for their successive generations to enjoy. Robert Hart had a massive mill built from local yellowwood, with machinery imported from Leeds in England and brought in by ox-wagon over the tricky Zuurberg Pass. By 1861, it could grind up to 4t of grain per day.

Wagonloads of mielies were brought down from places like Pearston, Ann’s Villa, and the Zwagershoek near Cradock (now known as Nxuba).

The drovers would camp for a day or two while the grain was milled, then set off again, delivering it en route.

“You could immediately hear when the mill was running,” says Alison Brown, mother of Greg. “It took on a life of its own as it rumbled and groaned.”

The Glen Avon mill closed down in 1992 but was recently brought back to life. The Brown family were put in touch with mill enthusiast Chester Staples, who advised and helped them. They began clearing tons of dirt from beneath the old wheel and inside the mill house itself.

“If we were going to restore it, the time was now, before things really fell apart,” says Fiona Brown, Greg’s wife.

She studied environmental management, takes a personal interest in the mill, and is immensely proud of it.

It costs R500 to get the mill up and running for demonstrations, which include a half-hour talk, seeing the great overshot mill wheel moving and the grindstone grinding.

It’s a beautiful triple-storey grist overshot mill. Woodoc, which has its factory in KwaMaqoma (formerly Fort Beaufort), also made a generous donation of its products, ensuring the woodwork gleams. And once in motion, it’s like being in a loud Victorian-era factory during the Industrial Revolution.

Pecans from Canada

Another piece of ancestral legacy on Glen Avon comes in the form of a grove of healthy pecan trees, courtesy of Lennox Brown, who had been badly gassed in the trenches of World War I and told by doctors that he did not have long to live.

He decided to make the most of the time he had left and travel the world. It was while he was in Canada that he pocketed some pecan nuts and eventually brought them back to the farm.

That pocketful of nuts led to another small income stream for Glen Avon.

The historic Shearing Shed

If you’re lucky to visit Glen Avon during shearing season, you’re welcome to come along and watch the men with their flashing blades, working in the cavernous shed that was once a mess hall for British officers stationed in Middelburg just after the Anglo-Boer War.

The building was then used as both a citrus-packing depot and a basic shearing shed until some time in the 1990s, when the legendary New Zealand shearing facility builder Chips Reid built a beautiful shearing facility within the shed. The shearers work on a raised platform, almost like a stage, and behind each one is a door that leads into the catching pen. Also behind each one is a chute leading down to the ‘let go’ pen.

Inside the Shed

This old Karoo shearing shed has the feel of a cathedral. Built from stone and corrugated iron, there is natural light from above so the men can see in order to cut and class.

The sounds are unforgettable. The shed is filled with the metallic hum of the fast-moving electric clippers, the murmur of the shearers, and the constant bawling of the sheep or Angora goats. Occasionally, a goat will bleat in protest at the injustice of losing its warm winter coat. The sound is just like a child throwing a tantrum.

Approximately every five minutes, a shearer brings in a new, wide-eyed animal, clamping it firmly between his legs before starting on the belly and working his way around. The animals sink into a hypnotised, chicken-like trance, sitting immobile on their backsides as the wool comes off almost in one piece, like a skinned pelt.

The shearer puts the dazed sheep back on its feet and gives it a commanding pat as it scuttles off down the chute to its mates.

The wool thrower brings the fleece over to the sorting table. With a dramatic gesture, he flings it onto the slatted surface, slick with decades of lanolin. The graders crowd around, burying their hands in the wool, looking at the length and fineness of the fibre.

Everything in the Glen Avon shearing shed is traditional, from the shears to the table and the wool presses.

The Australian Who Loves SA

On one of our visits to Glen Avon many years ago, we met Ros Turner, now curator of the Walter Battiss Museum in KwaNojoli.

We found her in the Glen Avon shed, amid the shearers and classers. It was time for the Angora goats to be shorn of their long, curly locks. We gently probed her about why she had left her birth country, Australia, to come and live at the southern edge of the Karoo.

“I’d rather die an exciting death in Africa than live a boring life in Australia,” was her unforgettable answer.

Turner had been a shearing judge for many years. At one stage, she even officiated at the annual World Shearing Championships, where South African and Basotho hand shearers usually come away with top honours.

She is also a top wool classer. As we were talking, a truckload of new goats arrived, and they were guided into the stalls.

We went outside in time to see Bill Brown, Greg’s dad, arrive with a goat firmly clutched over the petrol tank of his scrambler motorbike. Just another morning on Glen Avon.

For more information, WhatsApp Fiona Brown on 074 342 9550, email her at [email protected], or visit glenavonfarm.co.za.

Under the stewardship of the Enthoven family since 1993, Spier has evolved into a diversified wine farm where wine, hospitality, farming, art and community impact are closely connected.

Guided by its Growing for Good philosophy, Spier includes a recently refreshed hotel, restaurants, contemporary South African art, farm-grown produce and initiatives that support people and the environment. This approach has helped position Spier as a leader in regenerative agriculture and responsible tourism.

This year marks three decades of Frans Smit being closely involved with the day-to-day business of the farm, having joined Spier straight from the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute for his first harvest as winemaker in 1996.

In 2001, he was promoted to cellar master and in 2021, to wines managing director of this extensively diversified global business that exports wine around the world while annually welcoming thousands of local and international visitors to its immaculate facilities.

“Our primary aim is to set a benchmark in everything we do at Spier, whether it is winemaking, viticulture or hospitality. We value our environment, with the vineyards on our two owned farms organically certified by Ecocert, while we are completely committed to providing a socially responsible environment for our employees,” according to Smit.

Spier’s journey began in 1692 when Governor Simon van der Stel granted the first title deed to German settler Arnoud Jansz. Recognising the potential of the Stellenbosch “terroir” (all factors that impact on the vineyard), the farm quickly established itself as a significant producer and by 1754, more than 30 000 vines were flourishing on the property. The estate’s historical significance is still tangible today.

It features the oldest dated cellar in South Africa, a testament to the longevity of winemaking on the site. The architectural legacy is equally profound, with the Manor House (dating back to 1822) and the old wine cellar (1767) anchoring the farm’s original ‘werf’ (farmyard).

The modern era started in 1965 when the farm was acquired by Niel Joubert, who in 1971 started bottling wine under the Spier label and, together with Johan Malan of Simonsig and Spatz Sperling of Delheim, founded the Stellenbosch Wine Route initiative.

When the Enthoven family acquired Spier in 1993, it already had an established wine production and tourism offering but, rather than merely managing the farm, they envisioned turning the sprawling 650ha estate into a vibrant hub that marries agricultural excellence with community, art and conservation.

The vision was guided by a philosophy of ‘good wine from good people, grown in good soil’, which turned Spier into a pioneer of regenerative farming, where the focus is not just on sustainability (maintaining the status quo), but also on regeneration.

Established in 2012, the dedicated nursery on the farm has planted more than 100 000 indigenous trees, shrubs, and fynbos, as well as over a million bulbs. This massive revegetation effort restores endemic flora.

Regenerative agriculture

In 2006, Angus McIntosh set out to revive an abandoned Chenin Blanc vineyard on the farm by embracing natural farming methods, reducing reliance on chemicals, and focusing on soil health. This ultimately led to Spier committing to regenerative agricultural practices in 2009, and since 2015, all the vineyards on the estate have been certified organic.

The farm also plays host to Farmer Angus, a company that produces pasture-reared beef, eggs, pork, and chicken, thereby contributing to a truly circular food system on the farm. This commitment was recognised with the Drinks Business Green Awards Ethical Award 2022 and the Drinks Business Amorim Biodiversity Award 2019.

Apart from the livestock products and wine produced under the Farmer Angus brand, it is also a pioneer in carbon sequestration through improved soil health.

In turn, this leads to increased nutrient content and water-holding capacity, while decreasing erosion and the need for irrigation. A side- business has been created whereby the carbon captured in the soil is sold as carbon credits to companies and individuals that are unable to cut their emissions timeously, with half of the net income income generated from this endeavour being paid out to the employees of Farmer Angus.

The farm has implemented other cutting- edge systems, such as using chicken feathers as ground cover to protect vineyard soil and an initiative to turn 96% of waste into energy.

This commitment was recognised with the Drinks Business Green Awards Ethical Award 2022 and the Drinks Business
Amorim Biodiversity Award 2019.

Award-winning wines and modern viniculture

At the heart of Spier’s success is its wine, which reflects the terroir of its carefully regenerated soils, and the winemaking team’s focus on creating wines that are both expressive and sustainable.

While the portfolio of wines produced comprises a wide spectrum of varieties and styles, it is the Chenin Blanc wines that lie at the core of the business. “We currently hold the number one spot in terms of value for the production of Chenin Blanc in South Africa,” according to Smit.

“While you see many Chenin Blancs selling for high prices on the retail shelves and restaurant wine lists, white blends utilising Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are more of a hand-sell. I fell in love with those wines when I visited Bordeaux for the first time in 1999 and therefore decided to dedicate our flagship white wine to making the best possible blend from these varieties, sourced from top fruit in Durbanville and Darling.”

Spier’s Cellar Master Johan Jordaan was named Chenin Blanc Master Winemaker for the second consecutive year at the prestigious Master Winemaker 100. This followed after the 21 Gables Chenin Blanc received the competition’s highest honour, the Grand Master Award, and the Spier Seaward Chenin Blanc 2024 earned a Master Award, one of only three Chenin Blancs globally to do so.

“We plan the wine from the soil to the glass,” explains Jordaan. “Central to our philosophy is soil regeneration, nurturing living resilient soils that support vine health over the long term rather than chasing short-term yields. It’s about allowing vineyards to express their natural character.”

Jordaan is passionate about carefully designing the cellar so that each member of the team can develop in the best possible way; just like the best wines.

An entire team of winemakers is responsible for Spier’s winemaking: Heidi Dietstein, Anthony Kock, Tania Kleintjes, Anton Swarts, Lizanne Jordaan, Heinrich Opperman, and Lutske Scholtz, with Bennie Liebenberg looking after all matters of a viticulture nature.

In the winery, no expense or effort is spared in ensuring that only the best quality grapes are processed into wine.

With the making of their flagship wines, the grapes are picked into small 12kg lug boxes and cooled overnight before being subjected to selection or rejection by a high-speed Bucher optical sorter – a piece of equipment that is a massive capital investment but ensures that unwanted items such as stems, leaves, green berries, raisins, and defective fruit are removed before fermentation starts.

The product portfolio ranges from the accessible Signature and Seaward ranges to premium offerings such as the Creative Block blends and the pinnacle Frans K. Smit range.

With the expansion of wine production over the past three decades, more grapes were needed to fulfil demand and additional vineyards were identified in Durbanville and Darling, as well as against the Helderberg in Stellenbosch.

The future of Spier

From its humble beginnings in 1692, Spier has transformed into a modern, multifaceted agricultural business that stands as a leader in regenerative viticulture, wine tourism, and social consciousness.

By fostering a balance between a successful commercial enterprise and a regenerative environment, Spier ensures its legacy continues to grow. It is more than just a wine farm; it is a community-driven initiative that demonstrates how agricultural, cultural, and environmental regeneration can exist in harmony.

For more information, visit Spier Wine Farm at spier.co.za, or email [email protected]. Visit Farmer Angus at farmerangus.co.za, or email [email protected].

In the vineyards and cellars of South Africa, his name has come to mean rigorous attention to terroir, a stubborn devotion to low-intervention winemaking, and the ability to produce wines that both reward immediate pleasure and the patience of ageing.

I first met Bruce around 2001 when an invitation to visit his recently established urban winery in the Cape Town Waterfront precinct landed in my inbox. I had heard of this new kid on the block who had established Flagstone Wines a few years before, and was eager to taste the debut wines under his newly launched label.

On arrival it was immediately evident that this was not going to be a run-of-the-mill producer relying on generations of family winemaking heritage, but rather a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants endeavour without fear of experimenting with previously untried and untested techniques and ideas.

There were no fountains or flags to welcome us, nor a fancy glass-and-steel tasting room with hand-blown stemware. Instead, the air was filled with vibrant energy and a restlessness to create something groundbreaking.

In the winery, between barrels and a basket press, stood a piano. I was duly intrigued.

My strongest recollection of the wines we tasted that evening were two Pinot Noirs: the 2000 Poetry Collection, and the 1999 BK5 (a clone usually reserved for the making of sparkling wine). These Pinots were unlike any other I had ever tasted. The Poetry Collection showed restrained elegance, soft tannins and a fruit-forwardness not usual at the time for South African Pinot Noirs.

