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.
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Unpacking what sets the Agrico G3 centre pivot apart
Agrico’s G3 centre pivot irrigation system is designed to adapt to the challenges of modern farming and isn’t just another ordinary water application system.
Join us at the 2026 Malanseuns Garden Festival!
Get ready to dig in, explore, and be inspired! The third annual Malanseuns Garden Festival, taking place from 10 to 12 April, promises a vibrant weekend filled with lush displays, hands-on learning, and outdoor fun for all ages.
Leading African agribusinesses gather in Gqeberha for IBMA 2026
The 2026 International Conference on Business Models in Agriculture is taking place from 8 to 10 March at The Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. This year’s theme is ‘AgriFuture: Connecting African Innovation to Global Markets’.
An introduction to forward contracts and commodity futures for South African farmers
The agriculture sector is notoriously volatile, but producers can find stability using financial derivative tools. This article clearly defines and differentiates between two key instruments: forward contracts and futures contracts.
Budgeting: replace the guesswork with pro-active management
Budgeting isn’t reserved for accountants. In South African agriculture, where margins are under pressure from volatile input costs, unpredictable weather, and fluctuating commodity prices, it is an important management tool that helps farmers plan for profitability, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Steenhuisen addresses concerns over Foot-and-mouth disease crisis
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to spread beyond its epicentre in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and North West and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen admits the outbreak remains a serious concern.
MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa outlines Gauteng’s FMD containment plan
Foot-and-mouth disease is putting farmers under extreme pressure. In this in-depth conversation, Farmer's Weekly’s Gary Wium and Tinus Havinga from FarmTalk sit down with Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, to unpack the province’s FMD disaster management plan.
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Power and intelligence working together
The new John Deere S7 Combine offers innovative improvements that help farmers get more out of every hour in the field.
MEC Elzabe Rockman details Free State’s FMD containment plan
At an engagement session hosted by the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at the Harry Gwala Multi-Purpose Hall in Sasolburg on 5 February, MEC Elzabe Rockman outlined the province’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) response plan to Farmer's Weekly's Gary Wium.
From mushroom waste to livestock feed
Dr Ingrid Malebana and Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, are exploring whether a simple farm by-product can help South African farmers cut costs.
How digital livestock auctions are helping farmers trade safely during the FMD outbreak
Farmer’s Weekly editor Janine Ryan speaks to SwiftVee CEO Russel Luck about how digital, real-time livestock auctions are enabling farmers to continue buying and selling stock during the restrictions placed on movement in light of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa.
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Agrico’s support makes commercial farming in Botswana possible
The success of a farming operation in Botswana is largely due to the accessibilty of equipment and technical backup from reliable service providers, like Agrico.
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Custom single-cab conversions offer practical solutions for safe storage and transport across a variety of industries and businesses. Toyota-engineered alterations are now available through Hilux Custom Builds to ensure uncompromising performance.
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Keep cash flow healthy to HELP your farming enterprise thrive
A farm is purchased with capital, but cash flow keeps it running. From maintenance to insurance, the cost of ownership is often higher than new buyers expect. Andreas Greeff, managing director of Vleissentraal Eiendomme, shares advice for sustainable farm management.
Reliable market access is key to expanding South African goose farming
Modern goose farming faces several challenges, including competition from cheaper poultry alternatives like chicken, declining demand for products such as feathers, and ethical concerns surrounding practices like force-feeding to produce foie gras.
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Future-proofed 5G connectivity for mines, hospitals, and hotels
Poor mobile signal in 2026 isn’t just inconvenient—it’s costly. Mines, hospitals, and hotels face safety, clinical, and revenue risks, while proactive organisations stay in control with reliable connectivity.
FMD update: Kobus Bester on the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on stud breeding
As foot-and-mouth disease continues to disrupt South Africa’s livestock sector, pressure on stud breeders and genetic progress is intensifying. Kobus Bester, representing the Stud Breeder Federation and the FMD Industry Coordination Council member, shares insights into the long-term impact of foot-and-mouth disease on South Africa’s red meat and stud breeding sector.
Livestock excluded from Bloem Show as FMD risk persists
The organisers of the Bloem Show have taken the unprecedented step of excluding all cloven-hoofed animals from the 2026 event, citing ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks and the need to prevent the further spread in South Africa’s livestock industry.
The pressure on veterinary care in South African agriculture
A day in the life of rural veterinarian Dr Suenette Kotze reveals how South Africa’s food chain is supported by a small group of overworked professionals who balance animal welfare, farmer support, and personal sacrifice across vast farming landscapes.
Pressure mounts to declare FMD a national state of disaster
Renewed calls to declare foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) a national disaster are gaining momentum, with farmers and industry leaders warning that, without stronger state intervention, the outbreak could inflict lasting damage on livestock producers, rural livelihoods, and export markets.
