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It may not be widely known outside South Africa’s commercial forestry industry, but problem animals are responsible for causing extensive damage and financial losses in timber plantations. Professor Justin O’Riain and his team are researching ways around this problem. He spoke to Lloyd Phillips.

In early 2010, the South African police began work on a new rural safety strategy. The architects of that plan reached out to organised agriculture. A positive, committed response from Agri SA and its provincial organisations has resulted in a renewal of healthy relations between farming communities and the police. Sean Christie spoke to Kobus Visser, of Agri SA’s Rural Safety Committee and André Botha, chairperson of the committee, about the strategy.

Sweden’s agricultural sector is largely based on environmental principles and organic farming. This has posed many challenges for Swedish farmers, who are losing market share to cheaper imports. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Helena Jonsson, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers, about overcoming these challenges.

In its recently released annual financial report, Land Bank announced that its finances were in good shape. Chief financial officer Lebogang Serithi shared the institution’s recipe for success with Peter Mashala.

Political analyst Max du Preez says SA commercial farmers can no longer afford a laager mentality: by familiarising themselves with the political dynamics and the inner workings of the ANC, they’ll be able to tell the loudmouths from the power players, and spotlight themselves as food producers and fighters against poverty. Annelie Coleman reports.

It’s been less than three years since Woolworths launched its Farming for the Future programme and it has already become one of the major focuses of its sustainability drive. Justin Smith, Woolworths’ head of sustainability, speaks to Robyn Joubert about the programme.

AfriForum has been among the most prominent of South Africa’s civil society organisations in recent years. Much of their advocacy is around politically sensitive issues such as land reform and farm violence. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel spoke to Sean Christie

Farm murders: State-endorsed conspiracy, or just like any other violent crime in SA? On 9 July on the Redi Thlabi Show on Talk Radio 702, the various positions on farm violence were well articulated by guest speaker Ruth Hall, associate professor at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), and Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is playing a leading role in an effort to overturn the global ban on rhino horn trade. Ezemvelo CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize outlines the province’s rhino anti-poaching plan to Robyn Joubert.

Deciduous fruit farmers face many challenges, the biggest of which is finding new markets to compensate for increasingly strict European regulations on chemical residues. Charles Hughes, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, spoke to Lindi van Rooyen about growing SA’s market share.

The partnership between Pannar Seed and US-based Pioneer Hi-Bred was recently given the green light by the Competition Appeal Court. Pannar Seed managing director Deon van Rooyen explained to Annelie Coleman that his company had been mindful of possible concerns about the merger, and had held discussions with its customers, the department of agriculture and labour unions before taking the decision.

More than 90% of South African farming operations are family owned. Annelie Coleman spoke to André Diederichs, family-owned business specialist and independent consultant, to find out the secret to running these businesses successfully and the pitfalls they face.