Agri SA says ‘no’ to blanket minimum wage
The potential implementation of a national minimum wage “drastically exceeding those currently prevailing in certain sectors, like agriculture” would have a number of profound negative impacts. This was the view of Agri SA president Johannes Möller.
Decrease in maize supply above pipeline expected
Grain SA's latest supply and demand projections for maize indicate an 11,8% reduction in the surplus above the pipeline by the end of April 2015.
Spirit of conservationist Ian Player lives on
Dr Ian Player, (89) well-known and respected conservationist, died at his home in the Karkloof (KZN) last week after a short illness.
Celebrating soil
In 2002 the UN named 5 December as World Soil Day, a day to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of soil in food production.
Bird flu fears in Europe could boost SA ostrich meat exports
The recent occurrence of the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Europe’s poultry flocks could open the door for increased exports of locally produced, heat-treated ostrich meat.
Farmers asked to set up ‘vulture restaurants’
A food shortage among vultures has led to a call for help to farmers to set up “vulture restaurants”.
Fuel price decrease in time for Christmas
Farmers, truckers, motorists and other fuel users have been given an early Christmas gift this year.
Birding Big Day set to record 845 bird species
This year bird watching enthusiasts from all over the country will attempt to record the 845 bird species found in South Africa in a day.
Small-scale fishermen fed up with DAFF
The department of agriculture is accused of mismanagement and ineptitude by members of the small-scale fisheries sector.
Chocolate lovers could be facing a global shortage of cocoa
Challenges in the world’s major cocoa production areas are resulting in a growing shortage of this sought-after commodity.
Agreement between Grain SA and Argentina
Grain SA and Argentina’s public institutes and private concerns recently signed an agreement pertaining to mutual co-operation as strategic partners in grain crop research.
Farmer’s Weekly’s journalist is cream of the crop
An article written about an ostrich farming project in the Eastern Cape won Farmer’s Weekly journalist Denene Erasmus the Agricultural Writer’s SA Journalist of the Year award at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony recently.
CPI for October remains unchanged
South Africa’s consumer inflation for October remained unchanged at 5,9% year-on-year, the same rate year-on-year as that for September.
Over 150 000 visitors attend the world’s leading animal production trade fair
A whopping 156 000 visitors from around the globe are reported to have attended the November 2014 edition of the biennial EuroTier animal production trade fair held in Hanover, Germany.
KZN MEC gives thumbs-up to hefty farm murder sentences
The two murderers of a KwaZulu-Natal timber contract harvester have been sentenced to life imprisonment, according to a statement by the province’s MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu.
Take hedging of maize prices seriously
Maize producers who didn’t hedge some of their production earlier in the year when prices were still above R2 000/t, probably found it difficult to cover term debts over and above their production costs, according to Keneilwe Nailana, Standard Bank’s agribusiness manager.
Don’t celebrate Africa’s economic growth just yet
The majority of humanity – some four billion people – live in high-density slums and that number will increase as people continue to flock to urban areas, seeking a ‘better life’.
Good start to table grape season
The first table grapes of the new season are being harvested and packed as producers across the country look forward to a good production year.
Western Cape names farm worker of the year
Jerome Thomas, general manager at Kanonkop Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, has been named the Western Cape Farm Worker of the Year.
Time to change SA’s red meat classification?
The 12th meat symposium held in Pretoria recently included a report-back on research carried out by a task team appointed in 2009 to investigate the current red meat classification system.
