SA dog breeders warned about canine brucellosis
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.
Extreme measure to halt FMD in South Africa justified – RPO
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).
Land Bank denies unethical behaviour towards ‘distressed’ farmers
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.
Winter rainfall farmers welcome cold, wet weather
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.
Proposed new legislation could ‘save SA’s iconic species’
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.
Small reprieve for SA industry as citrus backlog gets go-ahead
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.
Farmers and government clash over stray livestock
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.
Slow turnaround for SA’s mushroom market
Mushroom prices in South Africa are still recovering after production of the crop came under pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the negative impact of trade restrictions on the food service and tourism markets.
Boran bull smashes SA breed record with R2,3 million price tag
Jumbo (WZ 1452), an eight-year-old Boran bull, is an exceptionally well-balanced animal that is structurally correct on nearly every level.
Tech innovation helps farmers with climate-smart transition
In an attempt to support producers in making the transition to climate-smart food production, a team of scientists are taking part in the EMR Food Screening project being undertaken by universities, researchers and companies from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Water-logged lands force grain, oilseed farmers to harvest by hand
Persistently wet lands have forced many farmers in South Africa’s summer rainfall region to make use of additional casual labourers to harvest grain and oilseed crops.
Government urged to intervene in SA’s ‘biggest-ever wool crisis’
The current and unwarranted ban on wool exports from South Africa to China, due to recent foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in parts of the country, is the biggest challenge the industry has faces during the past two centuries.
Anti-rhino poaching battle paying off despite increase in KZN
Rhino poachers are moving away from the Kruger National Park to private reserves, with KwaZulu-Natal suffering the most incidents so far this year.
Namibia’s record white maize harvest could rein in imports
A record white maize harvest is expected for Namibian farmers in the 2021/22 production season.
Karoo’s biodiversity threatened by climate change
Plant numbers in the Succulent Karoo Biome are declining at an alarming rate due to the combined impact of climate change and the illegal removal of these rare and endangered plants from their natural habitat.
US condemnation of China’s grain stockpiling ironic – analysts
US officials has again placed the spotlight on that country’s strained trade relations with China by accusing the latter of stockpiling grain amid a global food crisis.
‘President’s energy plan full of promise, but reservations remain’
Agricultural stakeholders have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to end rolling blackouts across the country, but have also raised some concerns.
‘Agri-tech worker shortage could dampen growth’
With thousands of skilled South Africans emigrating and xenophobia discouraging immigration, Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz, has warned that South Africa’s agriculture sector could become stagnant in the absence of enough skilled agri-tech workers.
Global, local food price hikes losing momentum
The current steep increases in food prices would not continue indefinitely, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz.
Grave concern as lung sickness spreads among cattle in Namibia
Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) has reacted with great concern to reports of 40 deaths among cattle, and clinical illness in a further 100 cattle, following an outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.
