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The average temperature increase in Southern Africa due to climate change is taking place at twice the global rate. The resulting lower rainfall figures and increase in the number of heatwaves will see agricultural landscapes shifting and veld fires growing in frequency. All of this will demand careful planning.

Breeding is not always the best way to make money in livestock farming. You might profit more by buying young animals and rounding them off.

Rainfall and the availability of water were expected to have the biggest impact on vegetable production in the coming year.

The agriculture sector survived a year of rising uncertainty in 2018, but with the national election and the threat of drought looming, 2019 will be every bit as challenging. According to leaders in the sector, farmers will have to be resilient and partner with the right role players to face the trials that await.

As rooibos tea increases in popularity among consumers, it is fast becoming one of the most attractive agricultural commodities to invest in.

Free State stud breeder Martiens le Roux believes the Afrigus breed is a promising new contestant in the South African beef cattle arena. Annelie Coleman called on him on his farm in the Bethulie district to find out more about this young and relatively unknown breed.

The South African table grape harvest is well underway with crop volumes estimated to be between 63,2 million and 70,1 million, 4,5 kg-equivalent cartons.

Concerns have been expressed that feedlot margins could come under pressure going forward, especially if feed prices increased on the back of delayed summer plantings.

Gugile Nkwinti, the Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), recently announced that farmers in the Western Cape would soon be allocated 90% of the water volume they were receiving before the province was hit by drought three years ago.

Positive performance in the agriculture sector in the third quarter (Q3) of 2018 has helped lift South Africa’s economy out of a technical recession.

Gideon Milling, a stone ground milling company in the Western Cape, was launched in 2013 by a group of entrepreneurs to improve farmers’ profitability and food security. Aubrey Terblanche and Jurianne Schreuder spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the company’s vision and success.

South Africa is not an easy place to farm. Even if you ignore the threat posed by radical land reform, most farmers in this country still have to contend with relatively poor-quality soils, erratic rainfall that leads to frequent droughts, tough competition from countries that have better production conditions and state support, and the devastating impact of crime on their businesses and families.