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.
Agribusiness confidence index hits negative territory
After being positive for the previous five consecutive quarters, the general confidence of South Africa’s agribusiness sector slipped five points into negative territory in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Welcome to the brave new DIY future
The future will probably be one where farmers, individually and through their organisations, will have to fend for themselves.
A simple yet stylish home
Jonno sketches a rough layout for a simple yet stylish home. The design is cost-effective, which allows for further renovations at a later stage.
Gnocchi in a prawn & tomato sauce
The second-best thing you can do with a potato is turn it into gnocchi. Since you ask, the best thing is deep-fried, slap chips. Sticking with gnocchi means you have an unexpected but welcome dish for your guests, easy to dress up with a highly flavoured sauce.
Consumers must be informed about dairy substitute drinks
Dairy substitute drinks do not contain adequate levels of iodine, and according to UK researchers they are therefore not a suitable alternative for the ‘real thing’.
Getting started with brinjals
The brinjal or eggplant is a species of nightshade, and therefore related to the potato and tomato.
The state of SA’s fresh produce markets
South Africa’s municipal fresh produce markets connect those who grow our food with those who eat it, says Dr Justy Range, business development manager, Freshmark Systems. But there’s room for improvement!
Crime stats show increase in stock theft
National crime statistics were released today for the period April 2016 to March 2017.
Dairy farmers work together to prevent strike-led milk losses
The recent strike action by milk collection truck drivers of Dairy Farmers South Africa (DFSA) nearly resulted in potentially crippling losses for dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal’s ‘milk bowl’ of Creighton, Ixopo and Donnybrook.
China’s love affair with wine, and how SA can benefit
Chinese consumers’ growing affinity for wine, particularly imports from international premium wine producers, presents a growth opportunity for the South African wine industry, according to research conducted by Buyambo Mantashe of agriculture investment company, MM Agrivestment.
The R5 million racing pigeon
Golden Prince, currently the most expensive pigeon in the world, is owned by two South African fanciers.
The Farmer’s Weekly tour to Sommet de l’Élevage
(Bookings are closed) Readers are invited to join Farmer’s Weekly on tour to the Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes region in France to attend the leading European forum for livestock professionals, the Sommet de l’Élevage in Clermont-Ferrand and Cournon.
AVI Africa 2017
Avi Africa is the biggest poultry conference and exhibition in Africa and will be held from 20 - 22 June 2017 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng.
The importance of a business plan for farming
You wouldn’t drive a car without a steering wheel. So why run a farm without a business plan?
A stylish A-frame ‘thatch’
Jonno designed an A-frame home, with stonework outer walls for Cassie.
Dealing with Gibberella ear rot
Also known as red ear rot, this disease appears to be on the increase in South Africa’s maize-producing areas.
Tell a story and turn your produce into a brand
To capture the increasingly discerning consumer market, farmers have to learn how to use public relations and social media strategies effectively. Public relations expert and journalist, Brian Berkman, provides some valuable insights.
Labour minister to conduct inspections on KZN farms
Labour minister, Mildred Oliphant, will be visiting KwaZulu-Natal farms on Friday, 21 April, to ensure that employers are complying with the country’s labour laws.
5 things to look forward to at Agritech Expo Zambia
Visitors will be offered an opportunity to meet with some of the world's leading agricultural companies, and network with agricultural professionals as well as government and union officials at the Zambia Agritech Expo held from 27-29 April, in Chisamba.
Farmers urged to stay calm and keep on farming
Agri Eastern Cape president Douglas Stern, has appealed to farmers to continue with what they know best, even under the current extremely trying times…
