Tabla de contenidos para 23 May 2025 en Farmer's Weekly

In this week’s issue, we focus on the magnificent Thoroughbred. (My bias is showing.) The Thoroughbred is the typical racehorse you’ll see performing at events like the Durban July and Royal Ascot. And while this breed holds a special place in my heart for various reasons, each issue of Farmer’s Weekly in May has focused on a particular horse breed – from the indigenous, beautiful, and hardy Nooitgedachter and Boerperd; to the spectacular and speedy American Quarter Horse; the distinguished English Thoroughbred; and, finally, the elegant and versatile Saddlebred (see our upcoming 30 May issue). And while many people may think of horses as pets for the wealthy, the fact remains that horses have played an integral part in human civilisation for thousands of years. Indeed, human history is inextricably…

An overlooked aspect of conservation is how it can benefit surrounding communities. Shamwari Private Game Reserve is a case in point. When the project began in 1992, the team understood that for it to succeed it was essential to have the support of its neighbours. ECONOMIC VALUE The conservationists had to convince people that reintroducing predators would benefit the region by attracting tourists. It also meant encouraging farmers not to use arsenic-based cattle dips that killed vultures and oxpeckers. Importantly, the team knew Shamwari couldn’t be perceived as an island of opulence in a sea of poverty. Residents in the poor rural neighbouring towns of Paterson and Alicedale had to see and experience the advantages of living next door to a private reserve. A study by the Terrestrial Ecology Research…

This article showed how a farmer intended to put the sheep and cattle studs of the farm where she had grown up back on the map. In 1990, music school teacher Emmarentia Botha quit town life to go farming at Skuilhoek in the Luckhoff area of the Free State. It was quite a change, but because she had grown up on this family farm, her love for animals helped her make progress. CONTINUING HER FATHER'S WORK She has continued with the Skuilhoek Brown Swiss stud which her father, the late Chris Blumenthal, started decades ago. However, the main farming enterprise is the Merino flock of 670 animals consisting of both stud and commercial sheep. In the past the sheep were often artificially inseminated, and Botha has plans to return to…

Concerns over health and alcohol among Gen Zs in the US may be exaggerated, as the perceived risk of binge drinking on a weekly basis has not budged for nearly two decades, according to a report by Rabobank Research, titled ‘The real reasons Generation Z is drinking less alcohol’. Instead, Rabobank argued that Gen Zs, born between 1997 and 2012, were primarily drinking less because of the impact of smartphones and shifts in demographics towards groups that drink more moderately. The report stated that smartphones influenced the onset of drinking and drinking habits in two ways: first, by reducing in-person socialisation; and second, through the loss of privacy that comes with parental surveillance, making it more difficult for teenagers to lie about their whereabouts. In terms of shifting demographics, women,…

De Rustica, an olive estate in the Klein Karoo, Western Cape, took second place overall at the 2025 EVOOLEUM Awards, demonstrating a consistency of excellence rarely seen in the industry. De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina scored 96 points out of 100 and was the only extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) outside of Spain and Italy to make it to the Top 10 out of about 1 000 entries from 26 countries. In 2023, De Rustica made history when it became the first South African olive estate to win the EVOOLEUM Absolute Best Award with this oil. It now joins two Spanish and one Italian estates as the only producers worldwide to have achieved multiple top 10 rankings over the past three years. Rob Still, owner of De Rustica, said in a…

TLU SA has expressed serious concern about the increasing incidence of illegal hunting with dogs in agricultural areas, especially in the Free State. According to Bennie van Zyl, general manager at TLU SA, the situation was “getting out of hand” and underpinned the gross negligence of law enforcers to act upon the perpetrators, despite existing legislation against the crime. More and more incidents of illegal hunting were being reported on private land, Van Zyl said. “What happens is that the persons intent on unlawful hunting surreptitiously enter private land with various sized groups of dogs to hunt game or livestock. These actions lead to considerable losses, such as the destruction of fences and the loss of livestock and game, among others. We are seeing a dangerous increase in this type…

