Global edible oil markets in turmoil after shock Indonesia ban

The global edible oil market has reacted with shock to Indonesia’s unexpected ban on palm oil exports in the week of 25 April.

Cotton volumes expected to be 13% lower in 2022

While global demand for local cotton is increasing, declining volumes remains a problem in South Africa.

SA heading for third consecutive record diesel price increase

Farmers should prepare to pay a record-breaking R22/l for wholesale diesel from the first week of May, Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA has warned.

Concern about livestock vet shortage in South Africa

The shortage of veterinary services in South Africa’s rural areas needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, according to Dr Tlotlo Kgasi, president of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC).

Sasria reclassifies farming equipment, lowers tariffs

Grain SA has welcomed an announcement by the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria) that it has reviewed the classification of agricultural vehicles from an insurance cover perspective.

Lives, property threatened in Sundays River Valley protest

Famers in the Sundays River Valley region of the Eastern Cape are fearing for their lives and those of their farmworkers after a violent protest broke out in the area about a week ago.

Inquiry into fresh produce sector’s competitiveness

The Competition Commission (CompCom) will be conducting an inquiry into South Africa’s fresh produce industry to investigate concerns about issues that may prevent, lessen or distort competition on that market.

‘Invest in the planet’s health with regenerative agriculture’

Using regenerative agriculture principles in their farming operations is the biggest investment South African farmers can make in the health of the planet.

California mega-producer pins hope on legalisation of marijuana

Although a bill was passed by the US House of Representatives on 1 April to end that country’s federal ban on the recreational use of marijuana, it is not expected that the bill will be passed by the Senate.

Brown locust infestation cause havoc in southern Namibia

Millions of hectares of grazing have so far been decimated by devastating infestations of brown locust (Locustana pardalina) in southern Namibia.

Volatile weather puts pressure on Botswana’s grain harvest

Botswana’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has warned that farmers in that country are expecting a reduced grain harvest this year, following dry spells and heatwaves that destroyed dryland crops between January and March.

Authorities still counting the cost of flood damage in KZN

The extensive flood damage to infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal following the recent torrential rain is a severe blow for the province’s agricultural industry.

‘A mammoth task to inoculate 14 million cattle across South Africa’

It was clear that the attendees at the foot-and-mouth disease information day held recently in Bothaville realised the crisis that had resulted from the widespread outbreaks of the disease, said Dr John Purchase, former CEO of Agbiz and facilitator of the event.

Hunting game help farmers in Laos to fight rat plague

One of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries, Laos, has been battling a growing rat problem for more than a decade, with these rodents destroying rice crops, the country’s main cash crop and staple food.

Heavy fuel load could result in ‘extreme fire season’ for SA

With the winter fire season getting underway in South Africa, Agri SA has warned its members to prepare for a more destructive fire season than normal.

Flood-ravaged KwaZulu-Natal braces for more heavy rainfall

More rain is expected over the flood-ravaged coastline of KwaZulu-Natal from Friday (15 April) to Wednesday (20 April).

Water rights litigation creates uncertainty for SA farmers

The recent Constitutional Court decision on the transferability and trading of water rights will create uncertainty and erode investor confidence in the agricultural sector, stakeholders have said.

SA citrus exports set to increase despite ongoing challenges

For the first time since South Africa’s single-channel marketing system for agricultural commodities was abolished in the 1990s, citrus fruit was exported from the Port of Maputo in Mozambique on Monday, 11 April.

No end in sight for logistical problems at Port of Cape Town

Stakeholders in the fruit and wine industries are doing everything in their power to address logistical challenges and bottlenecks at South Africa’s ports, specifically the Port of Cape Town, with the situation currently being exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

France facing ‘worst-ever’ second-wave bird flu outbreak

With the number of cullings having reached more than 12 million birds in the first week of April, France is facing its worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) ever, fuelled by the highly contagious H5N1 virus.

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