The BK5 was a massive fruit bomb, showing the influence of Bruce’s Australian training and creating quite a controversy as to the future direction of ripeness and alcohol levels when it took the top spot in a wine magazine tasting against a line-up of luminary local and international competitors.

“At the time, everyone in the wine industry was obsessed with France. It was like we had forgotten we had some of the best farmers on the planet, and some of the best terroirs. So, I decided to make a Pinot Noir that was proud of its home – bold, ripe, delicious, and (by the way) still drinking well a quarter of a century later,” Bruce reflects on those early years.

Studying

After studying at the University of Cape Town and receiving a Master of Literature degree from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, he set off to study winemaking at the Roseworthy Agricultural College in Australia, ultimately receiving a winemaking degree from the University of Adelaide.

“Extraordinarily fired up, I returned home to South Africa in 1998 and simultaneously started a winery, a wine business and a family. Anyone who has done this will tell you it is ill-advised,” Bruce quips with a touch of irony as the chaotic art of keeping many balls in the air at the same time is what he has become known for. Apart from recently acquiring a significant shareholding in Black Oystercatcher Wines in Elim, the portfolio currently consists of a dozen ranges spanning more than 60 different wines.

Innovation and the willingness to adapt have underscored Bruce’s philosophy since the inception of Flagstone Winery, and after a decade he decided it was time to sell the company to a massive US-based drinks business. Following this he joined the corporate world as chief winemaker for Constellation Wines South Africa, looking after global brands such as Kumala that at the time was South Africa’s biggest export wine brand and our biggest in the UK.

Constellation became Accolade Wines, the fourth biggest in the world, and Bruce was the group winemaker, dividing his time between South Africa, Chile, California and Australia, overseeing the style direction of the company’s core brands. After another decade, he returned to his roots when in 2018 he left the corporate world to focus on his own projects, including The Drift Estate in the Overberg Highlands and his eponymous Bruce Jack Wines brand.

“You know what they say about entrepreneurs: 1% are real entrepreneurs, and 99% just don’t like having a boss! I actually really enjoyed the corporate world. It’s a lot easier than being a sole operator on so many levels. The best thing was the access to information a global corporate has. As a small oke, you can’t really compete on that front. And the brands had such momentum. Hardy’s was the biggest Australian brand when I was the winemaker in charge of style direction. It was like a juggernaut. It was difficult to mess that up.

“When Accolade was sold, I should have retired and gone surfing, but my kids started showing an interest in the wine business, and so I started again. That’s why I did it. It’s bloody tough, but it’s a legacy thing. It’s about generations and generational thinking, and that’s exciting because this industry is so cool and so old – at least 10 000 years old. I love it,” says Bruce.

Over the past 25 years, Bruce and I have kept infrequent contact. We bump into one another at trade shows or on airports, present tastings to small and large groups of wine enthusiasts looking for something that dares to be different, or otherwise I mark the annual Agulhas Wine Triangle (AWT) Festival as a must-do with a selection of some of the most exciting producers thrown together for this one-day event, showcasing the best the region has to offer.

As a founder member of the initiative, Bruce reflects on the underlying philosophy of starting a project that was doubted by many in the early days.

“The AWT is an extraordinary trip, physically and metaphorically. We are way down south, out of people’s way and a long way from Cape Town. Swartland benefitted from being an hour from Cape Town; we are two hours further. But this physical isolation is also a bonus. Only the truly committed stay. Great examples are David Nieuwoudt, Dave Trafford and Trizanne Barnard. This place can’t support Instagram winemakers. It’s too far away, too harsh and far too uncool. The AWT is more like a monastery of an area. You come here to be subservient to the environment, to shun the limelight, to find peace. And once a year we try to pay the bills by having an open day.”

The crossover between Bruce’s background in literature and his winemaking adventures makes for a storyteller of note. One of his more recent forays is a wine range named ‘Ghost in the Machine’, which is a nod to his belief that there is a mystical element in the winemaking process, a ghost that can enhance, or sometimes haunt, the wine.

This playful, yet profound, approach to branding is another aspect of the magic he puts into the bottle, believing that wine is more than just the sum of its parts. With the ‘Ghost in the Machine’ range, Bruce worked hand-in-hand with Rohan Etsebeth of Archival Studio, an innovative design company that focuses on creating truly unique packaging for some of the most dynamic wineries in South Africa, but also as far as Australia and Slovenia.

Bruce and Rohan came up with a world-first concept whereby each bottle goes through the labelling machine three times, thereby creating a multi-layered, unique look for each individual bottle.

Bruce is known to stand up for the underdog, such as releasing a skin contact Clairette Blanche, one of only four single variety expressions of this grape in the Cape. He also doesn’t give up easily; even though he launched his first Pinotage in 2000, it was only in 2008 that he managed to secure a spot in the Absa Top 10 Competition with his Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage – now the most awarded Pinotage in the world.

His Bruce Jack Heritage 2022 ‘Flag of Truce’ Pinotage, also an Absa Top 10 winner in 2025, went on to be the top-scoring red wine at the 2025 The Drinks Business’s Global Masters competition.

A heart for the people and the planet

Beyond the cellar, Bruce is deeply committed to social responsibility and environmental sustainability. He believes that winemaking should be a force for good, and this is demonstrated through his work with The HeadStart Trust, a charitable organisation established in memory of his mother, to support education and music programmes in disadvantaged rural communities. A percentage of profits from Bruce Jack Wines goes directly to this initiative, showcasing his commitment to putting back into the community and uplifting vulnerable people.

“I started HeadStart very naively. I was just trying to honour my mom, a music teacher who taught many underprivileged kids for free all her career. Lockdown was hard on a lot of us, but it was devastating to many marginalised, disenfranchised, rural communities like ours in the AWT. Many ANC municipal representatives just disappeared and switched their phones off. This vacuum allowed civic society to rise – churches, mosques, Rotary, Round Table, and real charities saved the day. It was an amazing and humbling experience. We were only involved in education before COVID-19. Suddenly we had to learn about feeding starving people. My friend Robert Graaff from Graaff Fruit donated a truckload of apples to our cause. My other friend, Scott Millar, sent weekly truckloads of fresh bread from his bakery. I’ll never forget handing out fresh apples and fresh bread in the Napier township and seeing the smile on a kid’s face biting into a fresh apple for the first time in his life. Joy in times of despair – isn’t that what life’s about?”

The vineyards that Bruce sources grapes from, whether on his own farm or elsewhere, often demonstrate a singular focus on site selection. He seeks places where the soil tells a story, and he tends to prefer old vines or low-yielding blocks that concentrate flavour without leaning on technological tricks.

Cellar tactics are also the result of a less-is-more philosophy. Long, cool fermentations retain aromatics, careful lees management add texture without muddying freshness, and gentle racking and modest sulphur use protect natural expression rather than stripping the wine of its personality.

While minimum intervention in the cellar is the mantra, Bruce jocularly comments: “It’s the never-ending repairs and maintenance on a farm that ultimately crushes us and sends us to our graves.”

Barrels are chosen for nuance and compatibility, often older oak that integrates without dominating. Ageing regimes are decided by tasting, not calendar, and when blends are constructed, the emphasis is on maintaining clarity and balance rather than pursuing a weighty or extravagant profile.

The signature styles

The white wines offer mid-weight concentration, defined acidity and a mineral thread that ties fruit to place. Bruce’s reds frequently show fine-grained tannin structure and a lithe sense of tension where the fruit is ripe, but not loud. For drinkers who prize wines that pair well with food, these are natural companions: acidity and texture that can hold up to a wide range of dishes without obliterating them.

“To make the perfect bottle of wine, you first have to make one that doesn’t lose you money or destroy your soul. Anyone can make a lekker wine, but at what cost? If you can construct a world where your craft is both financially sustainable and doesn’t harm anyone, then you have a chance of getting the ethereal things right, like balance, concentration, longevity and authenticity.”

Currently, the main Bruce Jack range consists of five tiers, being the estate range produced in minute volumes on his farm Appelsdrift in the Overberg Highlands, the heritage range, the reserve range, the Ghost in the Machine range, and the lifestyle Bruce Jack range that gets exported by container load.

There are also a host of other ancillary ranges and wines focused on niche markets (the Pescaluna low-alcohol, zippy white wine in the style of a vinho verde is a great wine to enjoy with fresh seafood), or to underscore specific causes (the Secret Safari range supports environmental conservation and social upliftment).

Apart from wine, Bruce also dabbles in craft cider production in a joint venture in Elgin with the Cluver family.

The Jack Journal

Jack Journal, a top-end lifestyle publication that appears bi-annually from 2019, covers an eclectic mix of topics that are close to Bruce’s heart, including adventure, wildlife, history, art, music, poetry, wine, social upliftment and last, but not least, surfing. To date, nine editions have appeared and can be found on the shelves of Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Exclusive Books and selected bookshops.

The rooftop bar: Jack@SKYE

In the early days of Flagstone, Bruce and his wife Penny would be the last to leave any tasting event. It was evident that they had a passion to bring people together around wine for conversation and conviviality. With time came the realisation that this heavy touring schedule could not be sustained indefinitely, and an alternative way of creating a customer interface was needed. From this was born the Jack@SKYE Rooftop Bar at the Hyde Hotel in Sea Point, as well as the Stanford Kitchen Tasting Room.

The rooftop setting of Jack@SKYE is a study in contrasts: city skyline and ocean views with plates and pairings that juxtapose the rural origins of the grapes. The rooftop bar also plays a role in making Bruce’s wines accessible with limited-production bottlings and special cuvées that might otherwise be difficult to source being made available by the glass or in themed flights.

To become part of the Bruce Jack wine tribe, feel free to join the Jack in the Box Wine Club and receive discounts, rewards, complimentary tastings, access to special releases and magnums, exclusive invitations and club tastings with the winemakers by going to brucejack.com.

Over the past 25 years I have come to know Bruce as a brilliant storyteller, an unwavering optimist for the future of South Africa, a creative genius, someone who goes out of his way to be kind to whomever crosses his path, whether a friend or a stranger, an engaging writer and philosopher, a person who is intensely involved in the well-being of his family and community, but ultimately, in the words of Stephan Reinhardt, a German wine writer and reviewer at the Robert Parker Wine Advocate, in a comment on a Facebook post I made a while back: “Superstar! And a fabulous guy.”

The Agulhas Wine Triangle

The AWT was launched in 2019 and consists of 15 like-minded member producers from as far afield as Elim, Cape Agulhas, Malgas, Kleinrivier Valley and Napier. The original impetus for this initiative was given by legendary industry stalwart André Morgenthal, who sadly passed away at the beginning of 2026 after a lengthy illness.

The highlight of activities is the annual wine festival that this year was hosted at Lomond Wine Estate on Saturday 25 April 2026 and included two masterclass tastings focused on the signature grape varieties of the AWT, being Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah/Shiraz (the same grape variety just spelt differently).

Contrary to the popular held sentiment that Sauvignon Blanc is an early-peaking grape variety, bottles of 2007 The Berrio and Lomond Snowbush were poured that showed remarkable freshness and vibrancy.

“This area with its cool maritime climate is one of the best, if not the best, in the world for Sauvignon Blanc, even taking into consideration the difficult growing conditions experienced here,” says Bruce.

On the red side, the wine that caught my attention was undoubtedly the David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Syrah 2023 with its ethereal aromatics leading onto a complex and spicy palate. It is a world-class wine that ranks with the best Syrahs I have encountered in many years of tasting this variety from all over the world. The price tag of R420 may seem steep, but it’s actually excellent value for a wine of this pedigree.

Thinus Botha of Ghost Corner Wines comments that “2026 was a rock star vintage”, so it seems that there’s a lot to be looking forward to from this exciting collaboration of producers situated in and around the most southern tip of Africa.

Visit Bruce Jack at brucejack.com or email [email protected].

Agulhas Wine Triangle is available at agulhaswinetriangle.co.za or email [email protected].

According to the court, such an approach is consistent with the rules of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and South African law.

This ruling closely aligns with recent government findings. In March this year, then-Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp published a report by South Africa’s CITES Scientific Authority stating that government’s ongoing refusal to allow legal trade was creating an artificial monopoly that directly benefits poaching syndicates and encourages the slaughter of rhinos.

Wicus Diedricks, owner of Rockwood Conservation, said the latest ruling is an important step towards making private rhino ownership financially sustainable. Rockwood, a roughly 13 350ha privately owned nature reserve, protects one of the largest populations of southern white rhinos in the world.

