During the lockdown, the MPO’s office will be closed, but all staff members are operating remotely and will be conducting their roles as normal from home offices.
MPO executive head Dr Chris van Dijk is a member of the COVID-19 Task Team.
The MPO will keep dairy farmers informed about the latest developments through email, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is causing unprecedented uncertainties in global food supply chains, with potential bottlenecks in labour markets, input industries, agricultural production, food processing, transport and logistics, and shifts in demand for food and food services. In the short term, the economic and social impacts of the pandemic interrupt the mostly positive medium-term outlook for global agricultural production and food consumption. Governments are facing the challenge to create balanced policies that address immediate needs, such as labour shortages and create durable conditions for the agricultural sector to “build back better,” according to a new report presented earlier this week by OECD secretary general Angel Gurría and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) director general QU Dongyu. The joint OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029 https://www.mpo.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OECD-FAO-Agricultural-Outlook.pdf] report finds that over the next 10 years supply growth is going to outpace demand growth, causing real prices of most commodities to remain at or below their current levels. Press release. Click HERE to read more.
Het jy ’n COVID-19 melkery gebeurlikheidsplan?
Verkry toegang tot ’n opgedateerde gebeurlikheidsplan vir jou melkery met betrekking tot die COVID-19-krisis deur HIER te kliek. Die dokument is gebaseer op inligting wat uit verskillende bronne verkry is en word as korrek beskou. Bestudeer asseblief die plan en wees gereed, veral vir wanneer daar ’n positiewe COVID-19-geval onder jou melkerypersoneel voorkom. Onthou, voorkoming is beter as genesing. Kontak gerus dr. Chris van Dijk by chris@mpo.co.za of selnommer 082 789 4499 indien u enige vrae het. “Bly veilig en bly gesond. Hou aan om te melk. Dankie vir wat u doen vir hierdie bedryf en vir ons land” – dr. Chris van Dijk.
Genetic merit predictions for dairy cattle now include genomic information
This very important and logical step in enhancing the breeding value predictions resulted from SA Stud Book’s participation in the Dairy Genomics Programme (DGP), funded by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). The inclusion of genomic information in predicting the genetic merit of animals adds a fourth source of information to best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). It is therefore additional to the use of the complete pedigree, phenotypic information (e.g. milk production, milk constituents, functional properties, herd life, and udder health) and genetic parameters (heritabilities and genetic correlations among traits) unique to the specific population (breed within the country). Press release.To read more, click HERE.
Record number of 19 dairy stewards nominated for this year’s awards
Following the MPO’s call for nominations for the coveted MPO Nedbank Stewardship Awards 2020, a whopping 19 outstanding stewards of dairy farms were nominated. This is the highest number of nominations since the launch of the competition in 2017. Nominations were received from the Eastern Cape (8), KwaZulu-Natal (5), Free State (3), Mpumalanga (1) and Limpopo (1). The MPO is delighted that four of the farmers nominated from the Eastern Cape manage farms in the Amadlelo Agri Group. Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck with the competition! To see who was nominated in each province, click HERE.
Improved weather conditions beneficial for SA’s wheat production
According to Wandile Sihlobe, Agbiz economist, sentiment about the 2020/21 winter wheat has improved notably since the start of the season. The recent rain in the Western Cape was particularly influential in improving soil moisture in the fields. If there are good follow-up rains in the coming month, it is reasonable to assume that this could be one of the good seasons for winter wheat farmers in the province. There is certainly a case for such optimism if we consider the latest reports from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The SAWS forecasts increased chances of above-normal rainfall over the south-western and southern parts of South Africa between July and October 2020. The late start of the season means that crops will require moisture for a longer period than usual, hence, the SAWS forecasts are a positive signal for these winter wheat-growing regions of the country. To read the latest Agricultural market viewpoint containing useful information on the latest local and international economic trends, click HERE.
International accolade for local cheese fundi Kobus Mulder
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), proud host of the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest, presented the Aschebrock Award, named after contest chief judge emeritus Bob Aschebrock, to Kobus Mulder. Mulder has been a World Championship cheese contest judge since 2006 and is acknowledged for his comprehensive cheese knowledge and thorough evaluations. Click HERE to read more.
Ongeprosesseerde melkproduksie in Junie 2020 word geskat op 229 miljoen liters, 2,6% minder as in Junie 2019, en die kumulatiewe melkproduksie vir 2020 (insluitende Junie) is 1 517 miljoen liters wat op ʼn negatiewe groei van -0,6% vir die eerste ses maande van 2020 dui.
East London-based Sundale Dairy is set to break ground at the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) in August as they launch Sundale Schreiber, a joint venture that is set to create 100 new jobs and stimulate local economic development. Click HERE to read more.
Animals and COVID-19: what do we know? To read this interesting article and for information on the livestock disease trends in June 2020, as informally reported by veterinarians belonging to the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVASA), click HERE.
Recent uptick in SA food price inflation could be temporary. Click HERE to read more.
The latest Absa Agribusiness Feedlot Market Report was released on 20 July. Click HERE to view the report.
MPO Project One continues to care about our most vulnerable communities. Click on the links for the latest update on the dairy industry’s Payfoodforward milk and dairy donations.
The TIPS Tracker highlights important trends in the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, and how they affect the economy. Click HERE to read more
The Fair Cape Cares Foundation has undertaken two large-scale initiatives to assist with feeding Cape Town’s hungry over the extended lockdown. To read more, click HERE.
A wonderful training opportunity on socio-economic empowerment is offered and hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Regional MPO office from 27 to 31 July. Send an email to kzn@mpo.co.za or call 083 312 4014 to book. Click HERE for more information.
The hunt is on for the best proudly South African standard cover photo! Read HERE to stand a chance to be featured in the
October issue of The Dairy Mail.
Raise a glass to milk! 20th Anniversary of World Milk Day 2020. Read the full report HERE.
Read the July issue of The Dairy Mail today! Click HERE to find out how to install The Dairy Mail's app.
The Dairy Mail has partnered with Magzter Inc. and now publishes the digital edition of our prestigious publication for the dairy industry through Magzter’s store to all digital spaces. Have a look at the various South African and global brands being published at magzter.com.
Have you entered The Dairy Mail Innovation Awards for 2020? All innovative products that were introduced to the South African market between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 qualify.
Complete the entry form HERE: mpo.co.za/innovation-awards-2020/.
Belê jy in hierdie tyd van volgehoue verandering in meer gereelde strategiese sessies om die veranderende omgewing te bestuur? Shawn Achor, stigter van GoodThink Inc en skrywer van "The happiness advantage", praat van klein positiewe veranderinge wat uitkring na buite. Luister HIER na die TED-praatjie waarin Achor verduidelik hoe ’n mens blywende positiewe verandering skep deur jou denke te herprogrammeer.
Disclaimer: The MPO Bulletin is compiled from sources deemed reliable. However, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors, or the effect of any decisions based on this publication.
Vrywaring: Alhoewel die MPO Bulletin saamgestel word uit bronne wat as betroubaar beskou word, neem die uitgewers geen verantwoordelikheid vir aksies of verliese wat weens die gebruik van hierdie inligting mag ontstaan nie.
