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.
Latest articles
Veld to plate: Profiting from beef exports
Not all cuts of beef are considered equal, and where in the world you eat your steak also determines how much you pay. Namibian farming economics consultant Dr Helmke Sartorius
von Bach examines the origin of modern slaughter techniques, the price of beef in Southern Africa and Europe, and the potential for beef exports to lucrative markets such as Norway.
AVI Africa 2018
(Closed) Avi Africa is the biggest poultry conference and exhibition in Africa and will be held from 12 - 14 June 2018 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng.
Eastern Cape’s world-class student Angora stud
The Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) Student Angora Stud is accustomed to accolades; it produced, for example, the South African Champion Ram at the 2009 International Mohair Summit in Graaff-Reinet. But it was the National Angora Show in November 2016 at Willowmore that really underscored the esteem with which the stud is held in the mohair industry.
Feeding cattle: learn the basics
When rounding off cattle for slaughter, you can either grow and mix feed on the farm or buy ready-mixed feed. If you have only a few animals, buying a mixed ration may be cheaper and more practical.
Farmer’s Weekly Argentina Tour 2018
(Bookings are closed) Farmer’s Weekly on tour to Argentina (22 June to 1 July), to visit grain and beef producers and take a look inside its main agricultural trade headquarters.
Stock theft threatens growth in SA’s goat value chain
While common across South Africa, goats remain a largely untapped resource for poverty alleviation and rural development. But efforts to remedy the situation are being undermined by the widespread theft of goats. Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas Erasmus, provincial commander of the SA Police Service’s KwaZulu-Natal stock theft and endangered species units, examines this issue.
Agribusiness Africa Conference 2018 brought to by Farmer’s Weekly
After a successful Agribusiness Africa Conference in 2017, Farmer's Weekly will be hosting another thought-provoking and informative event from 18-19 July 2018 at Emperors Palace.
Sustainability in pasture-based dairy farming
One of the questions modern farmers face is whether they can farm in an environmentally sustainable, yet profitable, way. Craig Galloway provided the answer in his PhD thesis on the sustainability of pasture-based dairy farms.
Diversifying your income with UK retirement investments
The repo rate in South Africa has been slashed from 6.75% to 6.5%. Typically, a decrease in interest rates causes house price growth, so it’s great news for the property market.
Waste management fundamentals
By law, you are required to store or dispose of waste responsibly. Failure to do so may result in a fine. More seriously, it harms the environment.
Severe weather conditions exacerbate Irish fodder crisis
After a long and extremely wet winter, farmers in Ireland are being faced with a fodder crisis, as they do not have nearly enough feed to supply their herds this spring.
International success for SA bow maker
Based in the Eastern Cape, Warrick Harvey has rapidly built an international reputation as a crafter of exceptional bows. Mike Burgess spoke to him about his life-long love of archery.
Breeding record-breaking Mutton Merinos
Henning Vorster sold a SA Mutton Merino ram for a South African record price of R110 000 at the National Sale in Bloemfontein in 2017. To find out why farmers are willing to pay record-high prices for his dual-purpose sheep, Mike Burgess visited his stud on the farm Bloubosfontein.
Keeping the farm in the family
A big concern for farm owners is how to ensure their farms stay in the family for generations to come.
Farmers, forget about price!
Farmers have little or no control over producer prices. They should therefore focus on production and marketing efficiencies.
Time for the private sector to fight rural poverty
While rural development is supposed to be a key focus of the South African government, the state is failing in this obligation. Veteran rural development expert Jimmy Lonsdale believes the private sector should take over this responsibility to ensure that meaningful rural development is achieved as soon as possible.
Proper estate planning is necessary
Proper estate planning can spare future generations much unhappiness and legal costs especially where the succession of agricultural property is involved.
Want a profitable bull? Do your homework first!
Selecting a bull that will significantly improve a herd can be a daunting task, especially for a new buyer. At the 2017 Aldam Stockmans School, cattle veterans Martin Seyfferdt, interbreed cattle judge, and Arthur de Villiers, Arcadia Bonsmara stud owner, offered advice on selection breeding and marketing, and explained the breeder’s role in selling high-performance bulls.
Huge livestock losses may worsen food security in Somalia
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that large-scale livestock losses as a result of drought have severely impacted the livelihoods of farmers, which could exacerbate Somalia’s food security.
Bloem Show
Bloem Show is an annual event in Bloemfontein and takes place from 26 April - 5 May 2018. It is one of only two shows in South Africa that still successfully combine agricultural, entertainment and trade activities in one event.