The East London Agricultural Show, held over four days in May at the Gonubie Farmer’s Hall, drew large crowds and nearly doubled its poultry entries compared with last year, marking a successful 2025 edition of the annual event. The show featured exhibitions ranging from livestock to farming equipment, providing a platform for farmers, suppliers and agricultural enthusiasts to connect and showcase their contributions to the sector. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Lionel Whittal, chairperson of the East London Poultry Society, said the poultry section saw a significant increase in participation. “We had close to 400 entries in the show, of which we had 58 class winners, 100% class winners and then seven individual class winners that were higher than class winners. “In our peak period, we had over 600 birds in…

The National Livestock Farmers’ Association of South Africa (NaLFA-SA), a coalition of black farmer associations in the red meat industry, hosted a farmers’ day in Mboya Location in Mbhashe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape to showcase progress in livestock farming, and call for continued government and industry support to transform communal farming into a commercial force. “Over the past 16 years, the Department of Agriculture has supported farmers in the Mbhashe area with high-quality livestock, including bulls, rams and bucks. “Today, the farmers have invited me to showcase their progress, celebrate their strides and point me to areas [in need of] improvement,” Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe told Farmer’s Weekly. She added that one of the key projects celebrated on the day was the Mboya Red Meat…

It is especially challenging to determine whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor when there is no written agreement between the parties, and a dispute arises and the person approaches the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, claiming to be an employee. EMPLOYEE The definition in Section 213 of the Labour Relations Act (No. 66 of 1995), or the LRA, provides that an employee is any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person (or the state) and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any remuneration; and any other person who in any manner assists in carrying on or conducting the business of an employer. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR Independent contractors are service providers that are appointed to provide a specific product or service to another person…

The Dreyers are passionate about groundnuts for various reasons. Here are some good reasons to consider growing this crop: • Groundnuts are a versatile crop with various uses and value-added markets to explore; • They are good for use as a rotational crop; • They have a high local and international market value and can be an extra source of income for farmers; • Groundnuts are drought-resistant and can be grown in different regions, making them a suitable crop for subsistence and commercial farming; and • They can also be used for soil enrichment, as they increase organic matter in the soil, improve soil structure, and contribute to nitrogen fixation.…

Dear Prof McCrindle, After the heavy rains in Gauteng, my Dorper sheep have snotty noses and are coughing a lot. Five have died, and it looks like pneumonia. We injected the sick sheep with tetracycline, but they are still dying. What can I do? Sheep Farmer, Gauteng Dear Sheep Farmer, Cold, wet weather decreases disease resistance in many animals. That’s why most commercial sheep farms are situated in the Karoo. After the recent heavy downpours, resistance has dropped in flocks, and pasteurellosis is now the most common cause of pneumonia in sheep. Outbreaks of the disease, caused by Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica, are often the result of a drop in immunity, resulting from stress and cold, wet weather. Vaccination is effective. However, we’ve had relatively good weather in Gauteng…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. This article was written by Doyinsola Mufuliat Adeleke of the Vaal University of Technology. It was co-authored by Prof Rasheed Adeleke from the School of Biological Sciences at North-West University, and Prof AbdulKadir Egal of the International Education Association of Somali. "Childhood malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in poor and middle-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. Despite various efforts, the region continues to experience high rates of stunting and wasting among children under five years old. The World Health Organization states that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is sufficient to meet an infant’s nutritional needs. From six months to two years, complementary foods should be…

Prof Lise Korsten, an eminent scholar in plant pathology at the University of Pretoria (UP) and co-director of the Centre of Excellence in Food Security, was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by Belgium’s Ghent University for her contributions to food security and safety. Korsten earned her BSc and BSc Hons degrees at Stellenbosch University, where her interest in agriculture took root, but her MSc and PhD at UP shaped her ground-breaking career. This honorary doctorate from a globally esteemed institution underscores her lifelong dedication to advancing scientific frontiers for societal good. “Receiving this recognition from a world-leading university is a humbling testament to a lifetime dedicated to advancing scientific frontiers for societal benefit,” she said. “It galvanises my resolve to foster equitable, resilient food systems that empower communities and drive…

