Water Affairs has no plan for SA’s critically polluted dams
About 62% of South Africa's dams and reservoirs are eutrophic, where increased nutrient content causes phytoplankton blooms that starve water bodies of oxygen.
Drought starting to cost sugar farmers big
Sugarcane growers in the Darnall and Maidstone areas of KwaZulu-Natal have already lost more than 35% of their revenue to the drought.
New Rift Valley vaccine out soon
Clone 13, the long-awaited new Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccine, will be distributed throughout the country in the first week of October, according Willie Botha, Onderstepoort Biological Products' special projects...
Land reform neglect is rural ‘pressure cooker’
A re-dedication ceremony in memory of victims of crime in KZN's farming community was held at Kwanalu's annual congress at the Pietermaritzburg Royal Showgrounds.
End to price differences for grapes
The growth of table grape production in countries where grapes can be harvested all year round could bring an end to price differences for early and late season grapes, said...
Agri EC against new Information Bill
The planned Protection of Information Bill will affect all Agri EC's members and the organisation strongly disapproves of it, said Agri Eastern Cape president Ernest Pringle.
Tariff implementation timeline to be cut
The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) told parliament it plans to improve the implementation of anti-dumping measures and shorten the tariff application and execution process.
Stock thieves target expensive Mpumalanga stud bulls
Brazen stock thieves, believed to be part of a syndicate, have stolen three stud bulls worth more than R100 000 each from various Mpumalanga farms over the past two months.
Arson costs Free State farmers millions
A report on the eastern Free State veld fires that destroyed 151 000ha and cost farmers R121 million was submitted to the MEC by Dr Thuso Masiteng, agricultural support services...
China courts SA’s commercial farmers
Against the backdrop of increased diplomatic interaction with China, it has emerged that commercial agriculture, in the form of Agri SA deputy president Dr Theo de Jager and sugarcane farmer...
No new El Niño
Reports that a new kind of El Nino will follow the current La Nina are incorrect, according to Johan van den Berg, climatologist at Santam.
Old interim Act replaces CLaRA
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform was obliged to abide by the Constitutional Court's decision to bin the Communal Land Rights Act (CLaRA).
Onderstepoort fight draws in minister
Agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has been drawn into the fight between the board of Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), and the CEO it suspended in April, Dr Andile Dyasi.
Wine prices to rise at slower rate than input costs
Wine prices have been rising lately,but wine farmers remain under pressure due to rapidly increasing input costs.
Agro-processing set for investment
Investment in the employment-rich agro-processing sector is set for a boost, when parliament approves the Industrial Policy Action Plan 2 (IPAP 2) on 2 September.
Stock theft, predators cost red meat industry millions
Farmers in the Eastern Cape suffer heavy losses from stock theft and jackal and caracal predation, said Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) national chairperson Arnold Brand.
‘Unnecessary’ fires ravage the eastern Free State
Veld fires in the eastern Free State destroyed 151 000ha of grazing land, mainly in the Willem Pretorius and Fouriesburg farming districts, in early September.
China rejects maize surplus but interested in game
South Africa's maize producers hoped agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson would return from her August trip to China having secured market access for the country's maize surplus. She didn't, but has...
New transparency in mining sector
The newly appointed Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) task team has been given six weeks to assess technologies, challenges and costs of "critical short term interventions," announced environmental affairs minister Buyelwa...
