Table of contents for 19 + 26 December 2025 in Farmer's Weekly

As another year comes to an end, I would like to thank all of the Farmer‘s Weekly readers and supporters for your continued loyalty. This year has been filled with ups, downs and uncertainty, but, as always, we have been able to count on your support. As we enter the new year, Farmer‘s Weekly remains committed to bringing you up-to-date news and information, and we look forward to the next 12 months! I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and hope that you get some much deserved rest. – Janine Ryan This Christmas, we honour the hands that sow and the hearts that help our nation reap. Farmers know better than anyone that each season has its purpose, and even though your work never…

Green Earth Concepts would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. A very special thank you to all of the farmers who have engaged in sustainable farming methods, such as commercial worm farming, which replaces the need to purchase and use synthetic fertilisers. In 2026 and beyond, Green Earth Concepts is looking forward to concluding our research in worm tea livestock dips and the eradication of the use of expensive nematicides by releasing earthworms as natural predators to nematodes in potato production. Adding microbial life to previously barren soils is a game changer. With a noted 200% increase in yields by utilising a commercial worm farm, we strive to let farmers know that there are successful alternatives to farming methods. Synthetic fertilisers can be expensive and are not readily…

As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank every farmer, peer, and team member who has walked this journey with us. Agriculture is never just about machines – it’s about people, perseverance, and passion. This year, our farmers once again proved what resilience truly means. At Case IH, we’re proud to stand beside you – innovating, supporting, and adapting to meet your challenges head-on. From embracing new technologies to refining the small details that make a big difference in the field, our goal has remained constant: helping you achieve better yields, greater efficiency, and lasting sustainability. I’m deeply grateful to our dealers, branches and service teams whose dedication keeps our red machines running strong across the country. Together, we’ve not only delivered equipment, but…

It has been another year filled with turbulence, marked by numerous ups and downs, but this is something to which we South Africans have been well accustomed for more than a century. Political instability, poor service delivery, unpredictable weather patterns, poorly managed international trade agreements, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and volatile local market conditions truly made 2025 an eventful year. To say that we live in interesting times might even be an understatement. However, I firmly believe that it is precisely these ‘interesting’ times that have shaped the South African farmer into an adaptable and resilient force. That is why you will find some of the world’s best farmers right here at the southern tip of Africa. Unfortunately, there are significant challenges as we enter 2026. However, these should be regarded…

We’ve had a challenging, but successful, year in agriculture. We’ve seen weather events, we’ve seen floods, we’ve seen droughts, and we’ve seen the drama with the US tariffs, but despite this, South Africa’s agricultural exports were up 10% year-on-year, by volume and price. This is such a testament to the agriculture sector in South Africa! Thank you to every one of our farmers and farmworkers across the country. Thank you for what you do on a daily basis to ensure we have food security, to help grow the economy and create jobs. I’m really proud to be the minister of agriculture for an agriculture sector that is the envy of the world. Our farmers are knocking the lights out and beating our competitors, many of whom operate in very subsidised…

The past year has been filled with challenges, achievements, and valuable lessons, and it is the dedication and resilience that farmers in South Africa show that enables the industry to remain robust. As we step from one year into another, I wish to reflect on the past year’s journey and express my heartfelt gratitude for the support from farmers and industry alike. The year ahead brings fresh opportunities to us as input suppliers, and to farmers alike to innovate, grow, and strengthen the impact we have on food production. Strong farmer relationships and building trust through consistent performance and on-the-ground support remains one of Syngenta Seed’s key priorities, alongside continued innovation where ongoing development of new high yielding, high oil Sensako hybrids remain the key focus. Sunflower’s ability to produce…

Senwes Equipment, a subsidiary of Senwes Limited, has entered negotiations to acquire AMC Equipment as a going concern, the companies announced recently. The deal remains subject to several suspensive conditions, including approval from AMC’s shareholders and the competition authorities. If approved, the merger is expected to be completed and become effective in the first quarter of 2026. Both companies are established John Deere dealerships, and John Deere has expressed full support for the proposed transaction aimed at consolidating operations, improving efficiency, strengthening service delivery, and positioning the combined business to meet the technological demands of modern precision agriculture. AMC Equipment was established in 2022 after GWK’s mechanisation division was transferred to a group of producers as part of a shareholding arrangement with GWK Group. The dealership services producers across Upington,…