Municipal fresh produce markets are leaving money on the table by ignoring infrastructure concerns. As service delivery at these markets continues to deteriorate, farmers are exploring other channels, reducing volumes traded on markets and thereby decreasing income for the markets. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Potatoes South Africa CEO Willie Jacobs said the markets didn’t have an adequate growth strategy to facilitate the increase in production volumes across South Africa’s fresh produce sector over the past few decades. “The dilapidation of the municipal fresh produce markets has been well documented. Critical investment is needed in key areas of the markets to increase capacity and safeguard transactions. “If they have the capacity to handle more volumes, then their income will also rise since farmers pay a percentage of the income they earn…

The loss of 103 rhinos to poaching in the first three months of 2025 is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to South Africa’s wildlife. This was according Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Nevertheless, he said in a statement that the absence of poaching in four South African provinces showed that targeted intervention was yielding results. This was, according to George, testament to the dedication of the country’s rangers, law enforcement agencies, and community partners. In a significant step forward, 15 rhino poaching-related arrests were made between January and March 2025. The department previously announced that a 54-year-old Zimbabwean fugitive, Thomas Chauke, had been sentenced to 110 years in prison after being convicted of multiple charges, including rhino poaching, escaping lawful custody, and illegal…

Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently welcomed a High Court ruling that dismissed a case regarding a viral strain of Rift Valley fever (RVF) purchased by Vetvax and Design Biologix with costs. According to a statement by OBP and the ARC, the ruling was a victory as the applicants tried to register a vaccine using the ARC viral strain without permission from the ARC and without the necessary permit, as required for ‘controlled goods’ under the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act (No. 87 of 1993). However, Karen Nel, director and CEO of Design Biologix, told Farmer’s Weekly that the OBP statement was misleading, as the application was dismissed on technical grounds only, namely that due to the presence of disputes of fact, the…

Orange producers ended 2024 on a strong financial note due to favourable global juice prices, despite a slight contraction in exported volumes. Record-high juice prices were driven by major disruptions in Brazil’s citrus industry, including citrus greening and drought. Brazil’s 2024 orange crop was the lowest since 1988. However, production is expected to recover in 2025 as La Niña brings some relief from the dry conditions experienced in 2024. In Brazil, around 80% of oranges are processed into juice, with only 20% going to the fresh market. As production starts to rebound and demand cools partly in response to 2024’s elevated prices, juice prices have dropped rapidly. Since peaking in December 2024, global orange juice prices have fallen by nearly 50% (see graph). This suggests that global orange prices may…

Basic fertilisation for a sweet potato crop should be directed by a soil analysis and worked into the soil during land preparation. Any subsequent fertiliser should only be nitrogen, preferably in the form of LAN. Ridges are formed with an implement such as a lister. They should be about 1m apart, but the exact measurement should be such that it accommodates tractor wheel spacing. Runners grown for the purpose of establishing a crop are then harvested from the nursery. Often, you’ll need to start planting as soon as possible to ensure early marketing and extend the production season. This means you can harvest the first planting material when the runners are about 30cm long. Subsequently, you can harvest long runners and then break these into 30cm lengths. There is often…

Dutoit Group (Dutoit) was excited about results from its semi-commercial trials with Ifored’s red-fleshed apple varieties, which will be marketed under the Kissabel brand name. Willie Kotze, technical manager at Dutoit, told Farmer’s Weekly that they have been planting various Kissabel varieties, with different skin colours, as they became available in their trial blocks on their Western Cape farms at Witzenberg and Koue Bokkeveld. Three years ago, they selected five of the promising red-skinned varieties, grafted these on M9 rootstocks and planted them on 1ha of land, under shade netting, for further evaluation. This year, the trees produced their first semi-commercial yields. Kotze said that a challenge with these varieties, with flesh ranging in colour from a delicate pink to intense red, is that they originate from old, red-fleshed, wild…

