South Africa

Rina Belcher of Belnori Boutique Cheesery in Bapsfontein is the first woman whose name will be added to the list of industry stalwarts on the Agri-Expo Honorary Roll.

Wandile Sihlobo, SA Grain economist, discusses South Africa’s grain and wheat import/export markets.

Cuts made to the budget allocation for the agriculture department will have an impact on the ability of state-owned entities to provide critical services to farmers.

The much anticipated amendments to the Poultry Regulations, regarding the brining of poultry meat, were published recently.

Human–wildlife conflict has historically been portrayed as a management problem where solutions lie in technical changes or financial incentives.

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, director of the Griffon Poison Information Centre and BirdLife South Africa, urged South African livestock farmers to make use of the limited offer to buy jackal-proof fencing at a reduced cost before the offer expires on Saturday 30 April 2016.

Fears have been expressed that the ongoing drought in parts of South Africa is set to hit the country’s honey bee populations, and that in turn will affect agricultural output.

The annual Bathurst Agricultural Show (BAS) held from 1-3 April 2016 provided entertainment for the young and old, including numerous exhibitions, a variety of different stalls, equestrian events and livestock/poultry shows.

The thin green line between conservation and law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal’s 332 000ha iSimangaliso Wetland Park received a boost recently when 30 young graduates of the department of environmental affairs’ Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) joined the park’s existing conservation officers as Environmental Monitors (EM).

The best butcheries both nationally and regionally were announced at a luncheon at Cleaver Awards ceremony held at the Definitive Conference in Isando.

Private agricultural land ownership is a scarce in Africa, according to Pierre Vercueil, Agri North West president.

More than half of the infectious diseases listed in the latest Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa’s (RuVASA) disease report could have been prevented through proper vaccination, according to Dr Faffa Malan, manager of RuVASA.

The on-going drought will not affect the amount of visitors or exhibitors to attend this year’s Nampo Harvest Day which will mark the 50th anniversary of this event.

Communities are urged to plant trees as part of celebrations for international Earth Day on 22 April.

Maize farmers will be paying more for inputs as the rand continues to depreciate against the US dollar.

Sundays River’s citrus farmers are still suffering millions of rand in losses (R12 000/t) per year due to vandalism and fruit theft.

Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) will be the new, exclusive focus of Graham Beck Wines.

China is modernising its agriculture sector to improve farming efficiency and agricultural output.

Emerging fruit farmers in the Western Cape are set to receive R120 million in funding to help them increase productivity on their farms.

Covering 6 653ha and hosting 122 massive wind turbines, the Khobab and Loeriesfontein Wind Farms in the Northern Cape will be the single largest expanse of wind turbines on the African continent when fully operational.