In our Absa AgriTrends Spring Edition report, we examined several potential outcomes of the 2025 tariff measures across different commodity groups. One scenario that gained particular attention involved a partial absorption of tariffs by South African producers, a fraction absorbed by US retailers, and the remainder passed on to consumers. Initially, retailers strategically absorbed small cost increases to maintain sales volumes and customer loyalty, particularly for competitive or price-sensitive products. However, as tariffs persisted and inventory stocks were depleted, retailers increasingly had to pass the higher costs on to consumers. Consequently, US consumer prices for affected agricultural imports rose. Analysts note that while tariff-driven price increases contributed to inflationary pressure, they were not the sole factor affecting US consumers. The graph below illustrates the price impacts of tariffs on imported…

Like the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok bakkies that are built on the same assembly line in Silverton, Pretoria, the new Transporter forms part of a joint venture between the carmakers. The Kombi is based on the Transit/ Tourneo Custom and made at the Blue Oval’s Kocaeli plant in Turkey. Consequently, it doesn’t form part of the T-series and isn’t called T7 but simply Transporter – this being as a result of the ‘real’ T7 or Multivan that is being lined-up for introduction into the local market next year. The new Transporter offers three bodystyles initially. A long wheelbase panel van, the van and passenger combination Crew Bus, and the peoplecarrying short wheelbase Kombi in Commerce, Life, Edition and Style trim grades. Debuting next year is the dropside double cab;…

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (Hodder & Stoughton, R425) Penny’s previous detective thriller, The Grey Wolf, was wrapped in ominous overtones as Quebec’s Chief Inspector Gamache tried to crack a massive plot apparently aimed at poisoning Montreal’s water supply. Nicknamed from the indigenous Cree legend, the police believe the calm Grey Wolf, a monk, had helped them catch the angry Black Wolf, the corrupt deputy prime minister. But now, in this 20th outing for Gamache, he’s been studying documents left behind by a young biologist who was assassinated and believes it’s not over, especially after unprecedented Canadian wildfires poison the air – and the thinking – in US cities. But who’s really behind it? A mafia conspiracy, politically corrupt officials or even top cops wanting to grab power? The plot…

Dear Prof McCrindle, How can we protect our sheep and goats? We have heard that Rift Valley fever has broken out in the Northern Cape, not far from where we farm. We have been told that vaccination takes about a month to become effective and there is no treatment for the disease. Kind regards, Worried Farmer Dear Worried Farmer, Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a notifiable disease; the state veterinary services in affected areas will notify livestock farmers about precautions. It can cause high mortalities in sheep and goats, particularly weanlings that have not developed any immunity. Signs of disease and deaths have also been described in dairy cattle and calves. Weanling sheep and goats are usually the most susceptible. They show a high rectal temperature, stop eating and breathe…

A well-known person in the agriculture sector tells the story of when he became a corporate high-flyer and was telling his father how busy he was, his father was quiet for a moment and then asked: when are you going to stop being busy and start doing something? This holds true for many of us. The year has been very busy. It has also been exciting, and we have witnessed many things. Amidst all that happened, South African farmers also dealt with the onslaught of rising input costs, infrastructure challenges, new technologies, rural safety, access to finance, water scarcity, climate challenges, such as drought and unpredictable rainfall, land ownership for both commercial and emerging farmers, very fluid international prices, trade barriers and many more challenges. We have also seen positive…

As Christmas approaches, our thoughts turn to light, generosity, and reflection—a reminder to see not only the world as it is, but as it could be when hope leads the way. For farmers, this hope is not abstract; it is a daily companion. Farming remains one of the toughest jobs on earth, with challenges often beyond a farmer’s control: climate change that brings unpredictable weather, droughts, and floods; rising input costs that squeeze profit margins; disease outbreaks and stock theft that threaten livestock and profitability; and, not least, market prices that can shift overnight. These are just some of the difficulties a farmer must manage. It is clear that farmers must be natural optimists, constantly balancing reward and risk with a vision to improve both sustainability and profitability. Without the…

