South Africa

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.

A convoy of trucks is currently delivering half-a-million rands' worth of feed to farmers in the drought-stricken Western Cape, a gesture which will help to keep livestock alive and bring hope to farming communities.

The newly formed Wagyu Breeders’ Society of South Africa has appointed Dr Michael Bradfield as its first CEO.

Levels of E. coli in catchment areas in Gauteng have been increasing and could affect agricultural crop production, according to Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, has formally launched the national Wheat Breeding Platform (WBP) at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm near Stellenbosch.

Agriculture shed 25 000 jobs in the third quarter (Q3), having cut 84 000 jobs in the first half of 2017, according to figures released by Statistics SA.

A land audit conducted by Agri SA and Agri Development Solutions has provided new figures for land ownership changes between 1994 and 2017.

Thousands of people took part in a peaceful protest against attacks on farmers and farmworkers on Monday. Jaco Minnaar, chairperson for Grain SA, said that the organisation received reports on various protest marches throughout the country.

A farm manager from Franschhoek in the Western Cape, Chris Loubser, has posted an emotional video filmed in his bakkie on social media, calling on all South Africans to wear black on Monday 30 October, to pay tribute to all the farmers who have lost their lives in farm attacks.

The price rise of inland diesel – from R11,42/ℓ to R12,12/ℓ since the beginning of 2017 – has had a cumulative effect on production input costs that has affected the profitability and sustainability of most SA farmers.

National crime statistics were released today for the period April 2016 to March 2017.

Another two suspects have been arrested in connection with the Wesselsbron child labour case, with a fourth suspect subpoenaed to appear in court alongside the first accused, Hendrik Reyneke, this week.

Research has shown that trophy hunting is more lucrative to the South African economy than previously expected, according to a recent study headed by Prof Peet van der Merwe and conducted by North-West University’s research unit, Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, in collaboration with the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa.

Despite adequate rain in many of South Africa’s macadamia-producing regions, production was taking longer than expected to return to normal.