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.
Small-scale egg production basics
This article focuses on how to build, manage and maintain an affordable, small-scale egg production unit.
Grain storage innovation needed
In this, part one of a two-part series, Mariana Purnell, a consultant with eGrain, a provider of electronic warehouse receipts for the grain industry, discusses the challenges that changes to grain quality control pose for the industry. In particular, she focuses on producing maize according to particular standards for niche.
Social protection for sustainable food systems
Social protection programmes to help farmers become more resilient aren’t just safety nets, but can help them make investments and meaningfully engage in markets, says the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
New feed waste solution for dairy farmers
The UK-based agriculture solutions company, JF Hudson, has designed a first for the dairy industry: an attachment that can help to greatly reduce feed wastage in dairy sheds and save farmers money.
Managing mastitis in dairy cows
Mastitis can cause devastating economic losses for a dairy farmer. Yet a long-term vaccination programme can be an effective weapon in the fight to control it, writes Robyn Joubert. She spoke to Prof Inge-Marié Petzer, an udder health specialist at Onderstepoort.
Tips for dipping sheep
Sheep need to be dipped to prevent the spread of lice, scab and other economically important ectoparasites.
Southern Africa’s hunger hotspots
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme’s Hunger Hotspots report highlights the countries most at risk of increased food insecurity from August to November 2021. In Southern African, these include Mozambique, Madagascar, Angola and the DRC.
Sponsored
Agrico’s brand-new website offers an exciting online experience!
Agrico’s new website makes it easier for customers to get into connect with Agrico’s experts. A colourful journey through irrigation projects in Africa, an interactive experience with Agrico centre pivots and multimedia encounters with robust implements, are just a few of the features that customers can enjoy on Agrico's brand-new website.
Looking forward to 2022
The past year has brought with it many challenges, including a significant increase in the prices of agricultural inputs. However, farmers have shown that there is much strength in unity, and they have managed to push through these difficulties to end 2021 on a high, as these agricultural leaders show.
Hunting on the southern slopes of the Magaliesberg
At this guest house on a game farm in North West, visitors are provided with a comfortable stay and plenty of things to see and do, including hunting exotic game species, says Riaan Hattingh.
The CM-CT6 compost turner: Making good-quality compost
Efficient drum design makes the CM-CT6 compost turner highly productive, resulting in farmers being able to produce high-quality compost more rapidly.
Standard Bank platform provides 4 million meals for the needy
OneFarm Share allows farmers to contribute their surplus fresh produce to needy families across the country.
Can SA grow its agro-processing sector?
One of the topics featured in the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s latest agricultural outlook report concerns the prospects for growing South Africa’s agro-processing sector. Using vegetable oil as an example, the report presents some of the challenges that stand in the way of the country developing a strategy towards replacing imported products with locally manufactured alternatives.
Farewell to a stalwart of fresh produce
We at Farmer’s Weekly are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of columnist Michael Cordes, who passed away on 3 December at the age of 79.
Droughts: a global crisis that hits the poorest
According to a new report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, drought constitutes a global crisis that risks becoming a ‘pandemic’, causing widespread starvation if countries do not take urgent action on water and land management.
Make the most of Engen’s exciting rewards programme!
To thank its agricultural customers, Engen has launched an exciting rewards programme. Simply purchase Engen- and PETRONAS-branded lubricants and claim your reward!
Breeding natural enemies to control pests
Limpopo insectary Insectec was founded to develop a secure and steady supply of biological pest control solutions for producers of a variety of fruit and vegetable crops.
Smart, connected agriculture
New Holland’s award-winning NutriSense system is now integrated into the brand’s MyPLM Connect portal, enabling farmers to visualise crop nutrient data collected by their machines in the MyPLM Connect Farm application.
Helping farmers in Africa to mechanise
There is sufficient evidence that mechanisation of farming can improve production, reduce losses and help develop rural communities. In this report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests a number of models, such as mechanisation hire services, that can help rural farmers mechanise production without requiring them to invest large sums of capital.
Family meetings: learning to plan productively together
Give each person an opportunity to voice their disagreement in your family business, suggests Trevor Dickinson. Doing so will not only reduce resentment, but will help define the role of the next generation.
