Farmer's Weekly

Young people in Africa are surprisingly optimistic about the future, given the high rate of youth unemployment across the continent. However, as results from a recent survey show, this generation is also disillusioned with corrupt, democratically ele

In February, the US adjusted the list of developing and least developed countries it will consider for special and differential treatment. Under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) countervailing duty (CVD) law and the subsidies and countervailing m

The rise of the mining industry in South Africa has had a significant negative impact on agriculture, particularly for black farming communities. While to some extent agriculture and mining rely on each other to prosper, conflict between these two im

The downward trend in price premiums for rare and exceptional game species has continued, with a four-year-old buffalo bull with a 41-inch horn span being sold for R900 000 last month. According to wildlife economist Dr Flippie Cloete, the same bull

Both the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) and the DA have highlighted concerns about ongoing service delivery failures at the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD). This followed the provincial legislature’s

Namibia’s red meat producers will benefit significantly from beef exports to the US, according to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation. He said it had taken nearly two decades for negotiations to be finalise

While the industry has welcomed the lifting of the ban on auctions and a resumption of red meat sales, strict safety protocols mean that it cannot be business as usual. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture dep

Research is being conducted into a possible solution to the declining numbers of Cape and bearded vultures, which are close to extinction in Southern Africa. The research is being carried out by Prof Aliza le Roux, associate professor in the Departme

The European market has been hit by a severe shortage of white seedless grapes, according to Corné van de Klundert of Origin Fruit Direct, a Netherlands-based company. The company said in a report that the shortages were due to the longer-than-usual

Since the long-standing Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa wound up its activities at the end of 2019, South African tobacco companies have focused on tackling key issues affecting the value chain. Two of South Africa’s largest tobacco product comp

Plans to open up and regulate the commercial hemp industry in South Africa, while formulating policies for the cannabis industry, have been welcomed. These initiatives were recently announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Natio

The South African agriculture sector has already put plans in place to combat outbreaks of the brown locust (Locustana pardalina), an African migratory locust, according to Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife SA. This

Namibia’s dairy industry is facing a crisis due to the ongoing drought, and is on the brink of economic catastrophe, according to Kokkie Adriaanse, chairperson of the Namibian Dairy Producers’ Organisation. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Adriaanse said

The recently launched Agricultural Development Agency (AGDA) plans to invest R25 billion in South Africa’s agriculture sector over the next decade. The funds would be used to create opportunities for new farmers and the transfer of skills from curren

A robust beef export industry could substantially increase the profitability of South African farmers, according to livestock consultant and CEO of Wagyu South Africa, Dr Michael Bradfield. However, investments in genetic improvement and traceability

Farmers were inundated with new technologies, but speakers at the recent Africa Agri Tech in Pretoria warned against those that did not prove to have a clear benefit. Peter Leppan, director of Proagrica, a provider of data-driven support solutions, s

The deadly novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, is one of the factors currently “unnerving” the global trading environment, according to Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape. Pienaar and Conrad Fick, marketing director of Tru-Cape, bri

South Africa’s ongoing population growth and urbanisation, and the resultant need to expand urban areas, mean that there will always be a demand for land for non-agricultural purposes. However, it remains essential to limit the rezoning of higher-pot

The Draft National Youth Policy for 2020 to 2030, published in February by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, has called for agricultural colleges and schools to be established in every province, while agriculture faculties

I have often thanked my lucky stars that I wasn’t born into a family business. Yes, I might have been worth much more money, but for every success I’ve seen, I’ve come across more failures. Running any business is tough enough, but when you have fami

Compliance with labour law is essential for every farmer, regardless of the number of workers employed. Employers should go further than merely complying, however; they should use labour law to protect their farms and their rights as employers. Emplo

South African farmers are being urged to ensure that they comply with the increased minimum wage, which came into effect on 1 March. Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi said the new minimum wage for farmworkers was R18,68/ hour, an increas

Paul Webber can look back on a memorable 2019 mohair season. He not only achieved the highest price of R621/kg for a bale of 24-micron good-style kid mohair in April, but ended up being awarded the Daidoh Trophy for the highest average price for a su

Create a strong support network: Dirk Louw identifies André Smith as a major contributor to his success, thanks to his role in mentoring and believing in him. But Louw has since also found support in various other places, such as the Northern Cape de

Three armyworm species occur in South Africa: the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), the African armyworm (S. exempta), and the lesser armyworm (S. exigua). These insects’ life cycles, behaviour and ecologies differ, and they feed on different cr

Farmers and others directly involved in the fruit trade should be familiar with the names of the varieties on offer, even though this becomes more challenging with time. If we think only of apples, the list becomes quite formidable. The old stalwarts

Many scientists think that the virtual disappearance of the trace mineral boron from many diets has contributed to the rising rates of osteoarthritis. Since the 1960s, scientists have noticed that in regions of the world where the soil and food suppl

Tony Dold, manager of the Selmar Schonland Herbarium at Rhodes University, has poured a lifetime’s passion for indigenous plants into his enthralling new book, co-authored with Susan Abraham, CULTURES, CURES & CURIOSITIES: PLANT-LORE AND LEGEND OF TH

When, in 1915, Albert Marr from the farm Cheshire near Pretoria volunteered to fight in the First World War (1914-1918), his pet chacma baboon, Jackie, became a mascot for the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment, to which he was assigned. As Marr wen

ROBERT MANGALISO SOBUKWE: NEW REFLECTIONS edited by Benjamin Pogrund (Jonathan Ball, R270) It’s about 60 years since Sobukwe was imprisoned for leading the anti-pass campaign, but the politics overshadowing his role as PAC founder have tended to s

As described in my previous article, MyHeritage is an online genealogy app that can be read and added to by users. It also has access to a number of national census records. The result is a vast and rapidly growing genealogical resource; the app curr

• Wauldby Dohne Merino Stud Ram Sale, Wauldby, Stutterheim. On offer: 50 rams. Phone Robbie Blaine on 082 424 5166. • Human Beefmaster and SA Mutton Merino Production Sale, Catherton, Steynsrus. On offer: 400 Beefmaster cattle, including 200 in-calf