Sabrina Dean
Multimedia journalist active in print, radio and online platforms.
Reduced summer grain planting ‘not a surprise’
In its latest estimate for 2017/2018, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has reduced the area planted to commercial maize in South Africa.
DRDLR advertises for new DG
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has confirmed that it has started advertising for a new director-general (DG).
Frankel colt fetches R4 million at Cape Yearling Sales
A total of R111 million was spent on yearling racehorse prospects at the Cape Premier Yearling Sales at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 21 and 22 January.
Milk price hits four-year high
The producer price for milk reached R5,10/ℓ to R5,20/ℓ in December, its highest level since 2014, according to the Milk Producer’s Organisation (MPO).
Grain SA chairperson: a passionate but practical farmer
It takes a fine balancing act for Grain SA chairperson, Jaco Minnaar, to serve the interests of members while still leaving enough time to pursue his true passion – being a farmer. Sabrina Dean visited him recently on his family farm near Hennenman in the Free State.
Potential market boost for macadamia farmers
Macadamia farmers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal stand to gain from a major new export contract.
Food prices expected to continue fluctuating in 2018
Exchange rate fluctuation will continue to play a determining role in the cost of food products in coming months.
Follow-up rain critical over next three weeks
Rainfall remained erratic in December, with some parts of South Africa continuing to experience below-average rainfall while others received more than 200% of the monthly average.
Nguni development project pays off for Limpopo
The Limpopo IDC-Nguni Cattle Development Trust that was established to promote the production of this indigenous cattle breed in Limpopo is still functioning well, and a call for new applications will go out early in 2018, according to project manager, Cedric Mojapelo.
Agri SA: new president, new energy, new strategy
Free State farmer, Dan Kriek, was elected Agri SA’s new president during its congress in October. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about the association’s new strategy, and its vision to achieve ‘unity about agriculture’, a scenario in which all authorities agree on agriculture’s critical role.
Fir the love of Christmas trees: farming spruces in the UK
Christmas is associated with a host of traditions, and nowhere more so than in the UK. Here, it’s not really Christmas unless you have a real fir tree at home. Sabrina Dean visited a Christmas tree farmer in Berkshire, UK, and spoke to forestry manager, Paul Mather, about the operation.
Female farmer makes top three in SAB KickStart Boost
Zama Buthelezi may only have started farming late in life, but she’s one of the top three in this year’s SAB KickStart Boost programme, and says there’s no doubt that farming is a calling.
Response team investigates source of listeriosis deaths
Thirty-six people have died out of more than 500 confirmed cases of listeriosis, a food-borne bacterial disease, in South Africa this year.
Swartland heading for ‘disaster’ as wheat prospects decline
According to Andries Theron, chairperson of Grain SA’s winter cereals committee, and a farmer in the country’s primary wheat producing region, the Swartland in the Western Cape, conditions in the region were going from bad to worse.
Suspended DG heads to court to fast track DAFF investigation
The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed an urgent interdict brought against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) by suspended agriculture Director-General (DG), Mike Mlengana, but said that the case would be heard at a later stage.
Ramaphosa launches book on Ankole breed
When Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa talks about his Ankole cattle, a childlike joy and passion are evident. This was according to Daniel Naudé, a photographer who collaborated with Ramaphosa on his book Cattle of the Ages – Ankole Cattle in South Africa.
Further drop in agri employment
Agriculture shed 25 000 jobs in the third quarter (Q3), having cut 84 000 jobs in the first half of 2017, according to figures released by Statistics SA.
Cotton gains ground with up-to-date harvesting tech
Sabrina Dean spoke to Deon Marais, combine harvester operator, and Richard Godfrey-Thom, a cotton farmer in the Vaalharts region of the Northern Cape, about the innovative cotton
picker revolutionising and reviving South Africa’s cotton industry.
Two more suspects arrested in Wesselsbron case
Another two suspects have been arrested in connection with the Wesselsbron child labour case, with a fourth suspect subpoenaed to appear in court alongside the first accused, Hendrik Reyneke, this week.
World Food Day focuses on migration impact on food security
While Pope Francis used World Food Day (WFD) – 16 October – to call on governments worldwide to address food security, South Africa was able to celebrate an improvement in its own food security.