Increasing demand for animal protein and producer resilience to disease outbreaks and adverse weather conditions have been credited for the rise in global feed production. Data released by Alltech in its 2025 Agri-Feed Outlook showed that global feed production rebounded in 2024 after a stagnant 2023. The industry showed 1,2% growth, expanding production by 16,7 million tons to reach 1,396 billion tons. The biggest challenge facing feed producers over the last few years has been ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF), reducing poultry and pig herds, respectively. “Most regions and species displayed modest growth in 2024, with poultry continuing to lead the way, albeit at a slower pace than in years past, likely due to disruptions from HPAI in North America and the…

The Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET), in collaboration with Mohair South Africa, recently launched the Fort Cox Angora Goat Pilot Project to provide students at Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in the Eastern Cape (FCAFTI) with hands-on training in mohair production. The pilot project began with the introduction of 20 wethers to the institute’s farm. Beauty Mokgwamme, MET general manager, told Farmer’s Weekly the initiative, called Empowerment Through Education, offered students theoretical and practical exposure to the mohair industry. “The sessions cover a wide range of topics, including the history of Angora goats, mohair classing skills to understand mohair grading and industry standards, effective livestock management for animal handling, and Angora goat management, which includes health programmes, breeding, shearing, kidding and marketing,” she explained. She added that the project…

President Donald Trump recently announced higher US tariffs on imports from various countries. Contrary to normal international practice, the US based the new proposed import tariffs on a simple comparison of imports and exports of specific products between the US and other countries. Import tariff policy is one part of the agricultural trade environment and should be regarded in conjunction with other trade-distorting measures. THREE PILLARS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE Agricultural trade was regarded as a special case and it was only included in multinational trade negotiations in the Uruguay Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, and the Agreement on Agriculture (AOA) was entered into in 1995. The AOA is based on three pillars, namely market access, domestic support, and export subsidies. MARKET ACCESS In the market access pillar, maximum…

Based on the 119 model of Mercedes-Benz’s more commercially oriented Vito van range, the Vito Select is offered in Mixto and Tourer models. The former is a five-seater with 4,1m² cargo space and the latter an eight-seater with 1,7m² in the rear. The seats in both can be moved or even removed for ultimate versatility. Priced at R1 264 200 and R1 360 000, respectively, the Mixto and Tourer are more expensive than their peers, but much better specced than entry-level models of the previous-generation V-Class. And even better, these specifications are included and not part of an endless list of optional extras. SMOOTH DIESEL POWER Both derivatives are powered by a 2l turbo-diesel engine that produces 140kW of power and 440Nm of torque. The twist is sent to the…

Planting wildflowers in apple orchards could save farmers up to £3 000/ha (around R73 000/ha) per year by reducing pest damage and improving crop health. This is according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural Economics, which builds on earlier research conducted by a team from the University of Reading in the UK. Flower strips attract beneficial insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings, which feed on pests like aphids and reduce the need for chemical sprays. The study found that in years with high pest pressure, flower strips cut damage from rosy apple aphids by up to 32%. Even in quieter pest years, the strips still paid for themselves when planted at the orchard edge. Researchers tested flower strips in different positions over two years and discovered…

Capitec: Stalking Giants by TJ Strydom (Tafelberg, R320) In late April, Capitec Bank was named South Africa’s biggest bank by market capitalisation, adding to the title it’s held for several years of biggest by subscriber numbers. Its roots were in the Boland more than three decades ago. Then, the banking sector was under pressure to bring the ‘unbanked’ on board. Strydom vividly sketches how Capitec’s founders, mostly from the Cape’s liquor businesses, used this expertise in developing products consumers want, and supplying the products where consumers are. They opened in places as remote as the Eastern Cape’s Lusikisiki long before Sandton and were consumer-friendly with longer hours, minimal paperwork and welcoming branches near travel points. In 2016, Capitec at last launched its credit card, and it was also declared the best…