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First foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in North West confirmed

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) should be regarded as a real and present danger on any farm at the moment.

‘Stronger rand could lessen April fuel price shock’ – analysts

A strengthening rand and a drop in international crude oil prices could buffer South Africans against the predicted sharp increase in fuel prices planned for April.

Lack of rail transport squeezes fertiliser prices

According to industry experts, South Africa’s fertiliser prices are the third-highest in the world, with one of the most important contributing factors being the fact that this input is no longer transported by rail.

Agriculture’s 2021 fourth quarter GDP results lauded

The agriculture sector’s contribution to South Africa’s fourth quarter GDP figures could have been even higher if it was able to expand meat exports, according to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO).

Winter grain farmers to feel fuel price pinch

The expected increase in the fuel price for March will be especially devastating for winter grain producers, who are currently gearing up to start planting.

What SA still needs to learn about exporting beef to China

The global beef market is highly competitive and difficult to break into. With South Africa’s beef export industry still in its infancy, Susan Marais explores the reasons why Chinese consumers might not be the most willing buyers of our product, and looks at what the local beef industry could learn from its top competitors’ strategies.

‘Lack of access to machinery hampering developing farmers’

Developing farmers who struggle to gain access to machinery at the right time during the production process should consider hiring a contractor, rather than buying their own equipment.

Saving SA’s sugar industry

The future of the country’s sugar cane sector has never been more uncertain and, as a result, the livelihoods of many thousands of people hang in the balance. Could the South African Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan be the lifeline that the industry has been waiting for? Susan Marais reports.

‘Minimum wage increase could cripple smaller farmers’

Small- and medium-sized horticulture farmers, in particular, will be worst affected by the recently announced increase in the national minimum wage, according to Mariette Hugo, Hortgro’s group operations manager.

‘Rising Russia-Ukraine tension could affect SA wheat price’

Although the current political tensions between Russia and Ukraine have not yet spilled over to global agricultural commodity markets, it could have serious implications for the rest of the world.

‘Interest rate increase not all doom and gloom for agri sector’

The latest increase in the repo rate as announced by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) should curb inflation, which could hold more benefits than disadvantages for South African agriculture in the long term.

Pasture varieties and their potential in SA

Summer-planted pastures can boost a farmer’s profits by keeping animal production high. Renowned grazing specialist Prof Chris Dannhauser says there is a variety of these crops to choose from and, as Susan Marais found out, many can also be used in winter in the form of hay, foggage and silage.