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.
Growing Chinese cabbage
While deemed a ‘weed’ in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, Chinese cabbage is a popular vegetable on local markets.
Standard Bank leverages specialised knowledge to assist local agribusinesses
COVID-19 has caused many disruptions to the agriculture sector, despite the sector being declared an essential service. It is because of events like these that Standard Bank employs a team of agricultural experts to better meet the needs of its agribusiness clients.
Episode 15: The economy and agricultural financing
The South African economy was already in trouble before the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the situation didn’t improve much from there.
Sponsored
The Case IH JXE-Series: A tractor for every application
Case IH introduced its brand-new, multipurpose JXE-Series tractors, suited for work in orchards and fields, at the Izmir AgroExpo 2020 in Turkey in February.
Biosecurity measures on an animal farm
With the increasing spread of infectious diseases, biosecurity needs to be taken seriously on every livestock farm.
The good farmers do
South African farmers are often reliant on the communities in which they operate as a source of labour, and their fate is intertwined with these communities.
Maximising efficiency against heat stress in cattle
Expected temperature increases due to the effect of global warming will have a negative impact on the productivity of livestock. According to animal science researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, beef farmers will have to follow certain breeding objectives to lessen this effect.
Fluence and The Lamphouse team up to deliver LED lighting solutions to SA’s horticulture...
The collaboration combines The Lamphouse’s local roots with Fluence’s horticulture expertise to serve the estimated R28 billion South African cannabis industry.
Using land for recreation
Recreation in natural areas is an excellent way of reconnecting people with the environment. Besides the educational function, it is also a possible income stream for farmers.
Land-use change drives drastic biodiversity decline – report
The biodiversity cost of the world’s expanding population and economic output has been significant. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) ‘Living Planet Report 2020’, which was published recently, while more food and energy than ever before were being supplied, the over-exploitation of plants and animals was increasingly eroding nature’s ability to provide them in the future.
How to make your combine harvester work harder
The combine is the single most capital-intensive piece of equipment on a grain farm. Utilising as much of its capacity as possible is important to overall farm efficiency, writes Stehan Cloete.
Episode 13: High-value export commodities
Fruit production in South Africa consists of a wide variety of fruit, from oranges and avocados, to table grapes and dragon fruit.
AGCO: A new way forward for distribution in South Africa
AGCO, a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of agricultural machinery, is adopting a two-tier distribution model that will make it easier for dealers and farmers to connect.
Standard Bank: specialist, customised agri assistance
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the strenuous efforts to curb its spread have disrupted industries and global value chains on an unprecedented scale. This is especially true of agriculture, with lockdowns worldwide having affected farmers and food supply.
Cultivating cleome
Also known as oorpeultjie, lerotho and mazonde, this herb is a rich source of nutrients, especially vitamins A and C and the minerals calcium and iron.
Episode 12 – Conservation Agriculture
In this week’s episode of Tech Terrain, Tony and Ndoro and guests discuss conservation agricultural practices around soil and climate change that can increase sustainability.
Futuristic concept tractor wins design award
Employing an advanced diesel-electric drivetrain and in-cab display projection, the Steyr Konzept hybrid tractor breaks the conventional mould of tractor technology. It also rewrites the rules on what a farm tractor should look like.
Episode 11: The increasing importance of biosecurity
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic biosecurity was increasing in importance for producers and consumers alike. The pandemic has contributed to raising awareness of biosecurity.
Senwes expands commitment to finance emerging black farmers
As announced on 18 August 2020, the Competition Tribunal has approved the merger between the Senwes Group of Klerksdorp and the Suidwes Group of Leeudoringstad.
Fairbanks Chelsea: Discover the boot inspired by your work
The only boot you’ll ever need for your daily duties is the Fairbanks Chelsea, a boot designed to work as hard as you do.
