The spectacular growth and subsequent drop in game prices demonstrate all the properties of an economic ‘bubble’.
Never mind dwindling terms of trade. Our farmers also have to deal with a steady flow of disrupters. But good management can lead to better profits.
The facts and figures are clear. If you want to stay in business as a farmer, it is essential to steadily expand your operation.
The correct use of new technology can help a farmer become more profitable. However, being an early adopter of new technology holds risks that must be managed.
Farmers living under the constant threat of farm attacks do not have the luxury of discussing this issue in academic terms.
Without proper education and mentorship, transformation projects are doomed to fail.
Sustainable farming means taking care of the environment and making a profit. Farmers should be highly suspicious of advice that does not take this into account.
South Africa’s power utility, under enormous financial pressure, is desperately increasing tariffs to survive. This, in turn, is worsening its woes as more and more consumers switch off.
Farmers have little or no control over producer prices. They should therefore focus on production and marketing efficiencies.
In many countries, farmers are supported in various ways by government. South Africa’s real competition lies not in these largely inefficient farming systems, but in other unsubsidised countries such as...
Higher income leads to increased demand for agricultural products. But in South Africa, demand growth is currently limited by the sharp increase in non-food prices due to lower supply.
The future will probably be one where farmers, individually and through their organisations, will have to fend for themselves.
Large supermarket chains hold more than 70% of the market share nationally. They thus have the buying power to control pricing and trading conditions, yet they’re ignored by the Competition...
As if crime isn’t bad enough, South Africa’s commercial farmers face huge political uncertainty every day.
Mention ‘sustainable farming’, and your listener will invariably think you’re referring to the environment. The fact that profitability is a prerequisite is often entirely disregarded.
The National Minimum Wage panel has stressed the pros of a minimum wage. Now for the cons.
Farmers frequently complain that they are exploited and ‘things were much better’ in the old days. Are they right?
Despite weak growth and bad political decisions, it seems as if the current outlook for agriculture is more positive.
Slow global economic growth will result in depressed demand, especially in developed economies.
Long-range strategic workshops have become fashionable in government. Commercial farmers simply want the government to play its proper role today!
