South Africa

Explore South African farming insights, including crop production, livestock, agribusiness, and sustainability tips for profitable agriculture.

More than 50 000 ostriches culled since April 2011

It has been less than 15 months since the H5N2 avian influenza virus was first detected on an ostrich farm in Oudsthoorn and since then more than 50 000 ostriches...

Drought relief for Nam farmers

Several thousand farmers in Namibia’s northwestern Kunene Region are receiving drought relief from Government after a lack of rainfall severely affected cattle output in the communal area.

Agri SA gets value-for-money at ANC policy conference

Agri SA said that it was pleased with the results of having had a stand at the recent ANC National Policy Conference.

Farmers short-changed by plastic piping companies

The Competition Tribunal has issued administrative penalties totalling tens of millions of Rands to a number of plastic piping companies for participating in anti-competitive practices.

Farm labourers dead in train collison

A freak accident in Mpumalanga involving a train and truck has left 19 people dead and several others injured.

Land reform’s deadline struggles

Staff constraints have been one reason for the delay of the completion of the national land audit, now due by the end of July. Denene Erasmus reports.

Promise of price increases as production decreases

Improved global dairy supply and demand and expected lower production growth may result in higher international prices in coming months.

South African delegation visits Costa Rica

A South African delegation consisting of members of organised agriculture and led by agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson recently visited Costa Rica on a fact-finding mission at the invitation of Walmart.

More tractors expected to be sold this year

The number of tractors and combine harvesters sold in June grew by 13,6% and 100% respectively. This is according to the latest sales figures from the South African Agricultural Machinery...

Copper theft takes shine off doing business

Theft of copper cable continues to place a severe burden on doing business in SA, despite figures dropping 15,9% in May to 356t from 424t in April.

Standard Bank in firing line for DairyBelle price cut

Standard Bank is taking flak for milk processor DairyBelle’s decision to cut the milk price by between 50c/l and 75c/l.

PZP puts elephant population control within reach

Delegates at the International Wildlife Management Congress in Durban recently heard of the successful use of the PZP (porcine zona pellucida) immunocontraceptive vaccine.

Worldwide collaboration needed to save the rhino

Conservationist Ian Player has asked international wildlife management groups to support the call by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) to lift the...

Multi-million rand Fynbos Fire Project launched

South African researchers will soon embark on a multi-million rand, internationally funded project, called the Fynbos Fire Project, to implement far reaching integrated fire management programmes in the Fynbos biome.

Food prices lowest since 2010

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO’s) food price index is at its lowest level since September 2010.

Land department misses another deadline

Under the leadership of Minister Gugile Nkwinti the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) missed several self-imposed deadlines before finally publishing the green paper on land reform in...

Management, not policies, hamper land reform – Agri SA

Execution of the land reform process, rather than the willing-buyer, willing-seller clause, is at the core of its failure and any attempts to fix the problem will be futile if...

Striking foresters burn down plantations

A wage dispute between Komatiland Forests (KLF) and their employees has led to the decimation of over 600ha of trees after strikers allegedly set fire to plantations.

Small fruit sizes hamper citrus exports

Farmers in Limpopo are likely to export a much smaller volume of citrus this year due to the persistent drought in the area which has resulted in reduced fruit sizes.

Pest mutations towards GM cotton discovered

Genetic mutations of cotton bollworm have been discovered in China following years of exposure to biotechnology.
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