Farmworkers' own wine on track for success

As part of an empowerment project, farmworkers at Kleine Zalze wine estate have released the first wines produced from grapes grown in their own vineyards. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their achievement.

Big hemp dreams for Gouda

A company and a farmers’ association recently joined hands to start hemp production in Gouda in the Western Cape. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their plans to scale up the project to achieve commercial success.

Power in unity

For this year’s editor’s picks, Janine Ryan focuses on the power of community and partnerships as she looks back at various stories published in Farmer’s Weekly during 2022.

'Leave your footprints on the land'

This year’s Agricultural Writers SA Agriculturalist of the Year, Pieter Bruwer, says he was born with a love of agriculture. Bruwer conducts research on a range of subjects, including tillage, cultivar standability, fertilisation and crop protection. He spoke to Magda du Toit about his current work and the state of agricultural research.

Riding the macadamia roller-coaster

Mpumalanga Agriculture’s Young Farmer of the Year of 2022, Org Lindeque, produces macadamia nuts close to Nelspruit. Once heralded as a golden industry, the crop has experienced two poor years in a row. Lindeque shared his view of the industry and its prospects with Lindi Botha.

The year fruit exporters would prefer to forget

Founder of the Le Roux Group and the 2021 Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year for 2021, Jan le Roux, had his fair share of challenges this past year. He spoke to Lindi Botha about his table grape and stone fruit farms, and the interventions needed to ensure a future in this sector.

is the 'Agriculture backbone of society'

First-generation farmer Daniël Opperman, a potato producer from Naboomspruit in Limpopo, was the 2022 TLU SA Young Farmer of the Year. Magda du Toit asked him about his methods, challenges and hopes.

'Be positive and make use of opportunities'

The ALS Group, managed by Cas Joubert, his brother Thys, and partner Johan van Rensburg, was recently recognised as the Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year for 2022. Joubert spoke to Magda du Toit.

'Agriculture is the glue that keeps SA together'

André Brink, 2022 Syngenta/Grain SA Grain Farmer of the Year, joined his father on Groot Phesantekraal in the Western Cape’s Durbanville district during the 1980s when interest rates were high and cash flow tight. This, he told Magda du Toit, taught him the value of careful strategic planning.

Escalating demand for eggs spurs optimism

Despite the soaring input prices of this past year and political uncertainty ahead, Western Cape poultry farmer Agmat Brinkhuis, Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Farming of 2021, is upbeat about egg production. He spoke to Lindi Botha about his business, Chamomile Farming Enterprises, and his hopes for the future.

Bird flu sweeps across the US and Europe

As 2022 drew to a close, agriculture and animal health authorities around the world had their hands full trying to mitigate the effects of what looked set to be the worst outbreak of avian influenza in some of the world’s major agricultural sectors, including the US and the EU.

Devastating floods, drought raise risk of food crisis

Unprecedented flooding that hit Pakistan between June and August this year has again underlined the risk posed to food systems by the effects of climate change.

Global agriculture round-up for 2022

In 2022, the supply chain challenges and high input costs faced by farmers in the wake of the COVID- 19 pandemic took a new turn when Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Volatile weather conditions further exacerbated the situation, while commodity prices continued to soar.

Family farmers: our green-thumbed heroes!

True sustainable development will not be achieved by corporate-wealth-accumulation agendas, but by visionary family farmers, says Prof James Blignaut, an ecological and environmental resource economist.

'Smallholders produce 30% of SA's fresh produce'

Recent market research undertaken by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) indicates that about 30% of total volumes of produce delivered to South Africa's fresh produce markets come from smallholder farmers, each producing on less than 5ha of land.

Ceres Fruit Growers awards top producers

Ceres Fruit Growers, a subsidiary of the Ceres Group, recently celebrated its top apple and pear producers.

Brahman heifer sets new South African record

The in-calf Brahman heifer SER 19 032 recently set a new South African record when she was sold for R1,2 million at the Prima Genetika Brahman Auction held at Castle de Wildt near Modimolle on 19 November.

Farm sales in South Africa looking bullish

A total of 3 864 farms were sold in South Africa between January and October this year, a significant increase from the 3 133 over the same period in 2021, according to Johann Bornman, chairperson of Agri Development Solutions.

Counting the cost of stock theft in South Africa

Stock theft cases during the period July to September of this year totalled about 7 340, an increase of 10,2% year-on-year (2021: 6 660), according to the latest crime statistics released by the South African Police Service.

Rising interest rates put more pressure on farmers

Increasing input and debt-servicing costs may force many farmers to downscale their production, while others will not be able to access the necessary funds to plant crops.

'UK farmers must look further afield as migrant labour costs rise'

More foreign workers are needed in the UK to drive economic growth as the country faces a deep recession. This was according to Tony Danker, director general of the Confederation of British Industry.

Our favourite festive season plants, and how to grow them at home

The most common plants associated with Christmas are holly, mistletoe and poinsettia.

The new Nissan Navara PRO-4X

The Nissan Navara is an old nameplate that represents a line of bakkies produced from 1985.

Dealing with weeds in cucurbits

Uncontrolled weeds can rob pumpkins and other cucurbits of the nutrients they need for a good yield. et weeds can also protect pumpkins at a later phase in their growth.

Controlling root-knot nematodes

Root-knot nematodes are found on the roots of plants and infect most commercial vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and fruit trees. By damaging the plant tissue, they lower crop yield.

Hardening off tomato seedlings

Seedlings that are 'hardened off' will produce plants that are thicker, less succulent and more resistant to transplant damage.

Surviving the troughs of the blueberry market

Three years ago, few would have foreseen that blueberry prices would plunge by more than 50%, forcing many investors to the brink of collapse. Berry farmer Luan Swart of Mpumalanga explained his strategies for weathering the storm to Lindi Botha.

Nguni and Brahman: crossbred to perfection

Theo Maqashalala runs approximately 100 commercial Nguni breeding female animals near the town of Seymour in the Eastern Cape. He spoke to Mike Burgess about his appreciation for the Nguni breed, and why he opted for a terminal crossbreeding programme that uses Brahman bulls.

How heat stress affects dairy cows: Part 3

In this final instalment of our three-part series on the consequences of climate change on dairy cows, veterinarian Dr JH du Preez explores the negative impact of heat stress on these animals’ conception rates.

The challenges facing Namibia's cattle producers

Despite the fact that Namibia is an arid country, farmers there continue to run profitable beef operations. However, profitability margins are decreasing. Janine Ryan reports.