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It is often said that the most innovative and creative solutions to problems are found during tough times. And in many cases, new solutions change the way we live or do business.

When I look at the latest technological trends and developments in agriculture, I can’t help but wonder to what extent farming in the future will be done by remote control.

Gwede Mantashe’s comments at the recent Afasa congress regarding the media, and Farmer’s Weekly specifically, left me flabbergasted.

Last week saw South Africa’s two largest agricultural farmer unions hold their annual conferences, virtually back to back and at the same venue.

The economic effects of contagious, incurable, fatal diseases are well known. During the avian flu epidemic in Asia about 10 years ago, restaurants were empty, and foreign investors and travellers avoided the region.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s reprimand of farmers in the Boland must have come as a shock. Wasn’t Ramaphosa supposed to be ‘a champion for commercial farmers’?

If you look into a city-sky, you’ll probably see a plane or a helicopter once in a while. Fast forward to a few years from now, city slickers will be very likely to see some spider-like vehicles hovering up there, serving as security cameras or delivery vehicles.

Ouboet – I find it exceedingly difficult to wrap my head around the fact that veld fires have destroyed more than 400 000ha in the Free State so far this year.

Thank goodness we’ve eventually come to the end of the 2014 congress season.

Boet, you know how much I dread the annual congress season! But so far this year I’ve been very impressed by the standard of the agricultural congresses.

My heart aches for every person in South Africa who has lost a child, a spouse or a loved one to farm violence.

A farmer is a farmer is a farmer, irrespective of where you farm and what you farm with.