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.

Serving the sector through education

Farmer's Weekly

How plastic pollution is threatening livestock and rural livelihoods • In Nkomazi, plastic waste is causing fatal digestive blockages in livestock, jeopardising rural livelihoods and cultural traditions. Smallholder farmers are managing with home remedies, but systemic waste collection and community-wide action are urgently needed, says Linton Munyai, senior lecturer at the University of Limpopo.

Red meat value chain summit • 15 to 16 September, Pretoria

Beyond crop protection: get more for your money

Every drop of water counts

The 2026 US Midterms: are changes possible?

Nine megatrends that could reshape South African agriculture by 2050 • Nine long-term forces will reshape local agriculture towards 2050, influencing everything from food demand and exports to technology, water use, and farmer support. At the same time, the sector must build the resilience needed to withstand potentially system-changing ‘Black Swan’ events. Glenneis Kriel reports.

The new commercial farmer's tax checklist: Part 2 • Building on the foundational record-keeping and business setup covered in Part 1, this final instalment of this two-part series details how to manage capital allowances, livestock counts, VAT, and diesel refunds to maximise tax benefits, writes Cobus du Plessis.

SA livestock sector recovers amid divergent market trends • Lower feed costs and improved disease management are driving livestock recovery, supporting red meat prices due to herd rebuilding, and boosting pork and poultry supplies to lower market prices, says Jade Smith.

To plant or not to plant • Grain and oilseed farmers face difficult decisions in the 2026/27 season, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.

Water security and how to drought-proof cannabis operations • Cannabis growers need secure water supplies, efficient irrigation, rainwater storage and reliable water-quality management to withstand supply disruptions, writes Thomas Walker.

What the numbers say about smart spraying and VRA • Precision farming isn't just about using less. South African research reveals that variable-rate application and smart spraying increase profits when input rates, spatial variability, and capital machinery costs directly align. Cobus du Plessis reports.

Using expertise to empower farmers • Dr Michael Southwood leverages top-tier agricultural consulting to fund practical training and food security initiatives, empowering emerging farmers and rural communities across Southern Africa.

A business built from humble beginnings on the power of bees • A chance encounter with an injured beekeeper set Alex van Rooyen on the path to establishing The Apiary Project. Today, his growing apiculture business combines pollination services with youth training, skills transfer, and enterprise development. Eugene Goddard reports.

Pollination mistakes that cost farmers yields • Improper timing, weak hives, and mismanaged pesticide spraying severely undermine pollination success. Entomologist Arné Stander shared essential management practices to safeguard pollinators, maximise crop yields, and protect agricultural productivity with Robyn Joubert.

BEYOND HONEY: HOW BABYLONSTOREN IS TAPPING INTO BEE TOURISM

The management shift that made honey pay • For years, Bruce Snaddon-Taylor's bees played a useful but relatively modest role on the family farm, providing pollination while producing limited...