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.
The rise, fall and future of colour variants
The popularity of colour variants such as the golden wildebeest and black impala skyrocketed in the South African game market in 2000, and their prices reflected this. Fourteen years later, these prices dropped just as precipitously. Dr Flippie Cloete, head of Terratek at Suidwes Landbou, takes a look at the drivers that influence the price movements of colour variants.
Some bacterial and parasitical pig diseases to look out for
An overview of eperythrozoonosis, Clostridium perfringens Type C, ascariosis and Glasser’s disease.
5 Common questions about gumboots
Five of the most common questions around gumboots and selecting the perfect pair for the job.
FoodNext.Africa
DMG events is proud to present the years’ most exciting b2b food event where the startups, food innovators, foodtech businesses, investors and partners who are redefining the food industry from farm-to-fork connect.
Severely affected communities receive drought aid
Gift of the Givers, Boere in Nood, and Save the Sheep Sutherland have joined forces to procure fodder for 34 drought-stricken districts in the Karoo and southern Cape, where some farms have received hardly any rain over the past four years.
Cracking into the almond business
Local and global demand for almonds is on the increase as consumers begin to favour healthier food. Saturated production in the world’s largest production regions presents South African farmers with an unbeatable opportunity to enter the international market, according to economist Gilberto Biacuana.
How recording ewes reproduction boosts fertility
Recording the reproduction of your ewe flocks during each breeding season will help you identify potential fertility problems.
How SA cotton industry created 5 500 jobs in four years
It’s been four years since the Department of Trade and Industry launched an initiative to increase capacity and competitiveness in South Africa’s textile and apparel industries. CEO of Cotton SA Hennie Bruwer spoke to Robyn Joubert about the programme’s achievements so far.
Pecan nut farming: high cost, big returns
The boom in nut prices in recent years is expected to continue as consumers opt for healthier foods. This has increasingly led to farmers replacing their crops with nut trees. While pecan farming can be a lucrative venture, aspiring nut growers must begin with a solid foundation, says Shane Eva, farm manager for Halls and Sons.
The basics of groundwater recharge
Recharge may be impeded by farming activities, leading to loss of topsoil and reduced water infiltration.
El Niño forecast may mean better maize prices
Weather forecasts indicate that there was a more than 50% chance of another El Niño event occurring in the coming season, which could result in drought conditions, according to a recent Absa Agricultural Outlook report.
Wildlife Ranching SA’s transformation plans
Newly-elected president of Wildlife Ranching SA, Tebogo Mogashoa, says transformation of the game industry and advocating for the legal trade in rhino horn will be among the top focal points for the organisation this year.
NCT Forestry celebrates its 2018 tree farmers of the year
A woman tree farmer from KwaZulu-Natal’s Greytown area was recently announced as NCT Forestry’s 2018 Tree Farmer of the Year in the competition’s small-scale grower category.
Blockchain: the future of agricultural trade
Many farmers are investing in new technologies that can help increase production and efficiency at farm level, but the uptake of digital trading technology has been slower. As a result, farmers are losing out on the opportunity to increase their share of profit earned along the agricultural value chain.
The basics of maize production
Also known as corn, maize was first domesticated in southern Mexico nearly 10 000 years ago. Many varieties have been bred to suit a range of conditions.
200 more SA elephants destined for Mozambique
A further 200 elephants from South Africa have been donated to Mozambique, this time by the De Beers Group. This follows the donation of 53 elephants by two KwaZulu-Natal conservation areas that were recently translocated to the Zinave National Park in that country.
Northern Cape wind farms come to the rescue of sheep farmers
More than 100 drought-stricken Northern Cape sheep farmers, who have been struggling to keep their livestock fed and supplied with water, have been thrown a lifeline by two local wind energy farms.
Farmer’s Weekly Sommet de L`elevage Tour 2018
(Bookings are closed) Join the Farmer’s Weekly tour to Sommet de l’élevage, Europe`s greatest livestock show the 1 to 6 October 2018.
Ever considered sorghum?
Grain sorghum is not just for making soft porridge; it has many other uses. Climate change has sparked renewed interest in the crop in South Africa, says Prof John Taylor of the Department of Food Science at the University of Pretoria.
Dealing with abortions in sheep and goats
Enzootic abortion, brucellosis and other conditions can seriously reduce the lambing rate. It’s crucial to act swiftly to bring these diseases under control.
