Farmer's Inside Track

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.

In this episode of Farmer's Inside Track, Food For Mzansi speaks to Tshepiso Mkandawire, founder of Blessed and Beautiful Farms in Mabalstat, North West, about building a diversified farming enterprise from the ground up. She shares how she identified local food needs, started with what she had, expanded into horticulture, poultry and livestock, and is working towards a 200-hectare farming and agro-processing operation. Mkandawire also discusses understanding your market, seeking support, and building a farming legacy that empowers the community.

With climate patterns shifting across South Africa, relying purely on total seasonal rainfall figures is no longer enough to guarantee a harvest. De Bruyn Myburgh, agronomy manager at Pannar Seed, joins the podcast to unpack why managing field variability and prioritising moisture retention have become non-negotiable for modern crop survival.
In this episode, Myburgh explains how erratic weather patterns – where intense rainfall events are followed by extended dry spells – are forcing producers to shift their focus from maximising yields to capturing, storing, and effectively using every drop that falls. He highlights how treating whole fields uniformly increases risk and details how localised data can buffer crops against severe climate shocks.
To help growers prepare for upcoming seasons, Myburgh shares Pannar Seed’s actionable strategies for building on-the-ground resilience.

In this episode, Nedbank senior manager Desry Lesele breaks down how grain farmers can navigate a severe cost squeeze, falling commodity prices, and high input expenses. He explains how to prioritise cash flow and proactive margin management over sheer harvest tonnage.
From avoiding common credit pitfalls to leveraging digital procurement tools like PrysWys for price transparency, Lesele provides actionable strategies for stress-testing farm budgets and structuring bulletproof funding applications.
He urges producers to move beyond chasing single-season yields, warning that paper profitability means nothing without liquid working capital, and highlights how smart financial planning keeps farms resilient through market volatility.

Taking a trip down memory lane! Today, we’re revisiting some of your all-time favourite podcast episodes.
In this episode, we sit down with seasoned farmer Richard Ball, who shares tips on how to start pecan nut farming.
With close to two decades of hands-on farming experience, Ball highlights the importance of planting not just for profit but for posterity.
He delves into natural pest control, the power of indigenous livestock in regenerative systems, and why true sustainability lies in partnering with nature rather than fighting it.