Farmer's Weekly

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.

Pome fruit: a blooming market

Farmer's Weekly

Early warning, legal tools for climate-proof infrastructure projects • As the world adjusts to climate change, Webber Wentzel partners Shirleen Ritchie and Kirsten Wolmarans elaborate on two trends becoming increasingly apparent in the infrastructure and energy sectors: the greater use of early warning systems, and more robust contractual provisions to address extreme climate events.

Pesticide use and food safety • 5 and 6 August, Sea Point

Agroecology project offers hope for unemployed youth in KwaZulu-Natal

MATTER OF FACT

TRENDING IN AGRICULTURE

Calf rearing: the secret to dairy success

Revised White Paper could see a shake-up of local government

WEEKLY NEWS WRAP

Big avian flu vaccination roll-out for poultry sector

Agri SA needs ‘watertight’ Expropriation Act case

‘We're getting sidetracked by politics’ – Agri SA

New certificate transforms fine wine investment

Research vital for pome, stone fruit sector growth

Omnia Holdings delivers strong agri, mining results

Unpacking the EU's plastic and packaging waste requirements for SA exporters • South African exporters are being urged to comply with the EU's packaging rules or risk market loss and missed sustainability opportunities. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.

Road Freight Association marks 50th anniversary

Food quality and safety beyond what we see • Food and product testing are essential for safety, quality, and compliance in agriculture and food. Magda du Toit visited SciCorp Laboratories to learn more about its role in supporting the food value chain.

Essential oils venture empowers Keiskammahoek farmers

Can farmers cash in on retail trends? • Farmers are largely supplying their produce to the wholesale trade, but with a distinct global shift to online shopping, more producers should be engaging these consumers, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.

Onion prices higher at the start of winter as demand strengthens • This week, Absa AgriBusiness provides an overview of the current market trends, expected price movements, and the factors influencing key vegetable markets during winter.

‘The functionally efficient and profitable Beefmaster’ • Guy Rensburg, owner of Rensgrow Beefmasters near Komga in the Eastern Cape, spoke to Janine Ryan about why he chooses to farm easy-to-care-for Beefmasters.

THE SIX ESSENTIALS

The Beefmaster's impressive traits • The Beefmaster Cattle Breeders’ Society of SA describes the breed as probably the fastest-growing in the country today, with outstanding adaptability, weaning weight, and fertility.

Innovation in apple and pear production • Advancement in the pome fruit industry includes cultivar development, enhanced production methods, and upgraded logistics to overcome barriers in export channels. Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, and Henk Griessel, Tru-Cape's quality assurance manager, spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about the industry's view on innovation in apple and pear production and exports.

DIY: biochar on a budget • Despite its potential benefits, biochar is generally too expensive for most farmers to buy. For this reason, Wihan Bekker, civil engineer at Ikhala Impact, explained to Glenneis Kriel how farmers can make their own.

THE BIOCHAR EXPERIENCE AT REYNEKE WINES

Cutting-edge tech and equipment can improve...