Opinion

With the application deadline for the current round of Gauteng’s R100 million agro-processing blended finance programme imminent, only four applications have been approved and finalised, highlighting the slow uptake of a fund intended to support black farmers and emerging agro-processing businesses.

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.

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.

Bolt and Engineering Distributors Group (B.E.D.) recently announced that it has been appointed as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group (Harris) in South Africa.

Olive Schreiner is without doubt one of the most famous women South Africa has ever produced, and as a writer tried to persuade the British and Boer warring factions about the futility of armed conflict.

How you rate as a farmer depends on how much you rely on your farming income, your personality, how you see things, how you react to events and conditions – and how you and your family cope with rural life.

In this strange, high CO2 world, it will become increasingly difficult to maintain open savannahs.

South Africa’s current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, which began in July 2025 and has since spread across all nine provinces is no longer just a test of the country’s biosecurity system, but of its governance.

Many in the agriculture sector welcomed Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s 21 January announcement of the formation of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Industry Coordination Council. The body enables farmer organisations to join a three-way partnership aimed at strengthening and supporting the national FMD response.

Poor mobile signal in 2026 isn’t just inconvenient—it’s costly. Mines, hospitals, and hotels face safety, clinical, and revenue risks, while proactive organisations stay in control with reliable connectivity.

For 2026, Farmer’s Weekly will be focusing on the overarching theme of artificial intelligence and technology, and the importance of this in sustainable and long-term farming.

Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute is the oldest agricultural college in South Africa, with a history spanning 128 years.

Young farmers in South Africa need broad skillsets to succeed in an evolving agriculture sector and help address its skills shortage, says Shaun Welmans, chief operating officer of Agri Skills Transfer, as he unpacks common misconceptions and career pathways.

2026 has finally dawned upon us, and as the farming calendar turns and we close the books on another challenging, yet ultimately fruitful year, it is time to look forward to what this year may bring.

Since the implementation of the Firearms Control Act of 2000, legislation has given South Africans a clear framework for owning, storing and operating firearms. However, the use of a firearm for self-defence and farm safety can put farmers at risk if legal bounds are overstepped. Henning Naudé reports on the process of becoming a licensed firearm owner and the use of a firearm for protection.

It always amazes me when we reach the end of the year at just how quickly the months pass. The adage that time seems to go faster the older you get certainly seems to be true!

Few symbols of Christmas are as instantly recognisable as the red-and-white figure of Father Christmas and his flying reindeer bounding across a snowy northern sky.

Strong cell phone signal that lets you make clear calls and enjoy high-speed data is becoming increasingly rare, for several reasons.

Shows can be a daunting prospect for newcomers to the showing world. While they offer an ideal opportunity for their animals to be evaluated by professionals in the industry, having their animals formally judged can be nerve-racking. Willemien Pieterse, a show judge and independent cattle inspector, spoke to Janine Ryan about what she looks for when judging cattle in the show ring.

From opening new global markets and modernising agricultural regulation to strengthening biosecurity and farmer support, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen reflects on a pivotal year for South African agriculture.