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.

‘Unremarkable’ women in agriculture

Farmer's Weekly

Studying hemp’s impact on water resources • Using drones and advanced ground sensors, researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Rhodes University mapped the water consumption of hemp in KwaZulu-Natal, providing South Africa’s first measurable evidence to help policymakers sustainably regulate this emerging crop.

Windhoek Agricultural Show

How one farming family turned their challenges into opportunities

Export potential grows for deciduous fruit

Export expansion is crucial for the long-term growth of SA agriculture

Bumper blueberry season expected in the north, but uncertain for Western Cape • South Africa’s blueberry season has opened with forecasts of strong yields and high export prices in the northern regions. Meanwhile, Western Cape growers face weather-related uncertainty. Lindi Botha reports.

EC poultry co-ops given room to grow

Bee vectoring tech offers new hope for chemical-free crop protection • New research by Bee-Tech Group and Stellenbosch University shows that honeybees can deliver protective fungi to blueberry blossoms while pollinating them, offering South African farmers a new way to protect their crops and reduce pesticide use. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.

Agrochemicals: where are we heading? • The future of crop protection will not be defined by chemicals or biological products alone. It will depend on how intelligently agriculture combines chemistry, biology, genetics, precision technology, and sound regulation to produce more food with fewer resources, writes Glenneis Kriel.

Tax essentials for the new commercial farmer: Part 1 • For a new commercial farmer, sound tax compliance starts with proving that the farm is a genuine profit-making business, separating private and business finances, recording all income, and keeping documents that support legitimate expense claims. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Cobus du Plessis explains the foundations of a tax-compliant farming operation.

The impact of Middle East tensions on SA agriculture • As a net importer of fuel and fertiliser, South Africa remains vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains, with increases in input costs placing pressure on farm viability, writes Zama Sangweni.

The cost of not having employment contracts • Many employers have learnt the hard way that assumptions about roles and rules create avoidable stress for everyone involved, writes Tiaan Botes.

FOCUS ON NAMPO CAPE

Bredasdorp Park

NAMPO CAPE 2026 Exhibitors list

Nampo Cape showcases agricultural strength in the Western Cape • Nampo Cape’s growth mirrors the strength and diversity of Western Cape agriculture, providing a platform where the entire value chain can collaborate, access modern technology, and drive more resilient and sustainable industry growth and progress. Annelie Coleman reports.

The rich history of Bredasdorp, birthplace of Nampo Cape • Situated in the Western Cape’s Overberg region, Bredasdorp boasts a diverse agricultural heritage shaped by pioneer Merino wool farming, dynamic crop diversification, and fascinating coastal shipwreck history. Annelie Coleman reports.

Tractor prices

Cold chain vital to the food value chain • In September, the Global Cold Chain Alliance Africa Cold Chain Conference 2026 will be held to discuss the myriad factors that impact on the entire cold chain. In anticipation of this...