Farmer's Inside Track

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.

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.