Farmer's Weekly

Due to various time constraints, I was only able to attend one day of the Nampo Harvest Day festival this year. Nampo is held annually in Bothaville in the Free State, and while I was only there for a short time, I spoke to many farmers and farmers’ spouses. Nampo is usually described as an ideal platform where farmers, suppliers and providers can meet and engage, but walking around Nampo Park this year has reminded me that Nampo, and other agriculture shows like it, are also about celebrating farmers and agriculture. Farmers are a different kind of human being, and when asked if I would ever consider farming, my response is always the same: I don't have the mettle it takes to be a farmer! I laving been intimately involved…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. *This article was first published by The Conversation. Read the original article at bit.ly/3o2q8zj. “Relations between the People's Republic of China and Russia on one hand and the West, specifically the US, on the other, have become increasingly tense in recent times. For the US, China and Russia represent authoritarian regimes. For China, the US is the source of global insecurity. With a few exceptions, such as France and the UK, the West sees the presence of Russia and China in the BRICS bloc (which also includes Brazil, India and South Africa) as contaminating the entire bloc as well as their relations with the individual BRICS member countries. This is especially so for the US. This view reflects…

29 May to 2 June, Delmas The Tractor Driving and Maintenance Course teaches professional tractor operations. This includes driving the tractor, optimal use of implements for land preparation and maintenance of the tractor. Apply online at learn.buhle.org.za/learn, or visit buhle.org.za. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 30 MAY Subtropical Information Day, Royal Show, Pietermaritzburg. Visit farmersweekly.co.za/tour-and-events 1 TO 2 JUNE Drones and Unmanned Aviation Conference 2023. Email Maria Ndlovu at info@bussynet.co.za, or phone 011 074 7095. 5 TO 7 JUNE International Seed Federation World Seed Congress, Cape Town International Convention Centre. Register at congress.worldseed.org. 5 TO 8 JUNE Africa Agribusiness and Science Week, International Convention Centre, Durban. Visit aasw.faraafrica.org. 6 TO 8 JUNE AVI Africa 2023, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park. Visit sapoultry.co.za/avi-africa-2023-registrations-open. 5 TO 7 JULY IFAT Africa, Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, Visit ifat-africa.com. COURSES AND TRAINING 29 MAY TO 2 JUNE Introduction to Layer Management, Delmas. Visit buhle.org.za. 3 TO…

When the Qobo Qobo Pure Essential Oils Incubator, a social enterprise, was started in 2014, it was done so with the objective of upskilling farmers to doing business commercially in the Keiskammahoek Valley in the Eastern Cape. The model has been developed and set up in such a way that it supports emerging farmers through a programme of mentorship, and positions them for success. Nine years on, Qobo Qobo is a lucrative player in the essential oils agriculture and production markets in South Africa, with eight farmers in its incubator. According to the Grand View Research Market Analysis Report, the global essential oils market was valued at US$22 billion in 2022 (about R462 billion) and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 7,9% from 2023 to 2030. The bulk…

McCain Foods has officially opened its Farm of the Future Africa in Lichtenburg, North West, the second of three locations planned by 2025. First launched in Canada in 2020, McCain's Farms of the Future initiative is aimed at gaining a better understanding of regenerative agricultural practices. Regenerative agriculture strives to enhance farm resilience and yield by improving soil health and biodiversity, and reducing synthetic inputs. “This flagship initiative not only showcases South Africa's sector expertise, but also the implementation of industry-leading regenerative agricultural practices that boost profitability, while accelerating sustainability,” says Charlie Angelakos, McCain Foods’ vice-president: global external affairs and sustainability. Stakeholders will be granted access to the on-site labs and facilities, further promoting local research and development. “Our investment of R100 million into Farm of the Future Africa demonstrates our commitment to producing…

Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA @FarmersWeeklySA We asked our followers what they were looking forward to at #NAMPO2023. Here are their comments: Posted: 15 May 2023. READERS’ COMMENTS Mbonalo Steven: I would like to do collaboration and networking with various stakeholders. Marie-Louise Kellett: Info on regenerative farming: the future. Kalahari Reds: We're looking forward to seeing red goats. David Fincham: Aquaculture, but there won't be any? Retselisitsoe Machachamise: Networking and finding new innovative ideas in livestock production. PHOTO OF THE WEEK BAILA @BailaBambino “Sometimes it be like this.” Via Twitter. Posted: 15 May 2023. Want your photograph to be featured as our ‘Photo of the Week’? Tag @FarmersWeeklySA on Twitter or Instagram to be considered!…