SAFE farms top last year’s figures
The harvest figures of the South African Fruit Exporters (SAFE) are up 21% compared to the same time last year…
Farmers must do their homework before expanding into Africa
There are ample opportunities for local producers to expand into Africa, according to Dirk Hanekom, CEO of Agri All Africa, speaking at a recent TAU SA briefing on diversification options.
Heavy downpours still expected despite downgrade for Dineo
Tropical cyclone Dineo, which is expected to hit South Africa later today, has weakened significantly and has been downgraded to a tropical depression.
Guidelines for controlling fall armyworm
SA’s grain producers have been cautioned not to use pyrethroids to fight fall armyworm (FAW) as the species was resistant to it.
Nkwinti calls for restitution without compensation
Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, has called for a pre-colonial audit of land ownership as well as constitutional amendments to allow for land restitution without compensation.
South Africans urged to declare all offshore assets
South Africans have until the end of August this year to declare any offshore assets. According to Wayne Sorour, head of Old Mutual International South Africa, there was a global...
Market for SA plums strong despite smaller fruit
In the initial stages of the Western Cape’s 2016/17 plum harvesting and marketing season, concerns existed that an abundance of small-sized fruit, due to diminished groundwater levels, would undermine prices...
GM maize could be less susceptible to fall armyworm
It was likely that some genetically modified (GM) maize was less susceptible to fall armyworms.
Clover explains reasons behind raw milk supply restructuring
The well-known food and beverages group recently issued a statement to clarify the rationale behind its restructuring strategy first announced in late 2016.
SA’s wheat import duty to be revised down by 25%
Recent data from the South African Grain Information Services showed that the wheat import tariff has been revised to R1 190/t, 25% lower than the current level of R1 591/t.
Mixed reactions from agri-leaders to SONA 2017
On 9 February, President Jacob Zuma delivered the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town. While some agricultural stakeholders were impressed with Zuma’s commitment to the sector,...
New minimum wage ‘reasonable’ – TAU SA
The minimum wage of R20 per hour announced by vice-president Cyril Ramaphosa in parliament recently is not expected to have a marked effect on agriculture.
Lower tractor sales reflect caution in market
Despite a positive market sentiment, SA farmers are wary about buying new tractors.
AHS: 2017 Western Cape restrictions in force
The annual ban on the direct movement of horses into the Western Cape’s African horse sickness (AHS) controlled zone came into effect on 1 February 2017, according to a Western...
SONA 2017: what agri leaders want to hear from Zuma
President Jacob Zuma will be presenting his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017 at 7pm on Thursday, 9 February. South African agriculture has faced a number of challenges in...
Stronger rand a spanner in the works for pome fruit exports
The South African Apple and Pear Producers’ Organisation (SAAPPA) anticipates a normal pome fruit season despite drought conditions affecting certain production areas, according to a SAAPPA press release.
Approval of products against fall armyworm to be confirmed
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has announced that it will be approving products to be used against fall armyworm from this week.
EU dismisses poor quality claims of export chicken to SA
The quality of poultry being exported from the EU to South Africa is the same quality as the poultry produced and sold in Europe, Bloomberg reported Marcus Cornaro, EU ambassador...
Vodacom launches mobile app for smallholders
A mobile application that acts as an information platform for South African smallholder farmers, has been launched by Vodacom, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and...
Horse sales off to a good start
The 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, recently held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, had a record turn over of R155 225 000.