“Keeping rhinos safe is extremely expensive. We have wildlife rangers patrolling 24 hours a day, and around 50 people are employed at Rockwood. There are also veterinary bills, fence maintenance, security costs, and feeding for the rhinos, to name just a few expenses,” he told Farmer’s Weekly.

“[Rhino conservation] is very costly and, at this stage, unsustainable. Approximately 70% of all rhinos in South Africa are currently privately owned, so the future of rhinos in our country depends on sustainable funding. This is one of the reasons why we pursued this court case – to be able to sell rhino horn and make the rhino industry financially sustainable.”

Through a system of import and export permits, CITES regulates international trade in wild animals and plants according to their conservation status and the level of protection they require. The convention recognises that there is demand for these vulnerable species and seeks to balance their protection with trade that does not place them under further pressure.

As a result, CITES has established rules that allow trade in species listed as threatened under specific circumstances. According to CITES terminology, Rockwood Conservation is registered as a “commercial operation for non-commercial purposes” and, as a result, the facility qualifies as an exception under the CITES ruling.

Export permit dispute

Diedericks said he first applied for permits to export rhino horn in 2021 but had still not received a response a year later.

“We then approached the High Court in Kimberley for a court order compelling the authorities to make a decision. If they intended to refuse the application, they were required to provide reasons.

“The export permit application was refused, and [then-Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform Mase Manopole] provided reasons for rejecting it. The reasons given were that South Africa had never incorporated [the relevant CITES exception] into its domestic legislation and therefore could not comply with it,” he explained.

The matter was reviewed again last year, and this time the court found that the CITES exception does indeed form part of the convention and ordered that the export permits for rhino horn be issued.

Government then applied for leave to appeal the court’s decision, but the High Court recently dismissed that application.

“The court was so confident in its ruling that it also ordered that its judgment could not be suspended if government decides to pursue a further appeal. In effect, this means that the MEC in the Northern Cape must issue the permits within seven days or provide reasons why they should not be issued,” Diedericks added.

The cost of conservation

Rhino horn is highly sought after in parts of Asia for use in traditional medicine. According to Diedericks, this demand has resulted in approximately 11 000 rhinos being poached in South Africa since 2010.

He added that the trade and the profits generated from it have largely been driven by the international black market. This trade has been supplied by rhinos that were illegally and brutally killed for their horns.

“This situation has forced those who actively conserve rhinos to carry the financial burden themselves, which is extremely expensive and entirely unsustainable.

“Our hope is that government will now come to the table instead of continuing to oppose us, and that it will support the legal trade in rhino horn.

“SANBI [the South African National Biodiversity Institute] has already concluded that the current legislation has contributed to the continued poaching and killing of rhinos, and that legal trade in rhino horn would not be detrimental to rhino conservation in South Africa,” Diedericks said.

Diedericks hopes that recently appointed Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier will listen to science, as well as to the scientists within his own department, and support the legal trade in rhino horn.

“Without sustainable funding, we are simply not able to keep our rhinos safe. It is important to preserve this species for future generations, and that can only be achieved through sustainable conservation,” he concluded.

Variety selection is a critical decision that influences yield and production efficiency. Increasingly, evaluations must also assess quality characteristics that balance producer requirements with consumer preferences.

For producers, variety selection depends not only on yield but also on disease resistance, particularly to common scab, which supports more sustainable potato production. Environmental adaptability, including drought tolerance and the length of the growing season, must also be considered.

There are currently more than 140 registered potato varieties in South Africa, and companies like Wesgrow are continuously developing and evaluating new cultivars for various market segments. Wesgrow alone tests approximately 25 new cultivars in field trials every year.

The company currently represents 22 growers covering more than 6 000ha of potato production in South Africa. It also introduced the major market cultivars Mondial and Sifra to the country.

South African consumers have very specific preferences when it comes to the potatoes they buy. Sifra and Mondial continue to dominate the fresh potato market because of their attractive skins and uniform sizing, as consumers place a high value on visual appeal.

By contrast, consumers elsewhere in the world are more aware of the cooking properties of potatoes and are presented with a greater selection in this regard, as their preferences are more strongly influenced by these characteristics, says Walter Nel, production manager at Wesgrow.

Nel explains that the company produces potato seed and plant material not only for the South African market but also for all the country’s neighbouring Southern African Development Community states. A wide portfolio of available cultivars is therefore necessary, not only for Wesgrow but also for South African producers who want to supply these markets and must cater to local preferences.

Nel says that in Namibia, Mondial and Sifra are preferred because of their drought tolerance, while the Zimbabwean market favours cultivars like Valor and Tyson for their performance under dryland conditions. Zimbabwe’s main commercial market still comprises unwashed potatoes.

New potato cultivars

According to Nel, Wesgrow recognises significant opportunities in the potato industry through the development and introduction of new cultivars. He highlighted some of the new varieties the company has been working on that could have an impact on the future of the industry.

For the processing market, particularly the crisping segment, the short-season Norman variety shows promise. It has a growing period of approximately 90 days, during which it is capable of accumulating very high levels of dry matter, allowing for better crisping, and has good resistance to common scab.

For French fries, two cultivars have been identified: Quintera and Travolta. Quintera is a short-season cultivar (around 90 days). It produces large, block-shaped tubers and has a highly stable dry matter content, allowing for even crisping and colouring during frying. The cultivar is widely adaptable to a variety of production conditions and has moderate resistance to both early and late blight as well as common scab.

Travolta is a short- to medium-season cultivar (90 to 110 days). It offers good flavour and texture, as well as highly stable dry matter content. It is also widely adaptable and has strong resistance to early blight, common scab, and powdery scab.

Several new varieties for the fresh market have the potential to make a significant impact on South Africa’s potato industry by meeting consumer preferences while offering producers advantages such as improved disease resistance and varying growing periods.

Sensation is suitable for the pre-pack retail market. It is a high-yielding, medium-season cultivar with a growing period of approximately 110 days. It has very good resistance to common scab and late blight, and produces tubers with cream-coloured flesh that keep their structure after cooking.

Supernova is a high-yielding cultivar that’s also suited to the pre-pack market. It produces yellow-fleshed tubers with uniform internal colouring and is resistant to late blight and common scab.

Buffalo is a vigorous, high-yielding cultivar that produces white-fleshed tubers. It has very good resistance to common scab, powdery scab, and late blight. The cultivar performs well under cold growing conditions and is considered a suitable option for export markets.

Finally, for the dual-purpose market, there is Invictus, a high-yielding cultivar with light-yellow flesh and rapid emergence. It has good resistance to common scab and late blight, and is suitable for both French fry processing and the fresh potato market due to its good dry matter content.

While it remains to be seen which of these cultivars will ultimately gain widespread acceptance in South Africa, their development emphasises the importance of continually evaluating new varieties to help producers meet changing market demands and production challenges.

An emerging theme from the discussions was how El Niño is perceived. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is associated with below-normal summer rainfall, drought, and heatwaves, and it is frequently compared with the 2015/16 drought, described at the time as South Africa’s worst in more than a century. However, experts offered a more nuanced and cautious assessment.

South African Weather Service (SAWS) research scientist Cobus Olivier said there is a very high likelihood of an El Niño developing, which could potentially be “one of the strongest”, he said.

However, while farmer vigilance is prudent, Olivier cautioned against overinterpreting the forecasts, noting that they are based on limited observations and a relatively short forecast horizon.

“One important fact to keep in mind at this stage is that most impact estimations for El Niño on our summer rainfall areas are based on historic data. Reliable dynamical forecasts only currently reach as far as October/November 2026, which is barely the start of the summer season,” he explained.

A stronger starting point

Echoing Olivier’s view, AgriSA Chief Operating Officer Jolanda Andrag cautioned against assuming the predicted El Niño would have impacts similar to those of the 2015/16 drought.

“The first point to make is that we are dealing with a seasonal forecast rather than a confirmed drought,” she said.

While the predicted El Niño warrants careful monitoring, Andrag added that “the intensity, timing, and geographical extent of any impacts remain uncertain”.

“It is equally important not to view this season through exactly the same lens as the 2015/16 drought [because] South Africa is entering the 2026/27 production season from a fundamentally stronger position,” she said.

Andrag pointed out that the country is expected to harvest a record summer grain and oilseed crop of approximately 21,5 million tons, including the largest maize harvest on record at an estimated 17,25 million tons.

“This provides ample grain supplies, significant carryover stocks, and a strong buffer against potential production shortfalls,” she said.

On water availability, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) acting spokesperson Lebogang Maseko said the Vaal Dam is at a satisfactory level, providing a positive outlook for water security during the current water year.

“El Niño conditions may increase drought risk in parts of Southern Africa, but the actual impact depends on regional rainfall and catchment response,” she said.

She advised farmers to still consider seasonal forecasts, water allocations, soil moisture content, local dam and river levels, groundwater availability, and guidance from agricultural authorities before taking management decisions.

Maseko added that during droughts, farmers often rely on groundwater as a “strategic drought-resilience resource”, stressing that it should be used sustainably.

Practical interventions

Responding to questions on how the Department of Agriculture (DoA) plans to mitigate possible disruptions to key programmes, such as Fetsa Tlala, CASP and Ilima/Letsema, in the event of El Niño-induced disasters, DoA spokesperson Moses Rannditsheni said the department factors the possibility of potential disasters into its programme design and operations.

“The risks associated with selected projects are identified and mitigated prior to implementation. This includes putting measures in place to ensure the prevention and mitigation of disaster risks when designing programmes, such as procuring drought-tolerant seeds that can endure harsh conditions associated with below-normal rainfall. This will go a long way in ensuring that the impact of disasters is lessened,” he explained.

However, formal emergency responses are only triggered once the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs has officially declared a disaster.

He added that, as part of its ongoing awareness and communication efforts, the DoA’s National Agro-meteorological Committee works closely with the SAWS to issue monthly weather forecast advisories to the agriculture sector in support of disaster preparedness.

Rannditsheni said a key development has been the growing recognition among farmers of the value of disaster risk mitigation, with greater emphasis now being placed on preparedness rather than responding only after disasters occur.

Reflecting on lessons learnt from the 2015/16 drought, he said the DoA had realigned its food security and farmer development and support programmes to build greater resilience to recurring drought. These include:

• The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, which provides infrastructure, production inputs, training, and technical support to developing farmers;
• Ilima/Letsema, which aims to reduce poverty by increasing food production and improving household food security; and
• Fetsa Tlala, which supports subsistence and small-scale farmers to bring underutilised land into production.

He added that these programmes have been strengthened by incorporating disaster risk reduction into project planning, including the use of drought-tolerant seed and climate-smart farming practices to reduce farmers’ exposure to drought.

On the financial impact of natural disasters on farmers, Sakhumzi May, chief agricultural economist at Land Bank, said the 2015/16 drought reinforced an important lesson: building resilience in agriculture requires more than emergency financial relief.

“It requires financing solutions that strengthen farmers’ capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from increasingly frequent climate and market shocks,” he added.

May said one of the innovations that the bank has introduced based on lessons learnt from natural disasters is the Blended Finance Scheme (BFS), which combines a loan with a conditional grant.

“By combining grant funding with loan finance, the BFS reduces borrowers’ leverage, improves project viability, and strengthens financial resilience from the outset.

“The scheme also provides support for agricultural insurance premiums, recognising the importance of insurance in managing production risk,” he explained.

Similarly, Dr Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, said the 2015/16 drought had changed South Africa’s approach to drought risk management.

He highlighted several improvements since then, including:

• Stronger seasonal climate monitoring by the SAWS
• Closer collaboration and data-sharing with organisations such as the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and SAWS to improve understanding of drought development and impacts
• Greater use of impact-based early warning systems
• Improved monthly monitoring of drought and vegetation conditions using geographic information system and satellite observations, with findings shared with the National Joint Drought Coordinating Committee to support decision-making
• Seasonal hazard analyses and advisories provided to the National Disaster Management Advisory Forum and other disaster management stakeholders to support decision-making
• Integration of drought into the UN’s Early Warnings for All framework, aimed at ensuring protection from natural disasters and the impacts of climate change worldwide.

“The better prepared farmers are before a drought develops, the better their chances are of reducing losses and sustaining agricultural production,” Dr Teboho Masupha, researcher in agrometeorology at the ARC,” said.

She added that the ARC’s disaster management and mitigation work includes the Agricultural Drought Early Warning System, an online platform that provides near real-time drought monitoring information to support farmers, extension practitioners, disaster management officials, and policymakers in planning and decision-making.

Barry Anderson, MD of United Kingdom’s Leonardslee Wine Estate, at Mannings Heath close to Horsham, discusses building brands across two continents, the unique challenges of English viticulture, and why OBE Penny Streeter’s vision has created something truly special in West Sussex.

