Private land reform initiatives are paying off
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) is assisting township dwellers in South Africa to have the title deeds for the properties on which they live, transferred to them.
Day Zero fast approaching for Cape Town residents
Cape Town residents have fewer than 80 days until taps are expected to run dry. Due to a further drop in dam levels, Day Zero for the city has been...
No threat from Brexit for SA’s milk producers
There was no indication that Brexit would have any impact on the South African dairy industry. This was the reaction from George Kuyler, SA’s Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) chairperson, following...
Frankel colt fetches R4 million at Cape Yearling Sales
A total of R111 million was spent on yearling racehorse prospects at the Cape Premier Yearling Sales at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 21 and 22 January.
Minimum wage in the spotlight again
The annual inflation increase for both farm and forestry worker wages have brought the possible mandatory May 2018 minimum wage into question again.
Stronger rand boosts drought-stricken agri industry
The South African grain production industry is faced with uncertainty around production, the number of hectares planted and the full effects of the drought, said Grain SA economist Michelle Mokone.
A grim glimpse into the winter rainfall region’s future
The good news is that rainfall conditions for most of the summer rainfall region are likely to improve from mid- to late summer. The bad news is that drought conditions...
Drop in fuel price as agri activity decelerates
According to Wandile Sihlobo, agricultural economist and head of agribusiness research at Agbiz, current forecasts indicated that the petrol and diesel prices could decrease by 34c/ℓ and 19c/ℓ respectively in...
Milk price hits four-year high
The producer price for milk reached R5,10/ℓ to R5,20/ℓ in December, its highest level since 2014, according to the Milk Producer’s Organisation (MPO).
Wool market off to a good start
Despite a stronger rand:dollar exchange rate, the South African wool market started the season on a positive note, as a result of strong demand for wool globally, with the Merino...
New category added to SA Dairy Championships
For the first time since the competition was initiated in 1834, a category for cream has been included in the South African Dairy Championships.
Vredendal table grapes volumes down due to December heatwave
Current assessments put the damage suffered by table grape producers in the Olifants River production region following the heatwave experienced during December last year, at about 500 000 cartons of...
Confusion over Western Cape drought charge
Agri industry stakeholders have expressed confusion about whether the proposed drought charge recently announced by the City of Cape Town, would be levied on farms within the municipal limits.
Potential market boost for macadamia farmers
Macadamia farmers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal stand to gain from a major new export contract.
Agri SA condemns ‘false reporting’ in farmworker shooting case
Tensions are reportedly running high in the Tarlton area in Gauteng, following the shooting of a farmworker on Saturday. The 43-year-old victim, whose identity has not yet been made public,...
No leads on Free State veld fire
Johann Breytenbach, general manager for the Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association, (FSUFPA) said that as yet, no one had been apprehended for starting a veld fire that destroyed nearly...
Malaria flares up in Limpopo
There has been a spike in the number of malaria cases in Limpopo, with farmers reporting many cases of workers being affected.
Food prices expected to continue fluctuating in 2018
Exchange rate fluctuation will continue to play a determining role in the cost of food products in coming months.
Follow-up rain critical over next three weeks
Rainfall remained erratic in December, with some parts of South Africa continuing to experience below-average rainfall while others received more than 200% of the monthly average.
Land expropriation without compensation – ‘economic suicide’
The ANC’s resolution to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation, taken in December, will lead to “economic suicide” for the country.
