Tabla de contenidos para 29 August + 5 September 2025 en Farmer's Weekly

President Donald Trump's administration recently doubled India's tariffs to 50%, citing India's ongoing trade with Russia and the country's refusal to accept US agricultural produce as reasons (see pages 13 and 19). Since Trump has instituted substantial duties and tariffs in his second presidency, reportedly in a bid to reduce trade deficits or address perceived unfair trade practices, I thought it might be useful to summarise the most significant tariffs imposed on countries (excluding South Africa), particularly as it relates to agricultural commodities and exports. First, Trump has imposed tariffs on most countries that export steel and aluminium to the US. And while this doesn't directly relate to agricultural commodities, these tariffs increase the cost of manufacturing agricultural equipment, indirectly affecting the agriculture sector. Perhaps the most spoken about country…

A great deal has been written about the impact of the 30% tariff imposed by the US on South Africa and the different role players in this context. What South Africa is currently experiencing with this penalising tariff regime is a microcosm of the global situation. I want to elaborate more on the global impact of tariffs than about the impact on this country. The Trump administration has reversed an 80-year-old American economic and foreign policy that consistently pushed countries to remove restrictions and taxes on trade. The effects of this massive policy reset are not to be measured in the current global uncertainty, but in the kind of world that will emerge as a result of this intervention. The Trump tariff regime is currently applied to more than 180…

Biological pest control holds significant potential for agriculture, but growers need to understand both its advantages and limitations before adopting it, warned Dr Francois Gulu Bekker, researcher at Stellenbosch University. Speaking at the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture/South African Table Grape Industry's Table Talk: Grape Conversations, recently held near Paarl, Bekker said that biological control – the use of natural enemies, such as parasitoids, predators and pathogens to suppress pest populations – offers several advantages. These include being species specific, preventing pests from developing resistance, promoting ecological balance and potentially being cost effective in the long term. He, however, stressed that it cannot eradicate pests entirely, often works slowly, has variable effectiveness and can be complex to implement: “If anyone says it is easy, do not listen to…

South Africa's cannabis industry is buzzing. New tech, fancy plant science, and ideas from overseas are pouring in fast. But here's something you might not expect: some of the best tools for growing cannabis are already here, tucked away in the knowledge of local communities. Traditional farming wisdom, skills and tricks that have been passed down through generations could make cannabis growing easier, greener, and more meaningful. Let's break it down. Farmers in places like the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been growing cannabis way before it was a big deal, and with no machines or lab reports. Instead, they learned from the land itself. Over time they figured out what worked, like where to plant, what to grow cannabis with, and how to keep it healthy. The Zulu and…

The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) was established in 2012 through the merger of two existing public entities: the Eastern Cape Rural Finance Corporation and AsgiSA-Eastern Cape. This amalgamation was a strategic move to create a more comprehensive and integrated approach to rural development in the province. The ECRDA's establishment is rooted in the Eastern Cape Rural Finance Corporation Act (No. 9 of 1999). Its primary focus is to formulate, promote, and ensure the implementation of a comprehensive integrated rural development strategy for the province. The agency aims to drive and coordinate high-impact programmes that uplift rural communities. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Simpiwe Somdyala, CEO of the ECRDA, said national government specifically mandated the agency to focus on rural agriculture. “The Eastern Cape is a net importer of everything…

SERVES 8 TO 10 INGREDIENTS 180ml (¾ cup) sugar 60ml (¼ cup) water 5 eggs 385g tin caramel condensed milk 380g tin evaporated milk 30ml (2 Tbsp) strong brewed coffee METHOD • Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place a 20cm Bundt pan in a deep roasting tray. • Heat the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring for about 2 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. • Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, covered, for about 5 minutes, swirling the pan and peeking occasionally until a golden caramel forms. • Immediately pour the caramel into the Bundt pan. Tilt and turn to spread the caramel out to the edges of the pan. Set aside to harden. • Beat together the…

