Fishing rights questioned

The DA has queried the lawfulness of the fishing rights allocation process after thousands of applicants were unsuccessful and subsequently without a source of income.

Ostrich industry set for recovery

The ostrich industry’s challenge for 2014 is to successfully establish heat-treated ostrich meat products as mainstream commodities in European markets.

Economic challenges and opportunities in 2014

The election will play a big role in the economy this year.

Tough year ahead for sugar

The sugarcane industry experienced tight financial conditions in 2013 and these were likely to continue into 2014.

Cotton production set to double

Cotton production is expected to double this year, amid higher prices due to a weaker rand.

Red meat producers are cautiously optimistic

Large-scale red meat exports from Namibia and Botswana have scaled down, which is likely to push weaner prices up.

SA grain value chain positive about 2014

Current decreases in global prices for both maize and soya bean are being offset by the weakening of the rand and increased production volumes locally, promising the grain value chain another good year, according to Standard Bank’s head of Agribusiness, Nico Groenewald.

A year of extraordinary weather

It has been a year of unusual weather in many parts of South Africa. The SA Weather Service in June predicted unusual temperatures and rainfall across SA for the winter.

Agriculture in 2013: Stock farmers losing millions to theft

On 22 February, Farmer’s Weekly reported that a farmers’ union in the Eastern Cape requested a government subsidy, as they could not afford to pay for a branding certificate to mark their animals.

Agriculture in 2013: Meat scandal leads to improved labelling

It started in Europe. At the end of February, European retailer Ikea withdrew meatballs in 14 European countries after Czech Republic tests found traces of horse meat in a batch made in Sweden.

Agriculture in 2013: Drought devastates large summer rainfall regions

The previous summer’s drought in the eastern parts of Limpopo was said to be one of the worst since 1983.

Record maize harvest for US

The US Grains Council reported a record maize harvest of 355.3 million metric tons for the 2013/2014 season.

Agriculture in 2013: Poultry – an industry in distress

At the beginning of the year, the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) was disappointed with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) decision not to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on cheap poultry imports from Brazil.

Agriculture in 2013: The threat of strikes ever present

After the violent strikes in the Western Cape late last year, it was reported on 18 January that most permanent farm workers in that province had returned to work on 9 January, the day on which strikes had been expected to resume.

Agriculture in 2013: Huge wage increase rocks agriculture

Minimum wages, drought, fires, disease, import tariffs and a meat labelling scandal.These were all issues on the agricultural agenda this year. Farmer’s Weekly news editor, Niel Saayman, compiled this overview of the year’s main news stories.

Taking on ivory poachng

At the Elephant Summit held in Botswana in early December urgent measures were adopted to halt illegal ivory trade. But some conservationists are asking if these will be enough.

A fund for all seasons

The Christmas Fair Fund, which was founded by a group of young farmers' wives in Stanger in 1952, recently held its 61st Christmas Country Fair at Collisheen Estate, near Ballito in KZN.

North West still desperately dry

Isolated showers of rain have been reported in the drought-stricken areas of the North West, but the western parts of the province remain dry, according to Agri North West’s deputy CEO, Naude Pienaar.

Mpumalanga receives good rains

Farmers in Mpumalanga are grateful for the widespread rain they have received in recent weeks. Agri Mpumalanga reported that all farming sectors were looking forward to a promising summer production season.

A can do Christmas

In the spirit of Christmas multinational agricultural company Monsanto handed over 700 cans of tinned food and 50 blankets to two welfare organisations on Thursday, 12 December, at River Place Country Estate near Pretoria.

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