Crops

As the agriculture sector grapples with water scarcity, farmers should be shifting their focus from simple water reduction measures to complex water optimisation strategies. Woolworths South Africa shares some of the irrigation and water management learnings of its 17-year-old Farming for the Future programme.

If machinery sales are a little slower at Nampo Harvest Day this year, some in the industry might jokingly point the finger at Wynand Visser, financial adviser at North Financial Services. Armed with a custom-built model designed to strip away marketing spin and expose the real cost of finance deals, Visser is making it harder for glossy promotions to do all the talking.

Tractor and combine harvester sales recorded year-on-year gains in April, but rising input costs and weaker commodity prices are beginning to weigh on farmer confidence, says Dr Jim Rankin, secretary of the South African Agricultural Machinery Association and CEO of AGFACTS.

Greater reliance on solar energy to power Hannes Schutte’s crop irrigation has meant a change in how he manages his scheduling and the system he employs. By switching to low-pressure sprinklers, this crop farmer has reduced his energy costs and boosted yields.

Proper lubrication is essential for keeping farm machinery in proper condition, reducing wear and preventing costly downtime. With planting and harvesting windows tight, experts advise that farmers looking to invest in machinery or tractors at Nampo should do thorough maintenance and product research to prevent breakdowns when the stakes are high.

Bush encroachment can reduce grazing capacity and water availability, making livestock management difficult. However, clearing invasive species can also become an expensive exercise if it is not done correctly.

As farmers prepare for Nampo Harvest Day, the lure of new machinery may be difficult to ignore. However, the wrong purchase can become a costly mistake. Dr Jim Rankin, secretary of the South African Agricultural Machinery Association, shares key factors to consider before buying.

At STIHL, you’ll find the right tools to take on any challenge in your field. The new agriculture power pack brings together three high-performance tools, built to the premium standards you expect from STIHL.

South African farmers have embraced both mechanisation and staffing solutions to improve farm level efficiency. Sabrina Dean investigated the pros and cons of both and filed this report.

Risk has two key components: how likely it is to occur, and the severity of its occurrence. Understanding and managing risk is crucial to the survival of your business, says Peter Hughes.

The Department of Agriculture (DoA) has published the final Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and Mouth Disease (RV-FMD), introducing a more detailed compliance framework for livestock owners than the earlier draft proposal.

Farming in South Africa isn’t getting any easier. Implements are getting heavier, seasons are more unpredictable, and every hectare has to work harder to stay profitable. Farmers have been clear about what they need from the John Deere 5090E: more lift capacity to handle today’s equipment with confidence. We’ve listened and we’ve responded.

South Africa’s Diesel Refund Scheme has been fundamentally restructured, with a 100% rebate and stricter compliance rules now in place. Freek van Rooyen, a partner at Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys, and Mona Appalsamy, a senior associate at the firm, explain what claimants need to prepare for under the new system.

Over the years, farmers have become accustomed to solutions and innovations from Case IH machinery. They have been prominent over the decades, and remain a strong foundation for the future of harvesting.

Farm machinery is moving into a new era defined by connectivity, efficiency and smarter decision-making on the ground. Lindi Botha looks at how emerging technologies are shaping the next generation of equipment, and what visitors can expect at Nampo.

From higher capacity to precision control, New Holland’s latest machines are built to maximise output while minimising losses.

The role of district agricultural extension and technical officers in not only the growth of farming, but also in the socio-economic sphere of rural development, might possibly have lost its lustre since the late 1900s when these men (there were also a few women in the service then) were real pillars in the community.

A Western Cape pilot project by Afriwild could help landowners tackle the removal of invasive plant biomass, with a trailer-mounted incinerator being tested to reduce fire risk, improve soils, and support restoration through carbon finance.

While arts and crafts markets in big centres and along major roads can be successful, empty promises about the scope for the curios and tourism trade in more remote, less travelled areas can cause heartache, even resentment. Often, the crafters cannot even earn the extra few hundred rands that would make life more bearable for them.

Bolt and Engineering Distributors Group (B.E.D.) is once again preparing for a strong presence at Nampo Harvest Day 2026, building on more than three decades of consistent participation in South Africa’s flagship agricultural exhibition.