South Africa

South Africa’s farmers and consumers who are already reeling from the record national fuel prices that hit the country in early October, should brace for these prices to increase even further in early November.

The three-year-long drought in the northern parts of Limpopo has had a devastating impact on livestock and game in the province, particularly on rhino.

Despite Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, recently announcing that the listeriosis outbreak in South Africa was official over, Listeria monocytogenes bacteria was still present in ready-to-eat meat samples obtained from rural areas and the informal sector.

A cow that conceives is destined to be four times more profitable than one that does not. This is according to Professor Cliff Lamb of Texas A&M University in the US.

The Western Cape is set to receive R974 million from National Treasury and the National Disaster Management Centre for disaster recovery programmes and projects.

Farmers’ Weekly has put the plight of the drought-stricken farmers in Sutherland on the international map.

Agri SA’s AgroHub website was recently launched during the organisation’s annual congress that took place in Pretoria.

The agriculture sector has reacted positively to the appointment of former SA Reserve Bank Governor and labour minister, Tito Mboweni, as South Africa’s new finance minister.

South Africa’s agricultural machinery sales recovered strongly in September after a dismal performance the preceding month.

The Census of Commercial Agriculture that will run from 15 October 2018 to June 2019, will cover all South African farming operations, according to statistician-general Risenga Maluleke.

Speaking in fluent Afrikaans, billionaire mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe, said in his address at the recent Agri SA annual congress in Pretoria, that he was confident that when South Africans looked back at 2018 in 10 years’ time, they would speak about how they overcame the great challenges the country faced.

Unlike other legumes, the pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) has been largely neglected by science. This was according to Dr Alina Mofokeng, a researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) - Grain Crops in Potchefstroom.

An agreement to boost local procurement will boost demand for local products, according to a statement issued by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) during the recent Jobs Summit convened by National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in Midrand.

Farmers face constant uncertainty: weather, politics and market fluctuations are all factors out of their control. Clinical psychologist Adri Prinsloo spoke to Lindi Botha about how this, combined with relative isolation, contributes to worrying levels of depression and suicide.

South Africa’s dam levels are currently at “comfortable” levels but uncertainty over the impact of El Niño on summer rainfall patterns means that water has to be used wisely.

Seven out of 10 South African commercial farmers experienced crime in one form or another last year. The total direct cost of these crimes for the year amounted to more than R7,7 billion.

Despite the debate about expropriation without compensation and the economic impact thereof on the agriculture sector, there is still demand for agricultural land in South Africa, according to Karl Markram, CEO of Farm Expert Properties and Auctioneers.

Commercial maize production during the 2017/2018 season will total 12,93 million tons, 2,09% down from the previous estimate, according to the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).

Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana has decried the squandering of resources by retaining officials in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) at inflated salaries.

There has been a decline in the number of rhinos being poached in South Africa, with 508 falling victim to poachers in the year ending 31 August 2018, compared with 691 killed during the preceding period, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).