Budget speech – the expectations

Farmer’s Weekly asked agricultural and other experts what they expected and hoped to hear in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget speech.

Clarity over new gun licensing directive

Legal firearm owners who may have been confused and worried by a recent police directive regarding firearm competency certificates and gun licenses can take heed of advice from the South...

Agriculture needs R12 billion from Gordhan for drought relief

South Africa’s agricultural industry needs R12 billion to mitigate the effects of the current drought and to contribute to long-term sustainable local food production, according to Henk Vermeulen, Free State...

Anti-GM campaigns set to cost sub-Saharan countries

Anti-GM activists could cause significant losses in farmers’ productivity and raise food prices in sub-Saharan and other poor countries, according to a study by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation...

Tiger Brands faces animal cruelty charges

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has laid criminal charges against Enterprise Foods trading as Pork Packers Abattoir, a division of SA packaged goods company Tiger Brands.

Consultation on uranium mining in the Karoo

Tasman RSA Mines has applied to the Western Cape government for mining rights to some 500 000ha in the Karoo, according to Dr. Stefan Cramer, a hydro-geologist from Graaff-Reinet.

Quarter share in buffalo bull for R44 million

A 25% share in a buffalo bull has sold for R44 million at a recent Piet du Toit Wildbedryf auction.

Nigeria faces avian influenza crisis

Nigeria’s agriculture sector is struggling to bring an avian influenza outbreak under control.

SONA fails to acknowledge farmers, drought

Agri Eastern Cape has expressed disappointment about President Jacob Zuma’s 2016 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Five-year master plan to put goat farming on the map in KZN

Extended and extreme drought conditions, together with rapidly escalating food prices, have persuaded the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD) to implement a plan to promote goat...

State of the Nation Address 2016

State of the Nation Address by Jacob G Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Joint Sitting of Parliament

Agri leaders speak out before State of the Nation Address

The eyes of the country are fixed on South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, who is due to deliver his 2016 State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 11 February at...

Entire country affected by drought, report reveals

The devastating drought experienced by South Africa last year could be expected to put consumers under great pressure for the foreseeable future, according to a report from the University of...

ChemChina takeover of Syngenta

Syngenta has announced that Chinese company ChemChina has made a US$43 billion take-over offer.

Glyphosate most widely and heavily used weed-killer ever

Glyphosate-based herbicide is now the most widely and heavily applied weedkiller in the history of global chemical agriculture.

Livestock farmers urged to vaccinate against RVF

Livestock producers have been advised to vaccinate livestock against Rift Valley fever (RVF) following recent rainfall in some of the drought-stricken areas of South Africa.

McCain to assist farmers with feed

McCain SA has decided to redirect all of its edible waste to livestock farmers in drought affected areas.

Major setback for Boere in Nood

A serious setback has hit the Boere in Nood (Farmers in Need) group after a truck and trailers carrying bales to farmers, caught on fire between Theunissen and Brandfort.

SA wine fit for French president

Two wines from Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, based in Riebeek Kasteel in the Swartland region, were recently served to French president Francois Hollande at a lunch in New Delhi...

Capespan moves into India

Fruit company Capespan has acquired a 35% stake in one of India’s largest fruit distributors, the family-owned business, Yupaa Group.

South Africa