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Largest soya bean crop on record expected for South Africa

This season, South Africa is expected to harvest its largest soya bean crop on record, due to an expansion in area plantings and favourable rainfall in the eastern part of the country, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz.

Young fancier’s dream to bring pigeon racing to townships

Lodumo Nkala is a young man with a plan: he wants to bring the sport of pigeon racing to South Africa’s rural townships. He shared his vision and strategy with Susan Marais.

Mixed reaction to latest interest rate increase announcement

While there is still a positive outlook for South Africa’s agriculture sector, the increase in the South African Reserve Bank’ (SARB) repurchase rate (repo rate), will increase farmers’ debt servicing costs, and will consequently erode profit margins.

Agri stakeholders welcome ‘balanced’ agri budget

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s (agriculture department) 2022/23 budget is balanced and places emphasis on the importance of commercial agriculture, according to Christo van der Rheede, executive director of Agri SA.

Kiwifruit: South Africa’s golden opportunity

After the failure of local green kiwifruit production in the 1980s, a new group of farmers is hopeful that golden kiwis will become a South African success story. One such producer, Peter Nicholson, spoke to Susan Marais about the sector and its ambitions.

Sixty new bursaries for veterinary science students in SA

In an attempt to address the critical shortage of veterinarians and para-veterinarians in South Africa’s rural areas, 60 new bursaries will be made available to rural learners who would like to pursue careers in these fields.

20% of SA farmers expected to exit industry in the next decade

The findings of a new study, which found that 20% of South African farmers will exit the industry within the next decade, is in line with the global norm, according to Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA.

Why some farmers are turning to pre-owned tractors

A range of problems, including weak commodity prices many years before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, has contributed to the worldwide dearth of new tractors on the market. As a result, some farmers have had little choice but to turn to second-hand machines for their operations.

SA heading for third consecutive record diesel price increase

Farmers should prepare to pay a record-breaking R22/l for wholesale diesel from the first week of May, Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA has warned.

‘Invest in the planet’s health with regenerative agriculture’

Using regenerative agriculture principles in their farming operations is the biggest investment South African farmers can make in the health of the planet.

How intensive sheep farmers can improve traceability and profit

Intensive sheep farming has given eastern Free State farmer Gareth Angus the opportunity to increase his lambs’ survival rate, boost profits and ensure traceability from birth to farm gate, while also decreasing predation and elemental risk. Susan Marais visited Angus’s farm during the 2021 LRF Stockman School.

Heavy fuel load could result in ‘extreme fire season’ for SA

With the winter fire season getting underway in South Africa, Agri SA has warned its members to prepare for a more destructive fire season than normal.

The layperson’s guide to ley farming

Over the past few years, monocropping has largely given way to the crop rotation system, and ley farming has gained popularity in grain-producing areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West, where many farmers also produce livestock. Prof Chris Dannhauser spoke to Susan Marais about how the rotating of grain crops with planted pastures can be a highly useful practice.

Commercialising communal goat farming in KwaZulu-Natal

Since 1975, a rural development project in KwaZulu-Natal has been helping communal farmers improve their production of indigenous goats. Today, these farmers are focused on herd health and adopting technology to gain market access and establish small businesses that support their industry.