South Africa

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) urgently called on farmers and members of the public to report unusual deaths of wild hares and domestic rabbits to the trust and their nearest state veterinarian after the second outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) was confirmed earlier in July.

Farmers have been advised to take extra care to prevent livestock losses during the icy weather that has recently hit large parts of South Africa.

A Bonsmara bull recently set a new South African record when he was sold for R4,4 million. The bull, LAR 19 373, was characterised by outstanding conformation, a strong head and exceptional depth, said Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA.

While the potential loss of international trade agreements could disrupt South Africa’s trade balance, domestic issues are in fact far more serious, according to Dr Mmatlou Kalaba, commodity market analyst at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy.

The World Health Organization estimated that there are over 200 known types of zoonoses, with these diseases comprising a large percentage of new and existing diseases in humans.

Exports of beef could be increased from the current 4% of local production to 20%, according to Koning Scholtz, newly elected chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Northern Cape (RPO Northern Cape).

Zimbabwean exemption permit holders can breathe a little easier for the next 12 months, thanks to the Gauteng High Court finding the minister of Home Affairs’ decision to terminate these permits unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

South Africa has to legalise the trade in rhino horn to save rhino populations from poaching, according to Pelham Jones, chairperson for the Private Rhino Owners’ Association.

A new South African record price was recently achieved when R255 000 was paid for the SA Mutton Merino ram 1038 TOP. The sale of the ram underlined that demand for the breed was significantly on the rise, according to Jan Vosloo, president of the SA Mutton Merino Breeders’ Society of South Africa.

The highly pathogenic H7 bird flu has spread to Mpumalanga over the last week, necessitating the culling of 1,8 million layer hens. The virus is believed to be contained but fears that wild birds will continue to spread the virus remain.

The latest crop production forecast shows an increase in maize yield, mostly attributed to favourable weather conditions that boosted the crop towards the end of summer.

In yet another devastating blow for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a tornado ripped through parts of Durban on the afternoon of 27 June, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The recent sharp decline in food inflation is obviously good news for cash-strapped consumers, but bad news for the agriculture sector.

Farmers are being called on to work together to build safer communities, rather than wait for government to act.

The latest Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) shows that agribusiness has significant apprehension about business conditions in South Africa.

While the extent of damage is still unclear, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture is estimating losses caused by flooding in the province at between R750 million and R1 billion.

As the summer rainfall region enters the fire season, farmers have been cautioned to keep a watchful eye on Eskom lines and transformers.

Heavy rains since Wednesday have been causing huge damages to roads and infrastructure in the Western Cape.

US lawmakers recently published an open letter in which they asked the White House to move the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Summit, scheduled to take place this year in November, away from South Africa, citing the latter country’s seemingly close relationship with Russia.

Politicians and businesses have been challenged via a new billboard campaign to close the food gap in South Africa. The campaign, which has been launched in Johannesburg and will soon be rolled out countrywide, makes use of 300 billboards demanding urgent action to make basic nutritious food more affordable.