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.

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Farmer's Weekly

Why diesel’s huge spike hits South Africa harder than petrol price hikes • A massive 60% surge in diesel prices exposes South Africa’s crumbling rail and power systems, adding R45 billion in supply chain costs and embedding global shocks directly into broader inflation. Lisette IJssel de Schepper, chief economist at the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, writes.

Vegetable seedlings course

Robotic milking on its way to becoming a reality

AGOA and the future of trade between SA and the US

Recent floods are another headwind for South African agricultural growth

NEWS WRAP

Youth agripreneurs pilot a new model for jobs and food security • Diepsloot's Green Acres Hydro-Coop programme tackles youth unemployment by turning young agripreneurs into business owners. Using compact, solar-powered agritech, this innovative pilot boosts local food security and climate-conscious urban farming. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.

More difficult years ahead for wine industry • South Africa's wine industry is heading for a difficult two years, with oversupply, rising costs and climate-related shocks placing increasing pressure on producers. Glenneis Kriel reports.

The prickly threat facing South Africa's mohair and wool industries • Invasive cacti threaten South Africa's wool and mohair industries by destroying grazing lands and injuring livestock. Discover how cost-effective, historically proven biological control offers a sustainable solution to protect fibre-producing regions. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.

Migration strains services in fruit-growing regions

Mastering the income statement • Move beyond the field and master the income statement. Discover how tracking true profitability, depreciation, and enterprise margins transforms smallholder talent into commercial success, ensuring your farm business thrives, writes Cobus du Plessis.

Global climate pressures reshape SA farming outlook • Farmers who prepare early and manage resources carefully will be in a better position to handle whatever climate events the season brings, according to Zama Sangweni.

Outlook appears slightly better for milk producers • Foot-and-mouth disease has had a hugely negative impact on milk producers. However, higher producer prices and lower feed costs provide some relief for farmers, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.

Built to last: three decades of reinvention on one family farm • At Indezi River Creamery, a KwaZulu-Natal family has spent three decades building a resilient dairy business grounded in quality and adaptability. Producing a wide range of cheeses, yoghurts and cultured products, the creamery has recently embraced kefir, a fast-growing niche in South Africa, with a focus on flavour, consistency and proven health benefits. Lindi Botha reports.

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AUCTION CALENDAR 2026

Breeding hardy, high– yielding genetics for the tough Highveld • Adhering to Tom Lasater’s ’Six Essential’ principles, the Steinberg Beefmaster stud utilises advanced embryo programmes and strict veld–selection to breed fertile, uniform, and tick–resistant cattle engineered to thrive under extreme South African conditions. Stud master Awie van Aardt spoke to Annelie Coleman.

Developing functional Beefmasters in the Limpopo bushveld • The Beefmaster has seen steady growth in South Africa as producers place greater emphasis on...