News

Nematodes are far more prevalent and a more serious problem than farmers think. What is more, they cannot be eradicated, but only managed, according to Prof Driekie Fourie of Integrated Pest Management at North-West University (NWU).

The tariffs introduced on poultry imports in 2020 resulted in an increase in the consumer price of chicken. According to some industry role players, further tariff protection risked making this protein source unaffordable to the 40% of South Africans already regarded as poor.

In 2020, the South African economy recorded its most significant decline in annual economic activity since 1946.

New tractor sales continued their strong trajectory nationwide during February, a trend which has been evident since the beginning of the year. However, last month’s combine harvester sales were somewhat below those of February 2020.

There is a novel opportunity for South African farmers to enter the kiwiberry fruit market, which is relatively unknown locally. This is according to Wouter le Roux, owner of fresh produce export company It’sofresh.

More than 850 head of cattle are to be culled after spending more than two months aboard a ship adrift in the Mediterranean Sea, as they are no longer deemed fit to be transported to their destination, according to Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Farmers in the Murraysburg district in the Western Cape are currently experiencing the most extensive outbreak of locusts in the area since February last year, covering an area of 10km by 20km, and spanning four farms.

Almost a third of South Africa’s population lives in remote rural areas on communal, subsistence agricultural land.

The South African grain industry is currently riddled with debates about the availability and credibility of market information, despite the fact that the available industry information is trustworthy.

With the Brent Crude oil price now trading at more than US$60/barrel (about R901,60/barrel), the South African agriculture sector can expect to bear the brunt of ongoing increases in fuel prices, and the prices of other crude-oil derivatives such as fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.

With the level of the Kouga Dam now at below 7%, the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) has warned water users in the region that it cannot supply water adequately below the 3% water mark.

US Billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates’s solution to an impeding climate change disaster, which involves switching from consuming real meat to consuming synthetic meat, has been met with strong reactions from many quarters.

While the agriculture sector received a fair amount of attention in this year’s budget speech, which was recently tabled in Parliament by Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni, there was concern about government’s commitment to wealth creation.

The budget allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department), which was tabled as part of the National Budget by Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni in Parliament today (24 February) will require spending cuts on several cost lines and programmes.

With the Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni due to present his 2021/2022 National Budget Speech on Wednesday, 24 February, stakeholders in South Africa’s agriculture sector have expressed their expectations for this year’s budget.

A limited outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) on a farm near Potchefstroom earlier this month has been confirmed by the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO).

A recent call by South Africa’s Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) for government to double the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugar-sweetened beverages, commonly known as the sugar tax, has been met with disbelief and strong criticism by members of the sugar value chain.

Cannabis stocks in the US started the year on a high with producers in the US and Canada issuing stocks worth US$1,38 billion [about R20 billion] in the first five weeks of 2021.

Eskom recently announced an electricity tariff hike of nearly 16% that will be implemented in April. This announcement, along with the recent increase in the minimum wage of farmworkers and possible fuel increases, would put many producers under increasing pressure.

Following the arrest of two suspects who allegedly defrauded a Free State farmer out of sheep to the value of R4,9 million, Free State Agriculture has reiterated its warning to farmers to remain vigilant, and to be scrupulous when verifying the bona fides of people with whom they conduct business.