SA’s high unemployment trend continues
South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 0,2% to 32,9% from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023, according to Statistics South Africa’s recently released Quarterly Labour Force Survey.
Limited stocks of poultry products unrelated to bird flu, says SAPA
Low inventories of eggs and chickens at the retail level have sparked rumours that the sale of poultry products is being halted to curb the spread of avian influenza to consumers.
Murder rate in SA still disturbingly high
The crime statistics for January to March 2023, released on Tuesday, show that communities, especially agricultural communities, are left to safeguard their families, properties and businesses by themselves.
Outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Namibia
Namibia has declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Gobabis, after someone died of the disease in a hospital in Windhoek.
Load-shedding adds to low producer beef prices
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed serious concern about the impact of load-shedding on producer prices for red meat.
Inflation eases, but food prices still on the rise
South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rate slowed to 6,8% in April 2023 from 7,1% in March. Although a small change, it does represent the lowest reading since May 2022, when the rate was 6,5%.
Brazil declares animal health emergency after bird flu outbreak
The world's largest poultry exporter, Brazil, has declared a 180-day animal health emergency starting on Monday, 23 May.
‘Veterinarians should be on critical skills list’
A potential crisis in animal health as well as food safety and security looms in South Africa because of a shortage of veterinarians in the country.
Above-normal rainfall for most of SA in early winter
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) expects above-normal rainfall for most parts of the country in early winter. For the southern coastal areas and the south-west, the mid- to late winter forecast is above-normal and below-normal rainfall respectively.
‘Producers keen to embrace technology’ – Grain SA
Grain SA (GSA) succeeded in creating an excellent platform for local and international agricultural suppliers and manufacturers to introduce the latest and most advanced global technology.
‘Ethical pork law’ a threat to US farmers’ viability – claim
The implementation of Proposition 12 in California may be the final straw for many pig farmers across the US. This is according to Dwight Mogler, a large-scale pig producer in northwest Iowa and a member of the National Pork Producers’ Council (NPPC) board.
‘Duties will protect potato industry against unfair trade’
Government recently approved anti-dumping duties, ranging between 8,8% to 239%, on frozen potato chips imported from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
