South Africa

The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed an urgent interdict brought against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) by suspended agriculture Director-General (DG), Mike Mlengana, but said that the case would be heard at a later stage.

When Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa talks about his Ankole cattle, a childlike joy and passion are evident. This was according to Daniel Naudé, a photographer who collaborated with Ramaphosa on his book Cattle of the Ages – Ankole Cattle in South Africa.

The criminal case between Piet Wolmarans, a Simmentaler stud breeder from Swartruggens in North West, and three of his neighbours over an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (snotsiekte) has been postponed in the regional magistrate’s court to 28 February.

Despite facing major challenges for its financial year ended 30 September 2017, South African integrated poultry company, Astral, was able to increase revenue 3% to R12,4 billion and increase operating profit 97% to R1,1 billion.

The Institute of Risk Management South Africa recently named agribusiness Senwes as the best in its ‘Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing’ category at a gala dinner at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.

Francis Patthey, chairperson of Samil Natural Fibres (Pty) Ltd asked his family, which has interests in the Alpaca industry in Peru and Switzerland and agribusinesses in Peru and Chili, as well as his business partners abroad, to donate funds to purchase animal feed for drought-stricken Angora farmers in need.

Nine winemakers have been shortlisted for this year’s Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year.

Stock up on diesel ahead of planting. This was the key message from Agbiz economist, Wandile Sihlobo, as forecasters estimated that diesel could increase by more than 60c per litre in December.

A multi-million-rand capital investment project, coupled with drought stress, led to a profit loss for GWK in the 2016/2017 financial year.

Outbreaks of a previously unknown wheat leaf disease have been reported in South Africa, which could have a serious impact on food security and sustainable wheat production in the country.

South Africa’s 2017/2018 table grape crop was expected to be between 6% and 13% lower than the 2016/2017 exported crop.

More than 100 developing crop farmers from central KwaZulu-Natal, most of whom farm on traditional authority lands, recently attended an information day on no-till conservation agriculture practices.

As of 1 May 2018, the national minimum wage (NMW) for farmworkers will be R18/hour, according to the National Minimum Wage Bill approved on 1 November.

A convoy of trucks is currently delivering half-a-million rands' worth of feed to farmers in the drought-stricken Western Cape, a gesture which will help to keep livestock alive and bring hope to farming communities.

The newly formed Wagyu Breeders’ Society of South Africa has appointed Dr Michael Bradfield as its first CEO.

Levels of E. coli in catchment areas in Gauteng have been increasing and could affect agricultural crop production, according to Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, has formally launched the national Wheat Breeding Platform (WBP) at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm near Stellenbosch.

Agriculture shed 25 000 jobs in the third quarter (Q3), having cut 84 000 jobs in the first half of 2017, according to figures released by Statistics SA.

A land audit conducted by Agri SA and Agri Development Solutions has provided new figures for land ownership changes between 1994 and 2017.

Thousands of people took part in a peaceful protest against attacks on farmers and farmworkers on Monday. Jaco Minnaar, chairperson for Grain SA, said that the organisation received reports on various protest marches throughout the country.