Frost devastates Orange River grape farmers
Almost 15 000 seasonal workers in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape will not be employed this harvesting season, because of heavy frost damage to vines recently.
Young goats’ mohair set new records
A new international record of R440,10/kg for super fine 24 microns, super style winter kids’ mohair was set by Theronnie van der Merwe of Murraysburg at the fourth sale of the winter season.
13 000ha destroyed by veld fire between Memel and Vrede
A veld fire is currently burning between Vrede and Memel in the eastern Free State. The fire started on 9 October on a farm near the Vrede-Volksrust road, according to the CEO of the Free State Umbrella Fire Association, Thinus Steenkamp.
Hunting body expels member for poaching
The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) has dishonourably expelled André Klopper (21) from the association for poaching.
Political decisions in the US have a global impact
Because a growing world population has put pressure on the demand for food, prices will rise moderately over the next 40 years, says Kuben Naidoo (Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus’s advisor), speaking at the Agri SA Congress today.
Farmer unions divided over Afgri deal
The proposed buyout of agri services and industrial food processing group Afgri by an international consortium has alarmed the African Farmers Union (Afasa), which has called on the ministers of trade and industry and agriculture, rural development and land reform to step in and prevent the deal.
World Egg Day
Every year World Egg Day is celebrated on the second Friday in October to raise awareness of the great benefits of eggs.
Two stock theft accused to appear in court
Two suspects, Charles Marais (40) and Martinus Groenewalt (35), accused of stock theft amounting to R807 000, are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 October 2013 according to SAPS spokesperson, colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.
Tragedy strikes Thomas River
A fire, caused by lightning in the Thomas River area between Cathcart and Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape recently, claimed the life of a farm worker and severely injured another.
Normal weather expected, for now
Normal weather patterns have been predicted for the summer cycle, but a dry spell looms over the next five years.
Grindrod buys into NWK
Freight logistics company Grindrod recently bought a sizeable chunk of NWK for R228 million. In doing so, it took up the 19,8% stake jointly owned by Zeder Investments and Thembeka Capital, and topped it up to 20% by way of 0,2% purchased from NWK itself.
Aiming for ‘incremental nationalisation’
Government claims to be acting in the interests of the rural poor to redress “a great historical wrong”, but land reform of the kind that it proposes is “essentially a charade”, said Dr Anthea Jeffery of the SA Institute of Race Relations
