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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 shutdown period of 21 days in an effort by government to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. Erasmus says magazines cannot 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 newsroom will be going full steam ahead with online and social media offerings.

Erasmus says the first week of the national lockdown, in an effort to manage the spreading of the virus, is behind South Africa. News stories on the magazine's website include the latest from the National Crop Estimates Committee with the expected maize crop for 2020 which has been revised upwards by another 1,7% over 40,8 million tonnes. This results in South Africa which can look forward to a very good maize crop this year for both white and yellow maize. Their will be enough maize to supply in local demand. 

There is also coverage on the impact that the coronavirus on agriculture and food supply chains. Farmer's Weekly has  launched a dedicated page on its web page which is updated daily with news stories. Stories include the impact that government's ban on the sale of tobacco products have on the industry, and there has already been a spike in illegal tobacco trade because of the ban. 

There is also a focus on the banana sector with many South African farmers having business interests across the border in Mozambique. They say at the moment the Covid-19 pandemic has not had an impact on their operations and they can continue with harvesting on farms in the neighbouring Mozambique. 

In another web story, concern about the temporary suspension of informal trading is highlighted. It is having an impact on fresh produce markets where a large part of the demand on the local fresh produce markets comes from these traders.

That was Denine Erasmus, editor of Farmer's Weekly, only on The Agri Hour, 

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