As we head into the festive season, the South African pig industry reflects on a year that brought challenges, but also many opportunities. Pork remains one of the most affordable sources of highquality protein. This makes it a trusted choice for families and positions our industry as a key contributor to food security, while supporting more than 3 000 jobs and generating R11 billion in value. The outlook for 2026 is encouraging. La Niña projections point to easing feed prices, which will ease pressure on margins. This provides a chance to reinvest, innovate, and strengthen operations for the future. Our industry has proven its resilience time and again. With improved market conditions, we are ready to reinforce the vital role we play in nutrition, employment, and economic growth. As pork…

This past year was, once again, a year that felt both familiar and very different. Conditions in the grain sector have tightened significantly. For wheat farmers this is not new, but after last year’s drought, there was at least some relief in the market for maize and summer grain producers. That window has now closed, and they are back under the pressure of international price cycles. The winter wheat harvest was simply not enough to cover costs, and other enterprises could not stabilise cash flow. Summer grain farmers will need above-average yields just to break even. It is clear that global price trends will continue pushing margins downward. This means we must sharpen our pencils, make better decisions, and manage every rand with discipline. Once again, the sector will be…

As we conclude 2025, we extend our sincere gratitude to the farmers, farmworkers and farm managers, researchers, producers, game farmers, agri-professionals, herders and crop managers whose dedication and hard work often goes unseen. We take this moment to reflect on your invaluable contribution to maintaining South Africa’s food security in spite of extraordinary environmental and socio-economic dynamics. We witnessed in real-time the devastating impact of climate change. The growing trend of flooding, which has hit our coastal provinces, has been devastating. Intense heatwaves, prolonged drought, and devastating veld fires have also placed immense pressure on farming communities. We acknowledge the severe impact that these conditions have on infrastructure, economic growth, stability, and agriculture. We are working locally and internationally to manage the climate crisis. In the face of these hardships,…

We have been concerned that the unfavourable weather conditions in parts of the Western Cape would result in further downward revisions of South Africa’s 2025/26 winter crop production prospects. The Western Cape is a major producing province, accounting for more than two-thirds of the country’s winter crops. But we were heartened to see that at the end of October 2025, the Crop Estimate Committee did not slash the production prospects in its monthly update. The harvest estimate remained unchanged from the September 2025 figures, at 2,77 million tons, representing a 4% increase from the 2024/25 season. This estimate comprises wheat, barley, canola, oats and sweet lupines. This is a third production estimate with seven more to follow. However, at this stage, the figures are more realistic and unlikely to change…

In its October 2025 World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) states that the global economy is in a state of flux or continuous change. Several major countries introduced policy measures. US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements in February 2025 shocked the global economy. Since then, there were some tempering of tariffs and other trade measures. The sharp decrease in international development aid and restrictions on immigration, combined with the more restricted trade environment, resulted in lower economic growth and expected growth. GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH The IMF forecasts global economic growth of 3,2% in 2025 and 3,1% in 2026, down from the 3,3% in 2024. Advanced economies will grow by 1,5% in 2025/26, while developing economies will achieve 4% growth. According to the IMF there are various downside risks…

SS Wealth Planning discussed their ideal legal framework for securing a family farming operation with Farmer’s Weekly. A trust is a legal entity that exists separately from an individual’s personal estate. The trust owns assets that must be managed by the trustees for the benefit of the beneficiaries. In a discretionary trust, the beneficiaries are the individuals who may receive benefits from the trust assets. The trustees have the authority to decide which beneficiary is to benefit, when, and to what extent. Beneficiaries do not have an automatic right to receive anything, nor do they have to benefit at the same time or in the same proportion. Used correctly, one or more trusts can be highly effective tools in a family farming enterprise, helping to preserve and transfer wealth between…