Pondoland, a mostly coastal strip about 50km wide running along the Wild Coast, roughly from Port St John's to the Mzimkhulu River at Oribi Gorge, is one of South Africa's best-kept botanical secrets. This is the belief of Kate Grieve, lead author of Botanical Bounty of the Pondoland Centre of Endemism. Her co-authors are consulting engineer Graham Grieve, a keen birder turned plant enthusiast, and Stellenbosch academic Prof Dirk Bellstedt, who uses biochemistry techniques to distinguish plants. “The Pondoland Centre of Endemism covers about 1 880km² and is part of one of the world's botanical hotspots,” says Kate. Proportionately, the Pondoland centre flora can almost match the number of endemic species in the Cape floristic region by area, plus 77 of the special Cape genera, she notes. Five of Kate's…

Dear Prof McCrindle, I moved from Rayton in Gauteng to the Western Cape. Do you have any do's and don'ts when transporting wild animals, for example springboks? I'd like to know the rules on darting, and how to transport the animals, causing as little stress as possible. Kind regards, Tanya Dear Tanya, The best thing to do is to immediately contact a vet who understands wildlife transport. You can inject vitamin B1 if an animal is very stressed. Also add vitamins B1 and B12 to the food or water of animals being transported. Keep different types of animals separate. If your animals are loaded into a dark wagon or lorry, they should not be too stressed. At their destination, drop them off in a small camp with shade and leave…

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/xJluH. “The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world's highest court, handed down an advisory opinion on 23 July 2025 stating that climate change “imperils all forms of life”. This followed a case brought by Vanuatu, a tiny South Pacific island nation threatened by rising sea levels, supported by 131 other countries, the biggest case the court had ever heard. The opinion sets out what all governments need to do to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further global warming. WHAT DID THE ICJ FIND? The court's advisory opinion confirmed that states have binding obligations under international law to protect the climate…

Yoliswa Dlamini didn't choose forestry – it chose her. Growing up in Melmoth, a small town in Zululand, weekends and holidays as the oldest child meant following her forester father into the plantations. She learned to operate farm machinery and helped with harvesting operations while other kids were playing games. “Forestry became part of who I am before I even understood it was a career,” she says, attributing her passion for it to her late father, Gervas. “He was my greatest inspiration and guiding light, and his legacy continues to direct my path and purpose in this field.” At 37, Dlamini brings 15 years of industry expertise to her role as a silviculture forester. This is underpinned by a BSc, an MBA and an impressive array of business qualifications –…

Nedbank, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has launched the website, alieninvasiveresources.co.za, which lists over 370 invasive plants found across South Africa. Each species is categorised according to its distribution, preferred climate and habitat, and includes information on the legal requirements and management regulations under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2024). Cobus de Bruyn, head of Agriculture CVP at Nedbank, said the bank's involvement in developing the tool was driven by the serious threat invasive alien plants pose to land productivity, water availability and long-term property value. “The tool gives our clients the ability to identify and manage these species early, helping them protect their land assets, comply with environmental regulations, and make informed decisions that support both ecological and financial sustainability,”…

Manal Awad, Egypt's minister of local development and acting environment minister, recently held a key meeting with Alaa Farouk, agriculture minister, to discuss accelerating the use of agricultural and livestock waste for biogas production, as well as organic fertiliser manufacturing, Daily News Egypt reported. According to the news agency, this aligned with the country's green transition goals. “The meeting was attended by senior officials from both ministries, representatives from the Biogas Energy Foundation and experts in slaughterhouse management, agricultural extension and livestock development,” Daily News Egypt said. According to Awad, the Egyptian government was determined to promote projects that maximised the use of agricultural by-products, such as abattoir waste and animal manure, through biogas units. “Awad also called for expanding medium-and large-scale biogas units at key agricultural sites […] to…

The agriculture ministers for China, South Korea and Japan recently held their fourth trilateral meeting in Incheon, South Korea, Xinhua reported. It has been seven years since the last trilateral meeting of the three East Asian countries. The meeting focused on issues such as food security, animal diseases and sustainable agriculture. The three ministers also discussed the challenges facing agriculture in their respective countries and the region, including adverse climate, the cross-border spread of infectious diseases and supply chain instability, Xinhua said. They also reaffirmed the importance of sharing information and working together to address these challenges. The three countries agreed to “deepen complementary co-operation”, specifically with a focus on smart agriculture technologies, and green and low-carbon agriculture. According to Xinhua, Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun…

