Farmer's Weekly

One of the things I find most frustrating about politics is that what politicians say and promise can differ almost completely from what they do and deliver, yet there are zero consequences. The South African government, like almost every other gover

African countries must act faster to purge corruption in the land sector by harnessing technology and innovation, said Charles Boamah, senior vice president of the African Development Bank. Boamah, who was speaking to policymakers and stakeholders at

This year has been eventful to say the least, both from a domestic and international market perspective. Internationally, outbreaks of African swine fever significantly affected both the Chinese and global markets. The disease outbreaks in China came

Due to its competitiveness, South Africa’s commercial agriculture sector continues to be the envy of the world. The world-renowned and highly sophisticated commercial farming sector, which has some of the most tech-savvy farmers in the world, continu

In some good news for consumers, no significant impact is expected on red meat prices and supply during the festive season, despite the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Limpopo. According to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Prod

Unfavourable weather conditions such as heavy rain and hail experienced in some parts of the country in recent weeks have put pressure on tomato production, according to Keitumetse Moagi, sector analyst at Absa’s South Africa Retail and Business Bank

The news that about 14 600 live sheep en route from Romania to Saudi Arabia drowned when the ship transporting them capsized, has been met with shock and outrage from many quarters. The Romanian national news agency, Agerpres, recently reported that

Rural crime is escalating worldwide and is not confined to South Africa, despite ever-increasing stock theft cases in the country. This was according to Willie Clack, chairperson of the South African National Stock Theft Forum. Speaking to Farmer’s W

There has been a 24% increase in bankruptcies among farmers in the US since September 2018, a few months after US trade disputes with China and other countries led to higher tariffs on key agricultural commodities. These included soya bean, cotton an

Global wine production dropped 10% this year to 263 million hectolitres (mhl), according to the first estimate report of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), bringing it back to average levels. Unfavourable climatic conditions in It

The Competition Commission (CompCom) recently conducted an extensive inquiry into the impact that the high concentration of relatively few supermarket chains in South Africa is having on the prices and availability of groceries. In its submission to

The commitment of Namibia and its people to the agriculture sector is underscored by the R10 million that has been contributed to the country’s Dare to Care drought alleviation fund over a period of nine months, according to Piet Gous, Namibia Agricu

The area planted to berries in South Africa is expected to grow by more than 80% by 2025, according to Jean Kotzé, chairperson of the South African Berry Producers’ Organisation. An increase of 136% in the area planted to blueberries was anticipated

Signatories to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement should tread with caution to avoid replicating the pitfalls that have beset similar trade agreements. This was according to Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisor

Stakeholders in the South African horse racing and breeding industries have welcomed news that EU officials have agreed to an audit of the country’s bloodstock export protocols. Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) said in a recent statement that the news h

Adverse weather conditions continue to affect farmers across the country. A hailstorm that hit parts of the Brits district in North West late last month resulted in significant losses for vegetable farmers in the area. According to Dr Quintin Muhl, p

The R200 million in outstanding duties and taxes that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is seeking to recover, via civil court cases from various players in South Africa’s tobacco industry, is very welcome, but remains a mere drop in the ocean

While most of the hectares earmarked for grain production in Mpumalanga and the northeastern part of the Free State have been planted, very little rain has so far fallen in the southeastern and western Free State. Johan van den Berg, manager of speci

November fruit drop in the citrus industry can substantially reduce the income of farmers as trees shake off excess fruit. However, a market has now opened for the fallen green fruit in the medical field. Dropped fruit of 3cm in diameter and smaller

The need for a functional, long-term plan to keep the agriculture sector sustainable was recently discussed at a meeting between Agri Western Cape and various financial institutions and agribusinesses. According to Jannie Strydom, CEO of Agri Western

A court case brought by farmworkers against Oak Valley Estate near Grabouw cannot be heard by the Equality Court, as it does not have jurisdiction over the matter. This was according to Judge Owen Rogers, presiding over the case in the Western Cape H

Strong demand for avocados has ensured good prices are paid for the fruit, despite increasing volumes on the market. “There are not many commodities that can say that supply and prices have increased simultaneously,” said Zac Bard, managing director

Imagine you’re a senior officer on a small minesweeper in the US Navy during the Second World War. Your first experience of action is when your ship, the USS Caine, takes part in an attack on an island under Japanese control. The captain, Philip Quee

As the end of the year approaches, it is important to look back and assess how well your farming enterprise has performed. A business performance review serves as a benchmark to evaluate an operation’s trading performance from one year to the next, a

Global pecan production in the 2018/2019 season is estimated at more than 140 200t (kernel basis). Mexico and the US make up 92% of global production, with Mexico contributing 52% and the US 40%. South Africa, the third-largest pecan nut-producing re

The Beefmaster Group, based near Christiana in North West, is involved in the entire beef value chain: breeding, feedlot, abattoir, and distribution (including exports) of beef products. According to supply-chain executive Roelie van Reenen, the comp

I appreciate that it can be difficult and often financially prohibitive for many farmers to embark on a new project. However, allowing your thoughts to expand and exploring various ideas is a stimulating mental exercise, and a potentially profitable

While treats are recommended for training dogs, their use in the training of horses is very controversial. Many traditional trainers frown on the use of treats, and also recommend that riders avoid giving their horses carrots or horse biscuits. Howev

The ZOKU IN-LINE SLOW POP MOULD makes it easy to enjoy your favourite refreshment on a hot summer day. Each set allows you to make uniquely flavoured lollies and store them compactly in the freezer door. What you put in is entirely up to you: juice,

Did you know that taking a cold shower every day has a number of health benefits? We tend to associate bathing or showering in hot water with relaxing and unwinding, but there are a number of unexpected benefits from taking a cold shower. Proponents

This new, updated edition of Hobhouse’s 2002 classic coffee-table book is perfect for enjoying gardens from the comfort of your lounger without having to roll up your sleeves. More than 450 pages long, it’s packed with beautiful photographs of plants

OneSoil is a free app that enables any farmer to keep track of the condition of his or her croplands. It is available for Android on Google Play and for iPhones on iTunes. Users can also use the program from their PC or laptop via the website onesoil