20 October 2023

Farmer's Weekly

Serving agriculture since 1911

Farmer's Weekly2 min read
A United Front Needed To Battle Climate Change
The World Bank's Global Report on Food Crises (the mid-year update) shows that food insecurity is on the rise in 2023. (The report was published at the end of May 2023, but has since been updated.) The report shows that 21,6 million more people face
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
Farmer's Weekly
EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Janine Ryan, janiner@caxton.co.za Senior designer Louis Kruger Designer Mario Ferlito Copy editors Fanie de Villiers and Yvonne Fontyn Digital editor Sindira Chetty, sindirac@caxton.co.za Office assistant Prenusha Moodley ■
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
IPM For Citrus
The Integrated Pest Management for Citrus course has been designed to introduce students to the world of integrated pest management (IPM) in citrus farming. During this course, students will receive an introduction to IPM through a comprehensive over
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Fuel Price Hikes Will Affect Profit Margins
We recently experienced another round of fuel price hikes, with the 0,05% and 0,005% sulphur content diesel grades increasing by Rl,97/l and Rl,94/l respectively to highs of R25,02/l and R25,22/l. This brought the cumulative increases in the price of
Farmer's Weekly4 min read
A Last-minute Rescue Plan For Farmed Rhino
The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. This article was first published by The Conversation. Read the original at shorturl.at/oIOS3. “With all the terrible news on climate change, it's eas
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Van Ryn's Brandies Win Their Second World's Best Award This Year
For the second time in the short space of only four months, Van Ryn's brandies have received another World's Best Brandy Trophy. This time it was the Van Ryn's 12-year-old potstill brandy, which received the World's Best Brandy Trophy for brandies 11
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
The Gir, A Hardy And Genetically Strong Breed
32 YEARS AGO This stud breeder was rearing the sacred Gir cattle which, he said, have many plus factors, including tick resistance. Despite farming in a notoriously bad area for gall sickness, heartwater and redwater, a thornveld farmer has had no st
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
SA Hopes To Gain From International Agri Exhibition
South African farmers together with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development participated in the sixth International Exhibition of Agriculture and Animal Resources held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 28 S
Farmer's Weekly2 min readDiet & Nutrition
Zinc Is Essential For Pecan Nut Tree Farming
With close to 35 000ha of pecan nut trees in South Africa, the industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, said the South African Pecan Nut Producers' Association. According to the association, South Africa is the third-largest pecan p
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Hard Work And Excellence Awarded
Five outstanding individuals were recently recognised for their specific contributions to the agriculture sector. The Agricultural Writers SA North named its regional candidates on 29 September during its awards evening, held in Pretoria. The candida
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Adverse Weather May Have Effect On Crop Quality
It is uncertain how recent strong winds and floods will affect the volume and quality of grain produced in the winter rainfall area. Richard Krige, chairperson of the Wintergrain Grain Group, said lands in low-lying and wet areas in the Overberg and
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Calls For Support After Devastating Veld Fires
The agriculture sector in the North West had to overcome numerous severe challenges during the past year, of which the loss of more than a million hectares to veld fires was probably the worst, said Willem de Chavonnes Vrucht, Agri North West chairpe
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
Association Says UK Government Must Act Fast On Artificial Fertilisers
UK-based charity The Soil Association has started a petition urging government to put a plan in place to reduce the use of fossilbased artificial fertilisers on local farms. The association said if the government did not do something urgently, they r
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
Scotland's Farms Open To ‘Gleaning'
Residents of a farming community in Scotland have put an ancient farming practice into good use to help build their food bank. The practice of gathering leftover crops after the harvest has been completed is called gleaning. A group of Scottish volun
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
World In Brief
The price of limes in Mexico has increased by close to 60% due to criminal gangs extorting farmers in the area of Michoacán. This was according to the Agricultural Market Consulting Group, which said that in Mexico City, the cost of limes was close t
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
KZN Residents Urged To Vaccinate Their Animals Against Rabies
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is urging animal owners to vaccinate their animals to prevent the spread of rabies and reduce the risk of human infection and death. Department MEC Super Zuma made the call at a
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
FAO Supports Zimbabwe In Managing Alien Plants
The threat posed by invasive alien species (IAS) such as lantana (Lantana camara), black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) in Zimbabwe has escalated to such an extent that the Zimbabwean government has called on the Food an
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Egg And Chicken Meat Shortages Loom As Bird Flu Gains Momentum
Retailers across South Africa have already begun rationing eggs in anticipation of countrywide shortages of eggs and chicken meat due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country. More than seven million birds have been
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
Industry Professionals Converge In KZN
The 9th International Macadamia Symposium (IMS '23) hosted by Macadamias South Africa NPC (SAMAC) took place at The Capital Hotel in Zimbali on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast from 18 to 21 September with more than 700 macadamia industry professionals,
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
High Costs Take Their Toll On Orchard Expansions
Stone and pome fruit farmers have become more cautious when it comes to the planting of new orchards. According to Hortgro's recently released Key Deciduous Fruit Statistics 2022, the area under apple production increased from 24 212ha in 2016 to mer
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Prepare For Carbon Taxes On Exports To The EU
The EU recently published the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism regulation to tax imports and exports based on the carbon emissions generated during the production and delivery of goods. Wolfe Braude, manager of the Agbiz Fruit Desk, told Farmer's W
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Floods Cause Huge Damage In The Western Cape