PIGS IN A BLANKET IN A SWEET GLAZE SERVES FOUR INGREDIENTS 12 small pork sausages (or however many you want) 12 pieces of streaky bacon (or the same number as you have sausages) 125g brown sugar 15g Worcestershire sauce 15g Dijon mustard METHOD: • Start with the glaze; put the sugar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard into a small pot. • Put on a low heat on the stove, stirring constantly so that the sugar doesn’t caramelise, until it has a smooth ‘saucy’ consistency. Then remove from the heat and set aside. • Wrap a piece of bacon around each sausage, so that the length of it is as covered as possible. • Place the bacon wrapped sausages in an oven friendly dish, and baste each one with a generous portion…

As we approach the end of another successful year, Trident Jute & Hessian Products would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to all our valued readers, clients, and supporters. Your ongoing interest in our products, your engagement with our brand, and the trust you have placed in us throughout the year have played an essential role in our continued growth. We are truly grateful for the encouragement and loyalty we have received, and we remain committed to delivering quality, reliability, and service excellence in everything we do. The festive season is a special time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. We would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas filled with joy, warmth, and special moments shared with loved ones. As we step…

As we draw closer to the end of another eventful year, I would like to take a moment to extend my sincere gratitude to Farmer’s Weekly for its continued partnership in sharing the story of agriculture in our province. Thank you for engaging deeply with the work of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; for spotlighting the voices of farmers; and for helping broaden the reach of the transformation taking place across our agricultural landscape. Your platform remains a vital bridge between government, industry, and the countless men and women who feed our nation. This has been a year defined by resilience, innovation, and shared commitment to sustaining our food systems. Working alongside farmers, farmer organisations, partners and communities, we have continued to tackle both structural challenges and…

As South African breeders and producers close the chapter on 2025, the bovine genetics and livestock industry reflects on a year shaped by mounting pressures, rapid adjustments, and shifting market dynamics. Among the most significant challenges was the ability of producers to market their livestock, whether commercial or breeding stock, in an increasingly unpredictable environment. While the sector once again demonstrated resilience, farmers and breeders navigated a complex mix of factors that influenced both production and marketing. The year began under the strain of rising economic pressures. Input costs surged beyond expectations, tightening margins for commercial and stud operations alike. For breeders, who rely on costly technologies such as embryo transfer and performance recording, this economic environment made profitability difficult to achieve. Buyers, facing similar financial constraints, became more cautious…

We are ending another year of decent performance in South Africa’s agriculture. The farmers in field crops and horticulture have a lot to celebrate. The excellent harvests they realised is what has supported the sector’s performance in 2025, and sustained employment of roughly 920 000 people. Still, not everything is rosy in the sector. The livestock industry, which accounts for roughly half of South Africa’s farming fortunes, has struggled with foot-and-mouth disease, and this constrained the performance of this subsector. Cattle farmers have felt the financial burden as exports stalled, as they had to continue feeding their livestock throughout this period. Another disappointment is the country’s failure to move with speed in vaccine manufacturing, and procurement. We are now in crisis mode in the livestock industry. Going into 2026, this…

The year 2025 ushered in renewed optimism for South Africa’s agriculture sector, with modest growth and recovery driven by summer field crop production rebounds and efficiency improvements at the country’s seaports. Nonetheless, as the year progressed, trade uncertainty and biosecurity challenges increasingly presented themselves as factors that could potentially retard the momentum of the sector, which saw the Agbiz Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) declining in the second and third quarters of the year. Despite the short-term setbacks, optimism and resilience within the agriculture sector has been sustained, underpinned by other contributing factors such as infrastructure improvements, strengthened trade relations with some Asian countries and quarterly export increases; easing of the South African monetary policy; and declining production costs coupled with higher producer prices, among other factors. ‘VOLATILITY IN PRODUCTION, TRADE…

