Wesselsbron child labour accused denied bail
Hendrik Reyneke, a labour broker accused of various charges related to human trafficking and child labour was denied bail by the Wesselsbron Magistrate’s Court today.
Lesotho grants SA company medicinal marijuana grower’s licence
Lesotho has granted one of its first licences for the production of medical marijuana to South African company, Verve Dynamics. The company has a branch in Lesotho.
New fresh produce market set to boost Nigerian agri sector
An agricultural commodities market is being set up near Benin City in Nigeria, as part of the Nigerian government’s efforts to resuscitate the farming industry and reduce the country’s reliance on the struggling oil industry.
FAW ‘in hand’ in South Africa, but vigilance needed
Although the threat posed by fall armyworm (FAW) in South Africa remains, there is no crisis at present. This is according to Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, consultant to Croplife SA.
Clover financial report shows subdued results
Food and beverage group, Clover, showed subdued results in its consolidated financial statement report for the year ending 30 June 2017.
Foot-and-mouth outbreak could cost SA billions
A study by South Africa’s Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) has found that if the country lost its foot-and-mouth disease-free (FMD) status in the foreseeable future, SA’s economy would lose around R6 billion every year.
Drought in the Northern Cape spreads
The drought in the Northern Cape was spreading, said Henk van Wyk, Agri Northern Cape President.
Climate change, trade, exposing SA to new pests
The increase in cross-border trade with South Africa since 1994 has upped risks for pests expanding their habitats into the country.
Call to arms for global dairy industry
Dairy plays a key role in feeding the world and the industry must respond dynamically and forcefully on a global level to those who challenge its nutritional and environmental integrity.
Agri recovery aids SA’s second quarter GDP growth
The agriculture sector has emerged as the largest contributor to the 2,5% increase in South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the second quarter of this year, according to Statistics South Africa (SSA).
Fieldworkers empowered through animal health training
Approximately 30 people involved with an NGO partnership in KwaZulu-Natal benefited from a recent basic animal health training course in Mpumalanga.
Agri SA to potentially change to Pty Ltd
Agri SA's intention to change from a civic to a Pty (Ltd) organisation was so that it could continue to offer sustainable service delivery to the South African agriculture sector.
Less rain and less wheat for the Western Cape
The Western Cape, the country’s largest wheat-growing region, was likely to produce 236 950t less wheat this year than in the previous season, according to the Crop Estimates Committee's first production forecast for winter grains.
50/50 Policy farm, Solms-Delta, under business rescue
Equity share scheme, Solms-Delta Estate, has been placed under business rescue. Mark Solms, a majority shareholder in the project is however positive that this is temporary.
Agribusiness confidence drops but still optimistic
While overall confidence within South Africa’s agribusiness sector dropped two index points in the third quarter (Q3) of 2017, the sector remained optimistic about business conditions in the country.
Spring rain expected for north-eastern parts of SA
An increased chance for above-normal rainfall between spring and late spring over the north-eastern parts of the country is expected, said Cobus Olivier, prediction scientist at SAWS.
Investigations continue against Wesselsbron labour broker
The farming community in the Free State has condemned the situation in Wesselsbron in which charges have been laid against an alleged labour broker suspected of multiple counts of child labour.
‘Farm debt shows farmers investing in their businesses’
The current national farm debt of R144 billion was not necessarily a negative thing, and showed that producers were making debt to invest in their farm businesses.
Fuel price increase ‘comes at a bad time’ for agri sector
The sharp rise that is expected in the fuel price comes at a bad time for the South African agricultural sector, according to Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture.
Stop blaming us for river pollution – New Zealand farmers
New Zealand farmers are fighting back from environmental militants’ claims that they are solely responsible for poor water quality in the country’s rivers and streams.
