Hard cheese wins top honours at SA Dairy Awards
For the third year in a row the prize for the best dairy product in SA has been awarded to a cheese.
The potential of rhino horn farming
Illegal rhino poaching is increasing because of the high demand for horn from the increasingly wealthy Asian elite , according to Michael Murphree, a researcher at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North West University’s African Centre for Disaster Studies.
Zambia’s first ever ‘full-scale’ agricultural expo a resounding success
Reports from Zambia indicate that the country’s “first full-scale, live agriculture event” held at Chisamba earlier in April was a resounding success.
Million dollar donation for agricultural college
Taung Agricultural College near Vryburg in the North West has received a donation of US$1 million (R10,5 million) from Danish company Haldor Topsøe, which specialises in research and technology.
Police bust KZN hydroponic dagga grower
A search by police of a house in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, recently yielded a R1,2 million haul of hydroponically grown dagga.
Destructive banana fungus spreads from Asia to Africa
The UN warned of possible “massive destruction” of the annual global $5 billion (R52 billion) banana crop as the TR4 strain of Panama disease spreads from Asia to Africa and the Middle East.
Fuel price increases much higher than inflation
Over the past 15 years the price of fuel in South Africa increased by more than 560%, according to Eqstra Fleet Management.
Massive EC water infrastructure investment unveiled
Water supply in the Eastern Cape is set to improve with the launch of the R12,45 billion Mzimvubu Water Project in Tsolo Junction, reported SAnews.gov.za.
Government’s 50% plan unconstitutional – Grain SA
Grain SA (GSA) called upon its members to remain calm and await the outcome of the elections – and undertook to protect grain farmers' rights as entrenched in the Constitution, should the ‘50% notion’ be seriously entertained by government.
ASUF mourns the passing of Ntombi Msimang
Agri-sector Unity Forum (ASUF) chairperson Ntombi Msimang passed away on Sunday night, said ASUF in a statement.
The 2014 North West Young Farmer of the Year
Sakkie van Zyl from Wolmaranstad is the 2014 North West Young Farmer of the Year.
How agribusinesses are improving lives
Agbiz, which represents agriculture businesses, has launched a publication emphasising the role many of these businesses play in improving the lives of people in rural communities.
High tech, higher profits
New technology, such as tractors that can drive themselves, can save you money, says Greg Miles.
New reference price for imported sugar offers only temporary relief
While the South African sugar industry is grateful for the new Dollar Based Reference Price (DBRP) that may help to curb rampant imports of cheap sugar, feelings remain that this measure will be unsustainable in the medium to long term.
Land reform proposals undermine NDP – SAIRR
During the past six months government has been pushing forward with a number of new laws that comprehensively contradict the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP), said Anthea Jeffery, head of policy research at the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR).
Consumers could face shortage of fresh produce
SA consumers will be forced to dig deeper in their pockets as supermarkets struggle to replenish their dwindling stock of fresh produce because of heavy rains inland last month.
GM crops debated
The much debated topic of genetically modified (GM) crops is the subject of discussion at the Food Integrity and Traceability Conference (ASSET 2014) at the Queen’s University, Belfast, Ireland today.
Physical adaptation of the Brahman impressive
The Brahman is perfectly adapted to a tropical climate, according to Brazilian, Jose Lemos speaking through an interpreter at the 2014 Brahman conference in Parys, Free State.
Sugar duty raise means first import duty in four years
South Africa’s International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) increased the dollar-based reference price of sugar by 58%, meaning importers will have to pay tariffs on shipments of sugar for the first time in four years, Bloomberg News reported.
‘Genomics will revolutionise animal breeding’ – Neser
Brahman breeders would be the first of the Bos indicus breed societies to commission an international genetic evaluation project, Dr Michael Bradfield of Breedplan said at a recent genetic and genomics discussion.
