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.

The high cost of living is a crisis for everyone

Nitrogen fertiliser: the fragile foundation of global food security • Soaring energy prices and geopolitical conflicts highlight our reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, sparking growing interest in biofertilisers as a potential, albeit complex, sustainable alternative for global food production.

SADC Plant Nutrition Symposium • 19 to 20 November, Stellenbosch

2026 Absa Top 10 Olive Oil winners announced

Herefords: a hardy breed that has stood the test of time • The 'white faces' are known as general-purpose animals and are excellent animals for beginners and experienced farmers alike. FW ARCHIVE

Will the US midterm election break the current stalemate in the Middle East?

Global fruit trade trends, export shifts, and cost pressures • Explore the latest global agricultural updates, covering surging blueberry production, rising input costs hitting banana growers, trade hurdles for Washington apples, French pear losses, and shifting international market opportunities. Photos: FW Archive

Livestock challenges, vaccine delays, and growth strategies in SA agriculture • During the month of October, the Farmer’s Weekly team covered the Agricultural Research Council’s delayed foot-and-mouth disease vaccine facility funding, insights on brand integrity, and scale from the World Wagyu Conference, and South Africa’s worsening dairy cost-price squeeze. Photo: FW Archive

How to prepare a farm finance application • Preparing a successful South African farm finance application requires demonstrating repayment capacity, strong collateral, clear cash-flow projections, and tax compliance to satisfy lenders and credit committees.

Wheat enters a more vulnerable supply cycle • Although global and domestic wheat supplies remain comfortable, declining planted area, tighter exporter stocks, and lower margins leave the market increasingly vulnerable to weather challenges and trade disruptions, says Zama Sangweni.

The value of a chainsaw for small-scale farmers • Chainsaw mechanisation, if well managed, can improve farming operational efficiency and minimise unnecessary expenditure, writes Shane Brody.

From rescue mission to economic expansion • South Africa’s poultry industry has navigated through some challenges, with efforts now being focused towards growth and sustainability, writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela.

Agriculture knowledge is being passed on • P-W van Wyk’s agricultural journey is explored by Zunel Laing, highlighting how audio-visual media, mentorship, and practical learning bridge textbook theory to empower the next generation of producers.

Impact of drought on Karoo farmers • Charl van der Merwe, an 80-year-old sheep farmer from the Upper Karoo, recently graduated at the University of Cape Town with a master’s degree in economics. His dissertation examines how commercial sheep farmers in the Karoo responded to one of the region’s most severe droughts that lasted from 2013 to 2023.

Sound feedlot management starts before the cattle arrive • Looking after cattle and protecting the environment starts with choosing a suitable site and continues through everyday decisions about water, feed, handling, and waste. Roelie van Reenen, vice-chairperson of the South African Feedlot Association, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about putting these responsibilities into practice.

Tighter margins could curb on-farm cattle feeding • Farmers who...