Farmer's Weekly

Willie Aucamp addresses attendees at the Lamb Champs Invitational at Silver Lakes Farm Hotel in Pretoria. Farmer’s Weekly is at the event covering the competition and the farmers behind the lamb.

#FarmersWeeklySA is at the Lamb Champs Invitational 2026 at Silver Lakes Farm Hotel in Pretoria East! With 20 farmers, two teams and R100 000 up for grabs, we’re looking forward to an exciting afternoon of competition, great food and entertainment. Can’t make it to the event? You can still catch all the action! Farmer’s Weekly is one of the official livestreaming partners, so tune in to our Facebook or YouTube platforms to follow the competition live. facebook.com/share/19fCNx8Wj…

Considering Hyundai South Africa hasn’t had much to shout about in terms of new models in the past two years, the Korean carmaker remains the country’s fourth best-selling brand. In that time, about 100 Chinese compact SUVs have been unveiled. There will be an uptick in activity from Hyundai in the months to come. The new Venue will arrive in November, the Stargazer will be here early next year, and the all-new Tucson should touch down in mid-2027. farmersweekly.co.za/agri-tec…

South Africa’s poultry industry risks losing its competitive advantage against international producers as deteriorating municipal infrastructure drives up production costs, threatens jobs and undermines the industry’s growth prospects. Speaking during a webinar hosted by FairPlay, Izaak Breitenbach, general manager of the South African Poultry Association’s Broiler Organisation, warned that unreliable electricity and water supplies were increasingly affecting poultry production, particularly in rural areas where most operations were situated. Read the full article: bit.ly/3UTgdwshttps://www.fa…

South Africa’s cherry industry had a challenging start to the 2026/27 season, with unusually early harvests, variable fruit quality, and delayed access to the Chinese market threatening export volumes. Despite strong international demand, exports could decline by as much as 30% compared with the previous season. Karien Bezuidenhout, manager of Hortgro’s CherriesZA, said that the industry had enjoyed an excellent 2025/26 season, with production increasing by 111% compared with 2024/25. However, weather conditions had created a less favourable outlook for the current season. Read the full article here: bit.ly/4A1iEvP

Climate risk planning is no longer a future consideration for South African farmers but an immediate operational necessity shaping decisions across the agriculture sector. Daniel Stevens, executive head of AgriCrop & Heavy Haulage, says the unpredictability of modern weather systems had fundamentally changed how farmers approach production, investment, infrastructure, and financial planning. farmersweekly.co.za/agri-tec…

What are poor roads costing farmers? From vehicle repairs and increased transport costs to delayed deliveries, deteriorating roads can place an additional financial burden on farmers. Pieter Kleingeld of NWK addressed the cost of poor road conditions to farmers during Agri NW media conference at the NWK Training Centre in Lichtenburg. His presentation formed part of discussions about the condition of roads and the economic consequences for the agriculture sector.

New roads, recurring potholes, the same contractors. AgriNW CEO Naudé Pienaar questioned whether funding shortages explain poor roads at Agri North West’s media conference at the NWK Training Centre in Lichtenburg.

They look like tiny watermelons, but taste like cucumbers with a citrus twist! What started as a discovery on Pinterest has turned into a niche farming venture for Rina Meijer of KleinKraak Boerdery near Kempton Park in Gauteng. Today, she grows cucamelons on 1ha, supplying fresh produce to Tshwane Market and selling pickled cucamelons at the Pretoria Farmers’ Market and online. Read her story: bit.ly/4BvjUsI

Congratulations to Honey Katoo from Patensie in the Eastern Cape, who took top honours at the 2026 Agri’s Got Talent competition during a gala evening near Klapmuts in the Western Cape on 16 October. She is the second consecutive winner from the citrus-growing town, following fellow Endulini Fruit employee Jenedine Jantjies, who won the competition in 2025. farmersweekly.co.za/agri-new…

Protected production provides greater control over growing conditions, but success still depends on healthy plants, sound management, and access to viable markets. This was the message from speakers at the Western Cape Undercover Farming Conference and Expo, held in Groot Drakenstein on 21 and 22 October. farmersweekly.co.za/agri-new…

Keeping lamb and wool relevant requires more than increasing production. The sheep industry must understand what consumers value, deliver products that meet those expectations and ensure that the farmers producing them share in the rewards. farmersweekly.co.za/animals/…

Pieter Nortje of Sitrusrand near Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape has been named the 2026 @GrainSA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year! Nortje, who produces maize, wheat, soya beans and canola alongside citrus, accepted the award at the 2026 Grain SA Grain Producer Awards, sharing the recognition with the people who helped build his farming business. He paid tribute to his team, acknowledging that the business's expansion would not have been possible without the right people taking responsibility. He also thanked his wife and his 92-year-old father, recalling their modest beginnings selling tomatoes and collecting empty boxes to pack the next day's produce. His message to fellow farmers was one of hope: remain positive, support one another and keep farming. Congratulations to Nortje, his family and his team on this achievement!

Agricultural innovation must deliver practical results for farmers. At the 2026 @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards, Phote Monyamane, financial lead at Syngenta South Africa, called for faster technology adoption, sound science and stronger partnerships to help farmers manage risk and improve profitability.

When a farmer loses, employees and communities feel the consequences. At the @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards 2026, Dr Tobias Doyer highlighted why producer profitability and sustainability matter to jobs and the wider economy.

The 2026 @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards recognised farmers who have made significant progress through Grain SA’s farmer development programme @gsafarmerdev. The awards acknowledge producers at different stages of their farming journeys, recognising improvements in production, farming practices and business development. Motlalepule Vincent Masiu, 27, of Masiu Farming Enterprise in Senekal, Free State, was named the Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year. The category recognises commercial grain farmers producing more than 250t. Masiu farms alongside his family, producing maize, soya beans and sunflower, as well as managing a Bonsmara cattle herd. Kopano Lentswetshipi from Lichtenburg, North West, received the Grain SA/Pannar Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year award. The category covers developing grain farmers in the 49ha to 250t production category. Lentswetshipi produces maize and sunflower alongside livestock. Lubabalo Jordan from Mthatha, Eastern Cape, was named the Grain SA/Land Bank Smallholder Farmer of the Year. The award recognises farmers producing crops on 4ha to 49ha of land. Since joining Grain SA’s farmer development programme three years ago, Jordan has expanded his maize production from 3ha to 13ha. Manqoba Nkosi from Donkerhoek, Piet Retief, in Mpumalanga, received the Grain SA/Absa South Africa/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer of the Year award. The category recognises farmers producing crops on 1ha to 3ha. Nkosi produces maize and soya beans alongside livestock and has participated in Grain SA’s farmer development programme since 2016. Congratulations to all the winners!

Farmers cannot invest in tomorrow if they are not profitable today. At the @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards 2026, Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp, called for practical delivery on market access, agro-processing and support for commercially sustainable farmers.

Partnership must deliver practical results. At the @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards 2026, Danie Minnaar reaffirmed Grain SA’s commitment to bringing producers’ voices and proposals to the table, calling for government to match this with implementation.

Innovation on the farm is not only about technology. It also involves sharing knowledge, challenging established practices and mentoring the next generation. Speaking at the 2026 @GrainSA Grain Producer Awards, Janalize van Buuren from John Deere encouraged farmers to learn from one another and remain open to new ideas. She recognised the determination of the nominees, acknowledging the unpredictable seasons and market pressures they have faced in building their farming businesses. Van Buuren also paid tribute to farming families and encouraged producers to pass on their knowledge while caring for the land that future generations will depend on.