Sugarcane growers leap at haulage opportunity

A consortium of over 5 600 emerging and commercial sugarcane growers have purchased a transport division of Unitrans in a deal which puts the multi-national logistics company’s Amatikulu transport depot in growers’ hands.

New beef cattle breed officially in South Africa

The Droughtmaster beef cattle breed was officially introduced to South African stud and commercial beef breeders on 24 April in the Vryburg district.

More support for SA farmers necessary

South Africans should be encouraged to buy more locally produced food by making it easy for them to distinguish between local and imported products in supermarkets.

Land reform process responsible for lack of confidence

“We all agree land reform is necessary, we just don’t always agree on the method that should be followed,” said Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase at a Standard Bank business breakfast during the recent Bien Donné Agri Cape Week in Paarl.

Entries now open for the 2013 Bollinger Wine award

Launched in 2011, the Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award is aimed at recognising and enhancing the calibre of local sommeliers and wine service staff.

Opportunities abound for alert farmers – TAU president

Fallow state land and agreements with Brics countries could result in many business opportunities for innovative farmers.

Cut flower industry a cut throat business

The Competition Commission (CC) has dropped investigations into irregularities in the cut flower industry.

Meat sector must retain trust of consumers – industry

Despite a vote of confidence in the integrity of locally produced red meat, serious warnings were issued during the debate about producer and consumer relationships at the Bien Donné Agri Cape Week.

Agri SA could still appeal mineral rights ruling

A play on words resulted in the Constitutional Court ruling against Agri SA’s landmark test case to determine the expropriation provisions in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).

Umgeni Vlei gets Ramsar status

The effective conservation and management of SA’s scarce freshwater resources received a major boost recently when government designated KwaZulu-Natal’s 958ha Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve as the country’s 21st Ramsar site.

Court victory for municipality in cut power case

A woman, who had her electricity cut by the Moqhaka Municipality in the Free State for withholding her rates and taxes, lost her Constitutional Court appeal.

Countering the abuse of cross-border grazing permits

Private and public stakeholders in the South African livestock industry are determined to put a stop to the abuse of livestock grazing permits issued to Lesotho citizens.

Ground-breaking judgement in environmental misuse case

York Timbers will appeal a R450 000 fine meted out by the Nelspruit Regional Court on 4 April. The company was fined for widening a forest road at its sawmill and plywood factory in Mpumalanga in 2007, without environmental authorisation.

Afgri expects huge decline in its poultry division

The listed agribusiness, Afgri, issued a shareholder trading statement on Wednesday that it was expecting a decrease of 25% to 40% in its headline earnings per share for the financial year ending 30 June 2013, compared to the previous year.

Are SA’s small dairy farmers becoming extinct?

South Africa’s dairy farmers are operating in an unequal market and more government support needed, says Saijil Singh, lead analyst at international credit insurer Coface.

Police catch 28 suspected stock thieves in seven days

An intensive seven day joint operation by KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Stock Theft Units resulted in the recovery of stolen livestock, collectively valued at an estimated R900 000.

Expo brings the farm message home

Throughout the past week the unbreakable bond between the consumer and agriculture was recognised by thousands of visitors to the Bien Donné Agri Cape Week at Simondium, Paarl.

Draft amendment bill to re-open land claims

Land claimants from rural areas are expected to “come out in numbers” when the window for lodging land claims is re-opened, said Advocate Bheki Mbili, head of restitution at the KZN Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), at a recent media breakfast in Durban.

Mines should take greater responsibility – Agri SA

At the Agri SA mining conference in Pretoria recently, delegates said that while mining had an important economic role to play, agriculture should be treated as equally significant. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

Lower first quarter agribusiness confidence

Confidence in agribusiness dropped 15% in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the last quarter of 2012 and in comparison to the same period last year.

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