Annelie Coleman

Journalist at Farmer’s Weekly

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Articles

Watch: Setting the record straight on Boerboel misconceptions

2 days ago | citizen.co.za | Annelie Coleman

South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society chairperson Nico Kilian told Farmer’s Weekly at Nampo 2025 that negative public perceptions of the South African Boerboel need to change. These perceptions, he said, are often formed by cases of mistaken identity. “We do all we can to change the often-negative perceptions about the breed. We regularly deal with cases where a dog that looks like a Boerboel attacks humans, and it is immediately assumed that the dog was a Boerboel.
Boer goat ram sells for world record price of R2,3 million

3 days ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

The ram was sold in a private transaction to the VEA Stud breeders of Bonnievale at the end of April. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Abraham Burger described the ram as the embodiment of the best possible Boer goat genetics available. Next Level was, according to him, the quintessential type of animal to take the breed into the future.
Senepol: a genetically unique beef powerhouse

4 days ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

Tiekie and Heleen Muller farm on the banks of the Vaal River near Bloemhof, on the Free State side. He runs a stud comprised of four bulls, 110 cows, and 35 heifers, and maintains an intercalving period of between 380 and 450 days. He also manages a 350-strong commercial herd, of which 200 of the cows belong to his son, NP.
Livestock breeds undergo strict biosecurity protocols ahead of Nampo

1 week ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

Nico Vermaak, secretary at Grain SA, is in charge of the livestock component at Nampo, and according to him, virtually all the livestock breed societies in the country are taking part in the event in 2025. The objective of livestock exhibitions is to afford breeders the opportunity to introduce their respective breeds to farmers. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Vermaak said grain played a vital role in the meat production value chain.
‘Dexters carry us through the drought’

1 month ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

The village of Helmeringhausen is situated in the arid southern region of Namibia, some 200km north-east of Lüderitz and 500km south of the capital Windhoek. The district has been suffering from a severe drought for more than a decade. According to Jörg Gaugler, chairperson of the Helmeringhausen Farmers’ Association (HFA) and owner of Dabis farm, the drought has had a distressing economic, social, and emotional impact on the farming community. The economic impact alone has been severe.
Anticipation grows as Nampo Harvest Day approaches

1 month ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

The event, now in its 57th year, remains the largest and most influential agricultural trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a critical platform for South Africa’s producers to engage with global innovations and networks. According to a press statement from Grain SA, this year’s edition of Nampo comes at a time when agriculture worldwide is grappling with rising input costs, climate change, and increasingly interlinked food systems.
Technology helps keep SA agriculture thriving, despite dryness

1 month ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

As part of World Water Day, which was observed on 22 March, Abeln said in a statement that the local agriculture sector’s success could be ascribed to its willingness to adopt the latest agricultural technologies, including advanced irrigation technologies that integrate into precision agriculture systems to augment farming inputs for maximum yield and efficiency.
'Grietjie', at 445kg, is SA’s heaviest pumpkin for 2025

2 months ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

Second place went to a pumpkin weighing 360kg, while the third-placed pumpkin weighed in at 185kg. In 2024, Bester also took first place with a pumpkin weighing in at 730,8kg, the 2023 winner, Wykus Lamprecht, entered a pumpkin of 890kg. This was the heaviest pumpkin ever to be entered in the competition, according to the organiser, Henri Combrink.
Germany to continue funding environment project in Namibia

2 months ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

According to a report by The Namibian, the Climate Change and Inclusive Use of Natural Resources (CCIU) project was funded by the German International Co-operation Society and was initially planned to run from 2021 to 2024. Beatrice Lucke, country director of the German Development Bank, made the announcement about the project’s five-year extension at an event celebrating 35 years of German-Namibia development co-operation, held in Windhoek earlier this month.
Grain SA to establish Nampo training facility

2 months ago | farmersweekly.co.za | Annelie Coleman

The need for such a facility was tabled in 2022, and after careful consideration, the green light was given by the delegates attending the 2025 congress. The facility will come into operation in 2026. According to Dr Tobias Doyer, Grain SA CEO, all the role players that were needed to get an enterprise such as this training facility off the ground had come on board. This included, among others, the state, academics and agricultural businesses.