Less rain and less wheat for the Western Cape

The Western Cape, the country’s largest wheat-growing region, was likely to produce 236 950t less wheat this year than in the previous season, according to the Crop Estimates Committee's first production forecast for winter grains.

50/50 Policy farm, Solms-Delta, under business rescue

Equity share scheme, Solms-Delta Estate, has been placed under business rescue. Mark Solms, a majority shareholder in the project is however positive that this is temporary.

Agribusiness confidence drops but still optimistic

While overall confidence within South Africa’s agribusiness sector dropped two index points in the third quarter (Q3) of 2017, the sector remained optimistic about business conditions in the country.

Spring rain expected for north-eastern parts of SA

An increased chance for above-normal rainfall between spring and late spring over the north-eastern parts of the country is expected, said Cobus Olivier, prediction scientist at SAWS.

Investigations continue against Wesselsbron labour broker

The farming community in the Free State has condemned the situation in Wesselsbron in which charges have been laid against an alleged labour broker suspected of multiple counts of child labour.

‘Farm debt shows farmers investing in their businesses’

The current national farm debt of R144 billion was not necessarily a negative thing, and showed that producers were making debt to invest in their farm businesses.

Fuel price increase ‘comes at a bad time’ for agri sector

The sharp rise that is expected in the fuel price comes at a bad time for the South African agricultural sector, according to Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture.

Jaco Strauss was announced the Agri Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year on August 23

Young Farmer of the Year feels lekker about Northern Cape win

Jaco Strauss, a 39-year-old farmer from the Vaalharts area, has been named as the Agri Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year.

Bird flu reaches 24 outbreaks in SA

Despite efforts by government and the commercial poultry and ostrich industries to control the disease, there were now 24 confirmed outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since late June 2017.

North West’s Naledi aims to shine in 2017 solar challenge

The Faculty of Engineering at North-West University (NWU) launched Naledi, a solar car, which will be competing in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in early October in Australia.

SA’s top Chenin Blanc wines announced

The winners of the fourth annual Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge were recently announced at the Delaire Graff Estate outside Stellenbosch.

Convenience shopping a growing trend in fresh produce

Convenience shopping, both in the formal and informal sectors, is becoming a major factor in fresh produce retailing.

About 50 farmers from the Bethulie district assisted state officials in containing a wildfire in the area on 15 August. Photo: Facebook/Free State Agriculture

Wildfires destroy more than 60 000ha in the Free State

Farmers are still counting the cost of wildfires that killed livestock, and destroyed more than 60 000ha of grazing and 4 500 bales of feed across the Free State in the space of a week, according to Free State Agriculture (FSA).

SAPA wants compensation for ‘bird flu’ farms

With thousands of chickens and other poultry having died or been culled due to the outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has stated that government needed to compensate affected producers and agribusinesses.