COVID-19 inspires global surge of interest in home farming
As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to put strain on the global food supply chain, more and more people around the world are turning to home farming.
Good news for landowners defending ‘vexatious’ land claims
South African landowners who previously had to personally foot the bill for legal fees to successfully defend themselves against vexatious or frivolous land claims, will now have the option to request a court to award costs orders against the state or its legal representatives.
Biltong hunting resumes, but industry fears further losses
While government approval for subsistence, or biltong, hunting, during Level 3 of the national lockdown has been widely welcomed, South Africa’s wildlife ranching industry continues to struggle financially due to the wider impact of the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Snow and rain bring relief and challenges for farmers
Western Cape grain farmers have expressed relief about the significant rainfall that swept across the province thanks to a strong cold front this week.
NSPCA achieves temporary halt to livestock exports
The Grahamstown High Court recently approved an urgent interim interdict to temporarily ban livestock exports by sea from South Africa until at least 16 July.
Approval of PepsiCo’s acquisition of Pioneer Foods explained
The Competition Tribunal (CompTrib) recently published a comprehensive report detailing why it had approved PepsiCo’s approximately US$1,7 billion (about R28 billion) acquisition of Pioneer Foods.
SA posts healthy agri trade surplus despite COVID-19 crisis
The South African agriculture sector has increased its trade surplus by 16% in the first quarter of 2020, with minimal disruptions experienced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Drones, ducks and loud music used in fight against locusts
From deploying drones and fire trucks, to banging utensils and blaring loud music, farmers and authorities in India are experimenting with ways to battle a new wave of desert locust infestations across the country.
Dairy farmers urged to ‘be cautious’ and ‘not chase volumes’
The South African market is currently able to absorb the volumes of unprocessed milk being produced across the country, despite the lockdown restrictions and high feed prices, which has had a negative impact on producers.
‘No justification for vegetable pricing structure in SA’
Some South African fresh produce farmers are opting to plough their produce back into the ground rather than sending it to national fresh produce markets due to the low prices they are receiving, according to vegetable farmer Eric Mauwane of Oneo Farms near Tarlton in Gauteng.
Investment in cannabis a global challenge during COVID-19
As the world finds itself facing a sharp economic downturn due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, access to capital will continue to be a challenge for the cannabis industry.
Agribusinesses respond to impact of cancelled shows
A number of the largest agricultural events in South Africa have been cancelled or postponed this year due to restrictions that have been placed on local and international travel and gatherings of large groups of people as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown regulations.
Challenges at Cape Town harbour hinder fruit exports
Delays at the Cape Town Container Terminal are posing major challenges to the exporting of South Africa’s fresh produce.
‘Farmers will feel delayed impact of fuel price increases’
For many farmers, the impact of the current fuel price increases will be delayed, given that many producers who are in the process of harvesting and planting would have already stocked up on fuel for the season, according to Pertunia Setumo, agricultural economist at FNB Agribusiness.
SA’s new maize export season off to a good start
South Africa’s maize exports proceeded swiftly during April and May despite disruptions to trade caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Johan Straus, agricultural economist at the University of the Free State.
China imports soya bean from Brazil as tensions rise with US
The world’s top soya bean importer, China, imported just over 5,93 million tons of the commodity from Brazil in April, compared with 5,79 million tons last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs in China.
South Africa’s on-premise wine trade faces challenging times
Although the South African wine industry resumed the domestic sale of liquor products for off-premise consumption by licensed vendors on Monday, the industry is still not out of the woods.
Toilet paper saves timber industry amid print media closures
South Africa’s graphic paper value chain has expressed uncertainty about the future, as well as local demand as the economy gradually reopens from the hard lockdown to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
South Africa’s tobacco value chain hits back at cigarette ban
Fightback from major role players in South Africa’s tobacco value chain, together with some civil rights organisations, against government’s ongoing ban on the legal trade in tobacco products is rapidly gaining momentum.
Relief funds dry up as Namibian drought continues unabated
Large parts of Namibia remain in the grips of a brutal drought, with the last significant rainfall reported in the far southern region a decade ago.
