Grain handlers brace for 15 million tons this year
The Grain Handling Organisation of Southern Africa’s (GOSA) members handled 10,4 million tons of maize in 2011, of which 1,8 million tons were exported to Mexico, Italy, Korea, Venezuela, Kuwait, Iran, Japan, Madagascar and Taiwan.
Namibia launches R19 million game meat plant
Renecker’s Palace Hillside Elk Farm of Canada, along with an investment group of about five game ranchers in Namibia, and US-based Indian Gally International, recently opened a game ranch and meat processing plant in Gobabis in eastern Namibia.
Current land reform model misses the point – Roelf Meyer
“It should not be necessary to change the Constitution to solve land reform problems,” said Roelf Meyer, guest speaker at the launch of the Bien Donné Agri Cape Week in Paarl.
Expensive biotech hinders growth
Technology is driving agriculture forward and has been responsible for dramatic growth in countries that have adopted these tools. But small-scale farmers, unable to afford the technology, are being left behind.
Environmental regulations for mines ‘inferior’
The unhindered expansion of mining in Mpumalanga and Limpopo could compromise food security in South Africa.
EC wool market booming
The wool market seems to be unstoppable and, with prices climbing to the highest levels ever, the industry is heading for a much needed upswing.
Problems can be opportunities – former ANC MP
When it comes to the National Wool Growers Association’s (NWGA) role in reconciliation, economic empowerment and nation building, problems must be resolved through co-operation and changed into opportunities, said Dr Manie Schoeman, Eastern Cape NWGA member and former ANC MP.
Want a loan? Act professionally!
Over the past few years, many banks have been trying hard to accommodate small-scale farmers. It’s time that farmers played their part and paid more attention to their finances.
Welcome in the changes if you want to survive, SA farmers told
Farming is a business and should be managed as such.
Shell publishes Karoo groundwater atlas
Shell South Africa recently released stage one of a Karoo groundwater atlas in what is arguably a step by the company to bolster support for its plans to explore for shale gas in the Karoo by means of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Soya bean and maize yields wither in drought
Most parts of the summer grain production region of South Africa received between 20% and 30% less rain in the 2011/12 season than the 2010/11 season.
Dry spell puts the brakes on original maize yield estimates
A February/March dry spell over much of South Africa’s summer grains production area has forced the Crop Estimates Committee to drop the total maize estimate by 399 800 tons to 11 305 550 tons.
