Farmer's Inside Track

In this episode, Daneel Rossouw, head of sales for agriculture at Nedbank, breaks down the compounding economic pressures facing South African producers in 2025–2026. He unpacks why farm profitability is being squeezed simultaneously across fertiliser, diesel, electricity, labour, and crop protection inputs.

Drawing on nearly 35 years of experience in agricultural funding, Rossouw reveals why producers must look beyond local weather patterns and commodity prices. He outlines how macroeconomic drivers, including interest rate shifts, Rand volatility, geopolitical supply shocks, and potential El Niño warnings, will directly shape farm margins over the next two seasons.

He urges farmers to adopt a broader financial perspective, highlighting practical ways to manage input risks, absorb municipal and utility cost hikes, and structure agricultural operations to withstand market turbulence.

As climate variability and changing weather patterns continue to impact South Africa’s natural pastures, livestock producers can no longer rely on unsupplemented grazing alone to maintain production. Dr Josef de Villiers van Wyngaard, technical manager at Voermol Feeds, joins the podcast to unpack how farmers can shift from passive veld dependency to an actively managed grazing system.

In this episode, Van Wyngaard breaks down the essential distinctions between supplementation, substitution, and concentrates, providing clear guidelines on how to stimulate rumen microbes and improve fibre digestion without causing animals to stop grazing. He explores how shifting rainfall and elevated carbon dioxide levels reduce forage quality, particularly in sourveld areas, and shares practical insights into using a structured, three-phase lick programme to meet seasonal livestock requirements.

Van Wyngaard also details how to monitor lick intake as a direct indicator of veld quality, optimise rotational grazing systems, and leverage targeted Voermol products to extend grazing cycles without over-exploiting the land.

From starting as a general worker at an abattoir to building a diversified agribusiness, Jeremiah Jothams shares the lessons, opportunities and challenges that have shaped the growth of Basadi Agribusiness. In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, Jothams unpacks how he identified opportunities in the rabbit value chain and diversified into horticulture and slaughtering services.

Jothams discusses the realities of running processing infrastructure, the importance of understanding production volumes and profitability, and why compliance, operational efficiency and strong industry partnerships are essential for building a sustainable and diversified agribusiness.

Keywords: Diversification; Agribusiness, agricultural value chain

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, Byron Latrobe, technical sales advisor for Netafim Southern and East Africa, discusses precision drip irrigation for onion seed production.

Byron explains how dripper spacing and irrigation uniformity influence root development, flowering, pollination and yields, while highlighting the importance of maintaining a dry flower environment to support bees and reduce disease pressure. Learn more about managing saline water through leaching, using fertigation to improve nutrient efficiency, and the advantages of thin-wall drip lines for seed producers. Byron also shares practical advice on installation, retrieval, maintenance and filtration, and explains why farmers should start by understanding their water quality and soil conditions before designing an irrigation system.

In this episode, commercial farmer and agriculturalist Lesego Mohube shares practical strategies farmers can use to prepare for drier seasons and manage water more efficiently. From improving soil health and using irrigation more effectively to harvesting rainwater, maintaining water infrastructure and reducing unnecessary water losses, Lesego highlights practical steps that can be applied on farms of different scales. Tune in for practical insights on building a more water-efficient and climate-resilient farming operation

In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, Moleke Maphila shares how his passion for agriculture grew from witnessing the role of livestock and vegetable production in rural livelihoods. After struggling to find employment, he turned his knowledge and qualifications into an opportunity to build his own farming enterprise. With support from his family and business partner, Maphila began farming on a 22-hectare property, turning his agricultural knowledge into practical experience and a growing business.

Taking a trip down memory lane! Today, we’re revisiting some of your all-time favourite podcast episodes.

Agriculture remains a key driver and beneficiary of technological innovations.

In this episode, we speak to Thulani Magida, the founder of Juta Agritech, who explores the specific uses, benefits, licensing requirements, and potential of drone technology to advance agricultural practices in South Africa.

As South African livestock producers navigate volatile climate cycles and degraded veld conditions, suppressed fertility caused by mineral deficiencies can limit herd growth. Dr Josef De Villiers Van Wyngaard, technical manager at Voermol Feeds, joins the podcast to tackle how targeted phosphate supplementation serves as a critical driver for protecting reproduction and driving farm profitability.

He breaks down why phosphate remains one of the most underestimated limiting factors in local livestock production, especially when recovering pastures fail to deliver essential soil nutrients. He also highlights the direct connection between long-term mineral gaps and dropped calving or lambing rates.

To help farmers safeguard their breeding stock, Dr Van Wyngaard outlines exact timing strategies for introducing phosphate licks across different regional veld types. This includes avoiding common supplementation mistakes and deploying specific Voermol solutions to rebuild herd numbers with confidence.

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, Tebogo Nyathela, founder and CEO of Farmers’ Hope in North West, shares how she grew a small vegetable garden into a commercial farming and agro-processing business.

She discusses practical lessons on market access, SA GAP certification, water rights, production capacity and the importance of mentorship and support networks. Nyathela also explains how agro-processing helped the farm reduce post-harvest waste by about 95% and create new income opportunities.

She also shares her plans to explore European markets with products including powdered spinach, beetroot and pickled jalapeños.

Taking a trip down memory lane! Today, we’re revisiting some of your all-time favourite podcast episodes.

Karen Swanepoel, the Executive Director of the Southern African Essential Oil Producer Association (SAEOPA), explores the vibrant landscape of essential oils in South Africa.

She delves into the key essential oils produced in the country and highlights how the industry has evolved over time.

In this episode, Swanepoel offers valuable insights into the opportunities available for South African farmers, discussing the innovative production methods that uphold the nation’s reputation for quality.

Listeners will learn how South Africa is establishing itself as a frontrunner in the global essential oils market and discover essential information to help you expand into this lucrative space.