Sappi’s Ngodwana Mill selected for biomass energy project
Multinational forestry, pulp and paper company Sappi has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Ngodwana Energy Biomass Project, which falls under government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme.
No sheep at Wool Week, says NSPCA
The local wool industry is outraged by the NSPCA’s refusal to allow any live sheep to be shown or shorn during the Wool Week 2015 which is taking place at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town from 7-12 April.
Namibia in pictures
South Africa’s neighbour Namibia is known for its arid landscape, especially in the southern parts of the country. The country however, received good rains during March.
Eastern Cape tea estates to get R66 million cash boost
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana, and his deputy, Bheki Cele, embarked on community engagement meetings across the country, as part of government’s second National Imbizo Focus Week recently.
KZN poultry farmer denies NSPCA’s cruelty claims
A veteran commercial egg farmer in KwaZulu-Natal has alleged that the local NSPCA branch in his area was misrepresenting the facts regarding his alleged cruel treatment of his 11 500-strong layer-fowl operation.
SAB KickStart programme funds young farmers
Clement Ngwako Pilusa, Gauteng small-scale broiler producer, and Leka Captain Makhafola, Limpopo vegetable farmer, are among the top 18 candidates of South African Breweries’ KickStart youth entrepreneurship programme.
Sharon fruit season off to good start
The South African Sharon fruit harvesting season got off to a good start, thanks to favourable growing conditions during the summer and farmers were expecting a good quality crop.
Gold bunny helps save riverine rabbit
One of South Africa’s most threatened mammals – the critically endangered riverine rabbit – will again benefit from sales of the Lindt Gold Bunny.
KZN farm attacker sentenced to 22 years
A 19-year old farm attacker has been sentenced to an effective 22 years in prison by the Ladysmith Regional Court in KwaZulu-Natal.
Agriculture unity forum for Western Cape
A number of agriculture organisations in the Western Cape have established a unity forum “to bring about one voice for the collective interest” of the broader agriculture sector in the province.
Infrastructure reform could support Africa amid Chinese slowdown
Structural reform should play a pivotal role in driving global competitiveness as China’s economic slowdown has a “direct impact on sub-Saharan Africa”.
FF+ to motivate for rural safety police reservists
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) is scheduled to hold a meeting with Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko to highlight its concerns about the scourge of farm attacks and farm murders.
Caution urged about foreign-owned landownership
The wildlife ranching and game management industry was well-positioned to benefit rural communities, create jobs and bring about land reform as long as the free market system was in place, said Barry York of Wildlife Ranching SA, at a recent Land Reform Indaba.
Innovation called for in SA’s stud cattle breeding sector
SA’s stud cattle breeding societies and breeders needed to realise that commercial cattle breeders were their most important clients and position themselves accordingly, said to Prof Frikkie Neser, animal scientist at the University of the Free State.
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 ram auction.
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.
