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.
Why aardvark numbers are dwindling in the Kalahari
It is not only livestock that are threatened during multi-year droughts; wildlife, too, can succumb to the stress. Dr Nora Weyer and other researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have found that aardvarks’ feeding in the daytime during extended drought may be a sign that they are starving.
Equipping women farmers for long-term success
Standard Bank and UN Women are actively working towards equipping women farmers to grow their businesses and become long-term successful producers.
The effects of diplodia ear rot on maize
Diplodia ear rot is a notable maize disease in South Africa. Apart from causing severe damage to the crop, it can also produce a potentially fatal mycotoxicosis in cattle and sheep. It is therefore crucial that a maize producer be able to identify the disease, says Dr Belinda Janse van Rensburg, plant pathologist at the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute.
The many benefits of good tyre traction
Hennie Hattingh is responsible for original equipment sales at the Johannesburg branch of a major Southern African tyre and tube distributor. Stehan Cloete spoke to him about the effect of tyre pressure and tractor ballasting on fuel efficiency and productivity.
Africa prepares for first Virtual Cannabis Expo this week
The Cannabis Vexpo is a first of its kind in Africa, and brings together business people and stakeholders in the cannabis industry.
Stress in cattle
As part of an animal’s stress response, its body releases cortisol, a hormone that provides energy to help the animal escape the stressor. If the stress persists, however, the animal’s health will suffer.
Megatrends in the global nut industry
Demand for nuts is set to continue growing strongly worldwide, but this does not mean the industry can grow complacent about improving production efficiencies. This is the opinion of Axel Breuer, CEO of AgroPress, which publishes The Clipper, an international magazine dealing with nut and dried fruit production and processing.
Sponsored
New GPS web control irrigation system from Agrico
The South African irrigation and manufacturing company Agrico recently introduced a new GPS controller that offers users of its web-based irrigation control system a new solution for running pivots in a more energy-efficient way, thanks to better pressure control.
Dealing with soya rust
Soya rust is spread by windblown spores and results in significant crop losses in many soya bean-growing regions of the world, including South Africa.
Calling women entrepreneurs in agriculture!
Are you a South African woman entrepreneur in agriculture or related sub-sector?
Get back to basics with the Hoffman Chelsea boot
Only farmers know what it really takes to yield the best results, and only the right footwear can equip them to do that.
Time for an honest conversation about SA’s future
Pierre Cloete, CEO International Wealth & Prosperity, writes that the future of South Africa is gloomy and that investors and workers need to protect themselves by diversifying their portfolios with offshore investments.
Sponsored
Go the distance: Why you should always choose genuine parts
While it may be appealing to spend less on generic or counterfeit replacement parts, there is no substitute for the real thing, as the team at Husqvarna explains. You may spend less over the short term, but in the long term you will actually spend more.
Food Security Webinar
Millions of people are going hungry in South Africa each day. Who is to blame?
Poultry litter to biogas: adding more value to farm waste
The benefits of using chicken litter as fertiliser are well known. As the poultry industry grows, however, other uses for it must be found. Dr Idan Chiyanzu and Primrose Magama of the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Agricultural Engineering explain how energy can be generated from litter.
Win one of two R1000 cash prizes from Michelin Tyres
Two lucky readers will each win a R1000 cash prize from Michelin tyres. To enter, simply fill in your details below.
Russian wheat aphid: sustainable solutions to fight resistance
Russian wheat aphid is showing increased cultivar and pesticide resistance, according to entomologist Dr Astrid Jankielsohn of the Agricultural Research Council. She has identified a new biotype, bringing to five the number seen in South Africa.
The importance of having a breeding season
Optimal reproductive performance is crucial to the success of a beef cattle enterprise. A defined breeding season can help to achieve this.
Unlocking Africa’s agribusiness potential with platform thinking
Ecosystem and platform thinking are the latest trends coming out of international research This kind of thinking could help unlock Africa’s smallholder and agribusiness potential.
Breeding a resistant and resilient Sussex stud herd
John Viedge of the Lehana’s Pass Sussex Stud has been breeding cattle that survive in some of the harshest redwater disease areas in South Africa. Wayne Southwood spoke to him about how he manages animal health, breeding and selection in his resilient Sussex stud.
