New cellphone app a boost for farm safety
The Free State Agriculture (FSA) safety and security mobile app, ‘Die Plaaswag (The Farm Watch)’ has already been downloaded by hundreds of users since its launch last month, according to FSA safety and risk analyst Dr Jane Buys.
Hunters send drought aid to the Northern Cape
Members of the Overberg branch of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SA Hunters) have donated 480t of feed to farmers in drought-stricken Sutherland in the Northern Cape, said a SA Hunters spokesperson.
XTractor Around the World expedition set for SA
In the second stage of the XTractor Around The World expedition, four of the latest generation McCormick tractors will cover 6 000km of South Africa’s toughest terrain in 48 days.
New president for Wildlife Ranching South Africa
Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) has elected Tebogo Mogashoa as its new president at the association’s annual general meeting held in Polokwane recently.
Bright future awaits Grain Academy class of 2018
Syngenta recently launched its 6th annual Grain Academy Programme. The ceremony was held at the Arabella Country Estate in Kleinmond.
Free State farmworker empowerment initiative
A commercial farmer in the Free State, Eddie Prinsloo (63), is empowering his farmworkers through a land ownership initiative in which he sold a 1 500ha farm to the government on condition that his farmworkers be joint owners of the farm.
Levies expected to cancel out fuel price decrease
Although fuel prices are expected to decrease early in April 2018, any benefits that this may have had on consumer pockets, including those of farmers, will be cancelled out by increased government fuel levies.
DRDLR gives Harrismith farmers access to mechanisation
A farmer-led committee in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District in the Free State has pledged to ensure that seven new Case tractors handed over by government to local developing farmers on March 23 would be utilised effectively.
Namibia’s Swakara excels at Kopenhagen Fur
All 41 809 Swakara pelts on offer from Namibia were sold at the annual Kopenhagen Fur auction, held last week in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to the Namibian Agricultural Union.
Western Cape dam levels below 20%
There was growing concern about the water crisis in the Western Cape as dam levels continued to decline.
Agriculture could fix ecological mistakes of past
Producers have a responsibility to reverse past mistakes made in agriculture, according to Grain SA conservation agriculture (CA) facilitator, Dr Hendrik Smith.
DNA testing ‘an essential tool for wildlife industry’
Genetics was a tool that should be used by the South African wildlife industry in the same way it was used in the livestock industry, according to Dr Munro Marx, head of Unistel Medical Laboratories.
Eastern Cape urban agri projects to be rejuvenated
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) has announced plans to establish a trust that would be tasked with revitalising several urban farming initiatives that had become unsustainable over the years.
February tractor sales down
The 11,9% drop in year-on-year national tractor sales between February 2017 and February 2018 has been described as “quite disappointing” by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA).
Rhino Horn Trade Africa website launched
Members of the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) and any individual or company that owns rhinos or legally acquired rhino horn, may trade them legally through the PROA website.
Imports halted from Brazilian meat company
Imports of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) to South Africa from Brazil-based company, BRF, which has been implicated in contravening food safety, has been halted, says Steve Galane, director of communication services at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
Farmers not under any threat in South Africa, government
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has dismissed allegations by Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, that the white minority in South Africa is in any danger.
Drought declared a national disaster
Government this week formally declared the drought as a “national state of disaster”.
Expropriation motion could dent high agri confidence
Confidence within South Africa’s agribusiness sector for the first quarter of 2018 (Q1 2018) was at its highest since the third quarter of 2016.
Concern over lack of training for future farmers
The agricultural industry had a role to play in revitalising the South African economy, said agricultural economist Prof Mohammad Karaan at the recent Grain SA congress held in Bothaville.
