23  October  2020

ACCESS TO PRODUCTION FINANCE COULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR SA FARMING SECTOR IN 2020/21

According to Agbiz economist Wandile Sihlobo, South Africa’s large agricultural output in 2020, coupled with higher commodity prices and growing global demand, improved farmers’ finances somewhat. The benefits of this improvement were illustrated by robust agricultural machinery sales, with tractor sales for the first nine months of this year slightly higher than the corresponding period in 2019. However, the challenge of growing farm debt in the sector persists and will not be solved by the current good harvest. According to data from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa’s agricultural debt was at a record R187 billion in 2019, nearly three times higher than in 2010. Despite the optimistic view about the 2020/21 season owing to higher commodity prices and a favourable weather outlook, the access to production finance in the sector is now increasingly becoming a concern for farmers. To read more, click HERE.

2020 LNR MEESTER SUIWELBOER TOEKENNINGS

Die jaarlikse Landbou Navorsingsraad (LNR) se Nasionale Meester Suiwelboer toekenningsgeleentheid is op Woensdag 21 Oktober 2020 as 'n virtuele geleentheid aangebied deur Agri-Expo, namens die Nasionale Melkaantekening- en Verbeteringskema van die LNR. Die wenners van vanjaar se LNR se Meester Suiwelboer Toekennings is:

BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS – PREVENT A CRISIS, LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE

In the September issue of RuVASA’s Monthly report on livestock disease trends the focus is on bovine brucellosis and the critical importance of testing and vaccinating animals. The following facts are highlighted:

• According to law all heifers HAVE to be vaccinated between the ages of 4 and 8 months with Brucella Strain 19 vaccine or RB51.
• Brucellosis is a herd disease – if one animal tests positive, the whole herd is treated as being positive and all animals have to be tested.
• When buying animals, insist on a vendor declaration.
• Quarantine bought animals and have them tested before allowing them into your herd.
• Have your neighbours tested their animals?
• Are your fences intact?
• Visit the National Animal Health Forum website (nahf.co.za/category/diseases/brucellosis/).

To read the disease report, click HERE and to view the disease maps, click HERE.