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
Groundwater: key to Africa’s agri potential
Groundwater is an essential tool in agricultural production. However, it remains an untapped resource in Africa, as this recently published report shows.
Factors hampering SA’s sugar industry
Thabile Nkunjana, an agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and Dr Sifiso Ntombela, chief economist at the NAMC, examine the decline in South Africa’s sugar production and the factors threatening future growth.
The proper fencing to keep sheep and goats safe
Sheep and goats present a unique challenge to many farmers. Like the rest of your animals, they need to be kept safe and penned in on your property, but their small size and mischievous nature make them difficult to keep in one place, says Dain Rakestraw, director of marketing and client services at Red Brand.
Luxurious container love nest in the Boland
Palmietvlei Farm, a working blueberry farm, is situated near Wolseley in the Western Cape, and offers a wonderful view of the Mostertshoek mountains from its innovative ‘CouplesPod’, says Brian Berkman.
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The importance of a reliable water pump for fighting fires
A water pump can be the decider between saving a forest and losing it to fire, says Bruce Hart of SOS Contractors.
The power of PVC pipe
Most farmers already know the value of using PVC in their irrigation systems, but do they know which type is best for their operations? Here, Agrico helps explains the differences between PVC-M and PVC-U pipe.
Floating wetlands: a cleaning solution for polluted farm dams
Floating wetlands are successful at improving the quality of nutrient-polluted water, and can be made from a few basic materials, says Dr Alanna Rebelo, a senior researcher in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University.
Energy storage can enhance SA agriculture
Energy-related challenges pose a significant obstacle to the agriculture sector’s continued growth in South Africa, says Abraham Cambridge, founder and CEO of The Sun Exchange, which specialises in solar-energy projects.
Enter the Nestlé Needs Youth agripreneur competition
Calling all young agripreneurs! Entries are open for the Nestlé Needs Youth Agri Competition, with top mentorship and coaching prizes up for grabs.
Genetics-based guidelines to buying a bull at an auction
Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, write about the importance of choosing bulls based on breeding and performance indices, rather than their visual appearance.
Healthier trees, thanks to pest-control partners
Professors Almuth Hammerbacher, Bernard Slippers, Brett Hurley and Chris Weldon of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute at the University of Pretoria speak about the importance of protecting South Africa’s timber plantations.
Keep your tractor in tip-top condition with MF Connect
MF Connect teams up with your Massey Ferguson dealer to help you ensure that your tractor operates at peak performance.
Performance testing for the commercial farmer
Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling of the Agricultural Research Council write about the important role that performance testing plays in increasing a commercial herd’s fertility and profitability.
Captive breeding and wildlife trafficking
According to a UN report, there is evidence that captive breeding is being used in some instances as a guise for the illegal trafficking of wildlife and their body parts.
Choosing the right feed for your chickens
The best-quality meat demands the best-quality feed, according to Dr Elsje Pieterse, senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at Stellenbosch University, and Brett Roosendaal, head nutritionist at Epol. They spoke to Marinda Louw-Coetzee about feeding requirements for producing chicken products.
Supporting innovation in agriculture
The Technology Innovation Agency helps bridge the gaps in the research and development of agricultural technologies in South Africa.
Design your own Massey Ferguson tractor at the push of a button!
The AGCO ASK feature enables farmers to ‘design’ their tractors according to their own needs and requirements.
Seawater-farmed tilapia
In this article, the second in a two-part series, Ramon Kourie and Vuyani Somyo of Thapi AquaKulcha show how seawater-farmed Mozambique tilapia can provide cheaper protein than broilers or other livestock.
Limousin bull sold for a record R1,2 million
The Auction of the National Limousin Champions was held on Water’s Edge farm on 21 May.
Chalets with views of the vast Langkloof Mountains
Driving through the mists of the Outeniqua Pass to explore where to stay and what to do in the Langkloof, Brian Berkman returns to an old favourite.
