Memorandum: issues affecting agriculture

AgriSA has compiled a memorandum listing the 10 most important issues affecting agriculture.

Game ranchers unite to influence policy

The wildlife ranching industry is aiming to reposition itself as an important contributor to South Africa’s GDP and policy decision making processes on issues that affect the sector.

No concerns over drop in national tractor sales

South Africa’s agricultural machinery manufacturers and marketers are not too concerned about the decreases in monthly tractors sales so far this year.

The biggest pumpkin of all

Big ones, pretty ones, fat ones and ugly ones. No pumpkins were discriminated against for the annual Goliat van Gat giant pumpkin growing competition. The only criterion for a prize was that it had to be big, very big.

Feather thieves terrorise ostriches

The ostrich industry is still recovering from the devastation caused by an outbreak of the H5N2 avian influenza in 2011, but a new threat is already rearing its head.

Need for agriculture subsidies recognised

Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Zoleka Capa said it was becoming increasingly evident that farmers needed government subsidies to offset escalating operating costs.

Western Cape on African horse sickness alert

The movement of horses into the Western Cape has been restricted with immediate effect after outbreaks of African horse sickness (AHS) in other parts of the country.

Summer crop estimates lower than initial projections

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) released its second production forecast for summer grain crops for 2013 and all crops – except dry beans – have come in lower than initial projections.

Ladies of labour

In South Africa the most food garden projects in rural and poorer areas are run by women, like the food garden at Langalibalele Dube Primary School in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg that Farmer’s Weekly reported on in 2011.

Rural power price increases higher than urban increases

Rural municipalities will pay 12% more for power from Eskom as of 1 July, while rural customers who buy power directly from Eskom will pay 9,3% more and rates for urban municipalities will rise by 7,1%.

Thousands of flying exterminators released against tree pests

The South African commercial forestry sector is making strides towards controlling the costly depredations of the Blue Gum Chalcid (Leptocybe invasa) in eucalyptus plantations.

KZN rangers shoot and kill suspected rhino poacher

Field rangers manning the Cengeni Gate of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, shot dead a suspected rhino poacher.

KZN farmers spell out their needs to government

KwaZulu-Natal farmers of all races and production scales have presented a comprehensive list of their needs and concerns to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA).

Ferrero seeks to expand hazelnut network

Global confectionary giant Ferrero, manufacturer of Ferrero Roche and Nutella, is looking to expand its network of hazelnut growers in SA, delegates heard at the East Coast Intensive Horticulture growers’ day at Cedara recently.

Department of Water Affairs cancels Harties clean-up project

The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) is pulling the plug on its project to clean up the Hartebeespoort Dam, situated west of Pretoria.

Dutch seed technology comes to Pietermaritzburg

Dutch seed technology company Incotec recently opened a R13 million purpose-built plant in Pietermaritzburg, after having identified the KwaZulu-Natal capital as being ideally located to launch its expansion into sub-Saharan Africa.

Four suspected stock thieves caught

Four suspected stock thieves, aged between 21 and 63 were recently arrested in the Msinsini area of KwaZulu-Natal, after the police found three allegedly stolen goats tied up at their homestead.

Local whisky best in the world

South Africa’s first single grain whisky, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, has been announced as the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the annual Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards (WWA) held in London last week.

Farm attackers should be removed from society – Modise

Perpetrators of violence against the farming community had no place in society and should be permanently removed.

Drought pushes down meat prices

Now is the time for consumers to bargain hunt, according to Koos van der Ryst, vice-chairperson of the National Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (RPO).

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