May diesel price drop to provide relief to farmers
South Africa’s farmers affected by the R1,24/l increase in the wholesale price of diesel in April will get some relief in May when the price drops again.
Job losses despite growing SA economy
The biggest blot on the South African democracy was the five million people looking for work and the nearly two million who have given up hope of finding a job, according to Theo Vorster, CEO of Galileo Capital.
Barend Grobler named Free State Young Farmer of the Year
Barend Grobler became the 19th winner of the Free State Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year competition at a gala event in Bloemfontein on 16 April.
AIR systems under the spotlight
The importance of animal identification and traceability systems came under the spotlight at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria recently.
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.