Smallholder farmers often don't have the money to get to specialised places selling seedlings. I recently undertook a trial to self-produce seedlings and the outcome was very positive – many of the cabbages produced from these seedlings have already been sold. While producing seedlings is in some respects quite technical, it's not that difficult to master, and with some innovation and good care, you can produce seedlings that should result in healthy cabbages. Producing seedlings in a ‘professional’ manner requires infrastructure and equipment, such as temperature-controlled areas or greenhouses and purpose-fit seedling trays, but if you cannot afford these or don't have access to them, you can always innovate. Some prospective producers may also not have access to sanitised potting soil, but this hurdle can also be overcome. IMPROVISED EQUIPMENT…

Little formal research exists on high-density grazing (HG) systems in South Africa, as testing grazing systems under realistic, controlled conditions is difficult. Veld is sensitive to overgrazing, especially in the more arid regions. Degraded veld shows various interrelated characteristics such as reduced soil carbon and nutrient levels. These degradation processes not only affect soil health but also impact vegetation dynamics, influencing plant productivity, species composition, and root development in rangelands. Vegetation in degraded grasslands may have shallower rooting systems, reduced productivity, and a wider presence of poorly palatable species. HG systems could lead to a better utilisation of the available above-ground biomass. A uniform grazing pressure of palatable and less palatable species followed by a long recovery period may also favour a shift in species composition towards more palatable species,…

Available initially as a single model in GS Line guise, the second modern Opel SUV after the Mokka additionally incorporates the latest version of Rüsselsheim's Bold and Pure styling language, though with a subtle difference from its smaller sibling. Aside from its design involving the newest take on the Opel Vizor grille and Compass in which the Blitz badge becomes the central ‘directional’ focus, the Grandland's switch in platform not only involves a more distinctive appearance, but gains on every dimensional front compared to its predecessor. BIGGER THAN BEFORE At 4 650mm long, 1 655mm tall and 1 905mm wide, the second-generation measures 173mm longer, 19mm taller and 64mm wider, with the wheelbase unchanged at 2 784mm. The knock-on effect is an increase in boot space from 514ℓ to 550ℓ.…

A groundbreaking study from the University of California, Riverside, challenges conventional wisdom about bumblebee reproduction, revealing that queens, the sole founders of their colonies, take regular, deliberate breaks from laying eggs, according to ScienceDaily.com. This discovery suggests a vital biological mechanism to prevent burnout before their crucial first generation of workers emerges. In the initial, vulnerable phase of colony establishment, a bumblebee queen single-handedly manages all essential tasks: foraging for food, incubating her brood by generating heat with her wing muscles, maintaining the nest, and laying eggs. This intensive period is a precarious balancing act, as the colony's survival hinges entirely on the queen. Researchers, led by doctoral student Blanca Peto, noticed an intriguing pattern in this demanding phase: bursts of egg-laying followed by periods of inactivity. Peto's observations of…

Dr Jenny Turton gave advice on animal health at a farmers’ day held at the Onderstepoort Institution for Veterinarians. She said farmers with a basic knowledge of animal health are able to select healthy animals when buying new ones. It is important to know the history of any animal you are buying. If you don't know whether the animal you are thinking of buying has been sick recently, you need to ask a number of questions. Are any of the other animals in the same group sick? If the animal is an adult, what is its breeding history? If a female is aged and has never had young, or a male has never managed to make females pregnant, there could be a problem, and these animals should not be kept…

Global fresh produce consumption is increasing as consumers seek out health food options. Fresh produce exporters, however, need to position their products according to country-specific trends to take advantage of nuances in the market, and overcome price sensitivity. Speaking at the Netafim impact day in White River, Mpumalanga in August, Werner van Rooyen, chief operating officer of the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, noted that the last year had seen a 2,4% growth in the global expenditure on fresh produce. “But three out of four consumers are concerned about rising costs and are price sensitive. They think carefully about what they buy, shop around, and seek out discounts,” Van Rooyen said. “Retailers are therefore working to discount fruit on the international market. We need to think about how best to provide…

According to Willie Jacobs, CEO of Potatoes South Africa (Potatoes SA), even the best potatoes will achieve low prices if sent to market at the wrong time. “You can have the best-quality potatoes, but if you're sending them to the market when volumes are peaking, then you will struggle with pricing,” he said. He warned that unless farmers and fresh produce markets increased their storage capacity, price volatility could continue to curtail potato farmers. Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Jacobs said one of the biggest challenges facing potato farmers was the pressure placed on the market during peak supply periods. “The infrastructure currently available cannot handle the influx of potatoes during high-production periods, even though the demand for the crop remains strong. “We need to have better storage capacity in the…

