South Africa

Recently, Radobank brought together 50 farmers from 18 different countries and six continents in the Netherlands to discuss the future of farming. The participants identified the ‘6-S future of farming framework for food security’ – succession; sustainability; social enabling factors; supply chain; science; social media.

The Basislink online bidding system developed by Senwes and Grainlink came into operation on 11 December.

The western livestock producing areas of the Free State are still exceedingly dry.

The KwaZulu-Natal farming community is reeling from the murder of yet another of their own this year. Mohamed Engar (67), a grain farmer and miller in the Winterton area, became the 11th farmer to be murdered in the province during 2013.

The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF) has urged all role players within the livestock industry to co-operate in the prevention of stock theft by abiding by existing laws.

Based on information provided by Reserve Bank, AGFACTS has tracked the year-on-year agricultural machinery price changes from January 1996 to the present.

The wool market reached a record high at the final sale before the Christmas recess with the Merino indicator closing at R117,36/kg (clean).

Some 46 poisoned Cape griffon vultures have been found near to two sheep carcasses on a farm close to Molteno.

The JSE has introduced short-dated options to give farmers and millers greater protection against fluctuations in the maize price.

South Africa’s top winemakers are working together to create an association from which they can build South Africa’s reputation as a producer of world-class wines and promote the Cape’s unique wine heritage, reported moneyweb.co.za.

It is with great sadness that Farmer’s Weekly bids farewell to Victor Mahlinza, who passed away on 4 December after a long illness.

After a four-year legal battle, a KwaZulu-Natal banana farming business was finally able to extract the R808 745, plus interest and legal costs, owed to it by the Fresh Produce Agents Fidelity Fund (FPAFF).

The SA public has rallied around the drought-stricken farmers in the North West Province and donations to the value of R120 000 had been paid into Agri North West’s bank account as at Monday, 9 December, 2013.

The DA plans to lay criminal charges against the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, after a report by the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela in which the minister has been accused of maladministration and improper and unethical conduct in the manner she awarded an R800 million fisheries patrol tender.

The first outbreak of a banana fungal wilt disease in Mozambique has been reported.

Many farmers in the Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Cradock districts of the Karoo are upset by energy company Shell’s attempts to contact them individually and speak of ‘divide and rule tactics’.

South Africa could face a shortage of maize next year, according Grain SA chairperson Louw Steytler.

The agriculture sector comes together to mourn the passing of a truly great man.

The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono is pleased with the rising number of young females qualifying as professionals in the field of agriculture this year.

The South African agricultural sector is working to ensure that farm workers are financially provided for in retirement.