The latest listeriosis epidemic in South Africa (SA) is considered to be the worst in the world to date. The 61 deaths in SA due to the disease is the highest number reported so far. A panel of experts met in Pretoria, SA, recently during a National Press Club gathering…
South African Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa has released a book on the Ankole cattle breed. Ramaphosa launched the book - Cattle of the Ages, Stories and Portraits of the Ankole Cattle of Southern Africa - at his 65th birthday celebrations in Sandown, Johannesburg, where he also spoke about job creation…
The South African maize harvest has exceeded all expectations, with the Crop Estimate Committee now putting it at 16.414 million tonnes - 444 175 tonnes (2.78%) more than the previous estimate of 15. 969 million tonnes a month ago. “It is unbelievable that one year you have one of the…
This farming enterprise has eradicated back-breaking weeding by using a wheel sprayer and back-pack that applies the herbicide directly onto the weeds – at the same time ensuring that the weed-killer doesn’t end up on their avocado trees. At the Allesbeste Farming enterprise outside Tzaneen in the Limpopo province of…
Except for fall armyworm which has already wreaked havoc in southern Africa this year, two more migrating pests and plagues are moving south. It is only a matter of time before others reach Africa. Dr Marinda Visser, Grain SA Manager of Research and Grain Policy, at an Agbiz Grain mini…
According to logistics, South African maize exports are doing well this month. However, it is problematic that there is not enough orders, said Hampie Lourens, Managing Director of South African Bulk Terminals, which handles most of the country’s exports. “The prices are too high to get greater exports and the…
A coordinated strategy to decrease the damage caused by fall armyworm in southern Africa, before the next season starts, was developed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). David Phiri, FAO coordinator in southern Africa, said the strategy includes observations and reporting of the pest, recordings of the…
The South African economy is actually growing between 3% and 4% - in contrast to the current figure of 2% - because the informal market is vastly underestimated, says Ernst Janovsky, agricultural economist. Janovsky, who addressed delegates at the AGM of the South African Grain Information Service (Sagis) about the…
South African maize exports increased; 24% of 2.2 million tons destined for exports has already left country South Africa has increased its maize exports. The most yellow maize ever exported this season has been shipped in the week ending on July 14. According to recent records from the South African…
South African maize exports have been on an upwards curve for the last two weeks, mostly thanks to massive orders from Taiwan and Kenya. In the week ending 30 June, 112 574 tons of maize were exported, with 86 920 tons exported in the previous week. In the last three…
The grain industry will meet with stakeholders to make export channels as accessible as possible. This in light of the staggering 4 million tons of maize South Africa expects to export this season to end at a normal stock levels. The meeting with relevant stakeholders will take place on June…
The South African farmers union - Agri SA - has started conversations between industry groups, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as stakeholders like agricultural businesses, banks and insurance companies to establish greater cooperation on development projects. Work sessions started last week with a report on Grain…
Jannie de Villiers, chief executive officer of Grain SA, said the maize price in South Africa will most likely worsen before it shows improvement. “It would require something dramatic like bad weather forecasts, a stronger rand or limitations on the finances of farmers to give it a boost.” He said – according…
Senzeni Zokwana, South African Minster of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently told the news agency Reuters that government is considering using a strategic grain reserve as a possible cushion against shortages. He said it is a possibility the inter-ministerial committee should consider. CEO of Grain SA Jannie de Villiers, however,…
Indonesia could possibly be the new market destination for 2.7 million tons of maize destined for exports. It is a possibility now being investigated by sellers ahead of the new marketing year starting on 1 May. CEO of Grain SA Jannie de Villiers said in the past, the biggest markets…
South Africa will have to do everything possible to sharpen its biosecurity to prevent Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN), a virus which can destroy whole maize harvests, from crossing its borders. Addressing delegates at the annual Grain SA Congress, Dr Marinda Visser, Grain SA Manager of Research and Grain Policy, said…
Good news for South African maize producers who planted the YieldGard Bt-maize with the seed company Monsanto’s MON89034 technology, is that it provides protection against fall armyworm. Kobus Steenekamp, managing director of Monsanto SA, says the protection was confirmed by Prof. Johnnie van den Berg, entomologist at the North West…
