News

The crime statistics for January to March 2023, released on Tuesday, show that communities, especially agricultural communities, are left to safeguard their families, properties and businesses by themselves.

Namibia has declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Gobabis, after someone died of the disease in a hospital in Windhoek.

Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed serious concern about the impact of load-shedding on producer prices for red meat.

South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rate slowed to 6,8% in April 2023 from 7,1% in March. Although a small change, it does represent the lowest reading since May 2022, when the rate was 6,5%.

The world's largest poultry exporter, Brazil, has declared a 180-day animal health emergency starting on Monday, 23 May.

A potential crisis in animal health as well as food safety and security looms in South Africa because of a shortage of veterinarians in the country.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) expects above-normal rainfall for most parts of the country in early winter. For the southern coastal areas and the south-west, the mid- to late winter forecast is above-normal and below-normal rainfall respectively.

Grain SA (GSA) succeeded in creating an excellent platform for local and international agricultural suppliers and manufacturers to introduce the latest and most advanced global technology.

The implementation of Proposition 12 in California may be the final straw for many pig farmers across the US. This is according to Dwight Mogler, a large-scale pig producer in northwest Iowa and a member of the National Pork Producers’ Council (NPPC) board.

Government recently approved anti-dumping duties, ranging between 8,8% to 239%, on frozen potato chips imported from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Climate change challenges have taken a toll on Zambia’s bumper harvests of recent years, prompting authorities to consider initiating countervailing measures to ensure sustained food security.

When the owners of a solar farm near the small town of Kamenica in eastern Kosovo became tired of wasting the plant’s own energy to keep the site tidy, they brought in a flock of sheep to trim the grass.

Grain SA’s annual Nampo Harvest Day (16-19 May 2023) offers an incomparable opportunity for all players in the agricultural value chain to network, learn about cutting-edge agriculture technology, and do business. This was according to Grain SA chairperson Derek Mathews.

The rand has taken a severe tumble over the past 24 hours, reaching an all-time low at one stage of R19,51/US$1. The currency’s free fall, which has accelerated the downward trend of South Africa’s exchange rate, comes as public speculation mounts over the country’s alleged supplying of weapons to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

Attention to detail has helped Welgemeen Boerdery achieve top honours for its Golden Delicious and Kanzi apples, and Abate Fetel pears. Hannes and Sakkie Hanekom explained their approach to Glenneis Kriel.

The recent announcement by Design Biologix, a vaccine researcher, developer and manufacturer, that it has registered a bluetongue vaccine for South Africa has been welcomed by the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO).

The development of traditional agricultural areas, previously known as reserves, will be a key priority during the coming financial year, according to Minister Thoko Didiza of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Didiza made the announcement during her budget speech, which was delivered on 9 May.

The 2023 veld fire season could potentially develop into one of the most problematic fire seasons in recent memory. According to a statement issued by the Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association (FSUFPA), one of the reasons for this was the abundant rain during the past three summers that resulted in a very high moribund biomass fuel load.

The EU has approved a €1,5 billion (about R20,23 billion) scheme that will allow the Dutch government to buy out farmers in an effort to reduce nitrogen emissions in that country.

Farmers in the Lowveld are facing severe pressure as commodity prices for subtropical crops dip while input costs rise rapidly.