The safety of our farming communities
Every time I hear the news of another farm attack, I immediately stop and phone my parents to reassure myself that they are safe.
Agriculture in Africa still lagging behind
The development of agriculture in Africa was high on the agenda at this year’s SIMA Paris International Agribusiness Show in France.
Celebrating 106 years on the land
Today we celebrate Farmer’s Weekly’s 106th birthday. This is not only a celebration of 106 years of publishing, but of over a century of commercial farming in Southern Africa.
Get ready to live in a different world
I read an article a few weeks ago about one of Elon Musk’s – Tesla and SpaceX CEO – latest projects: the development of neural lace, an invention that would...
Globalisation – a subjective concept
The campaign that flung President Donald Trump into the White House introduced the world to the concept of alternative facts.
End cruelty to rhinos!
Whenever I see a rhino these days, I wonder if these remarkable creatures will still be around when I reach old age.
Predicting the future of farming
Humanity has always survived by adapting, but it seems to me that the next decade or two will require it to change more and faster than ever before.
Global challenges facing farmers
During the first week of January, the University of Oxford in the UK hosted the annual Oxford Farming Conference. Reading through some of the presentations given at the event, I...
Agriculture’s New Year’s resolutions
New Year’s resolutions may seem passé, but they can be a great way of at least attempting to implement what is known as the Urgent-Important Matrix in your life.
Preserving seeds for the future
The Global Seed Vault, the brainchild of scientist and conservationist Cary Fowler, was built nearly 150m into the side of a mountain in Svalbard, Norway, in 2008.
Good riddance to 2016
Finally, we have come to the end of a year that has tested farmers in this country like no other year before, and I am reminded of the poet, Robert...
Is farming in SA worth the risk?
I recently asked Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, whether or not, all things considered, he would, in good conscience, advise someone with no current investment in agriculture to go ahead...
Increased minimum wage not the answer
South Africans are nervously awaiting the announcement by ratings agencies on whether the country has retained its sovereign credit rating, or if it has been downgraded to junk status.
“Houston, we have a harvest!”
The film The Martian, based on the novel by Andy Weir, has captivated audiences across the world since its premiere in 2015.
Technology integral to global food production
According to Absa’s senior agricultural economists Wessel Lemmer and Ernst Janovsky, who recently addressed the Absa Agribusiness round table in Centurion, technology will play an increasing role in food production...
Farming lessons from Poland
I have previously written about the serious threat posed to the future of agriculture because young people are no longer interested in following a career in farming.
Darting game by drone with fighter-pilot accuracy
Potchefstroom company Haevic, has recently developed a drone that can be used to dart game.
Lesotho and SA farmers face similar challenges
I was reminded recently that many of the challenges faced by our country’s farmers are, if not universal, at least shared by others in Southern Africa.
A GPS tracking device that ensures peace of mind
The GT300 is a live web-based personal GPS tracking device that is ICASA-approved and can be purchased and used without a contract.
In Mike Mlengana we trust
South Africa’s agriculture sector breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that Mike Mlengana had been appointed the new director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries...
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