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Farmers today produce a staggering 50% more food than is needed to feed everyone on earth. Why then are millions of people still hungry? The reason, suggests the National Agricultural Marketing Council, lies mainly in the widespread wastage of food.

For a few days at the end of 2015, South Africa’s working class could allow itself to be blinded by fireworks and twinkling Christmas decorations.

The Water Act serves to protect, conserve and control the resource for the benefit of the country.

Most weather forecasting models indicate the continuation of a strong El Niño episode, causing lower-than-normal chances of rain towards the late-summer season in 2016, according to Cobus Olivier of the South African Weather Service.

Be gentle with nature. Work with what you have on your farm and not with what you would have liked to have. This is the grazing management philosophy of commercial farmers Helmut and Iris Stehn from Dordabis in Namibia.

I’ve often written in this column about how stimulating the fresh produce sector can be.

Here are some guidelines for growing vegetables under drought conditions.

The agriculture industry’s water footprint is expected to play an increasingly important role in the future. A responsible footprint will add markedly to water conservation in a dry country such as South Africa, Dr Henry Jordaan, senior lecturer at the University of the Free State’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, told Annelie Coleman.

The most heat- and water-sensitive growth stage of maize – flowering – must not coincide with midsummer drought.

The Senepol holds the key to sustainable and profitable beef production in South Africa, says Wilhelm Oosthuyzen, owner of Senepol SA’s 2015 Stud Herd of the Year. Annelie Coleman visited his Joxepa Senepol Stud near Bothaville, Free State, to find out more about this remarkable breed.

The Namibian stud livestock breeding industry currently consists of 79 000 head of registered livestock. Annelie Coleman spoke to Jacque Els, CEO of the Namibian Stud Breeders’ Association in Windhoek, about the distinguishing features of the industry in his country.

Leaders in South African agriculture take this opportunity in wishing the farming community a joyous Christmas.