South Africa

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

New way to become more environmentally friendly

A tool was recently developed to help farmers calculate the carbon footprint of their crops.

Can we see some results?

Billions are spent on agricultural support programmes, but now MPs are asking why so little seems to have been accomplished. Denene Erasmus reports.

Livestock on the loose

Livestock on the roads of the former Transkei in the Eastern Cape have always been a challenge for motorists.

Organised agriculture questions KZN job plan

Organised agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal has questioned where the money will come from to fulfil an ambitious plan by the KZN Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) to create 28 000 new jobs during the 2012/2013 financial year.

Refunds for mutant calves refused

New Zealand’s farmer-owned AI company, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), is refusing to give refunds, or pay compensation, after semen it sold produced mutant calves.

No demand for land reform?

A lot has been said about black South Africans not being interested in farming and the sector not being ‘sexy’ enough to attract more farmers. Now two researchers have taken it further and say land reform has no support and should be done away with. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

ANC policy swings undermine credibility

Contradictory policies and radical statements make it difficult to decide on the direction in which the ANC is leading the country and what it means for land reform. Is this a sign of an incoherent government or one with a carefully constructed game plan? Lindi van Rooyen reports.

Agriculture still a good investment

Speaking at the recent Free State Agriculture Congress in Bloemfontein, Agri SA president Johannes Möller said farmers should invest in agriculture.

Free trade in Africa bad news for local farmers

Free trade in Africa could be a reality by 2017, signalling harder times for farmers in South Africa, while those abroad benefit.

135 000 ha lost to Free State veld fires.

Nearly 135 000 ha have been destroyed in veld fires in the Free State.

COSATU and Agri SA find common ground

Concern over the vast tracts of unproductive land in South Africa has united Agri SA and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

Mining a threat to food security

Current mining and new prospects for mining could soon have a devastating effect on agricultural production as well as long-term food security implications for the country.

Farming income outlook

Real gross farming income is expected to increase strongly over the next two years, but the outlook for the rest of the coming decade is not so rosy. Denene Erasmus reports.

El Niño back in the Pacific

The El Niño weather pattern is returning to the Pacific Ocean.

‘Meatless Monday’ gaffe slammed

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) was forced into a humiliating back-down after publicly endorsing the ‘Meatless Monday’ concept.

Quantify effect of labour amendments on jobs – Agri SA

Agri SA has requested that parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Labour carry out a regulatory impact assessment to determine the unintended consequences of amendments to labour legislation on job creation.

Hostile policies eroding agriculture

Those worried about South Africa’s eroding competiveness have cause for concern as agricultural imports are growing faster than exports.

Reactions mixed on commodity release for so-called “Agent Orange Maize”

Responses have been mixed to the news that the South African government has given commodity clearance allowing the import of maize grain from a newly developed herbicide-tolerant genetically modified maize variety.

Mulder spends R500 000 on flights, Agri SA spends R700 000

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Pieter Mulder has become the subject of much criticism after a parliamentary question revealed he spent nearly R500 000 on domestic and international flights,...

Consumers to pay more while farmers get less

Consumers can expect to pay between 12% and 15% more for their food in the coming months, but this does not translate to more money for the farmer.
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