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.

Agritourism: more than a side hustle

Farmer's Weekly

How insecurity is dismantling food systems in Nigeria • Violent conflict in Africa causes more than tragedy; it reshapes the economic fabric of rural communities. A study by agricultural economists Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, using data from Nigeria from 2012 to 2019, shows how exposure to violence pushes farmers into ‘survival mode’.

Limousin Breeder Summit

Prestigious Kwanalu young farmer competition opens for 2026 entries

Confectionary waste can be converted to bioenergy

The milk goats of Africa

War and disease shaped SA agriculture’s first quarter, but there are positives

NEWS WRAP

UNISA is gearing up to start training veterinary students in 2030 • For more than a century, the University of Pretoria has stood as South Africa’s sole producer of veterinarians, but that’s set to change. UNISA has officially announced its transition into the full veterinary space, with the first intake of 50 students scheduled to begin their six-year BVSc degrees in 2030. Jeanne van der Merwe reports.

How 100 000 weather stations could change farming in Africa • There is a case to be made for African farmers to claim capital expenditure from international funding bodies as compensation for climate change, according to Prof Guy Midgley, director of Stellenbosch University’s School for Climate Studies. Jeanne van der Merwe reports.

Pomegranates steal the show at Klein Karoo festival • Pomegranates took centre stage at this year’s Klein Karoo Arts Festival, where Gerhard and Marita Meyer used an on-farm open day to highlight the crop’s growing market appeal and production potential. Glenneis Kriel reports.

South Africa’s premier food show returns to Cape Town in June 2026 • The world-class Africa Food Show will be hosted in Cape Town in June 2026. Last year, the event hosted more than 350 exhibitors and was attended by nearly 9 500 visitors, with participants from over 60 countries. Margaret Peters, event director at dmg events, spoke to Annelie Coleman about how the show benefits Africa’s agricultural value chain.

Technology to combat counterfeit seed

Strong consumer demand is supporting firmer prices • Highlighting the key drivers behind current price behaviour, Absa AgriBusiness offers insights into expected trends as the fresh produce industry approaches the early-autumn marketing period.

Hardy and robust plants to add to chicken diets • None of these suggested plants constitute a complete feed; key nutritional components such as energy, methionine, grit, and enzymes remain essential, writes Shane Brody.

Difficult times for grain farmers • Lower grain and oilseed prices combined with the threat of higher input costs pose a threat to the sustainability of crop production in South Africa, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.

Mass animal vaccination: how to get it right • Maintaining public safety and preserving trade ties should be important considerations as South Africa embarks on countrywide vaccination of animals against certain diseases, writes Dr Sifiso Ntombela.

Strict regulations with regard to engaging minors • As in every industry, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act has very explicit provisions aimed at ensuring that children’s rights are prioritised and protected within the agriculture sector, writes Jo-Rie Nel.

NAMPO 2026 Exhibitor list

ELITE BULL ACHIEVERS •...