MOROCCO According to Morocco World News, the country has moved up in the global blueberry export ranking to claim the fourth spot. In 2024, Morocco was seventh in the ranking of the world's biggest exporters. Last year, Morocco exported a record-high of 83 000t of blueberries, the news agency said. This was particularly significant, considering that in 2009, Morocco had only exported 636t. Growth in export volumes over the years had thus increased by an annual average of 43%, Morocco World News reported. “This growth […] reflects the country's ability to combine natural advantages, advanced farming techniques and strategic investments to build a competitive and fast-growing industry.” Another key component to the growth in Morocco's blueberry exports was the country's close proximity to countries like Spain, the UK and Germany,…

CANADA According to Al Jazeera, Canada has been hit by temporary anti-dumping duties of 75,8% on canola imported to China. This followed a year-long trade dispute between Beijing and Ottawa, which kicked off when the latter imposed tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China in August 2024. Al Jazeera reported that the Intercontinental Exchange's November canola futures RSX5 fell 6,5% to a four-month low after the announcement. “China, the world's largest importer of canola, sources nearly all of its supplies of the product from Canada. The steep duties would likely all but end imports if they are maintained,” the television network said. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, an anti-dumping probe launched in 2024 had found that “Canada's agriculture sector had benefitted from substantial government subsidies and preferential policies”, Al…

The main factors affecting onion and potato market dynamics were related to shocks around input costs and adverse weather events. In this analysis we will focus on how historical events shaped the position of the markets, and how the markets progressed until the middle of 2025. WAR CAUSING FERTILISER PRICES TO SURGE For onions, the trend can be noted from 2022, when the start of the Russia-Ukraine war had a negative impact on macroeconomic factors. This resulted in fertiliser prices surging in 2022, and a sharp downward supply response in key global onion producing areas. The effects of this also filtered through to South Africa, which resulted in exports from South Africa to regions as far afield as the EU. Following that, in June 2023, inflation rates peaked due to…

In light of the challenges regarding matching the parentage of rams to lambs, the Landrani Meatmaster Stud has developed an innovative solution: using Dormer rams as follow-up rams after laparoscopic insemination of ewes within the stud programme. These crossbred lambs are easily identifiable upon birth due to their distinctive wool and are recorded as ‘not for registration’. However, despite this, the lambs’ data can be used to contribute to the ewe's data, as per SA Stud Book. Using a Meatmaster ram as a follow-up ram could lead to confusion about the true parentage of the lamb, says De Wet. From 1 October 2023 to 21 January 2024, De Wet compared the performance of the purebred Meatmaster lambs with that of the Dormer-Meatmaster crossbred lambs. He specifically focused on weaning weight,…

About 40 years ago, Italian turbine engineer Vincenzo Caroli revolutionised spray technology in Europe through the development of Vicar blower sprayers in conjunction with LTS in Germany. What makes this technology unique, according to 88-year-old Mike Heath, a consultant who has seen a whole revolution of machinery in his days, is the fact that it works with radial turbine technology. This technology has been unavailable in South Africa until four years ago, when Ikapa Trading in Grabouw started importing three Vicar models from LTS. IMPROVED TURBINE TECHNOLOGY The technology presents a major improvement on axial flow turbine technology that has been the standard in South Africa for the past 30 years. Heath explains that the biggest challenge with all mist blower sprayers is that air cannot be bent, but needs…

The dark and almost formal cover of Ilse van der Merwe's irresistible Timeless South African (Penguin, R480) immediately reminded me of the classic book from which I first learned some of the history of local food, Renata Coetzee's 1977 The South African Culinary Tradition. Van der Merwe lists this as one of her inspirations, along with plenty of other great food writers, both older and more recent. Her research blends with her own culinary talent and insight to create a fascinating, absorbing book about how many of our country's favourite foods have developed, and a collection of the recipes to make them. She reminds us of vintage kitchen gadgets that still produce great-tasting food, such as jaffle irons, and regionally adapted food that adds special character to ‘local is lekker’, such…