South Africa

The drought in the Western Cape was becoming a colossal challenge as the province headed into uncharted waters. This was according to the WWF’s Fresh Water senior manager, Christine Colvin.

After being positive for the previous five consecutive quarters, the general confidence of South Africa’s agribusiness sector slipped five points into negative territory in the fourth quarter of 2017.

There was great confusion about packaging and labelling requirements for imported poultry meat. This was revealed at a recent meeting in Johannesburg between EU delegates, Fair Play, and Country Bird Holdings (CBH), where the influence of alleged ‘dumping’ of EU poultry was discussed.

According to Andries Theron, chairperson of Grain SA’s winter cereals committee, and a farmer in the country’s primary wheat producing region, the Swartland in the Western Cape, conditions in the region were going from bad to worse.

Livestock farmers in the Northern Cape had thus far reduced their livestock numbers by more than 30% as a result of the persisting drought, according to Henk van Wyk, the president of Agri Northern Cape.

Consumers will have to be prepared to spend more on their favourite cuts of meat, or even go without it, this festive season.

Agri SA has announced that it will not participate in the march against farm murders on 25 November, which has been organised by AfriForum.

The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed an urgent interdict brought against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) by suspended agriculture Director-General (DG), Mike Mlengana, but said that the case would be heard at a later stage.

When Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa talks about his Ankole cattle, a childlike joy and passion are evident. This was according to Daniel Naudé, a photographer who collaborated with Ramaphosa on his book Cattle of the Ages – Ankole Cattle in South Africa.

The criminal case between Piet Wolmarans, a Simmentaler stud breeder from Swartruggens in North West, and three of his neighbours over an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (snotsiekte) has been postponed in the regional magistrate’s court to 28 February.

Despite facing major challenges for its financial year ended 30 September 2017, South African integrated poultry company, Astral, was able to increase revenue 3% to R12,4 billion and increase operating profit 97% to R1,1 billion.

The Institute of Risk Management South Africa recently named agribusiness Senwes as the best in its ‘Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing’ category at a gala dinner at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.

Francis Patthey, chairperson of Samil Natural Fibres (Pty) Ltd asked his family, which has interests in the Alpaca industry in Peru and Switzerland and agribusinesses in Peru and Chili, as well as his business partners abroad, to donate funds to purchase animal feed for drought-stricken Angora farmers in need.

Nine winemakers have been shortlisted for this year’s Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year.

Stock up on diesel ahead of planting. This was the key message from Agbiz economist, Wandile Sihlobo, as forecasters estimated that diesel could increase by more than 60c per litre in December.

A multi-million-rand capital investment project, coupled with drought stress, led to a profit loss for GWK in the 2016/2017 financial year.

Outbreaks of a previously unknown wheat leaf disease have been reported in South Africa, which could have a serious impact on food security and sustainable wheat production in the country.

South Africa’s 2017/2018 table grape crop was expected to be between 6% and 13% lower than the 2016/2017 exported crop.

More than 100 developing crop farmers from central KwaZulu-Natal, most of whom farm on traditional authority lands, recently attended an information day on no-till conservation agriculture practices.

As of 1 May 2018, the national minimum wage (NMW) for farmworkers will be R18/hour, according to the National Minimum Wage Bill approved on 1 November.