Lloyd Phillips
Lloyd Phillips joined Farmer’s Weekly in January 2003 and is now a Senior Journalist with the publication. He spent most of his childhood on a Zululand sugarcane farm where he learned to speak fluent Zulu.
After matriculating in 1993, Lloyd dreamed of working as a nature conservationist. Life’s vagaries, however, had different plans for him and Lloyd ended up sampling various jobs in South African agriculture before becoming a proud member of the Farmer’s Weekly team.
How agricultural economics keeps up with the times
The evolution of agricultural production and value chains requires that agricultural economics adapts quickly to remain relevent and helpful. Prof Theo Kleynhans, head of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, spoke to Lloyd Phillips.
Community farm’s drive and discipline rewarded at last
Having suffered several setbacks in their efforts to make their agribusiness profitable, a group of hard-working land reform beneficiaries in KwaZulu-Natal at last got the help they needed from an agricultural transformation organisation. Lloyd Phillips reports on the Gugulethu community.
Easing of lockdown reignites fears over ‘chicken dumping’
Any gains intended by South Africa’s Poultry Sector Master Plan to reinvigorate the country’s long-ailing broiler value chain will be severely compromised should large-scale dumping of imported chicken meat onto the local market resume.
High court gives go-ahead for exporting of 56 000 live sheep
The South African Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) has welcomed today’s (25 August) judgment by the Grahamstown High Court to permit the exporting of up to 56 000 live sheep in a single shipment by sea from the East London Harbour.
Quarantine lifted on nine FMD-affected properties in Limpopo
Quarantine restrictions have been lifted on nine of the 19 properties affected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Limpopo since November 2019. This was according to a statement issued today by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department).
Storm rages around live sheep exports ahead of court case
Al Mawashi, which has exported approximately 120 000 sheep aboard ship from South Africa to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in two shipments since October 2019, will on 6 August contest a legal bid by the National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) to have further such exports permanently banned, allegedly due to various animal health and welfare violations before, during and after the shipments.
COVID-19 ‘perfect storm’ for African food security
COVID-19’s arrival in Africa has exacerbated pre-existing major challenges to the continent’s food production and nutrition security.
Wildlife industry caught off-guard by latest hunting ban
Various industry representative organisations were again left bewildered by the unexpected late July announcement by Minister of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, to ban inter-provincial travel for South Africa’s many subsistence hunters.
On-farm hydroelectric power boosts dairy’s bottom line
Hydroelectric power production need not mean massive installations for large-scale commercial supply. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Peter Ward’s small-scale hydroelectric system on his farm generates sufficient power for his dairy enterprise while saving his operation up to R1,3 million a year. At the same time, he uses the precious resource of water sustainably.
No such thing as ‘ethical’ live sheep exports, says NSPCA
The support expressed by the farming sector, and in particular the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation’s (RPO), for the live export of sheep by sea, has been met with sharp criticism from the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).
Johnnie Walker brand to debut new paper-based bottle
Top-selling Scotch whisky brand, Johnnie Walker, has announced that early in 2021 it intends to debut the first-ever 100% plastic-free paper-based spirits bottle.
Boran bull sold for R1,7m sets new South African record
The R1,7 million winning bid for an eight-year-old bull sold recently at the National Boran Sale, set a new South African price record for a bull of this breed, far surpassing the previous national record of R1 million.
Sheep export facilities in Eastern Cape pass inspection
An inspection that was carried out on behalf of the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) found that the feedlot facilities being used to keep sheep destined for live export by sea, and the ship that will be used to transport the animals to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, were in compliance with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards for animal health and welfare.
Repeal of SA drought disaster declaration met with shock
The South African government has received scathing criticism after the classification of drought as a national disaster was revoked. The notice, published in the Government Gazette recently, was signed by the National Disaster Management Centre’s head, Dr Mmaphaka Tau.
Game reserve turns to meat sales amid COVID-19 tourism ban
The 12 000ha community-owned Somkhanda Game Reserve (Somkhanda) in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal recently started generating much-needed additional income through the commercial sale of meat harvested from its game populations.
Tshwane Market now ‘in worst state it has ever been’ – IMASA
At least 26 Tshwane Fresh Produce Market (Tshwane Market) users have submitted individual letters of support for a recent letter to Mpho Nawa, administrator of the City of Tshwane council, by Julian van der Nat, chairperson of the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) at Tshwane Market
No response from agri department on Mlengana’s resignation
None of the government departments with an interest in the recent resignation of the former director general (DG) of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department), Mike Mlengana, have responded to Farmer’s Weekly’s repeated attempts to obtain comment on the reasons Mlengana gave for his sudden resignation.
‘Lack of work ethic’ at agri department pushes DG to resign
The director general of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department), Mike Mlengana, has resigned suddenly from his post.
Tshwane market COVID-19 shutdown blamed on poor management
The failure by the management of the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market to implement meaningful and effective protocols to manage the threat posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been cited as the key reason for the market having to suddenly close from 24 to 26 June.
RPO clarifies its change of view on live sheep exports
Leaders of the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) and the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) recently indicated that they were now in support of livestock exports from South Africa by sea, provided that they were conducted within animal welfare guidelines.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
MUST READS
- ADVERTISEMENT -
- ADVERTISEMENT -
