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Only passing reference was made to agriculture and land in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), which was presented in Parliament on Wednesday by Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni.

While South Africa is currently in a “very serious” situation with regard to water shortages, there is no need for the public to panic “at this stage”.

Boer goat stud breeders from across the country were in Bloemfontein at the start of May to participate in the annual Boerbok, Kalahari Red and Savanna World Show. Sabrina Dean spoke to Boer goat breeders Kobus Lötter, Andries Vollgraaff, Casper Byleveld and Lukas Burger about the current state of the Boer goat industry, and what the future holds for it.

Rainfall prospects to replenish the water levels of some of South Africa’s dams, which have been dipping below the levels recorded at the same time last year, are not looking promising at least until the end of November.

The latest tractor sales figures released by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association showed that year-to-date tractor sales were significantly down from last year, with the number of tractors sold up to the end of September having declined 22% to 3 919 from 5 034 sold in 2018.

Widespread heatwave conditions are expected across large parts of South Africa from Friday, affecting agricultural output and the quality of fresh produce and grazing.

Jean du Plessis refers to himself as a ‘bush breeder’, someone who selects with the eye and farms in harmony with his natural environment. Sabrina Dean visited him in the arid Northern Cape to find out more about his extensive Meatmaster sheep farming operation.

Although water supply scenarios for much of the country are currently deemed comfortable, forecasts of a chance of below-normal rainfall for early summer do not bode well for parts of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo where rivers are reportedly drying up.

Reactions have been mixed to news that South Africa’s minister of agriculture Thoko Didiza has upheld previous refusals to allow the general release of Bayer’s triple-stacked genetically modified (GM) maize seed technology for production in the country.

The implementation of regenerative agriculture principles is allowing a growing number of farmers to reduce their inputs while producing similar or even better yields than they would have produced if they used conventional farming practices.

Large parts of the Western Cape are still not out of trouble after the 2019 rainy season, and will have to face yet another tough year. This was according to Jannie Strydom, the CEO of Agri Western Cape.

Western Cape farmer Andries van der Poll grows wheat and medics on rotation on dryland, produces irrigated maize, and runs Dohne Merino sheep and Red Angus cattle. He spoke to Jeandré van der Walt about his agricultural journey and the mixed blessings of state funding.