Farmer’s Weekly met Barry Anderson at Leonardslee Wine Estate on a rare sunny December day on what he calls a ‘unicorn day’ in the English wine calendar.

“During the 2024 vintage, we had no more than six days without rain, he says, setting the scene for just how different viticulture is here compared to his South African roots.

Anderson’s journey to this West Sussex estate began in the Bot River valley.

“I was involved in starting two wine farms back in South Africa: first Wildekraans and then Gabriel’s Kloof, both in Bot River. I was there for 25 years, turning those wheat lands into vineyards.”

The connection to England came through Penny Streeter, owner of Benguela Cove in Bot River.

“I was offered another job over in the UK, came across, turned the job down, and Penny got wind of it – such a small world, isn’t it? She said: ‘We need to chat at some point’,’and that was the start of my journey here,” says Anderson.

A different canvas

For Anderson, the move wasn’t just professional, it was also about broader horizons for his two daughters. “I was keen to just give them a wider exposure in life. My eldest has done her veterinary nursing here, and the youngest is doing an engineering apprenticeship. The opportunities for them have been unbelievable. We also wanted to travel more which being based here makes easier.”

But the farming presented an entirely new challenge.

“In South Africa, you’re looking for nice cool little pockets and cool slopes to make great wine. Here, you’re looking for the warmest possible sites,” he explains. “There you’re looking for areas with good airflow to cool the site down. Here you’re looking for wind-free areas. Everything is reversed.”

The fertility of English soil astonishes him. “If I planted a vine upside down, I think it would  grow. In South Africa, we put in cover crops but could never have permanent ones because of lack of water. Here, it’s making sure we have got good drainage and can get water out of the soil rather than leaving it in.”

Disease pressure and daylight hours

The pest management strategy differs dramatically too. “In South Africa, insects could be a problem, especially things like mealybug. Here, we don’t spray any insecticides. We don’t need to. But we have much higher pressure when it comes to fungal diseases like downy and powdery mildew.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge is light. “The daylight hours for 2024 were absolutely horrendous. You’re trying to ripen buds and ensure they are fruitful for the following season. Your canopy management needs to open up those vines quite early on to get airflow in, reduce disease risk, and just get light in there,” adds Anderson.

The Leonardslee vision

Penny Streeter bought Mannings Heath Golf Club in 2016, specifically to establish an English vineyard after purchasing Benguela Cove.

“Streeter bought this to originally sell Benguela Cove wines, and then as a place where she could plant her English vineyard,” explains Anderson.

Benguela Cove’s cellar master, Johann Fourie, makes all the wines in South Africa and in the UK and works very closely with Anderson. The property now encompasses 548 acres with two golf courses and 38 acres of vines. Three miles down the Brighton Road sits Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, 240 acres of historic gardens with a Michelin-star restaurant, Interlude, run by Jean Delport, originally from Benguela Cove.

“We market it as one group,” says Anderson. “Wine is at the pinnacle; It is the reason Penny bought these places in the first place. But you need multiple revenue streams to really make these businesses work.”

The gardens themselves have a remarkable history. Sir Edmund Loder, who made his fortune importing tallow oil during the war, spent his life travelling the world collecting plants and animals.

“He was one of the wealthiest men in England and spent his money establishing these beautiful gardens,” recounts Anderson. “The wallabies are famous – the have been there for over 100 years.”

When Streeter discovered the property was for sale, “true to Penny’s adventurous spirit, she jumped over the fence and went snooping around. She came into this beautiful, literally untouched secret garden – overgrown paths, the mansion house leaking. But she fell in love with it.”

What followed was “the biggest renovation project in any gardens in the last 100 years. “For two years, they just cleared and renovated to get it back open to the public.” The gardens opened on 1 April 2019; the same month Anderson joined the team.

Competing with Champagne

Leonardslee Family Vineyards grows Chardonnay (60% of production), Pinot Noir (30%), and Pinot Meunier (10%). “We are competing on a level playing field with Champagne – that’s not blowing smoke,” Anderson insists. “That’s where we position ourselves, on price point and certainly on quality.”

The wines retail at £38 (around R828) for the Brut Reserve Blanc and Rosé, and £55 (around R1198) for the Blanc de Blancs. “We want to be as good, if not better, than Champagne. That’s the level of quality in the bottle.”

Even the French are taking notice.

“They’re buying up land left, right and centre at the moment because they have seen the results. They’re thinking 100 years on – where are we going to be?”

The estate’s label – featuring a swallow – tells Streeter’s story.

“The swallow migrates 10,000 miles (16 000km) every year between South Africa and the UK. We always see them as we’re picking the last grapes, heading back to Africa. As the vines start to bud in spring, we see them arriving back to nest. That’s Penny” explains Anderson.

Designer Will Parr incorporated four small swallows representing Streeter’s children, with colours taken from the bird’s plumage.

“We didn’t want a traditional label, a château stuck on the front. We wanted something left field, a bit different. A little bit of Penny.”

Awards and recognition

Just 18 months after launching the brand, the results are promising.

“We’ve done well in WineGB, where we won gold. We were awarded the Sustainability Award, which is quite true to my heart. The restaurant also won the Green Award.” Anderson is clear that sustainability isn’t superficial. “No greenwashing – it’s all real, genuine work  working towards improving the properties for the future.”

The South African connection

The estate maintains strong links to South Africa, with several staff members having made the journey. Though recent immigration changes have made it more difficult, Anderson values these connections.

“There was a huge shortage of chefs in the UK, especially in hospitality. We were able to tap into great industry people from South Africa.” His own path through the ancestral visa route took five years before receiving indefinite leave to remain. “My daughter was 19-years-old when we came here, so she wasn’t seen as a dependent. She’s had to go through quite a process – three years of study, then a five-year work visa, which she is still going through,” says Anderson.

Looking ahead

For Anderson, the role combines his passions perfectly. “I love the creative side as much as I’m a farmer at heart. I also enjoy the development side – that’s what’s been fun, building destinations from wheat land.”

Farmer’s Weekly saw the spectacular winter light show at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens which draws 70 000 to 80 000 visitors in December alone – all potential wine customers.

“That’s why we do this. It is footfall and customer engagement across the properties. Your best returns in the wine industry are direct to the consumer. We want to build that consumer base within our properties.”

As the conversation winds down on this rare sunny afternoon, Anderson reflects on the journey.

“It’s been an absolute joy to work with Penny on this project and her family. Penny does not do things in small scale. She likes to get things done properly and done quickly. Once she’s made up her mind, you’ve got to get on with it.”

He pauses, looking out over the estate. “What a journey it’s been. Extreme, but unbelievable.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​

For more information, visit leonardsleegardens.co.uk.

The expo is an access-to-market opportunity for Proudly South African members who are in the business of winemaking within the borders of South Africa. Over the past three editions of the expo, 30 local wine brands were showcased at each edition, 74% of which are black and female-owned.

According to SA Wine, the local wine industry in South Africa is a significant contributor to the country’s economy, with the industry’s activities generating a fiscal contribution of R19.26 billion. This expo, therefore, creates commercial pathways for local winemakers to network, seize available opportunities, and reap the benefits of the wine-making industry.

“South Africa is ranked 7^th among the world’s major wine-producing countries, with a production volume of approximately 9.3 million hectolitres in 2023. Despite our world-renowned, esteemed wines, the local wine-producing industry is facing challenges emanating from the imposition of 30% tariffs on South African exports to the United States, which is one of the top 10 export destinations for local wine. As consumers, we have an opportunity to celebrate our local production and support the industry and adjacent sectors, such as agriculture, to be resilient and sustainable by opting to buy and support local wine brands.

“The Local Wine Expo provides us with an opportunity to remind ourselves of our exceptional wines and celebrate our artisanal wine-making skills. We look forward to three days of celebrating wine-making excellence and creating commercial linkages for our wine-producing members,” says Eustace Mashimbye, chief executive officer of Proudly South African.

Beyond the commercial value and business opportunities of the event, this expo is a warming festival in the middle of a cold winter for friends, family, and business associates to hang out and discover some of the best local wines. Proudly South African members will cater to everyone’s taste buds with a variety of local foods and, of course, the perfect pairing snacks like cheese, crackers, and biltong.

This is a perfect setting and occasion to discuss relevant developments in the local wine industry, discover new winemakers, and enjoy a local game board.

There will also be a Shesha game activation. This is a quick-on-your-feet, general knowledge game with a local twist and lots of prizes to be won. This is a unique fun-filled event where business seamlessly mixes with pleasure. You don’t want to miss this!

In strong adherence to responsible event hosting principles, children under the age of 18 will not be allowed at the venue. In the spirit of promoting safe driving, Proudly SA requests that guests drink responsibly and never drive under the influence of alcohol. Patrons are encouraged to use e-hailing or chauffeur services or to have sober designated drivers.

This is a highly attended event with limited spaces; secure your spot now to avoid missing out. To register for this free-to-attend event, visit https://l1nq.com/1l5p72h.

For more information on Proudly South African, visit proudlysa.co.za.

Frost can severely impact crop quality and yields, while uncontrolled weeds compete for valuable resources, reducing productivity and increasing production costs. As farming conditions become increasingly unpredictable, effective crop protection solutions are more important than ever.

For over 30 years, Spunchem International has been supporting the agriculture sector with innovative nonwoven fabric solutions designed to help farmers protect crops, improve yields and farm more sustainably.

Established in 1995, Spunchem International became the first spunbond nonwoven production plant in South Africa and has grown into a leading manufacturer of high-quality nonwoven fabrics and laminates. The company serves a range of industries, including agriculture, hygiene, construction, and industrial sectors, while continuing to invest in advanced manufacturing technologies and product development.

Through continuous investments, Spunchem has expanded its production capacity to approximately one billion square metres of nonwoven fabric annually. Guided by its philosophy of ‘Pursuing Relentlessly Outstanding Service Excellence’, the company remains committed to innovation, quality, and customer-focused solutions for South Africa and international markets.

Its agricultural product range is supplied throughout Southern Africa, with distribution extending to major regional hubs.

The impact of frost on South African agriculture

Frost remains one of the most damaging weather-related risks faced by farmers across South Africa. It occurs when temperatures fall below freezing, causing ice crystals to form within plant tissues. This can result in cell damage, stunted growth, reduced crop quality, and, in severe cases, total crop loss.

The regions most frequently affected by frost include the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga Highveld, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, North West province, the Eastern Cape interior, and parts of the Western Cape. During winter months, overnight temperatures in these areas can drop significantly, placing vulnerable crops at risk.

Vegetable crops such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers are particularly susceptible to frost damage. Fruit growers, especially of berries, may also experience reduced yields when frost affects flowering and fruit set.

Beyond crop losses, frost can increase production costs through replanting, delayed harvesting, reduced marketable produce, and lower returns. With climate variability contributing to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, growers are placing greater emphasis on preventative crop protection measures.

The benefits of frost cover

To help farmers mitigate these risks, Spunchem International manufactures FrostCover under CropGarde, a lightweight, UV-stabilised nonwoven fabric designed to protect crops while creating an improved growing environment.
FrostCover acts as a protective barrier, helping to retain warmth around crops during cold conditions and reducing the likelihood of frost damage. At the same time, it allows sunlight, air, and water to reach plants, ensuring healthy growth and development.
Key benefits of FrostCover include:

• Protection against frost and cold weather conditions;
• Earlier crop establishment and accelerated plant growth;
• Improved crop quality and crop uniformity;
• Enhanced seedling survival and establishment;
• Protection against wind and light hail damage;
• Reduced insect pressure through physical exclusion;
• Improved moisture retention and water-use efficiency;
• Extended growing seasons and earlier harvest opportunities.
  By creating a favourable microclimate around crops, FrostCover helps growers improve yields, reduce production risks, and increase profitability.

WeedGuard: supporting effective weed management

While frost is often seasonal, weed control remains a year-round challenge. Weeds compete with crops for sunlight, nutrients, water, and space, affecting growth and reducing overall productivity.

Spunchem International’s WeedGuard provides a practical, durable and sustainable solution for long-term weed suppression. Manufactured from durable UV-stabilised nonwoven material, WeedGuard blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds while still allowing water and air to penetrate the soil. The result is effective weed control without compromising healthy soil conditions.

Benefits of WeedGuard include:

• Reduced weed growth and competition;
• Lower reliance on chemical herbicides;
• Improved moisture conservation;
• Reduced labour requirements for manual weeding;
• Cleaner and more efficient growing environments;
• Long-lasting performance in a variety of agricultural applications.
  WeedGuard is commonly used in orchards, nurseries, vineyards, tunnels, greenhouses, and vegetable production systems where effective weed management is essential.

