Staff Reporter
Farmer's Weekly's Staff Reporter team provides accurate, timely, and trusted coverage of South African agriculture, delivering expert-backed reporting on farming, livestock, crops, agribusiness, technology, policy, and industry developments.
Latest articles
Boosting agricultural productivity via small-scale vertical farming
Zikhona Buyeye, a junior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Natural Resources and Engineering Division, explores the importance of vertical farming structures for small-scale vegetable production.
Maize Trust bursary: Making a difference | Episode 7
Dr Abongile Balarane is the General Manager of the South African Poultry Association’s Egg Organisation. He grew up in humble beginnings in a small town in Welkom.
How a Simmentaler stud thrives on mountainous veld
The dual-purpose Simmentaler is known for its adaptability and good temperament. Tjokkie Nel, who runs a stud near Barkly East, spoke to Gavin Isted about the success he has had on this seemingly harsh terrain.
Isuzu makes a splash in the Eastern Cape
In the Wild Coast region, where very poor roads and rough conditions are the norm, Isuzu trucks are valued for their ruggedness and reliability.
Maize Trust bursary: Making a difference | Episode 6
Dr Richard Kotze, from Pretoria, started his studies in plant sciences. In his Honours year, he focussed on mycotoxins, a path that took him all the way to his MSc. degree.
‘Go-to tractors’ for dairy farmers
Nick Stubbs owns and runs a large dairy in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and says a reliable tractor is vital to his operation’s success.
Smallholders’ role in protecting our forests
According to a new report, smallholders and indigenous peoples can be effective forest managers, as they occupy nearly half of the world’s forest and farm landscapes and are often invested in these areas.
Maize Trust bursary: Making a difference | Episode 5
Dr Stephano Haarhoff is a young agronomist at Yarra Fertilizer, who grew up in the coastal town of Hermanus but spent his childhood holidays on the family farm in the Free State where his passion for agriculture took root.
Castrol keeps your fleet moving
Employing advanced lubricants, Castrol’s products are recognised worldwide for innovation and high performance through the company’s commitment to premium quality and cutting-edge technology.
Maize Trust bursary: Making a difference | Episode 4
Nozibusiso Maphumulo (27) grew up in a small rural village in KwaZulu-Natal, under extreme poverty. Maphumulo knew very little about agriculture but was exposed to subsistence farming in the village.
A vaccine bank could reduce disease panic
Dr Baty Dungu believes South Africa should take lessons from countries that have been using stockpiles for years to ensure adequate vaccine supplies before outbreaks occur.
Read this before buying a bull for your beef herd!
Sechaba Majola, a researcher in the Animal Unit at the University of the Free State, gives advice to small-scale beef cattle farmers on how to buy a quality bull and improve herd genetics.
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Technology and innovation to ignite agricultural transformation
The South African agricultural sector offers enormous potential. The vast landscapes, fertile soil and remarkable weather systems provide opportunities for growth and economic transformation. However, there are challenges that are restraining growth, including limited productivity, lack of investment and poorly maintained infrastructure.
SA’s top beef producers shine at ARC awards
The Agricultural Research Council recently presented its 44th instalment of the annual National Beef Performers Awards, which recognises outstanding achievements across seven categories of beef cattle performance and production. Farmer’s Weekly is the proud sponsor of the National Best Elite Cow category, the winners of which are presented below.
Zimmatic pivot keeps on delivering best results
Proper irrigation makes all the difference in ensuring success in farming, and this is the reason why understanding the options and the capabilities offered by the Zimmatic pivot could be what your crops need to thrive.
Food production: the intuitive farmer is the farmer of the future
Justin Platt, founder and managing director of agricultural technical services companies Zylem and RegenZ, says that farmers don’t need more knowledge, but rather better ‘knowing’.
Mastitis: prevention is better than cure
Mastitis can be devastating to a dairy’s profitability. Dr Chantelle Erwee, technical manager of ruminants at Zoetis, describes strategies that a farmer can implement to prevent cows from developing the condition.
The bacteria that serve as fertilisers and growth promoters
Dr WJ Botha of the Biosystematics Division attached to the Agricultural Research Council’s Plant Health and Protection Research Institute explains why Streptomyces bacteria are an ideal alternative to chemical fertilisers and growth promoters.
