Advertise on podcast: Farmer's Inside Track

As crop protection technologies evolve and regulations tighten, relying solely on years of experience is no longer enough to ensure safety on the farm. Speaking on Food For Mzansi’s Farmer’s Inside Track podcast, CropLife South Africa’s stewardship lead, Quade Sing Jam, and strategic partnerships manager, Elriza Theron, highlight why responsible agricultural remedy use must extend across the entire farm life cycle, from storage and application to container disposal. Jam and Theron unpack common operational gaps, reminding producers that “the label is the law” and that formulation changes mean outdated practices can pose severe health and environmental risks. They explore why personal protective equipment (PPE) is far more than a compliance tick-box exercise, how to prepare for farm emergencies before they occur, and why proper container disposal is critical to protecting crop protection tools from regulatory bans. In this episode, they also detail CropLife South Africa’s self-paced “Train the Trainer” online course. Designed to equip farm managers and supervisors with the tools to pass vital stewardship knowledge down to their entire team, the course ensures farm operations remain safe, compliant, and sustainable for the future.

A successful harvest depends on far more than end-of-season bulk; it begins with establishing a strong agronomic foundation long before shoots break through the soil surface. Nico Barnard, agronomist for Pannar Seed, highlights how producers can maximise crop performance and value by focusing on foundational seed selection, soil preparation, and early-stage management. Barnard breaks down the critical role seed germination plays in establishing uniform plant stands and driving final yield potential. He outlines the core management practices needed to protect young crops, optimise nutrient uptake, and build strong root systems from day one. In this episode, he also examines the practical decisions farmers must make before planting. He provides guidance on managing early-season growing conditions, selecting cultivars suited to specific regional climates, and applying sound agronomic principles to build stronger crop resilience and ensure long-term farm productivity.

In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, winemaker Mahalia Kotjane, founder of Three Quarters Wines, shares her journey from a curious Grade 9 learner to building her own boutique wine brand in Stellenbosch. She discusses the importance of vineyard management, sustainable practices and quality winemaking, as well as how industry experience, strong relationships and market access have helped grow her business. Mahalia also reflects on balancing production with sales and cash flow, and offers practical advice to aspiring winemakers on investing in their skills, building networks and making use of industry support programmes.

In this podcast episode, Nedbank’s head of agriculture client value propositions, Cobus de Bruyn, redefines what true agricultural transformation looks like in South Africa. Moving beyond simple land-ownership metrics, De Bruyn explains why long-term success hinges on transforming small-scale growers into productive, profitable, and bankable commercial farming enterprises. He shares critical insights into the real-world barriers facing commercial expansion – from secure land tenure and water infrastructure to market access. De Bruyn makes a compelling case for rethinking industry terminology like “emerging farmer” and highlights how commercial banks, if integrated into government blended finance schemes, can bridge vital funding gaps. Discover how cross-sector collaboration delivers on-the-ground results through mentorship, structured shareholding, and technical support.

Access to finance can help agricultural SMMEs grow, but understanding credit and preparing a strong funding application are essential for long-term financial sustainability. In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, Zama Sangweni, agricultural economist at Absa, and Olivia Pratt, executive sales and strategy for SMEs at Nedbank, share practical advice on navigating agricultural finance. They unpack what lenders look for when assessing funding applications, including cash flow, financial records, credit history, repayment capacity, collateral, governance, risk mitigation and market access. The discussion also explores common application mistakes, warning signs of over-indebtedness and the importance of understanding borrowing costs and repayment terms. Sangweni and Pratt highlight how farmers, particularly emerging producers, can strengthen their creditworthiness through sound business planning, mentorship, strategic partnerships and diversification, while using credit responsibly.

High-performing livestock operations rely heavily on quality roughage, yet the true energy value of maize silage is often compromised before reaching the feed bunk. Kerry Rowlands, a field agronomist at Pannar Seed, highlights how dairy and beef producers can elevate their feeding programmes by balancing dry matter yields with high starch content rather than focusing solely on bulk volume. Rowlands explains how grain potential contributes up to 65% of silage energy, emphasising the importance of subsoil fertility, correct planting densities, and proactive foliar disease control to prevent leaf degradation. In this episode, she breaks down the operational execution required from field to bunker. She provides actionable guidelines on optimal soil planting temperatures, managing seasonal heat and drought stress, and applying tight compaction and sealing techniques to eliminate oxygen and prevent yeast and mould spoilage.

Can simple record-keeping double as your farm’s most powerful profitability tool? In this episode, we sit down with Stefan Corbett, data analytics specialist at Agritistics, to demystify digital agriculture and farm data management. Many producers view digital farming as an intimidating, high-cost hurdle, but Corbett proves that transforming your operation doesn’t require expensive tech or complex platforms. Learn the crucial difference between raw data and true operational insight, and discover why linked data points across a livestock’s lifetime reveal whether your management decisions are truly paying off. Corbett also breaks down how to avoid the dangerous “garbage in, garbage out” trap through practical standard operating procedures (SOPs). Whether you run a small-scale farm or a commercial operation, tune in to start turning routine daily records into smarter, more profitable decisions today.