Supporting sustainable agriculture

From early adoption in crop protection to today’s advanced fabric technologies, Spunchem International has continuously developed products that respond to real-world farming challenges. Its durable, UV-resistant agricultural solutions help growers improve crop quality, protect yields, extend growing seasons, and adopt more sustainable farming practices.

Through ongoing innovation, technical expertise, sustainable recycling and close collaboration with customers, Spunchem International continues to play a vital role in advancing modern agriculture across Southern Africa.

By providing reliable CropGarde and WeedGuard solutions, the company helps farmers navigate environmental challenges while improving productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability.

For more information, phone 031 538 8758, email [email protected], or visit spunchem.co.za.

“We started receiving prolonged rainfall even in January, while it normally rains in December. Hailstorms have become an annual feature, too. We also experience an increase in mean temperature and heatwaves, but I’ve also noticed more instances of frost.”

Vilakati’s experiences are not unique. Across Eswatini, smallholders are experiencing changing weather patterns that are reshaping their farming practices.

A farming foundation under strain

Smallholders play a vital role in Eswatini’s agriculture sector and wider economy.

“Smallholder farmers form the backbone of rural livelihoods and, like in the rest of the world, produce 70% of the food consumed in the country,” says Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka.

He adds that these producers are under increasing pressure as climate change affects how they use their land.

Research supports this observation. A 2025 report titled ‘Rural adaptation and resilience to climate change in Eswatini’, published in Environmental Science & Policy, found that climate change is already causing declining and increasingly erratic rainfall, greater water stress, and reduced crop yields and livestock production in a country where most people rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Changes to farming

Thirty-year-old farmer Boniswa Phumlile Dlamini from Phophonyane grows maize, baby marrows, green beans, peas, tomatoes, green peppers, chillies, and spinach, and runs goats and cattle.

She says she first began noticing changes in weather patterns around 2015.

“The rain doesn’t come when it used to. The rainy season is shorter and less predictable. Sometimes we get heavy rain all at once, like from November to January just past, which washes away soil and nutrients, and then long periods of no rain at all,” she explains.

The changing weather has taken a toll on production.

“My harvests have reduced significantly. The maize does not grow well without consistent rain, and sometimes the heat dries it out before it can mature,” adds Dlamini.

She says traditional weather indicators are no longer as reliable as they once were.

“My father used to predict the time of rains by observing nature, but now even those signs don’t align with the weather.”

Farming in an age of extremes

According to Tshawuka, recent seasons have highlighted how increasingly erratic weather is making farming more difficult.

“This year, for instance, the maize and bean crops have been decimated by three climatic events,” he explains.

“Firstly, we had hailstorms, and then we had excessive rainfall, where we got 80% of our total [annual] rainfall in just one week. We then had a dry spell and a heatwave, which is still gripping us.”

A 2025 UNICEF report titled ‘Investment Case: Strengthening Climate Resilience for Children and Communities in Eswatini’ shows that increasingly erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, and flooding are placing growing pressure on the country’s water resources, agricultural production, and livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need for climate-resilient investments.

For Dlamini, these conditions have changed how she spends her time each day.

“My daily routine now is looking for water. I spend more time looking for water and ensuring my crops and animals have enough to eat and drink,” she explains.

Adapting to change

The changing weather has forced Dlamini to rethink how she farms.

This season, she says she lost half 0,5ha of green beans, 6 000 green pepper plants, and a 0,25ha of Swiss chard spinach.

“I plant less now because I cannot afford to lose everything to bad weather. It is better to plant smaller areas that I can control.”

Meanwhile, Vilakati has responded by changing his planting dates.

“We have shifted planting dates. Now, there is no open-field production from the end of November to the end of January. We don’t reduce production; we just stop it. I have lost a lot of produce because of climate change, and it is devastating,” he says.

Finding practical solutions

“We have tried using climate-smart technologies like tunnels and shade nets. Tunnels help protect crops from frost, prolonged rainfall, hailstorms, strong winds, and droughts, but we face challenges with heatwaves,” explains Vilakati.

“Water management is key. We use drip irrigation, which is the most efficient form of irrigation. We also irrigate our crops at night, as the plants absorb most of the water and store it.”

Dlamini, on the other hand, has adopted different measures on her farm.

“I have started digging small pits to trap rainwater. I have also bought water tanks to store water, and I have started buying drought-resistant seeds, though they are more expensive.”

The Eswatini government is promoting climate-smart agriculture through conservation and minimum tillage, investing in irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems, introducing drought-resistant and early-maturing seed varieties, and strengthening extension services to help farmers manage climate-related risks.

The high cost of survival

Adapting to climate change comes at a cost that most Eswatini smallholders struggle to afford.

“Climate-smart structures are expensive,” says Vilakati. “Drip irrigation helps save water, but it is costly, and smallholder farmers can’t afford it.”

Dlamini faces the same challenge: “I don’t have a proper irrigation system because it’s too expensive. I make the most out of the water I have available.

“My income has reduced significantly; we lack food before the next harvest season. We even skip meals at times,” she says.

“It’s much harder to feed my family; we have to buy from the market, which is very expensive.”

Vilakati concludes: “Hunger will surely be the order of the day. With so many losses in production, farmers won’t be able to provide balanced diets for their families.”

“Over the past 70 to 80 years, climatic conditions have been fairly evenly divided between El Niño, La Niña, and neutral years, with each occurring roughly one-third of the time,” independent agricultural meteorologist Johan van den Berg told Farmer’s Weekly.

“What makes the current event noteworthy is its early development. Under normal circumstances, El Niño begins to develop during July and August and continues to strengthen until around March.

“This year’s event was expected to start between July and September, but it began much earlier in May, increasing the possibility that it could become a very strong El Niño,” he added.

Climate scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US have even suggested that the current event could develop into a ‘Super El Niño’, a classification used when sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean exceed normal levels by more than 2°C.

Super El Niño events occurred in 1982/83, 1997/98, and 2015/16, affecting weather patterns in South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico.

According to the NOAA, there is an 81% chance of a Super El Niño developing, which will drive extreme heat, widespread drought, and potential global food price shocks that could last into 2028.

However, Van den Berg said it is still too early to determine when the current El Niño will reach its peak. If it does so around December 2026, it is likely to persist until at least March or April next year. Once the system enters its weakening phase, however, rainfall conditions often improve, and the phenomenon’s effects become less severe.

Anticipated weather conditions

Although the phenomenon is typically associated with drought in South Africa, its effects on the country are not immediate. According to Van den Berg, average to above-average rainfall is still possible during July, August, September, and, in some cases, even October. It is only from November onwards that the likelihood of below-average rainfall increases, with drier conditions often persisting until March or April.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) states that each El Niño has a unique evolution, intensity, and geographical pattern. This means South Africa’s rainfall cannot be predicted according to the phenomenon alone.

The WMO emphasises that even neighbouring areas can have very different rainfall outcomes. Some parts of Southern Africa may be much drier than average, while others may receive near-normal rainfall.

Potential impact on agriculture

“The greatest concern lies in January, February, and March, which are the most critical months for summer grain production. Reduced rainfall during this period can significantly affect crop yields,” Van den Berg noted.

“Another hallmark of El Niño is unusually high temperatures, particularly elevated daytime maximum temperatures. The combination of below-average rainfall and intense heat substantially increases the atmosphere’s ability to pull moisture away from the ground, plants, and water bodies, known as atmospheric evaporative demand.

“As a result, crops lose moisture more rapidly and grazing conditions deteriorate, placing additional pressure on livestock producers,” he explained.

According to Grain SA, if a severe El Niño develops with drought conditions similar to 2015/16, maize yields could decline by between 33% and 37%, while soya bean yields could fall by about 33%. Sunflower is expected to be more resilient because it is naturally more drought tolerant.

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, echoed these concerns in a press release, saying El Niño poses a particular threat to South Africa’s maize harvest, as the crop is one of the country’s most important staple foods and is particularly vulnerable to adverse weather conditions.

Factors that could limit the impact

Sihlobo added that favourable conditions from the preceding La Niña years could help reduce the impact of a strong El Niño.

“In the irrigation areas, the La Niña rains over the past years have improved dam water levels and the overall water table. This will assist with fruits and vegetables, as all these are planted under irrigation.

“In the case of field crops, roughly 20% of South African crops are under irrigation, with the rest rainfed, which will depend mostly on available soil moisture and the timing of showers going into the 2026/27 season, even if they are below normal levels.

“For the livestock industry, the grazing veld across the country is in fair condition, having benefitted from the longer rainy periods in the 2025/26 season. The country will enter next summer with better grazing veld, and the improved water table will continue to support parts of the country.”

Van den Berg said one factor that could lessen the impact of the present El Niño is the amount of soil moisture currently available across many of South Africa’s agricultural production regions.

“Following favourable rainfall, many areas have accumulated substantial soil moisture reserves, and dam levels remain high. These reserves could help buffer crops against periods of below-average rainfall later in the season.

“For this reason, a Super El Niño does not automatically translate into a disastrous production year. The greatest production risk remains marginal soils with limited water-holding capacity,” he said.

“Ultimately, while it is understandable that many people worry about the expected El Niño, forecasts of higher food price inflation may miss some of the fundamental issues that will shape the season ahead, such as improved soil moisture and available grain supplies.

“Indeed, the drought is not ideal and may impose costs on farmers, but we can’t view it the same way as previous droughts. There are clear factors that may shape this upcoming season more than the previous droughts did,” Sihlobo concluded.

Imagine buying a pregnant cow. Not through a fund, not via a share certificate, but an actual animal, tagged and grazing on a commercial farm somewhere in South Africa. When she calves, the calf is grown out and sold. You receive a share of the proceeds. The cow herself may also be sold at maturity, generating a further return.

This is the premise of crowd-farming, and in South Africa, it is no longer a novelty. Platforms such as Johannesburg-based Livestock Wealth and Impact Farming from Fedgroup have drawn thousands of investors who are looking beyond the JSE for something they can understand, touch, and trace.

The appeal is real. So are the risks. And the regulatory picture, while clearer than it was two years ago, is still evolving. If you are considering putting money into cattle, trees, or farmland through one of these platforms, this is what you need to know.

Livestock Wealth was founded by Ntuthuko Shezi, who grew up in a community where cattle were not livestock but capital, a living store of value that could be leveraged for lobola, drawn on in tough times, and grown over generations.

“Where I grew up, cattle were never just animals. They were a measure of wealth, something on which you could rely. We wanted to create a way for anyone to participate in agriculture, even if they do not own land or have farming experience,” says Shezi.

How the model works

The digital platform translates that traditional model into a format accessible to anyone with a smartphone and a few thousand rands. Investors purchase a specific asset, a pregnant cow, a weaner calf, or a share in farmland, which is then managed by a vetted partner farmer for a defined production cycle.

Returns are not linked to interest rates or equity markets, but to biology: how the animal grows, how the calf performs, and at what price the asset is eventually sold. The platform manages onboarding, asset allocation, monitoring, and the final sale.

In practice, this places the platform in a hybrid role – part marketplace, part farm manager, part financial intermediary. But as the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has confirmed, the product is classified as an agricultural asset, not a financial instrument.

That distinction matters, and we will come back to it.

Beyond cattle: trees, blueberries, and macadamias

Livestock Wealth focuses primarily on cattle and citrus trees, but the crowd-farming model extends into perennial crops through players such as Fedgroup, whose Impact Farming platform allows investors to ‘own’ blueberry bushes, macadamia trees, or citrus trees on commercial farms.

These investments operate on longer time frames. A macadamia tree may take several years to reach peak production, but once established, they can offer more consistent annual yields than a single livestock cycle.

The trade-off is patience: capital is committed for longer, and exposure to input cost inflation, export market dynamics, and climate variability is ongoing rather than transactional.

For South African farmers, the relevance of these platforms is twofold. First, they represent an alternative funding channel, a way to bring in investor capital without taking on traditional debt. Second, for farmers with underutilised land or management capacity, becoming a platform partner can generate additional revenue.

The risks every investor must understand

Crowd-farming platforms are effective at communicating upside. The language of ‘walking capital’, tangible assets, and agricultural heritage is compelling. But it can obscure the very real ways in which these investments can and do perform.

The biological risks deserve emphasis. Unlike a bond or a unit trust, an investment in a cow is an investment in a living system. Mortality, disease, failed pregnancies, drought stress, and poor veld conditions are not edge cases; they are the normal operating environment of South African commercial farming.

