Carols by candlelight – in more ways than one!
I love to sing and I love the glow of candles, so, unsurprisingly, I enjoy carols by candlelight.
Empowering the small farmer
SA smallholder farmers have access to the best research, the most comprehensive supply of inputs, and the most sophisticated financial sector in Africa. Now is the time for them to...
Farmers – time to wake up to the future
Dr Piet Croucamp, political analyst and Namibian sheep farmer, spoke to farmers at Agri Limpopo’s annual congress on agriculture in South Africa over the next 20 years.
What’s in a brand?
Knowing what brand of wine we are drinking influences most of us in how we taste and enjoy it.
Let’s grow SA’s agri sector!
At the Afasa congress in Pretoria earlier this year, agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana made a strong case for sensible, ongoing discussions between stakeholders, and the return to a good work...
Transformation: is everyone on board?
Depending on whom you ask, Theo de Jager’s being voted out of the deputy presidency at AgriSA can be interpreted as anything from serious internal differences within the organisation to...
The merits of mentorship scheme
The mentorship of new farmers is more than mere teaching – it is about building a relationship based on commitment. Agricultural economist at the University of Pretoria, Dr Fanie Terblanche,...
Can we afford a national minimum wage?
As thousands of matriculants and university students sit down to write their final exams, I bet they’re thinking about the day they can begin making their own way in the...
The future of game ranching
Does the future of game ranching depend on pure conservation principles, pure economics, or a blend of the two? Roelof Bezuidenhout explores the issue.
Change: are you up to speed?
Change is never easy. It’s far less stressful to stick to the familiar.
It’s about seeking solutions
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...
Our wireless future
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.
How far have we strayed from Madiba’s vision?
In a letter published in a previous issue of Farmer’s Weekly, former ANC MP Salam Abram expressed concern about the current land reform process. He expanded on this viewpoint at...
Not reporting on problems won’t make them go away
Gwede Mantashe’s comments at the recent Afasa congress regarding the media, and Farmer’s Weekly specifically, left me flabbergasted.
Are South Africa’s property rights at risk?
Retired judge, Antonie Gildenhuys, who served in the Land Claims Court for 15 years, explains the difference between expropriation and deprivation, and the principle of ‘just and equitable’ compensation. He...
Now real negotiations can begin
Last week saw South Africa’s two largest agricultural farmer unions hold their annual conferences, virtually back to back and at the same venue.
Why poultry farmers fail
It’s no secret that most new entrants to poultry farming go bankrupt. Jan Grobbelaar, training director at Dumela Poultry Solutions, discusses common errors and how to avoid them.
Ebola’s scare factor
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...
Are farm workers’ rights a convenient diversion?
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’?
