South Africa

The latest increase in diesel prices is a severe blow to grain farmers, according to André Kirsten, vice-chairperson of Grain SA’s Winter Grain working group.

The National Assembly passed the Expropriation Bill as referred to it by the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure without addressing the “serious flaws” in the bill, according to Christo van der Rheede, executive director of Agri SA.

Agricultural role players have welcomed the arrest and court appearance of a further three people in the Estina Dairy corruption case. The accused appeared in court on 28 September on charges of fraud, theft, corruption, and money laundering.

The farming community’s safety is directly related to food security in South Africa. Thus, the vulnerability of the country’s farming and rural communities to crime is a problem not only for farmers, but the nation as a whole.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has welcomed a decision by Botswanan growers to join the association. According to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the CGA, the organisation looked forward to sharing its knowledge and expertise with these growers.

Despite the current high commodity prices, farmers should be prudent when spending money this year.

The deterioration in the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) for the third quarter of 2022 was expected, given the spike in fuel prices, rampant food inflation, and the weakening of the rand against the US dollar, among other elements.

The announcement by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on Thursday (22 September) that its benchmark lending rate is being increased by 75 basis points to 6,25% will mean that many farmers may have to restructure their debt and curtail expansion plans. This was according to Prof Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau for Economic Research.

While over half a million cattle have already been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) across South Africa, the fight against the disease has been dealt another blow with a recent outbreak being confirmed outside the Free State’s disease management area.

Saving Africa’s rhinos requires a multi-dimensional strategy, with private game reserves and national parks co-operating, and anti-poaching efforts working in tandem with education campaigns. This was according to Joe Cloete, CEO of Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.

The current rolling blackouts experienced across South Africa have dealt a devastating blow to the agricultural industry.

Following a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nampo Cape, which started on Wednesday (14 September) is currently underway in Bredasdorp, and will run until Saturday, 17 September.

The current decline in lamb and mutton prices can largely be attributed to the extremely high carcass prices of up to R110/kg, seen a month ago.

A lack of maintenance has frustrated farmers to the point where Potatoes South Africa has called for the privatisation of the Tshwane Market.

Reports of serious environmental damage have already been received following the collapse of a tailings dam at an abandoned diamond mine near Jagersfontein in the Free State on Sunday.

Industry leaders have welcomed Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza’s decision to lift the countrywide ban on the movement of cattle introduced to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

South Africa’s agricultural exports saw a 12% or about R51 billion quarter-on-quarter increase during the second quarter of the year, according to the latest trade data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday (6 September).

While a recent survey found that a large proportion of South Africans struggled to afford three meals per day, food affordability would have been worse if farmers did not produce food as abundantly as they had in recent years.

Role players in the Northern Cape’s agricultural industry have called for everything possible to be done to prevent the spread of sheep scab, also known as brandsiekte, in the province.

Farmers in South Africa’s summer rainfall regions should prepare for a third consecutive high-rainfall season, which could lead to flooding, waterlogged lands, and crop damage.