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.
Water problems: why SA’s farmers face multiple risks
There are many signs that both the supply and quality of water in South Africa are likely to decrease. This poses a host of challenges for the country’s farmers.
Towards climate-smart livestock farming
Natural selection is pivotal in adapting livestock farming to climate change in Africa and beyond, says Prof Charles T Kadzere of the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian reform’s Dohne Agricultural Development Institute.
Book now: livestock farming conference
The Aldam-Stockman School’s 2019 Livestock Farming Conference is now open for registration. Don’t miss out!
John Deere’s digital security
John Deere’s new PIN code locking system helps deter the theft of valuable GreenStar in-cab displays and StarFire satellite receivers.
Learn about the Kalahari Red goat breed
The Kalahari Red breed has a fine head, lob ears, round horns that are bent backwards, and tender meat.
Biosecurity: not an afterthought, but a way of life on the farm
To be truly effective, biosecurity has to be part of the farm’s ‘culture’, so that every employee and visitor is motivated to adhere to the procedures.
Why Kubota are the leaders in vineyard and orchard tractors
Kubota South Africa is committed to working with its customers to adapt to industry trends. One market it has specifically focused on is orchards, with a range of open-station and cab narrow tractors.
How technology is creating better jobs in agriculture
Increased use of technology and automation in agriculture carries with it the risk that certain farm jobs will become redundant. However, according to a new report published by the World Bank, ‘The Changing Nature of Work’, the use of certain digital technologies could make a meaningful contribution to improving employment opportunities in agriculture, especially in developing economies.
The future of agriculture in the new digital age
Regenesys Business School is hosting a panel discussion on 19 September 2019 from 08h00 to 10h30 at its campus on Pybus Road, Sandton.
FoodNext.Africa 2019
Now in its third series, FoodNext.Africa is dedicated to capturing the conversation around food disruption across the value chain, from farm to fork.
Rural development is key to promoting economic development
Investing in an end-to-end employee health, risk and well-being solution can result in considerable savings for the employer, while ensuring that valued staff members are retained.
Win a Bearings International Toolbox
Bearings International is giving away an all-in-one toolbox worth R4 980 to one lucky reader. Fill in the competition form to stand a chance to win.
Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference
The Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference has become established as a must-attend gathering for the global fertilizer supply chain to meet with African policy-makers, importers, distributors and farmers from some of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Massey Ferguson introduces a full range of hay equipment
AGCO has acquired the forage division of the Lely Group, a leading manufacturer of balers and loader wagons in Europe.
Grain hedging: lessons from the farmers who get it right
Since South African agriculture converted from control boards to the free market system in the 1990s, farmers have had to learn how to contend with extreme volatility on commodity markets. According to Silotrat’s Werner Rossouw, hedging is a valuable tool that maize farmers can use to reduce the risk of fluctuating prices. However, in order to benefit from the system, they must learn the rules of the game.
Farmer’s Weekly remembers former editor Alita van der Walt
The agricultural journalism and farming communities are mourning the loss of Alita van der Walt, former editor of Farmer’s Weekly, who passed away on 12 August in Tzaneen, Limpopo.
Consider the environment when expanding your farm
Obtaining environmental authorisation with the help of technical consultants prior to expanding farming operations on virgin soil will help farmers avoid prosecution that could lead to hefty fines or even jail time, writes James Brand, a natural resources and environment senior associate at law firm ENSafrica.
Insurance not covering all your risks? Here’s a solution
Gaps in insurance cover can be addressed by structured risk financing policies that allow for the funding of risks not feasibly covered by traditional policies.
Electric tractor powered by a cable
The GridCON research project and its electric cable powered tractor are part of John Deere’s continued efforts to electrify agricultural machinery, and offers new opportunities for farms to supply their own energy.
Honeybush tea: Small industry, big potential
Although honeybush has long been used in parts of South Africa to brew a caffeine-free tea, it has remained a small-scale activity. However, the industry has potential to grow and thus create jobs for poor communities in the Western and Eastern Cape. Annabel Horn and Albert Ackhurst of the Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning explain.
