News

The EU has banned most imports of SA citrus for the remainder of this year following fears that citrus black spot (CBS), a fungal disease found in dozens of shipments, could spread to the 28-nation bloc, Reuters reported.

The mohair market maintained its current high levels at the second-last sale of the winter season.

Some 14 000 bags of fodder weighing 50kg each have been distributed to 23 346 farmers who applied for drought relief in the North West since Monday, 18 November 2013.

Omnia’s revenue for the six months ending September 2013 is up 25,7% to R7,5 billion and basic earnings per share are up 16,7% to 637c/share.

Will Minister Gordhan’s ploy to stop officials from misspending taxpayers’ monies go beyond elections?

Liquor group KWV reported a nearly R20 million loss for the six months to end-September 2013.

South Africa’s negative trade balance could be improved if better systems were in place to aid exports.

The devastating drought in North West, especially in communal areas became even clearer from the air.

A coalition of NGOs believes that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has under-estimated how much greenhouse gas is emitted by palm oil grown on tropical peatlands.

The local citrus industry is in dire straits as its biggest market continues to push for a ban on South African imports.

Transnet’s proposed multi-billion rand Durban Dig-Out Port (DDOP) has been met with protest action from small-scale vegetable farmers and NGOs.

The Freedom Front Plus, along with the Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA) and the National Ratepayers Union (NRU) will be asking the High Court to consider an application for an interdict against the implementation of the E-Toll Act before 3 December, said Anton Alberts, parliamentary spokesperson on transport for the FF Plus.

The Yara CheckIT app will help you diagnose problems, and even recommends solutions, reports Greg Miles.

If all goes according to plan, SA will be able to export maize to China in the near future. Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers said that a trade protocol for market access for maize has been concluded and awaits signing of the two country’s ministers of agriculture.

Former North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NW DARD) head of department, Dr Kgabi Mogajane denied any wrongdoing with regard to the procurement of Grain SA’s (GSA) services.

The recent signing into law of legislation to implement e-tolls has sparked widespread outrage.

A photograph posted on Facebook showing a smiling Mellissa Bachman with her trophy lion has elicited severe criticism, “as if this lion is the last nail in the coffin” of the species, said the SA Predator Association in a recent media statement. The outcry, it added, is “utter nonsense”.

Botswana has reportedly allocated concessions for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for methane gas in three nature reserves, without much public consultation.

The diverse political connotations attached to the term boer is detrimental to the agricultural industry.

Many areas of the Western Cape experienced unseasonal flooding during the weekend of 16 and 17 November that affected thousands of people across the province.