South Africa

The large drop in the diesel price that can be expected for December, as announced by the Automobile Association (AA) on Thursday, will be especially beneficial to crop producers who had yet not planted, according to independent economist Fanie Brink.

The Joint Constitutional Review Committee has adopted a resolution that Section 25 of the Constitution must be amended to allow for expropriation without compensation (EWC).

Agri Eastern Cape has welcomed the heavy sentences handed down to two men found guilty of murdering Alexandria-based farmer Riaan Scheepers late last year.

Researchers at the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Grain Crops Institute in Potchefstroom have developed a screening method to identify maize cultivars in South Africa that are resistant to the charcoal rot fungus Macrophomina phaseolina.

Animal feed produced from insects can deliver more tons per hectare than feed from traditional crops like soya, says an insect expert.

Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Senzeni Zokwana, recently announced the establishment of the Producer/Farmer Register (PFR).

With the festive season approaching¸ red meat prices are expected to increase at least 6%. This is according to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Association.

Any hopes that South African farmers may have had for a reprieve in the relentless rise in national diesel prices have officially been dashed.

With the advent of the 2018/2019 summer grain production season, South African producers need to be aware of the potential losses caused by gerbils to newly planted crops.

Famous Brands CEO, Darren Hele, has announced that Famous Brands will be using only cage-free eggs by 2025. Speaking on ‘The Money Show’ on Radio 702, Hele said the company had agreed to source only eggs that were produced in cage-free layer systems by 2025.

All classes at the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture in Marble Hall, Limpopo have been suspended indefinitely, due to violent protests that have been taking place on the campus over the past three weeks.

While the agriculture sector saw a year-on-year (y/y) employment gain in the third quarter of 2018, the level of unemployment in rural areas remains of great concern.

Well-known South African frozen foods company Irvin & Johnson is disputing the Competition Commission’s charges that it had engaged in anti-competitive practices with feedlotting and beef processing company Karan Beef.

Wireworm infestations in livestock were reported in seven of South Africa’s nine provinces in September.

Farmers in parts of South Africa’s second largest province, the Eastern Cape, were still suffering under hot, dry conditions and water restrictions, while others had received improved rainfall.

A Western Cape dairy farm is producing 84 000 litres of milk per day with help from the sun after installing a 300-panel solar PV system on the roof of the milking parlour.

New allegations of animal neglect have emerged against a former national winner of a top agricultural award.

The price difference between sustainable and non-sustainable mohair lots is widening, according to Pierre van der Vyver, CMW’s mohair manager.

Rather than take away land currently being farmed by successful commercial farmers in South Africa, the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, wants government to partner with them.

Slow economic growth, a widening fiscal deficit, the need to address the high public service wage bill, and restructuring of state-owned enterprises, were some of the key issues contained in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) 2018 that was tabled by the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, in Parliament today.