Conquer the heights with the Agribot
Not all farms consist solely of flat land filled with maize. Many have hillsides that are difficult to keep free of toxic weeds or impossible to access by vehicle.
Why the use of draft animals must start gaining traction
Promoting and supporting the use of draft animals will have significant consequences for the empowerment of emerging farmers and the communities in which they live, says animal traction expert, Bruce...
Encroaching bush, grass threaten SA farming
Prof William Bond, chief scientist at the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), explains why earlier predictions about changes to South Africa’s biomes due to climate change turned out to...
Freshwater disaster
The scope and impact of the El Niño-fuelled drought, which is resulting in a food crisis across Southern Africa, has been well-documented by this publication and others.
New generation of farmers wanted
Every farmer can tell you where the best place is to get good mobile phone reception on his or her farm.
Can’t peform your own repairs? Think again
’n Boer maak ’n plan. And this site makes it even easier to do so,
Challenges and opportunities for SA’s red meat producers
The current drought and other difficulties are dominating conversation among South Africa’s red meat producers, but Dr Pieter Prinsloo, second vice-chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, reminds us of...
Time to declare a national disaster!
The good rains that came before Easter were just enough to cover some of South Africa’s parched areas in a thin veil of green, but the relief was fleeting.
The current status and future of land reform in South Africa
Land reform tops the list of priorities affecting South African agriculture, given the current policy environment in which the sector operates. Dr John Purchase, CEO of the agricultural business chamber,...
Emerging from a problematic past
This issue celebrates Farmer’s Weekly’s 105th anniversary, as well as some of the agricultural family businesses that have helped to shape the farming sector in South Africa.
Explore agritourism opportunities
Agritourism is by no means a new concept, but it is perhaps a business opportunity that too few South African farmers have seriously considered.
Watch out – the Fourth Industrial Revolution is coming for you!
I followed the World Economic Forum’s recent 2016 Annual Meeting in Davos closely because of the main theme of this year’s gathering: The Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The case against holistic management
Roelof Bezuidenhout summarises a study by American ecologist, Dr John Carter, and five other researchers, who question the holistic management grazing system’s assumptions about grasslands and how they are grazed.
Why is it important to brand?
Now is an excellent time for South African products to enter global markets, according to Prof Melville Saayman, director of Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society at North-West University....
History may repeat itself, again
As a result of the drought ravaging large parts of Southern Africa, South Africa’s national beef herd has been reduced by almost a third.
A great online place to shop
With free shipping on many items, Aliexpress helps you to beat the weak rand.
A future for farming in SA
Working for Farmer’s Weekly, I am often asked whether I think there is a future for farming in South Africa.
Use your phone as an interpreter
Most of us struggle with foreign languages while abroad. Here is the answer.
The realities of maize imports
Many countries in Southern Africa will have to import large volumes of maize to make up for the shortfall caused by the drought in the region. Manager of international trade...
