South Africa

Today, as the world marks World Egg Day, eggs are perhaps more front of mind in South Africans than ever before. Unfortunately, this is due to the shortage of eggs, rather than an abundance spreading across breakfast tables.

Amid several calls to address the critical shortage of veterinarians in South Africa, veterinarians and veterinary nurses have finally been reinstated to the country's critical skills list.

Tractor and combine harvester sales are expected to slow over the medium term, but remain above the long-term average, according to agricultural role-players.

The latest forecast by the Crop Estimate Committee (CEC) continues to point in a positive direction for summer and winter crop outputs in South Africa, despite threats levelled by the El Niño weather phenomenon being experienced this year.

Izaak Breitenbach, general manager of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), provides insights into the current Avian Influenza crisis impacting the poultry industry. He also addresses concerns related to egg shortages and the potential shortages of chicken meat.

Combilift, a leader in forklift innovation, celebrated its 25th anniversary recently in Monaghan, Ireland. The company flew in 200 journalists from across the world to visit its headquarters.

The Agricultural Writers SA North named its regional candidates on 29 September during its awards evening, held in Pretoria.

The Livestock Registering Federation’s (LRF) annual Stockman School had over the past 15 years added immeasurable value to beef cattle production in Southern Africa, according to Johan Styger, LRF vice-chairman.

Gielie Basson, restauranteur from Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo, tried to better the Guinness World Records’ record for non-stop braaiing, and spent 84 hours behind a grill over the Heritage Day long weekend.

A Boer Goat sire, Komatsu (762210143), bred and sold by the Lucas Burger Boer Goat Stud in Griekwastad, recently achieved the highest price ever recorded for a Boer goat sold at auction.

World Rabies Day is celebrated on 28 September, dedicated to raising awareness about this deadly disease and highlighting rabies prevention.

More than seven million birds have been culled within the South African poultry industry in 2023 since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Western Cape’s agricultural harvest hangs in the balance as the province battles floods, gale force winds and low temperatures.

Astral Foods is navigating the turbulence of load-shedding and other challenges in the 2023 fiscal year.

South Africa’s citrus industry is set to receive a boost in quality as stricter laws for propagation are tabled. The Citrus Improvement Scheme(CIS) will soon be promulgated after undergoing a two-decade process of consultation in the industry.

The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) has translocated 230 rhinos to create 15 new black rhino populations on sites in South Africa and Malawi over the past 20 years.

South Africa’s organised agricultural structures are extremely concerned about evidence that a huge proportion of veldfires that occurred in the country so far this year were caused wilfully and deliberately.

Following three consecutive quarters of depressed sentiment, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index rebounded by 6 points from the second quarter to the neutral 50-point mark in the third quarter.

Entrepreneurs from all over the continent and government officials came together to discuss how to harness Africa's rich biodiversity and indigenous plant resources to create opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for a more sustainable economy at the African Bio Trade Festival from 14 to 16 September.

Food safety and proper food handling at all stages of the value chain are paramount in ensuring that contamination and the spread of foodborne diseases such as listeriosis is avoided in South Africa.