Shezi is direct about this: “You are working with nature. Unlike financial markets, you cannot fully control the outcome.”

Such honesty is admirable. Investors need to internalise it before committing capital.

The FSCA investigation: what happened and why it matters

In January 2024, the FSCA issued a public warning against Livestock Wealth, raising concerns that the platform may have been offering financial products without the appropriate licence under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAISA) . The warning caused immediate investor anxiety and drew media attention.

After a full investigation, the FSCA found no fraud, no misappropriation of investor funds, and no evidence of a Ponzi scheme. Critically, it confirmed that the assets being offered, cattle and farmland, are agricultural assets, not financial products.

Because FAISA licensing requirements apply specifically to financial products and services, Livestock Wealth was found to be operating outside the scope of the Act and therefore did not require a financial services provider licence for this model.

“The investigation confirmed what we always said: we are providing access to real assets, not financial instruments. But hugging a cow is much more fun than holding a share certificate in your hands,” says Shezi.

The outcome was a significant regulatory vindication. But it also revealed something important about the landscape in which these platforms operate.

The regulatory gap and what may change

The FSCA investigation highlighted a structural issue that is not unique to Livestock Wealth: products that behave economically like investments are not always regulated as investments.

Because crowd-farming platforms deal in tangible assets rather than financial instruments, they fall outside the investor protection that FAISA provides, including requirements for disclosure, fit-and-proper conduct standards, and formal recourse mechanisms.

This is not necessarily a flaw in the platforms themselves. But it does mean that investors have fewer formal protection measures than they might expect, and that disclosure standards are voluntary rather than mandated.

The Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFIB), expected to take effect later this year, may shift this. It proposes to regulate activities rather than products, meaning that platforms engaging in investment-like behaviour could become subject to oversight regardless of whether they deal in financial instruments or agricultural assets.

If enacted as drafted, this could standardise disclosure requirements, introduce conduct standards for platforms, and improve investor recourse.

Shezi acknowledges the direction things are going: “‘Regulation is catching up with innovation. We welcome clarity, as it will help build trust in the model.”

What to ask before you commit capital

If you are evaluating a crowd-farming platform, whether for cattle, trees, or farmland, these are the questions that matter:

• Who manages the farm and what is their history? Request verified production data, not just marketing material.
• Is the asset insured? What happens if the animal dies or the crop fails? Understand the loss scenario explicitly.
• What are the total fees? Understand the platform fee, the farmer’s share, and any ancillary costs before calculating your net return.
• What is the realistic return range, not the best case? Ask for historical performance data across multiple production cycles, not a single example.
• How long is my capital committed? Understand the production cycle length and what happens if the platform ceases to operate.
• Can I visit the farm? The ability to physically inspect your asset is one of the important distinctions between crowd-farming and conventional investing.

The bottom line

Crowd-farming platforms represent a genuine innovation in South African agricultural finance. They open farming to people who have never owned land, bring new capital into the sector, and reconnect urban investors with the biological realities of food production.

For farmers willing to take on management partnerships, these platforms can offer a supplementary funding stream with limited administrative burden.

But these are not passive investments. A cow is not a unit trust. A blueberry bush is not a bond. The assets live, grow, get sick, and respond to rainfall. Returns are variable by definition and depend heavily on the competence of the farmer managing your asset, someone you may never have met.

The FSCA’s clearance of Livestock Wealth confirmed the legitimacy of the model, but it did not make the underlying investment risk-free. As COFIB moves toward implementation, the regulatory environment for these platforms will tighten, bringing clearer disclosures and stronger protections, but potentially also higher compliance costs that could affect platform economics.

For now, the rule is simple: if you can afford to risk your capital, understand what you are buying, and are prepared to be patient, crowd-farming can be a meaningful addition to a diversified portfolio.

If you are counting on the return, treat it like what it is – an investment in something real, and reality is rarely predictable.

Farmer’s Weekly does not endorse any specific investment platform. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a registered financial adviser before making any investment decision.

Their hosts, the Le Roux family, make a fine semi-sweet sparkling wine using Muscadel grapes that is a perfect drink for a picnic on a hot summer’s day.

Unsurprisingly, it is labelled ‘Tickled Pink’ and it comes complete with an artist’s impression of an ostrich on the run.

The next bit of ‘pink tickling’ arrives when you sit down and have a drink with Doornkraal’s legendary owner, Oom Swepie le Roux (Gerrit Cornelis), while listening to some of his fabulous family anecdotes.

He lives in one of those fabled ‘feather palaces’ you sometimes spot in the Klein Karoo and, to a lesser extent, the Eastern Cape Karoo. They were built at the height of the ostrich feather boom years before World War I, and filled with goods imported by ship from Britain and Europe.

The Doornkraal feather palace itself is absolutely beautiful. Inside, it is like a museum.

Portraits of past Le Roux family members grace the walls. You walk along an ultra-wide passage to an enormous dining room with its 14-seater table.

Stoeps, stairs, stained glass windows, towers, and turrets are everywhere. You can get lost in local history right here.

The house was built in 1914, just as the feather industry peaked, and then crashed. War, anti-animal cruelty sentiment, and open-top Model T Fords left no place for an ostrich feather market.

Those who had invested everything in ostriches were soon out on the street, trying to fashion new lives for themselves. Those who had always diversified their farming operations survived to plough another day.

The Storyteller

If you stay at one of the lodgings at Doornkraal, you might glimpse the farm’s patriarch, Le Roux, and his rescue dog Skimmel. Now 90, Oom Swepie farmed here for 60 years before retiring, and is still fit and active.

According to the ladies who attended fitness classes in De Rust, Le Roux is able to do a two-minute plank exercise without strain. “That’s impressive,” we thought.

We spoke about the ostrich industry, which once dominated farming in this region and neighbouring Oudtshoorn.

The one issue that exercised the mind of Swepie’s grandfather (Gert Cornelis) was the fact that a seasonal river, the Olifants, flows through the farm. It is often dry, but any heavy rains in the Great Karoo, on the other side of the Swartberg Mountains, would fill the river via one of its major tributaries, the Traka. How could this water be captured and used?

A Scottish engineering marvel

Oupa Gert bought two large pumps, but they were swept away by flood waters. “Back in 1912, Doornkraal was doing well thanks to the feather boom,” says Oom Swepie. “My grandfather decided to invest in the best pump to irrigate his lands during flood conditions, one that could be moved out of harm’s way if needed.

“Oupa sent for a very expensive three-cylinder Crossley gas suction pump made by Stewarts & Lloyds in Scotland. It came by ship, then by railway to De Rust. Oupa even built a short sideline to get the machine to its designated place next to the river. The pump came with an engineer, a Mr Gush, who put it together for Oupa and tried to show him how to operate it. The pump was a fantastically complicated contraption, flywheels and other moving parts. “You had to light a fire, then build up pressure to a certain level, and there were all kinds of levers and valves,” he says.

Oupa Gert tried his best to follow the directions, but after three concerted attempts, he was nowhere close to getting the pump started. He then made the engineer Gush an offer he couldn’t refuse.

He said: “I have a proposal for you – I will build you a house, pay you five pounds a month, and give you five pairs of ostriches.” So, Gush went back to England and brought back his wife and child.

“All was well until the feather collapse, when keeping on a dedicated pump-man became unaffordable. So, Oupa asked the engineer to teach his son PK how to use the pump.

“My father PK went to boarding school in George. The train drivers would give a special whistle as they passed the siding to let us know when there had been good rains in the Great Karoo. It would take a day or two to get to us through Toorwater Poort.

“So Oupa would call the school principal, who would put my father on a train. He’d come and set up the pump, and with the water flooding through from the Great Karoo, they would irrigate the entire farm for three days and nights.”

Building the feather palace

We stayed with the subject of the flightless birds that had given the Klein Karoo its golden-era status in the late Victorian era. Besides various industry dips over the decades since the crash of 1914, the local ostrich business has innovated itself and made every part of the bird marketable in some form. Even the toes are used for doggie chews these days.

We remarked on the stately old mansion he lived in with one of his daughters, Julia, who looks after the catering and hospitality side of Doornkraal.

“Just before the feathers fell, Oupa said to his wife Maggie that since there was still a little money left over from the purchase of the pump, he would build her a new house,” says Oom Swepie. “In those days you chose from a catalogue and the house came in kit form from Britain. She made her choice and insisted on one special item: a very wide passage.

“Ouma Maggie was a large woman, and she didn’t want to have to squeeze past anyone else of her own size as she walked down the passage.

“He hired an architect called Steenhuizen, who told him the extra-wide passage would not only cost more, but would add six months to the construction time. When Oupa was told what the total cost of the entire ‘feather palace’ would be, he was horrified. It was more than his precious Stewarts & Lloyds pump.”

So, Oupa began to haggle with Steenhuizen. “I will make the bricks,” he said. But still, the quote was too high for his liking.

“Why does it have to have a double-layered roof?” he had asked Steenhuizen.

“To protect against wind and rain,” came the reply. “Ha! This is a desert, it hardly ever rains here. What’s the total if we only use one overlap?”

Steenhuizen, who by then had ascertained exactly what the Stewarts & Lloyds contraption had cost, replied: “Exactly what your pump cost!” The deal was done, the feather palace was built and everyone was happy. And to this day, it stands firm and strong, despite the storms that occasionally ravage the region.

Dealing with the Smous

The following Oom Swepie story needs some context: Oudtshoorn built its international reputation after the arrival of the Lithuanian Jewish feather merchants in the 1890s, and their dealings with the mainly Afrikaner farmers were amicable.

There was usually a special room on the farmstead for the wandering trader, who was regarded as a ‘human newspaper’ by the isolated families.

“The smous visited all the homes of his clients, travelled far and wide, and could usually update his host on farming trends around the district,” says Antoinette le Roux in her Master’s thesis on the development of agriculture around Oudtshoorn.

Oom Swepie remembers how the Jewish feather merchants would come and visit his grandfather to buy feathers.

“Doornkraal was rather popular, in part because their food and barrel-aged brandy was so good. There is a tradition here of growing vines, and Oupa Gert was not a drinker. He only used brandy for medicinal purposes,” says Oom Swepie.

It was Ouma Maggie’s lifelong ambition, although never fulfilled, to convert one of these Jewish pedlars to Christianity.

Her desire was to feed them well and then make sure they attended the evening prayer service that preceded the meal.

But, first she would make them bath. After weeks on the dusty road, they would need to clean up. After supper, Oupa would show the smous the ostrich feathers.

By lamplight, they gleamed, sumptuous and beguiling.

Then, fortified with some fine Doornkraal brandy, farmer and smous would get down to feather business.
Growing up and listening to his grandfather’s advice, Oom Swepie was instructed to diversify the farm when he came of age to take over Doornkraal.

“Oupa said: ‘Don’t just farm with one thing,’” recalls Oom Swepie.

“When I went off to study winemaking, he approved, but with one proviso: I was not to become a drunkard!”
Today, Doornkraal no longer farms with ostriches, but they do still make delicious dessert wines. And of course, the slightly addictive Tickled Pink bubbly.

Julia the chef

Swepie’s daughter Julia is the one you’ll usually find in the kitchen, busy turning the fruits and vegetables on the farm into something rather magical that you might either taste at their irregular Long Tables, or at their Doornkraal Padstal, which has been operating for 40 years.

Her plum cordial is famous and her plum jelly scooped up first prize in the 2025 Agri-Expo Preserve Awards.

The padstal also stocks her Mauritian lemon atchar, citron preserve, quince jelly, lemon marmalade, and along with pasture-fed lamb (losbandige lam) and whatever is fresh and in-season on the farm, typically pumpkins, quinces, plums and more.

Celia’s passion for Cape horses

Julia’s sister Celia is the farmer on Doornkraal, cultivating lucerne, vegetable seed, export-quality stone-fruit and grapes, as well as raising cattle, sheep, and her first love, Cape horses.

There have been horses on Doornkraal Farm for more than 140 years. The Le Roux family has a preference for the gentle, versatile, sure-footed Cape Riding Horse that is also very comfortable to ride.

There are eight riding packages on offer, trails that lead guests around the farm and also into the dramatic valleys and ravines in the area.

When some farmers in the nearby Meiringspoort were isolated by the devastating storms in May, Celia and members of her staff went in on horseback to bring them much-needed supplies.

“We cater for all levels of riding experience,” she says. “Your ride can be tailor-made to suit your needs and your time frame.”

The various rides listed have names like Kudu Trail, Spekboom Trail, Spookdrift Trail, Karoo to Coast, and Stof en Sterre (Dust and Stars), a four-day bucket list adventure that comes with a mobile hot tub!