Farmer’s Weekly has produced a treasure trove of content throughout 2025. In this article, editor Janine Ryan picks the articles, covers and cartoons that stood out to her during the past year. According to experts in the agriculture sector, it seems that grain and oilseed farmers can look forward to more bumper yields in 2026. While they will undoubtedly be faced with various challenges, if the weather permits, on-farm yields are likely to increase, giving farmers more bang for their bucks (pg 19). 12 December ONE FOR MY BUCKET LIST Brian Berkman went to Greenland in June on a luxurious expedition. While this cruise is definitely outside of my pay grade, the beautiful scenery and interactions with nature certainly make this trip worth it for those who can afford it.…

South Africa’s fragmented cannabis regulatory environment has created something most cultivators haven’t seriously confronted yet: the pollen drift problem. As hemp cultivation expands alongside traditional high-THC cannabis production, especially in the Eastern Cape, wind-borne pollen becomes more than an agronomic nuisance. It’s a genuine threat to regulatory compliance, market viability and crop quality. A single male cannabis plant releases approximately 100 million pollen spores during flowering. Those spores are small, around 30 microns, and light enough to travel extraordinary distances. Cross-pollination has been confirmed at distances exceeding 20km, with significant pollen deposition documented at 400m from the source. International hemp seed certification typically requires 5km isolation distances. Industry experts commonly recommend 16km separations between outdoor cannabis operations. Wind direction matters dramatically. Pollen distributed downwind deposits at approximately six times the…

The Department of Basic Education’s National School Nutrition Programme entails a set weekly menu that partaking schools should follow. The menus are based on Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and consist of protein (soya, fish, milk, sour milk, and beans) fresh fruit and vegetables, and a carbohydrate. A variety of protein is served, with soya not being served more than twice a week. The menu includes foods that provide the essential nutrients necessary for growing children. This includes pilchards, maas, milk and soya mince for calcium and vitamin A, and chicken livers and spinach for iron and zinc. The menu currently in use includes lunch for all schools, with most receiving breakfast as well. MONDAY Breakfast: Creamy instant maize meal (vanilla). Lunch (primary and high school): Processed chicken liver stew with rice…

Tradition, family, love and joy with just a sprinkle of glitter and sparkle. Those are just a few of the words we associate with Christmas, and one of the most iconic symbols around this time is the Christmas tree, the cone-shaped pine, spruce or fir bedecked with lights, baubles, stars, angels and reindeer. For mother and daughter team Michelle and Cameryn Watling of Cape Town-based Trendy Trees, it is their busiest time of the year. They specialise in providing both artificial and live Christmas trees, including the trees, the decorations and the experience, catering to clients ranging from average South African families to retailers or corporates hosting year-end functions, to expats or foreign tourists. “From around November every year we are practically covered in glitter from head to foot,” says…

Following her resignation from her job in 2024, Amoré Mannsberger decided to take on a new challenge. Her husband, Ulf, purchased 60 Pekin ducks in December 2024 for her to begin breeding a small flock. Once the pullets started to lay their first eggs, she decided to invest in an incubator and hatcher, deciding to fully commit to duck farming as her next venture. She and Ulf established Netmooiniks duck farm in early 2025, located near Lindequesdrif in North West. Mannsberger says she quickly fell in love with the idea of starting her own operation after seeing her first ducks thrive. “I believe farming was something I was always going to return to. My husband farmed citrus and watermelon in the past, so I have always been surrounded by the…

The new bird book that offers any birding enthusiast weeks, if not months, of intriguing reading is Birds on the Brink (Struik Nature, R490), edited by ornithologist and conservation biologist Alan Lee and conservation researcher and science communicator Shamiso Banda. Lee leads Birdlife South Africa’s work for the international Red List of Birds, which classifies known bird species into nine main categories, from those of ‘least concern’, through ‘vulnerable’ to ‘critically endangered’, ‘extinct in the wild’, and ‘extinct’. ‘Data-deficient’ and ‘not evaluated’ categories indicate there’s still more research waiting to be done. The South African bird checklist totalled 887 species in January 2025, of which 161 were categorised as at least of conservation concern. These birds are readably described at far greater length than in a field guide in this…