Farmer's Weekly

The Essentials of Import Export Documentation Procedures course will provide delegates with the fundamental knowledge needed to plan and understand the exporting and importing of goods and the international trade cycle. Aspects covered include docume

“South Africa’s poultry industry has dominated the news for some time, mainly on sensitive matters pertaining to trade policy. The industry was even mentioned in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address in February, when he said that t

‘OTHERWISE, IT’S SIMPLY A PIPE DREAM’ – Head of research and advocacy at Ndifuna Ukwazi, Michael Clark, lamenting the state’s capacity to fulfil its obligations in terms of the Expropriation Bill (pg 20). ‘[…] they wake each day expecting to find th

People in Africa who are looking for greater diversity and affordability of plant-based manufactured foods are set to benefit from a recently approved joint venture. The Competition Commission of South Africa gave RCL Foods and the US-based LIVEKINDL

While insects have long been an important part of many diets in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a trend of transitioning away from eating insects. However, two new cookbooks are trying to curb this trend by showing how a diet that includes insects is fi

The global luxury leather market has taken a severe knock due to the COVID-19 pandemic decimating the tourist markets where crocodile and ostrich leather products are sold. Francois de Wet, managing director of ostrich goods manufacturer Cape Karoo I

Even though the La Niña weather phenomenon is weakening, its effect is likely to continue towards spring. The latest Seasonal Climate Watch prepared by the South African Weather Service has revealed that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is cur

Construction of the much-anticipated road-to-rail sugar cane transloading facility at Mkhuze, in northern Zululand, has begun. According to various sources, this facility will save the approximately 1 900 small-scale sugar cane growers in the Makhath

Most people tend to underestimate the vital role that soil biodiversity plays in the ecosystem services on which all life on Earth depends. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s ‘Living Planet Report 2020’, up to 90% of living organisms in te

Before planting litchi trees, examine the soil for depth, drainage and compacted layers. It should be between 1m and 2m deep. Next, take a representative soil sample for analysis. The results will guide you on the type and quantity of fertilisation y

Not knowing what to do after finishing his military service back in the 1970s, Michael Kaplan set off to work on a kibbutz in Israel, where he was exposed to banana, dairy and chicken production. From there, he backpacked through Europe, and was part

South Africa’s red meat industry has urged the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) to reconsider its decision to withdraw its membership from the country’s Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC). An

Steven Versfeld, a pome fruit producer near Ceres, has become the first South African farmer to receive platinum status without any non-compliances from the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA). This means that his next audit is due only

A soil test is undertaken to estimate the concentrations of nutrients available to the plant in order to determine fertiliser recommendations. The acidity or pH level is also tested. Laboratory tests generally check for plant nutrients in three categ

High water salinity is one of the greatest constraints in crop production. It causes a build-up of salts in the root zone which, in turn, can reduce yield and even result in crop failure, depending on the plants’ sensitivity. Chris Malan, agronomy ma

Dr Anja Steinberg, a full-time veterinarian, has always had an eye for opportunity. Taking note of increasing talk about the sought-after meat qualities of the Wagyu beef breed, she and her husband bought their first Wagyu cow in 2015. Steinberg bega

Two leaf miners belonging to the fly family Diptera are of economic importance in South Africa: Liriomyza trifolii and L. huidobrensis. Both do considerable damage. The adult flies have a yellow marking on the thorax and are similar to the vinegar fl

Pinworms (Oxyuris equi) are very common this time of year and cause your horses to rub off their tails. They are not easily picked up by routine faecal examinations, as the female worms crawl through the horse’s anus at night and lay their eggs on th

Set against the lower slopes of the Drakenstein mountains in Franschhoek in the Western Cape is a hotel voted one of the world’s best by the readers of the most prestigious global travel magazines. It is also a working farm that produces olive oil an

I knew Chris McGregor from our two years together at the South African Nautical College General Botha, at Gordons Bay, during the 1952/1953 intake. Music was his life. During inspection one Saturday morning, an officer caught McGregor playing a tune,

• Farm 456 (101ha) sold by Kim van Wyk to Anyasize for R3 million. • Farm 986 (2,2ha) sold by Caroline Garden to Nico Venter for R2 million. • Farm 206 (13ha) sold by Roy Sparg to Mudondo Partners for R1 million. • Klipfontein (240ha) sold by David B

2 cups cake flour2 cups nutty wheat flour (or brown bread flour)1 tsp salt2 tsp sugar2 tsp instant dry yeast475ml lukewarm water1 tbsp olive oil • In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. • Add the water and olive oil to the bowl and

Dear Jonno, I’ve been following your articles in Farmer’s Weekly for many years and admire the beautiful country homes you design. I need your help! I would like to develop a small estate of eight compact family homes that would appeal to as many peo

Viljoenskroon – The Mielieboere Bonsmara Production Sale was held at Hopefield on 25 February. The highest price of the day was paid for the bull ABB 18 256, which was sold by Laurence Allem of Allem Brothers in Viljoenskroon to Herman Wilkens of Wil

I’m looking for late-night heart-to-hearts with an authentic, mature Boer and the occasional glass of red wine. I prefer to take things slowly, but if it feels right, it feels right. Please respond in writing. Vrou Soek ’n Boer, 101 My quest contin

If you were given R30 million to invest in agriculture, either in new or existing farming activities or in the agriculture value chain, how would you spend it? I’d invest most of it in the following areas to develop the next generation of farmers: s

During a webinar hosted by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), Michael Clark, head of research and advocacy at Ndifuna Ukwazi, pointed out that South Africa was the most unequal country in the world. “A large part of this is