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...
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...
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...
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...
Fur industry in Greece on the brink of collapse
The fur garment industry in Greece has been forced to shut down overnight due to the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia following that country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Importance of vigilance stressed after Kestell farm murders
The murder of seven people on Lismor Farm in the Kestell district on Friday, 15 July has reaffirmed the importance of vigilance and having an up-to-date rural safety plan in...
