Farmer's Inside Track

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.

In this episode, Daneel Rossouw, head of sales for agriculture at Nedbank, shares key takeaways from Nampo Cape 2026 on how collaboration, innovation, and strategic expansion are shaping the future of South African farming. He discusses the sector’s growing push toward unity, highlighting critical dialogues among agribusinesses, financial bodies, organised agriculture, and national leaders on issues like Western Cape grain viability, foot-and-mouth disease vaccinations, and rural infrastructure.
Rossouw explores how producers are using precision technology, renewable energy systems, and no-till practices to lower costs and protect natural resources. He breaks down why moving beyond primary farming into vertical integration – such as local processing, packaging, and export logistics aligned with the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAMP) – is essential for capturing extra margin and protecting farms from commodity price volatility