Doornkraal also offers a three-day sleep-over Pony Camp for children, a specially designed and very safe farm holiday that even includes an on-site child psychologist.

A ghostly visitor

Like her father Swepie, Celia has storytelling talents. She told us a rather Gothic but utterly Karoo ghost story.

“One night, a local doctor was doing a house call. Suddenly, a woman appeared before him on the road. He stopped and rolled down the car window. The woman, pale of face and wrapped in a blanket, was clearly cold.

“She pointed at a distant side road and begged him to take her there. He protested, saying he had an urgent call to attend to. She begged some more. Eventually, he invited her to climb into the vehicle.

“She was silent as they came to a farmhouse deep in one of the klowe (ravines). The woman jumped out and ran inside.

“The doctor followed her, and found a baby lying in a cot, cold and hungry. He turned around, and saw the woman behind him lying dead on the floor.

“Her spirit, it seemed, left her body and went out to seek help for her newborn baby, who was saved by the doctor.”

For more information, phone Marinel on 082 763 5296, or Celia on 082 899 4531.

PHASA’s revised FMD guidelines are based on recommendations from the Department of Agriculture, existing quarantine regulations, and movement protocols for buffalo and other susceptible species.

The association emphasised that while cattle remain the primary route for FMD transmission in South Africa, hunters, landowners, and wildlife professionals all have a role to play in preventing the disease from being spread by people, vehicles, equipment, and hunting trophies.

Explaining the rationale behind the guidelines, PHASA CEO Jess de Klerk told Farmer’s Weekly that the association decided to develop specific best-practice guidelines for hunters and trophy handling because the FMD outbreak mostly affected the red meat industry, cattle, and pigs.

“There was huge concern from agriculture and rural safety organisations. The hunting industry already had protocols and guidelines on how to deal with trophies in FMD areas, and we did not want additional restrictions.”

He added that hunters are encouraged to work closely with landowners, wildlife veterinarians, and state veterinarians to stay informed about quarantine statuses and disease outbreaks through Red Meat Industry Services’ (RMIS) electronic platform.

Guidelines for trophies and animal products

De Klerk said PHASA’s new guidelines permit the movement of trophies, bones, horns, and skins from game animals within or out of FMD quarantine areas, provided specific requirements are met.

According to the guidelines, skins must be salted for at least 28 days or thoroughly dried, while bones, horns, and teeth must be properly cleaned and dried before transport. Trophies and related animal products must be covered with an impermeable plastic sheet during transport, while no restrictions apply to hides, skins, trophies, bones, and horns moving into or through quarantine areas.

PHASA advises hunters to confirm a property’s FMD status and compliance requirements through state veterinary authorities or the RMIS disease reporting system before commencing a hunt.

For hunts outside designated quarantine zones, PHASA recommends a range of biosecurity measures aimed at reducing the risk of spreading FMD between properties. These include confirming a property’s FMD status before hunting; carrying the necessary hunting and transport documentation; disinfecting vehicles, trailers, equipment, and personal protective equipment if they have been in contact with livestock; and sanitising or destroying packaging materials.

The association also recommends slaughtering animals on the property where they are harvested to minimise movement risks and only moving trophies from FMD-affected or suspected areas after completing the required quarantine period, which is typically 28 days.

Staff must be trained to spot signs of FMD

For hunting operations conducted inside FMD quarantine zones, the guidelines state that the movement of trophies from cloven-hoofed game species requires a movement permit for transport within, through, or out of the area.

Before entering a property, vehicles, trailers, footwear, and personnel should be disinfected, with particular attention paid to tyres and vehicle undercarriages. Where possible, hunting vehicles should remain on the property.

The guidelines also recommend that hunting staff be trained to recognise the signs of FMD infection, including mouth sores, excessive salivation, blisters on the feet, lameness, and a decline in body condition. Animals displaying symptoms must not be transported, and the relevant state veterinary department should be notified immediately. Skinners and trackers should also be sanitised before entering any property.

Harvested animals should be transported to skinning facilities on tarpaulins and kept enclosed while being moved around the property. Skins, heads, feet, and other body parts not intended for trophy purposes must be disposed of on site and may not leave the property, while bones and horns should be cleaned immediately.

PHASA also recommends washing capes, skins, cleaned skulls, and other trophy parts in a disinfectant salt solution before transport. Skins should then be salted and dried for at least 28 days, while bones, horns, teeth, and feet should be thoroughly cleaned and treated.

According to the guidelines, vehicles, equipment, slaughter facilities, and handling facilities should be disinfected regularly during hunting operations.

PHASA also notes that taxidermists already operate under established trophy-handling protocols and advises facilities to implement biosecurity measures for vehicles and visitors. Where trophies originate from quarantine areas, hunters are encouraged to use taxidermists registered as high-risk facilities or ensure the trophies are first processed through an approved facility before further transport.

Aim of PHASA is to protect wildlife and hunting

According to De Klerk, the most common mistake hunters make is being unaware that FMD is present in the area.

“Apart from that, there are no areas of concern. Buffalo [are susceptible to] FMD, and there are already protocols in place requiring all buffalo to be tested before being moved. Buffalo movement poses a minor risk, whereas the movement of cattle and pigs poses a much greater risk to the game and hunting industry.”

According to PHASA, the guidelines aim to protect South Africa’s wildlife and hunting industries, as well as livestock producers, while maintaining practical and workable procedures.

The association stresses that vigilance, sanitation, and compliance with movement regulations remain the most effective tools for reducing the risk of FMD spreading through hunting-related activities.

Using traditional brooms or high-pressure washers often compounds the problem by stirring up dust, leaving fine particles suspended in the air. This creates serious respiratory risks for employees and can lead to chronic lung diseases.

Furthermore, settled dust accumulates in hard-to-reach areas such as conveyor belts, shelves, ceiling beams, and roof structures. Combined with ambient humidity, this dust promotes mould growth, producing hazardous mycotoxins that can contaminate food and feed, threatening both livestock and consumer safety.

Regular floor cleaning: control dust at the source

Routine cleaning immediately after crop storage helps prevent severe dust accumulation. Mechanical sweepers collect dust rather than disperse it, allowing the material to be safely disposed of or returned to the field.

To minimise airborne particles, the side brush should only be used for corners and edges, and it should be raised during flat surface cleaning. Additionally, maintaining cleanliness in surrounding outdoor areas limits the amount of dirt tracked into the warehouse.

Selecting the right machinery depends on several operational factors. Container capacity must match dust volume, and the working width must suit the storage layout. Smaller facilities benefit from walk-behind push sweepers, while larger operations require ride-on models. Industrial machines equipped with coarse dirt flaps are particularly effective, as they can pick up larger debris such as stones, soil clumps, and fallen crops.

Wet and dry vacuum cleaners: precise cleaning

For obstructed or confined areas, wet and dry vacuum cleaners offer an ideal solution. Equipped with squeegee nozzles, they efficiently clean floors without releasing PM back into the air.

Filters match dust classes, with class L for lower-risk dust and classes M and H for finer hazardous particles, ensuring safe handling.

Features such as automatic filter cleaning and pre-separators significantly extend machine life and maintain optimal suction performance when handling large volumes of dust.

Preparing for the next harvest

Before new crops are introduced, warehouses must be thoroughly cleared of residual dust, mould spores, and contaminants. Even if floors are regularly maintained, overhead shelves, beams, and machinery require deep cleaning.

Wet and dry vacuums safely remove both dry and moist residues. Using suction extensions or cherry pickers allows for the safe cleaning of ceilings, pipes, and beams, while specialised brushes and scrapers help remove stubborn, compacted deposits from tight spaces.

Special cases and feed hygiene

Thorough decontamination is critical when removing hazardous residues or when converting a facility to organic production. Critical zones include ventilation channels, sorting equipment, and machinery, all of which require comprehensive dry or wet cleaning.

For animal feed storage, strict hygiene standards are mandatory. Removing dust, residues, and old deposits prevents infestations by pests, mould, or mycotoxins, thereby supporting animal welfare and ensuring strict regulatory compliance.

By deploying specialised sweepers and high-efficiency wet and dry vacuum cleaners, agricultural operators can maintain clean warehouses that safeguard crops, workers, and livestock. Efficient dust extraction mitigates occupational health risks, preserves post-harvest product quality, and ensures facility readiness for the next harvest season.

For more information, visit kaercher.com/za.

This partnership significantly expands ElectroMechanica’s (EM) footprint in motor solutions and, for the first time in its 40-year history, the company is offering a range of electric motors, providing customers with a complete end-to-end industrial solution.

While EM has traditionally been a leader in control and safety components, the addition of TechTop ‘closes the loop’, allowing the company to move beyond individual hardware components to offer a fully integrated motor and motor-control portfolio.

Engineering for endurance

The reintroduced TechTop range is built for Africa’s high-demand environments. Standardised for 400V industrial networks, the IE3-compliant range is available in two-, four-, six-, and eight-pole configurations to meet diverse torque and speed requirements.

Going beyond standard industry benchmarks, the range is engineered to exceed basic performance requirements, with a primary focus on:

• High-tensile cast iron: utilising premium-grade frames for superior vibration absorption and structural rigidity in harsh applications.
• Thermal resilience: featuring Class H insulation with a Class B temperature rise, allowing the motors to operate reliably in high-ambient-temperature environments without derating.
• Premium internals: standardised with SKF bearings and high-specification IP55 sealing, ensuring longevity in abrasive and high-moisture conditions.

The heavy-duty cast iron range is currently available, with the aluminium frame expansion scheduled for release later this year.

A new warranty standard

At the centre of this relaunch is TechTop’s five-year warranty, a manufacturer-backed guarantee that offers unparalleled freedom of choice by removing the standard requirement for specific motor protection brands. This industry-leading warranty is fully supported by EM’s original equipment manufacturer-authorised field technicians, ensuring every motor is backed by a local, expert-led technical safety net and rapid-response site service.

“We are reintroducing TechTop as a genuine alternative to the options available on the market,” says Nishen Singh, EM’s KwaZulu-Natal regional manager.

“Engineers shouldn’t be forced into a single-brand ecosystem just to secure a warranty. We are backing the mechanical excellence of TechTop regardless of the control environment. If the [variable frequency drive] or motor protection is appropriately rated and the installation is correct, we stand by the motor. It’s about restoring decision-making autonomy to the engineer.”

Efficiency without compromise

Fully compliant with South Africa’s minimum energy performance standards, the TechTop IE3 range offers a competitive total cost of ownership.

By combining modern energy efficiency with old-school build quality, EM offers a product range that reduces energy consumption without sacrificing the high-torque characteristics required for heavy-duty cycling.

Immediate availability

Backed by a local stockholding of IE3 motors, EM has ensured that units ranging from 0,75kW to 315kW, in two-, four-, and six-pole configurations, are available for immediate dispatch.

While major inventory is staged at the Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town hubs, the range is accessible through EM’s extensive nationwide network of branches and partners, ensuring rapid local support and availability across the Southern African Development Community region.

For more information, contact the ElectroMechanica at [email protected], phone 011 249 5099, or visit em.co.za/techtop-motors.  

Financing Gauteng’s agro-processing vision

In her keynote address, Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, highlighted progress made under the R100 million Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD)/National Empowerment Fund (NEF) Blended Finance Programme, launched at the 2025 Agroprocessing Convention & Expo.

“The purpose of the fund is straightforward. It is [aimed at improving] access to finance for agro-processing enterprises with the potential to grow but that are struggling to secure appropriate commercial funding,” she explained.

Ramokgopa noted that, of the initial 188 applications received since the programme’s launch, three enterprises had been approved for funding, with this year’s call for applications attracting 31 qualifying applicants, 11 of whom were at the final due diligence stage of the programme application process.

Motlatjo Makaepea, GDARD chief director of agro-processing and economic services, added: “Every 2% increase in agro-processing output has the potential to generate a 10% increase in employment.”

According to him, to date, nearly 500 agro-processing enterprises have benefitted from almost R20 million through CASP, while R5,8 million has been disbursed to qualifying enterprises through the national Department of Agriculture’s AgriBEE Fund.

He also highlighted Krugersdorp-based Shumbaset Egg Packhouse, which received support through the Gauteng Equitable Share Programme and Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) to set up an egg aggregation facility, which enables small-scale egg producers to aggregate, grade, and package eggs in compliance with the Agricultural Product Standards Act (No. 119 of 1990) before supplying formal retail markets.

Entrepreneurial journeys

Beyond the updates on funding and support initiatives, the entrepreneurs’ own stories provided insight into the realities of building an agro-processing business.