With El Niño weather patterns bringing heightened climate risk across Southern Africa, managing input costs while maintaining crop productivity is a critical priority for growers. Dr Michael Southwood, founder of the Agri Vision Foundation and organiser of the SADC Plant Nutrition Symposium, highlights how precision measurement tools, from moisture probes to sap meters, empower producers to reduce water and fertiliser use without sacrificing final yields. Southwood explains how managing irrigation is fundamentally about oxygen management in the root zone. He outlines the importance of tracking soil water potential down 10-centimetre increments, using drone and NDVI satellite imagery to spot early plant stress, and monitoring water source quality to prevent salt and bicarbonate issues. In this episode, he also breaks down real-time sap testing to prevent over-fertilisation and explores targeted band placement and dripper technology. Southwood invites producers to attend the upcoming SADC Plant Nutrition Symposium in Stellenbosch to learn more about advanced fertigation techniques.

In this episode of Farmer Mentor, we speak to Mogale Maleka of AB Farms, a hydroponics specialist and mechanical engineer who turned an urban farming research project into an agritech business. Maleka discusses how hydroponic systems can help farmers overcome land and water constraints, improve production efficiency and explore new market opportunities. He shares insights into building a hydroponics business, accessing funding, choosing suitable crops and the importance of starting small, being patient and embracing technology. The conversation also explores how collaboration, farmer training and innovation can support food security and create opportunities for young people in agriculture.

Escalating input costs and climate shifts require growers across Southern Africa to bridge the gap between global agricultural research and immediate field execution. Dr Michael Southwood, founder of the Agri Vision Foundation, highlights how the upcoming SADC Plant Nutrition Symposium connects international scientific developments with practical application to optimise crop performance and export quality across 15 SADC countries. In this episode, Southwood breaks down practical strategies for managing El Niño weather threats. He explains how cover crops, mulching, and biostimulants enhance photosynthetic capacity and carbohydrate levels to buffer plants against extreme heat, drought, severe winds, and frost. Southwood also shares event registration details and explains how symposium proceedings support the Agri Vision Foundation’s mission to foster food security and entrepreneurship in impoverished communities.

In this episode of Farmer’s InsideTrack, Sibo Molo, founder of Molo Consulting, unpacks tax compliance, agricultural funding and credit management. He explains why proper financial records, separate farm banking, asset registers and tax compliance can help farmers access funding. Molo also discusses personal credit scores, VAT and diesel refunds, Coida registration and common compliance mistakes. He shares practical advice for emerging farmers looking to become more finance-ready and build financially sustainable farming businesses.

The “fifth quarter” – including offal, cheeks, and trotters – is becoming an essential commercial and nutritional strategy for South Africa’s red meat industry. Supported by findings from the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), Dr Carmen Muller, a researcher at the University of Pretoria, highlights how moving beyond standard muscle cuts captures hidden carcass value while addressing broader socio-economic challenges. Drawing on recent nutritional testing and industry data, Muller demonstrates how organ meats deliver concentrated doses of bioavailable heme iron, complete proteins, and vital micronutrients to budget-conscious households facing food insecurity. In this episode, she breaks down the resource-efficiency benefits of whole-animal utilisation. She advocates for integrating offal into mainstream food security policies and consumer education, positioning the fifth quarter as both a practical sustainability win and a high-margin opportunity for the livestock supply chain.

Dr Michael Southwood, agricultural consultant and founder of the Agri Vision Foundation, explores why securing the future of agriculture demands a fundamental shift from chasing quick harvests to investing in soil health and seamless farm succession. In this episode, he examines how closing the gap between lab research and field practices creates lasting stability for growers facing market volatility. Grounded in over two decades of field experience, Southwood details practical strategies for managing biological, chemical, and physical soil balances, avoiding widespread agronomic pitfalls like nitrogen over-application, and managing pest resistance dynamically. He also shares advice on implementing precision diagnostics, such as sap testing and soil carbon tracking, and more. Southwood highlights how attending the upcoming SADC Plant Nutrition Symposium on 19–20 November 2026 in Stellenbosch connects producers with actionable agronomic tools while supporting regional food security initiatives.

In this episode, Lukas Meyer, business manager at Pannar Seed, breaks down why record yields no longer guarantee farm profitability in the face of depressed grain prices and sustained input costs. He unpacks why producers must shift their focus from maximising tonnes per hectare to understanding the true net return generated by every field. Drawing on practical agronomic and commercial insights, Meyer outlines why indiscriminate cost-cutting can backfire and explains how to transition to a smarter investment strategy. He also shares tips on choosing risk-resilient seed hybrids, optimising plant populations, maximising fertiliser efficiency, and aligning production costs with an early, disciplined grain marketing plan. Meyer urges farmers to know their break-even position, using precise agronomy and portfolio management to protect margins against market volatility.

In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, Reneilwe Selialia shares lessons from building a young vegetable farming business, Kopano Holdings, and working towards commercial markets. She discusses the importance of networking, finding and maintaining reliable markets, planning production for consistent supply, managing irrigation and understanding the true cost of getting produce to market. Reneilwe also shares practical advice for new farmers: stay humble, ask questions, learn from others and build relationships that can open doors to new markets.