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She says the March 27 issue of the magazine is currently on shelves and will remain there for the time being as the next issue of the magazine, May 1, will be sent to print in the last week of April. The main reason for this decision is distributors have shut down completely during the national shut down period of 21 days in an effort by government to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. Erasmus says magazines can not be sent from the printers to the shelves during this period. Even though the magazine is shutting down in terms of the print magazine the news room will be going full steam ahead with online and social media offerings. She says the team will put more time into online offerings in order for readers to stay updated with the latest information and developments, especially regarding the impact of the pandemic on agriculture and on food value chains locally and globally. Local developments on how the lockdown will impact on farming businesses as well, will also feature. 

One of the current stories highlighted online is the avocado industry which is going into harvest now and even though there is good demand both locally and globally through selling at supermarkets the national South African shutdown of the hospitality and catering industries has already had an impact on many of the producers who supply directly to these industries. The shutdown of restaurants has already had an impact on demand.

That was Denine Erasmus, editor of Farmer's Weekly only on Before Dawn. 

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