Farmer's Weekly - May 24, 2024

In this issue

Fix soil health for regenerative agriculture to succeed. How Spain became a powerhouse in fresh produce farming. Flawed Expropriation Bill must be referred back to Parliament. The pigs that provide the world’s most expensive ham.

The future of SA's smallholder farmers

Klara Fischer, associate professor in Rural Development at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, explains why South Africans are abandoning smallholder farming and how the trend can be reversed.

5 mins

Chef competition puts macadamias in the spotlight

Macadamias have come under the gaze of the world’s best chefs as the nut has been included on the ingredient list of the Chaine des Rôtisseurs International Young Chefs Competition.

2 mins

SA's top stock breeders honored by SA Stud Book

Top stud livestock breeders were recently honoured for outstanding livestock breeding at the SA Stud Book 2023 annual elite award ceremony in Bloemfontein.

1 min

Farmers warned not to plant GM maize in Zimbabwe

Vangelis Haritatos, Zimbabwe's deputy minister of lands, agriculture, fisheries, water and rural development, has issued a stern warning to the country's maize growers that no imported genetically modified (GM) maize may be used as seeds.

1 min

KwaZulu-Natal gains 180 agriculture graduates

Joy could be seen throughout the Olive Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), as 180 students, the class of 2023, achieved a significant milestone at a joint graduation ceremony.

1 min

Demand for Australian lamb grows

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has said that American demand for Australian lamb has risen significantly since December.

1 min

Township agriculture, rabies campaign launched

In a push to ensure food security in communities, the KwaZuluNatal (KZN) government has implemented a comprehensive agricultural programme designed to stimulate township economies.

2 mins

Mondi Zimele develops farmers

KZN business uses farming for economic development of province

2 mins

Understanding the economics of aquaponics.

Leslie Ter Morshuizen explains the economics of aquaponics production and best-grown crops.

3 mins

Direct transfers of property to third parties under the Expropriation Bill

Dr Anthea Jeffery, head of Special Research at the South African Institute of Race Relations, says that President Cyril Ramaphosa must refer the Expropriation Bill of 2020 back to the National Assembly, due to the lack of public involvement in the writing of the Bill.

6 mins

How to become a fresh produce powerhouse - lessons from Spain

The Almería region in Spain is proof of what can be achieved when the whole agriculture sector stands united to work towards a mutually beneficial goal. Returning from a recent visit to the region, Lindi Botha reports on how farmers, researchers and banks have joined forces to become a major player in fresh produce production.

9 mins

Practical guidelines to prevent stock theft

Laurence Palmer, a security consultant, lists some practical advice that farmers can follow to prevent stock theft.

4 mins

Spain's idyllic pig farming has a product that doesn't come cheap

Amidst the range of delicacies to be enjoyed in Spain, Iberian ham is both a culinary delight and a farming marvel. Lindi Botha visited Spain to find out what it takes to produce the most expensive ham in the world.

8 mins

Keep fertilising when starting your regen agriculture journey

Regenerative farming relies on restoring soil to its optimum health so it can sustain food crops without the use of synthetic inputs. But does that mean fertilisers have no place in a regenerative system? Lindi Botha reports.

8 mins

All-electric 'Jaecoo's Jimny' is coming to SA!

This cute all-electric off-roader is on its way to South Africa and we've had a quick drive. Here's all you need to know about the Jaecoo J6.

4 mins

How to treat horses suffering from piroplasmosis

Babesia equi in horses is a notifiable disease in parts of the US, but not in South Africa. It causes fatal anaemia, warns Dr Mac.

2 mins

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Farmer's Weekly Magazine Description:

Farmer’s Weekly is an agricultural magazine based in South Africa, targeting the whole of Southern Africa. The magazine is committed to advancing the interests of the region’s farmers and its agricultural industry by serving as a mouthpiece for the industry and by keeping its readers informed of the latest developments in the agricultural sector.