South Africa

Diversified chemicals company, Omnia, has stated that the 75% drop in its operating profit for the half-year ended 30 September 2018, was largely attributable to the seasonal nature of its agriculture division’s revenue cycle, coupled with the volatility of the rand against the US dollar.

The estimated R1 billion in losses currently suffered by South African livestock industry as a result of stock theft, is expected to escalate as the incidences of stock theft increase in all provinces.

Before starting any farming venture, new farmers must plan how they will reach their goals and how they will manage all aspects of their farming operation, according to Cois Harman, winner of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) mentor of the year award.

Egg industry role players are meeting with government to ensure that ongoing egg imports are limited, now that the national layer flock have recovered sufficiently to meet domestic demand.

South Africa’s citrus industry experienced a particularly good season this year, despite water constraints and dry conditions in some major citrus-producing regions.

Role players in the domestic cotton and mohair industries have joined forces to ensure that a greater portion of natural fibres produced in South Africa are also processed and consumed here.

The fire which broke out at the KWV production facility in southern Paarl on Tuesday, is the third such incident to hit the wine industry in quick succession.

Sheep producer, FC Alexander, lost about 400 animals in the wildfire that raged near Trompsburg between 15 and 17 November, along with about 4 000ha of veld, constituting about 80% of his land.

While Parliament's Joint Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) is preparing its final parliamentary report on the possible amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation (EWC), the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) is planning to take the committee to court.

It was evident at this year’s Chardonnay Celebration, hosted by De Wetshof near Robertson, that Chardonnay had come a long way over the years.

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.