Wine harvest 4% down, but quality outstanding

South Africa’s 2015 wine harvest was expected to conclude at the end of this month with 75% of the grapes already harvested by mid-March.

Ladismith Cheese factory fire probed

Ladismith Cheese executives are still counting their losses following a fire that allegedly completely destroyed the stock, cheese and butter stores at the Western Cape factory recently.

Gauteng plans to boost agro-processing

Hundreds of emerging farmers gathered in Soweto, Johannesburg, recently, to hear from agriculture stakeholders how they planned to turn Gauteng into an agro-processing hub in the continent.

Heidelberg has SA’s largest pumpkin

A massive 483,6kg pumpkin grown by Pinkie Swart from Heidelberg, won him the title for the largest pumpkin grown in South Africa for the second year in a row.

Ram sells for R200 000

Google, a super fine wool ram belonging to William and Acton van Aardt of Fairworld Fine Wool, Cookhouse, Eastern Cape, recently sold for R200 000 at the Merino stud’s 27th...

New plans to increase the profitability of wheat production

A transparent and well-functioning cash market was the best option to revive South Africa’s ailing wheat production industry, according to Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA.

Agribusiness in Africa must react to global changes

The world was changing fast and there were significant shifts happening in demographics, economical and political power, as well as the natural environment.

Rocky road ahead for new transport regulations

Transport and logistics stakeholders have bemoaned the new road regulations which came into effect on January 31, saying they would affect the “smooth running” of logistics in the country.

Drought conditions expected to depress agri machinery sales

Drought conditions across South Africa’s summer grains production areas are expected to have a short-term negative impact on agricultural machinery sales

MPO announces new CEO

Dr Chris van Dijk has been appointed the new chief executive officer of the Milk Producers’ Organisation.

Drought a reminder of fragile food security – Steytler

The ongoing drought in South Africa’s summer grain production regions was a stark reminder of the fragility of food security in the country, according to Grain SA chairperson Louw Steytler.

Kruger commemorates World Wildlife Day

Community involvement played a critical role in the conservation of the rhino, SANParks’ CEO Fundisele Mketeni said at a UN World Wildlife Day held in the Kruger National Park on...

Grain SA to seek drought relief for members

The Grain SA executive announced an undertaking at the 2015 Grain SA congress to work with members of the agricultural value chain regarding financial relief for the drought-stricken grain producers...

Expropriation Bill makes it quick and cheap for state to seize property

The revised Expropriation Bill of 2015 has been released and poses a major threat to private property rights.

“The drought has changed our priorities” – Zokwana at GSA congress

Grain producers must form partnerships with government to ensure long-term sustainable and profitable food production in South Africa, Minister of Agriculture Senzeni Zokwana told the 2015 Grain SA congress in...

MEC visits chicory farmers

The Eastern Cape’s emerging chicory farmers have received a shot in the arm when the provincial government supplied them with seeds, fertilisers and insecticides to the value of R400 000.

Sasol settles fertiliser price-fixing case with farmers

A group of 58 SA farmers has won a class action lawsuit against multinational energy and chemical giant Sasol.

Maize crop forecast nearly a third lower

South Africa’s maize crop will probably be 32% smaller at 9,66 million tons than last year’s harvest, according to the Crop Estimates Committee’s first forecast for the season.

Nene ‘over-optimistic’ about economic growth prospects – Stroebel

Presenting the 2015 budget in Parliament on 25 February, finance minister Nhlanhla Nene said that South Africa’s GDP growth forecast for 2015 has been reduced from 2,5% to 2%, but...

DAFF will have to ‘pull up socks’ to meet Nene’s demands – Zokwana

Agriculture was singled out as one of the nine “strategic priorities” to be pursued this year when it comes to ensuring economic growth and job creation, according to finance minister...

South Africa