South Africa

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has extended the deadline for public comment on the draft Regulation of Agricultural Land Holdings Bill 2017 and the Explanatory Memorandum.

An expected fuel price hike will have a negative effect on the agri sector, as it will coincide with summer crop harvests, says Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness research at the Agricultural Business Chamber (AgBiz).

Labour minister, Mildred Oliphant, will be visiting KwaZulu-Natal farms on Friday, 21 April, to ensure that employers are complying with the country’s labour laws.

Fynbos species diversity has declined due to increasingly longer hot, dry summers, affecting particularly species that sprout and germinate after the season’s fires.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Applewood Harvest Festival, hosted by Applewood Preparatory School in Grabouw in the Western Cape, Tru-Cape will again sponsor the running challenges associated with the harvest festival, the Tru-Cape Applewood Trail Run and the Tru-Cape Grabouw MTB.

The national March 2017 combine harvester sales of 23 units were 64,3% up on the 14 units sold year-on-year (y/y). This was a reflection of positive prospects for what was likely to be the second-biggest South African summer crops harvest since the 1980/81 season.

Agri Eastern Cape president Douglas Stern, has appealed to farmers to continue with what they know best, even under the current extremely trying times…

A recent Agbiz report has shown that South Africa imported 140 510t of beef between 2010 and 2016.

The agricultural sector has suffered losses amounting to almost R200 million, as a result of recent wildfires in the Hessequa and George districts.

Citrus growers in the Western Cape are optimistic about this year’s season, despite the devastating drought currently experienced by the province

South Africa’s commercial farmers are on their own during times of drought and cannot rely on support from government.

Investment holding company, Zeder’s headline and attributable earnings per share decreased significantly due to a once-off management fee and internalisation charge of almost R1,5 billion added to the income statement.

Distell’s Oude Meester Demant brandy walked away with top honours at the recent World Drinks Awards in London, receiving the title of ‘World’s Best Brandy’.

Rhino horn can now be legally bought and sold in South Africa, following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of an appeal by the Department of Environmental Affairs to keep a moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn.

New Zealand experts in pasture-based dairy farming recently shared their knowledge with South African producers at a number of farmers’ days.

Farmers could have a stabilising effect on the South African economy despite Standard & Poor’s downgrading the country’s credit rating to junk status.

Various wine farms in the Boland are being investigated by the Norwegian government-owned, alcoholic beverage retailer, Vinmonopolet.

Diesel prices will decrease by about 10.50c/ℓ, while petrol prices will drop by about 24c/ℓ on 5 April, bringing the price of 95 octane petrol to R13,30/ℓ and the price of diesel to R11,50/ℓ in Gauteng.

Temperatures across the country were expected to remain above average towards mid-winter. The possibility of an El Niño event had also significantly increased.

Merino wool producer, BP Greyling from Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, achieved a record-high price at a recent wool auction held at the Wool and Mohair Exchange in Port Elizabeth.