South Africa

South Africa’s table grape crop is likely to be 1% to 2% larger than the first 2016/2017 crop estimate, according to the South African Table Grape Industry (SATGI).

Tru-Cape Fruit, the largest marketer of South African apples and pears, will open its Heritage Orchard of historic apple and pear trees to the public for a guided tour on Saturday, 4 February.

Omri van Zyl, Agri SA’s executive director, was elected president of the World Farmers' Organisation’s (WFO) audit board in Rome, Italy, at a WFO meeting earlier this week.

The drought still dominates wine production in South Africa and may yet have a significant impact on the 2017 vintage.

South Africa needs to manage agricultural produce trade agreements with the UK carefully after Brexit, as the country is but one of many competing for UK markets, says agri-economist Dr Johan Willemse.

There are strong suspicions that the recent mislabelling of citrus being sold in Spain as having originated from South Africa, was a malicious action designed to fuel the current dispute between the two countries’ citrus sectors, according to the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA).

Grain SA called on grain farmers to be on the alert for possible outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), with possible incidence of this pest already reported in different areas of Limpopo, North West and the Free State.

Copper thieves were recently arrested in the Western Cape after a local farm watch group alerted Eskom’s security risk division.

The recent widespread rain in the western parts of SA’s summer grain production region has changed the scenery from a virtual desert to a lush environment. Annelie Coleman reports.

On 16 January, 1 246 tea lovers sipped their way into setting a world record to celebrate National Rooibos Day.

The Land Bank has urged emerging farmers to make use of its financial services intermediary partners.

An agricultural economist has described national agricultural machinery sales for December 2016 and the 2016 calendar year as painting a “mixed picture”.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has lifted the export ban on the South American country.

Clanwilliam, referred to by some locals as the ‘Rooibos Capital of the World’, will host South Africa’s first Rooibos Day on 16 January.

The first South African wool sale of 2017 year got off to a promising start, according to Cape Wools. The company’s Merino indicator increased by 761 points to close the day at R154,54 (clean), up 9% on the corresponding sale last year.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has requested the re-release of reports that investigated water quality, water loss and compliance. The reports were previously released to the public, but were now confidential.

An alleviation of drought conditions could slow down food price inflation, bringing relief to lower- income groups in 2017, according to an FNB report.

Some parts of the southern Free State remain desperately dry, according to a Free State Agriculture statement

The rain that occurred over South Africa’s summer grain region has improved production conditions vastly compared with December 2016.

An interdict reportedly granted by the Western Cape High Court has temporarily prevented the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) from issuing permits to existing and new rights holders for South Africa’s inshore trawl fishery for hake and sole.