Ramokgopa noted that P and M Fresh Produce, based in Johannesburg South and one of 60 exhibitors at this year’s convention, is a model of a successful agro-processing enterprise.

The 100% black-owned, women-led company received funding via CASP to expand its fresh fruit and vegetable agro-processing, packaging, and distribution operation.

Soweto-based Zazi Juice and Midrand-based Kenokatha Farms, trading as Veg & More, also exhibited at the convention, showcasing the outcomes of the government support they had received.

Zazi Juice founder Thobeka Ndabula produces ready-to-drink fruit juices, along with dried fruit, biltong, olive oil, and coconut oil, and sells her products at the Joburg Market.

She ventured into agro-processing in 2021 and received financial support though the Gauteng Equitable Share grant to set up production equipment in 2023. Today, she markets her products through a wholesale agent and several retailers, including Spar.

“In my journey, I have learnt that compliance does not have colour and it does not have gender. So, you have to be compliant [with regulations] in order to trade,” Ndabula said during a panel discussion on agro-processing entrepreneurs’ business experiences.

Veg & More founder Quinty Rabophala started on a 3ha farm in Midrand six years ago, with the intention of moving into agro-processing because “that’s where we lose value as farmers”, she explained.

A former banker, Rabophala’s approach was to build a strong business before seeking funding, which, in her case, came through AgriBEE.

Today, her business produces high-value crops such as baby marrows, broccoli, green beans and sugar snap peas.

“It’s possible to make success of [an agro-processing business],” she concluded, encouraging aspirant agro-processing entrepreneurs.

In South Africa’s dryland farming systems, moisture conservation has become a key production strategy. As seasons become more erratic and dry spells become costlier, the ability to capture, store, and efficiently use rainfall may be the most important factor distinguishing resilient farms from vulnerable ones.

“This calls for a shift in thinking. The main question is no longer, ‘How much rain did we receive?’ but rather, ‘How much of that rain did the soil retain and make available to the crop?’” says Prof Nomali Ngobese, an associate professor in North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

South African farmers face not only the challenge of limited rainfall but also the challenge of rainfall loss. A significant portion of rainfall does not benefit the crop. Instead, it runs off the field, evaporates from exposed soil, and drains below the root zone.

“Each of these pathways represents lost opportunity. In dryland systems, this loss can mean the difference between a crop that survives stress and one that fails under tough conditions. Moisture conservation is, therefore, not just about sustainability; it is about making rainfall add to productivity,” explains Prof Jacques Berner, an associate professor in NWU’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management.

How water is lost

Water loss in cropping systems typically happens in three ways: run-off, evaporation, and deep drainage. Effective moisture conservation aims to reduce all three.

With run-off, water doesn’t enter the soil. When rainfall hits bare or compacted soil, infiltration is limited, and the water flows off the field instead of soaking into the root zone. The solution is to improve soil structure and maintain surface cover to boost infiltration.

Evaporation means water is lost to the atmosphere. Bare soil warms up quickly, speeding up evaporation and leading to significant moisture loss, especially early in the season. The answer to this problem is keeping crop residues or mulch on the soil surface to serve as a protective layer, reducing temperature swings and slowing evaporation.

Water that moves below the root zone is no longer available to the crop. This calls for the improvement of soil organic matter and structure to enhance the soil’s water-holding capacity within the root zone, reducing losses to deep drainage.

Another issue affecting water retention is soil compaction.

“Soil compaction is one of the most overlooked threats to moisture conservation. Compacted soils restrict water infiltration, limit root growth, and reduce access to stored soil moisture. The result is a double loss, as less water enters the soil and less of what is stored is available to the plant,” explains Berner.

He adds that soil compaction can be avoided by eliminating traffic on wet soils, reducing unnecessary tillage, and including crop rotation with deep-rooted crops.

“A field does not need more rain if it is already wasting what it gets. The first step in moisture conservation is ensuring that water enters and stays in the soil. This depends on good soil structure, adequate organic matter, active soil biology, and surface cover,” adds Ngobese.

No-till is a system, not a shortcut

Practices linked to conservation agriculture, such as reduced tillage, residue retention, and crop rotation, help improve rainfall capture.

No-till is often seen as a quick fix. In reality, though, it is part of a broader system that needs time and consistency. In some cases, conventionally tilled soils may appear to perform better early in the season.

However, research shows that under semi-arid conditions, conventional production systems may hold more moisture initially, while reduced tillage systems often retain more moisture later in the production season.

This matters because yield is most affected during stress periods, especially during the flowering and grain filling stages of crop growth. The real value of reduced disturbance lies in the soil’s ability to sustain crops during these critical stages.

Moisture conservation is a risk management strategy

Farmers often gauge success based on early crop establishment. However, a well-established crop can still fail later in the season due to a lack of soil moisture.

Moisture conservation isn’t only about maximising yield in ideal conditions; it’s about reducing risk in dry years, improving yield stability over time, and enhancing the efficient use of nutrients. In this sense, moisture conservation is not just an agronomic decision but also a financial strategy.

Ngobese and Berner recommend five practical ways to retain more moisture in the root zone:

1. Keep the soil covered: retain crop residues or apply mulch to reduce evaporation and protect soil structure.
2. Minimise soil disturbance: reduce tillage to maintain soil structure.
3. Avoid compaction: manage traffic and avoid working on wet soils.
4. Improve the soil’s water-holding capacity and resilience: build soil organic matter.
5. Focus on the full season: evaluate success based on crop performance under stress and not just on early growth.

The cheapest water storage on the farm

Farmers can’t control how much rain falls, but they can manage how much of it is retained in the soil and used effectively. In an unpredictable climate, the most reliable form of water storage is not a dam or an irrigation system but the soil itself.

Every improvement in soil structure, cover, and management increases the amount of rainfall and irrigation water that contributes to yield. Over time, this leads to more stable production, reduced vulnerability, and improved profitability. In dryland farming, every millimetre of rain counts, but only if the soil retains it.

Email Prof Nomali Ngobese at [email protected], or Prof Jacques Berner at [email protected].

For these seasonal tasks, productivity is everything. Farmers and landowners need equipment that works as hard as they do, covering more ground in less time without sacrificing reliability. The Husqvarna 541RS brushcutter is built for exactly that, combining dependable performance, robust construction, and operator comfort in one of the most productive professional brushcutters in the range.

Built for productive farmwork

The Husqvarna 541RS is a versatile machine, well suited to farms, large properties, and hot, dusty environments where reliability in tough field conditions is essential.

Powered by a 41,5cm³ engine producing 1,6kW of output, the 541RS delivers the performance needed to tackle thick grass, weeds, and overgrown areas. Its 45cm cutting width allows operators to cover larger areas efficiently, helping to reduce the time spent on routine clearing and maintenance.

The 541RS is equipped with a heavy-duty clutch built for the rigours of regular agricultural use. Combined with its straightforward design, it’s easy to service and maintain, making it a practical choice for farming operations where equipment needs to stay in working condition with minimal downtime.

All-day comfort for higher output

For farmers and their teams, comfort and control are just as important as output. When clearing large areas, small design details can make a significant difference over the course of a working day.

The Husqvarna 541RS features an ergonomic bullhorn handle and comes equipped with the Husqvarna Balance 55 harness, helping to distribute weight more evenly and improve handling.

At 7,4kg, the brushcutter strikes a practical balance between durability and usability, reducing fatigue and helping operators maintain consistent output from the first cut to the last.

Supplied with a grass blade and trimmer head, the 541RS can also be paired with a range of trimmer head accessories, giving operators flexibility to adapt to different tasks with ease. This is particularly useful on farms and larger properties where maintenance work can vary significantly from one area to the next, from routine grass clearing to tackling tougher overgrowth.

Complete the kit with Husqvarna PPE

To get the most from the 541RS on the job, pair it with Husqvarna’s range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and workwear.

Protective eyewear and visors are essential when operating a brushcutter. Flying debris is part of the job, and the right eye protection helps keep work moving along safely.

Husqvarna’s PPE range also includes dedicated brushcutting workwear designed for spending hours in dense vegetation and long grass, providing the comfort and durability needed to make every workday count.

Engineering shaped by professional insight

The Husqvarna 541RS reflects a practical approach to equipment design. Easy to use, easy to service and maintain, and built to withstand regular use in challenging conditions, it’s designed to support the needs of those who rely on their equipment day after day.

As winter maintenance gets under way and preparations for the months ahead intensify, the Husqvarna 541RS is the reliable, high-performance choice for farmers and landowners who expect more from their equipment every day.

For more information, visit husqvarna.com/za.

#WeAreHusqvarna

Hosted by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), in partnership with Germany-based Agri Benchmark, the forum brought together producers, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss animal productivity, exchange advice on globally competitive production systems, and explore common approaches to the growth and sustainability of the global livestock industry.

While the programme covered sheep, pig, and poultry production, beef farming featured prominently throughout the discussions.

Speaking on behalf of Department of Agriculture (DoA) Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi, Jan Venter, director of plant health at the DoA, emphasised that the forum provides an opportunity for a two-way exchange of knowledge and expertise, underscoring the technical and commercial advances within South Africa’s agriculture sector.

“[South Africa is] now ranked around 30th globally among agricultural exporters. That’s no small achievement,” Venter said, adding that this “shows a sector that continues to adapt, compete, and innovate, with livestock at the centre”.

He also acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly the impact of FMD on export trade, noting that the lessons learnt in the fight against the disease serve as a template for tackling other challenges.

“It is important to use FMD as an example not only of what went wrong but also of what went right,” he said, citing the vaccination of about 43% of the national herd, estimated at about 12 million head, as one of the successes.

The achievements of South Africa’s commercial agriculture were also lauded by Dr Claus Deblitz, deputy director of the Institute of Farm Economics at the Thünen Institute in Germany, who said the country has a competitive advantage as it “remains a relatively low-cost producer”, given rising global production costs.

Highlighting the continued dominance of the big four beef producers – the US, Brazil, China, and the EU – Deblitz noted a positive global outlook, with demand for beef shifting towards Asian countries, including China, which is struggling to meet domestic demand.

His advice to South African livestock producers is to keep an eye on disease control and strengthen animal traceability, given the country’s FMD situation and its impact on access to global markets.

Lessons from Brazil

As one of the world’s leading beef producers and exporters, Brazil was declared FMD-free in 2025 without vaccination, after battling the disease for several decades.

With FMD eradicated in that country, considerable effort has gone into slowly regaining lucrative export markets that were lost because of the disease.

“There’s no need to vaccinate for FMD [in Brazil] anymore, and this has opened up more markets for us. Last year, we exported to 145 countries, having added 24 more since 2020,” Victoria Rizzato, market and livestock cost analyst at the University of São Paulo’s Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA), told delegates.

She noted, however, that while the removal of biosecurity-related trade constraints has opened up market opportunities, Brazil’s FMD-free status has also spurred the need to shore up production efficiencies. These included “producing more with less” by reducing stocking rates on pasture and accelerating genetic improvement in the national herd.

Brazil is also working towards full national herd traceability.

“It’s a lot of work,” Rizzato admitted, adding that the programme is key to the country’s food safety goals and enhancing competitiveness in global beef markets.

Along similar lines, Red Meat Industry Services Chief Operations Officer Dr Phillip Oosthuizen reported on South Africa’s efforts to implement its own digital identification and traceability platform. He explained that approximately 11 500 animals have been enrolled to date, with a target of 40 000 by the end of the year.

Key takeaway points

Moderated by Dr Gerhard van der Burgh, manager of the Integrated Value Information System at BFAP, a panel of three South African and two international experts focused on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future growth of South Africa’s livestock industry.

Giovanni Penazzi, researcher at the CEPEA, explained how Brazil had successfully deployed traceability not only to track livestock diseases but also as a selling point in an effort to access export markets.

On a similar note, Dr Marlene Louw, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, advised farmers to factor disease risk into their long-term business planning, as it is key to enabling open and transparent communication with lenders.

Meanwhile Dr Isam Almadani, agricultural economist at Qatar University, pointed to the Middle East and North Africa region as a growing export market for South African livestock farmers.

Looking beyond the forum, the panellists called for closer working relationships within the agriculture sector, with Dr Norman Maiwashe, animal production portfolio research manager at the Agricultural Research Council, calling for stronger public-private partnerships in research and innovation to ensure the country’s future livestock competitiveness.

In addition, Khani Baloyi, agricultural economist at BFAP, highlighted the need to bridge the gap between the country’s highly developed commercial livestock industry and its communal counterpart, with a focus on the new generation of emerging farmers.