South Africa

All South Africa’s equine owners have been reminded that it was compulsory for their horses, donkeys and mules to be vaccinated against the deadly African horse sickness virus.

Limpopo rains could bring increased incidence of bacterial black spot on fruit, jeopardising quality and consequently farmer profit.

The farm worker strike in the Western Cape is over, but no agreements have been reached regarding a minimum wage.

Nearly two months after the labour unrest in the Western Cape first erupted farm workers have finally started speaking up for themselves.

Government is reportedly spending R3,1 million annually to control aquatic and riparian alien invasive weed species in KwaZulu-Natal.

Despite being 31,6% lower than the previous December’s tractor sales, the December 2012 figure did not prevent total sales for last year being more than 500 units greater than total tractor sales in 2011.

The legalisation of the rhino horn trade has been dealt a double blow by the South African and Kenyan governments.  Those calling for the...

Sporadic showers have been reported in the Free State and North West between 18 and 20 January 2013 and no significant rain damage or floods occurred.

The situation in the two North West district municipalities, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, has not changed as the municipalities were still experiencing a severe drought.

Black fruit farmers in the Western Cape say that if the ongoing unrest is not resolved soon, many of them will be ruined. Denene Erasmus reports.

AngloGold Ashanti admitted to repeated toxic spillages near Stilfontein, and criminal charges have been laid against it. Robyn Joubert reports.

The Mapungubwe Interpretive Centre (MIC) situated within the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site has been temporarily closed due to the heavy rains in the area.

South African farmers and their employees should take heed of warnings of highly likely widespread heavy rains for the weekend of 18 to 20...

Cosatu has warned that it would ensure a retail boycott against farmers unwilling to pay their workers R150/day.

Buffalo City’s state veterinarian, Dr Stuart Varrie, appealed to horse owners in the Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay areas of the Eastern Cape not to report cases of African horse sickness (AHS) on social media websites, unless the disease had been confirmed through laboratory testing.

Livestock farmers in the drought-stricken eastern part of Limpopo have been urged to reduce their stock numbers to avoid losing more animals.

In 2012, South Africa exported a record 415 million litres of wine, beating the 2008 record of 411 million litres, said Wines of South Africa CEO, Su Birch.

South Africa’s Agricultural Business Chamber (AgBiz) urged government to implement the recommendations of the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation’s 2012 ‘State of Food and Agriculture’ report.

An analysis of farm worker wages has revealed that farmers can afford a slight increase in minimum wages, but that increasing the current prescribed minimum wage from R69/day to R150/day, as striking farm workers in the Western Cape have been demanding since November last year, was simply not feasible.

On-going labour unrest in the Western Cape, as some workers continue to demand that the minimum wage be increased from R69 to R150/day, will have far-reaching consequences for the agriculture sector.