Fears about damage for Southern Cape farmers after torrential rainfall
While the rain is widely welcomed, farmers in the Southern Cape could face serious damage after the region received heavy rainfall on Monday, 22 November.
Repo rate increase raises concern about farming debt
A hike in interest rates on the back of increased administrative costs, rather than “consumer pull” is of grave concern. This was according to Prof André Jooste, an agricultural economist affiliated with Stellenbosch University.
South Africa’s food inflation starting to level out
The consumer price index (CPI) for October remained unchanged at 5% as recorded in September, with the monthly inflation rate also holding steady at 0,2%, according to Statistics South Africa.
Pineapple farmers feel the input cost pinch
Despite improved producer prices, pineapple farmers are feeling the pinch of rising input costs.
Vacancy: Farmer’s Weekly is looking for a new Editor
(Vacancy filled) Farmer’s Weekly has a vacancy for an experienced media professional to join the title as editor of its print and online publications.
Up to 20% smaller mango harvest expected for SA this season
South African mango producers are concerned about the 2021/22 harvest, which is currently expected to be between 15% and 20% smaller than average.
Transnet vandalism and cable theft at ‘unprecedented levels’
Transnet lost more than 1 000km of copper cable to theft during the first 10 months of this year.
Agri sector takes wait-and-see stance on Godongwana’s budget
During his maiden medium-term budget address in Parliament on Thursday, 12 November, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana committed himself to accelerating economic reform for long-term economic growth in South Africa.
Foreign labour caps could be on the cards in South Africa
Government is currently considering the implementation of a quota system for the employment of foreign nationals to ensure more jobs are reserved for South Africans in an attempt to curb rising unemployment.
Proposed new Eskom pricing mechanism could penalise farmers
Eskom’s proposed new pricing methodology is unjust and will penalise rural energy consumers and the agriculture sector.
Farmers on high alert for ‘gigantic’ brown locust outbreaks
Agri Northern Cape is urging farmers to report brown locust outbreaks to their local district locust officers as soon as they are first observed.
Farmers warned to be on the lookout for digital scams
Unfortunately, there is no recourse for farmers who have fallen victim to the recent scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department).
‘Farmers on Lesotho border left abandoned by security forces’
Free State farmers on the Free State’s border with Lesotho are for all intents and purposes left to their own devices as far as safety and security is concerned.
R131 billion funding to reduce SA’s fossil fuel use welcomed
Agri SA has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Wednesday, 3 November that South Africa has secured R131 billion to steer the country away from its dependence on coal for energy generation towards ‘green energy’.
SA’s rolling blackouts driving up farmers’ production costs
PwC, a multinational accounting and auditing firm, expects the rolling blackouts experienced across South Africa to reduce the country’s GDP growth by three percentage points, and potentially cost the country 350 000 jobs this year.
Climate change severely affecting Africa’s farmers
Southern African countries attending the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) should try to negotiate compensation for the loss and damages suffered by these countries due to historical inequalities
SA sugar cane growers welcome cotton as a rotational crop
Sugar cane growers have expressed optimism about using cotton production as part of a diversification strategy.
SA expecting good grain, oilseed crops, despite rising costs
Some analysts have expressed their concern that rising input costs such as that of fertiliser and other agrochemicals could potentially discourage farmers from planting grain crops.
Diesel price expected to hit highest-ever level in November
Should the price of diesel increase in November as predicted by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), this will be the highest wholesale price of diesel ever recorded in South Africa. This was according to Ikageng Maluleke, Grain SA economist.
Online sales ‘moving boundaries’ for livestock auctions
Many South African livestock auction records have been crushed since the start of the year.