The agriculture sector has suffered a severe blow because of the strong winds and heavy rains that raged in the Western Cape from 23 to 27 September, with initial estimates of damage ranging around R1,4 billion. Daniel Johnson, spokesperson for the W
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Prices Fluctuate But May Stabilise In Summer
Vegetable quality is on the rise as summer approaches. Markets exhibit varying price shifts, from subtle changes to significant fluctuations, but the overarching sentiment remains positive. Cabbage procurement centres include Brits, Delmas, Bapsfonte
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Charity Always Begins At Home
A part of the British past, which many citizens would prefer to have expunged from their history, was the Roman invasion in 43 BCE, which resulted in the Romans ruling much of present-day Britain for over three-and-a-half centuries. In the late 14th
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Set Up Marketing Facilities And Community Structures
In the many years I have spent running development and skills transferral projects in communal farming areas, I have noticed a distinct problem that occurs across vast expanses of these areas, and this relates to a lack of handling or loading facilit
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
‘Love For Agriculture' Will Guide New Head Of Agri Enterprises
Since completing his articles as a chartered accountant at PwC in the late 1990s, Pieter de Jager, the new chief executive officer of Agri Enterprises, has been involved in the agriculture sector in various roles. He boasts more than 20 years' involv
Farmer's Weekly4 min read
Perseverance Despite Communal Challenges
“Communal farming is a struggle, says Zolani Tsheko. “You are dependent on others, and therefore, you can drown with them.” Tsheko, an educator by training, has been a part-time livestock farmer since 1980 and a full-time farmer since retiring as an
Farmer's Weekly4 min read
The Basics Of Cutworm Management
The common cutworm, Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a destructive pest of maize, especially in the Highveld region of South Africa. Over the three previous cropping seasons, many reports of control failure have been made throughout the re
Farmer's Weekly9 min read
Understanding Insurance
Insurance is a financial arrangement and a contract between an individual, organisation, or entity (the policyholder) and an insurance company (the insurer). It provides a mechanism for individuals and businesses to protect themselves against financi
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Some Physiological Disorders Of Cabbages
Oedema is a condition that, if the farmer does not know about it, will cause instant panic. Usually the whole land will develop this disorder almost overnight and the farmer may fear that he is about to lose his whole crop from a mysterious disease.
Farmer's Weekly4 min read
Farm Accidents: Be Very Careful
An accident is an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury, but fortunately not always. Sometimes minor accidents serve as a warning of what can happen as a result of negligence or fa
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Green Bean Soil Cultivation
The effective root depth for green beans is 450mm to 500mm. In a well-prepared loose soil, bean roots can penetrate to a depth of 1 200mm. Incorrectly prepared soil will limit the development of roots. It not only impedes root penetration and branchi
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
AGL'S Locally Blended Lubricants To Benefit The Agriculture Sector
In May, Stats SA reported that in the first quarter of 2023, more than 888 000 people were employed in primary agriculture, up 5% year on year. The agriculture sector has great potential for growth and development. Mark Kerwan, AGL managing director,
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
One-pan Sausage, Egg And Baked Bean Stew
Sunflower oil, for frying 450g packet beef sausages 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 10ml (2 tsp) mild mustard 400g tin chopped tomatoes 180ml (¾ cup) beef stock 410g tin baked beans in tomato sauce 2 handfuls baby spinach Salt and pep
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
The King Of Merlot
Shannon Vineyards' Mount Bullet is one of the most awarded Merlot wines in South Africa. The wine, which sells for roughly R650 per bottle, is made from a blend of five French and Italian clones grown in 3ha of vineyard planted on easternfacing slope
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Crossword 529
1. Overshoes (8) 5. Available only in a certain period of the year (8) 9. The African fish _____ is a large bird of prey with a loud call (5) 10. The Cape turtle ____ (Streptopelia capicola) is widespread in Africa south of the equator (4) 11. Fructo
Farmer's Weekly3 min readArchitecture
Farmhouse Made Of Local Materials
Dear Jonno, For many years I have enjoyed poring over your Farmer's Weekly house plans, and I have looked up a few but they aren't exactly what I am looking for. I am farming in Zimbabwe, and am hoping to lease some land where I would build a modest
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
The Hitching Post
I am a retired white woman and have varied interests. I would love to meet a nice, kind, loving white man in his 70s. My family members are involved in farming and my late husband was a farmer, although this is not a criterion for a partner. I live i
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
China Does Study On Mechanised Farming
China is the world's largest producer of cotton even though farmers face constant challenges to meet production demands. Research on mechanised cotton farms conducted in the area and funded by the China Agricultural Research system shows the long way
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
Stories Of Corruption, Loss And Redemption
Breaking the Bombers: How the hunt for Pagad created a crack police unit by Mark Shaw (Jonathan Ball, R320) Remember Pagad, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs? A grass-roots organisation based in Cape Town and the Cape flats, it emerged in the mid-
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
The Rockefeller: A Vibrant Oasis In Cape Town's Revamped Foreshore
Like its New York namesake, The Rockefeller Hotel & Residences, located in Cape Town's Foreshore business district, epitomises the vibrancy y and excitement of urban city living. Modern, avant-garde and elegant, the 220-room hotel, managed by Newmark
Farmer's Weekly4 min read
Auction Sales
TO PLACE AN UPCOMING AUCTION EVENT in the Classifieds Auctions section, contact René Moonsamy on 010 971 3771 or at renea@caxton.co.za, or Natasha Kock on 010 971 3770 or at natashakock@caxton.co.za. TO LIST AUCTION RESULTS in this section, email Jan
Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Two Issues Around Horse Mating
Dear Prof McCrindle, When should you mate a horse? Kind regards, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, This is a very good question. However, it could be interpreted two ways. It could refer to the optimal time of the year for mating, but could also mean: “How o
Farmer's Weekly1 min read
Sudoku
HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that each row and column, as well as each of the 3 × 3 squares, contains all the digits from 1 to 9. Look out for the answers to this week's Sudoku puzzles in next week's magazine. ■

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