News

Role players in the Northern Cape’s agricultural industry have called for everything possible to be done to prevent the spread of sheep scab, also known as brandsiekte, in the province.

Farmers in South Africa’s summer rainfall regions should prepare for a third consecutive high-rainfall season, which could lead to flooding, waterlogged lands, and crop damage.

Two of North America's largest fruit marketers, Driscoll's and Naturipe Farms, are currently carrying out evaluations of large areas in Canada to establish their suitability for the mass production of berries normally grown in warmer regions.

ProVeg International has hailed the recent interdict awarded to the South African Consumer Goods Council, to prevent the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) and its designated assignee, the Food Safety Agency, from seizing any plant-based meat alternative products deemed to be in breach of Regulation 1 283 of the Agricultural Product Standards Act No. 199 of 1990.

The lack of action taken to have agricultural import bans imposed by Botswana, and more recently Namibia, lifted is creating a feeling among South African fresh produce farmers that government has failed them.

Good news for South African consumers is that government recently published a detailed set of standards for the manufacturing of boerewors.

The current heatwave in China has now surpassed the 70-day mark and is the longest and most widespread on record.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa and multinational logistics company DP World, which holds the concession to operate the export terminal at the Port of Maputo, recently hosted stakeholders on a tour of the facilities in Mozambique.

South African wool producers have expressed jubilation about the lifting of the ban on wool exports to China.

The Department of Basic Education’s drive to close “uneconomical schools” in rural areas is threatening the future sustainability of the farming sector.

Agri North West has expressed concern about the fact that cattle that had been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province were not being branded by government officials as was legally required.

When the land surrounding Olchoro Oirowua village in western Kenya became badly degraded due to overgrazing, extensive deforestation and never-ending cycles of drought, more than 30 Maasai livestock-herding families leased some of their land to a large-scale farmer.

Participants at the virtual launch of the BFAP Baseline Outlook 2022-2023 report on Wednesday, 18 August expressed optimism about the long-term growth of the agriculture sector, despite the challenges outlined in the report.

Canine brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Brucella canis, could threaten the fertility of dogs being bred in South Africa, according to Dr Kurt de Cramer, a veterinarian at the Rant-en-Dal Animal Hospital in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza’s decision to place South Africa’s cattle on a 21-day lockdown will “hurt the entire beef value chain, but the alternative would be far worse”. This was according to James Faber, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO).

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) has denied claims that it is using aggressive and strong-arm tactics to liquidate clients who default on their loan repayment obligations.

Western Cape farmers have welcomed the South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) warning that a series of cold fronts are expected to affect large parts of South Africa during the following five days.

South Africans have until 8 September to make submissions to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment following the release of a White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity.

Citrus growers are likely to only receive half their expected returns on any fruit released after South Africa was granted leave to process the more than 2 000 containers of oranges that had been stuck at EU ports since the introduction of new phytosanitary regulations there.

Livestock farmers in Botswana are at odds with that country’s government with regard to regulations that allow the government to repossess stray livestock and sell them at public auctions.