OFM News
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
La Nina predictions playing into futures pricing
FNB senior agricultural economist Paul Makuba says futures markets are already reacting to weather forecasts predicting more favourable rainfall conditions in the new season.
Suidwes jubilant over record growth
Suidwes Group Managing Director Herman van Schalkwyk says part of the reason for the good growth lies in strategic decisions to diversify and that the results speak volumes.
Commercial farmers are the lifeblood of rural economies
Agri SA deputy executive director Christo van der Rheede explains that closure of commercial farms would lead to job losses among farmers and will add to the poverty and unemployment burden in many towns. He says that will in turn have a spill over effect to cities.
Shocking reality: Top farmers in distress
Agri SA deputy executive director Christo van der Rheede says they are being inundated for calls for assistance. He says the scary reality is that many of the farmers in need of help can be counted among the top producers in the country.
Spud Master recipes are beyond all expectations
Potatoes SA Manager for Product Promotion, Immaculate Zinde, says the more than 60 potato dishes that have been entered into the inaugural Spud Master Challenge are beyond all expectations
Maggot meal more natural for chickens than fish meal
Nina Parry, a Master’s student at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Zoology and Entomology, is researching the bio conversion potential of carrion fly maggots fed on a diet of organic waste. She is urging people to be open-minded about the idea of feeding maggot meal to certain livestock.
FSA congress to explore ‘Visionary Future for Agriculture’
Free State Agriculture CEO Henk Vermeulen says they are hoping to expose delegates to various experts and give them practical, take home tools to improve decision making going forward during this year’s congress in Bloemfontein on 10 and 11 August.
Drought, property rights remain disquieting issues
Wepener Agriculture Chairperson Johan Opperman says times have been tough, but farmers left the meeting -organised to provide farmers with information on political and economic issues - feeling motivated:
Oz expert to share post-drought fertilising tips
Fertiliser Association of Southern Africa, Fertasa, CEO Adam Mostert says Australian scientist Dr George Rayment will speak about strategies to follow after a drought during the organisation’s symposium on July 27:
Feature: More children involved in civil cases
Civil cases involving children, who are caught in a divorce battle or orphaned are on the rise in South Africa. Legal Aid SA's Patrick Hundermark, says 12% of their workload involve these civil cases. To deal with civil matters involving children, Legal Aid South Africa published a booklet with guidelines…
Wimbledon strawberries picked fresh every day
Agricultural economist Kobus Laubscher says events such as Wimbledon have a huge spinoff for several sectors, not least of these being the agriculture sector. He says some 28-tons of fresh strawberries are consumed during the 14-day event:
Checks and balances had to be done
Agri SA Executive Director Omri van Zyl says the organisation has to comply with certain best practices when dealing with a donation subject to conditions:
Important to look each other in the eyes
Agri SA Executive Director Omri van Zyl says in his experience, philanthrophic donations are not usually handled in this manner:
Questions raised about those with questions
Gabm’s Mark Paulsmeier has described questions around whether or not the offer is genuine as ridiculous and questioned how anyone could have any doubts:
GABM donation now being considered elsewhere
TAU SA President Louis Meintjies discussions are still underway with Gabm and further information will be available at a later stage.
Permits could be purchased to offset pollution
CSIR Chief Scientist Professor Paul Oberholtser says the study also forms part of an effort by the CSIR to formulate a tradeable permit system to help manage pollution:
Algae cleaning cost not usually taken into account
CSIR Chief Scientist Professor Paul Oberholtser says farmers have to clean the algae to prevent irrigation system blockages and that this cost is often not taken into account.
RPO congress to focus on all aspects of the industry
RPO CEO Gerhard Schutte says congress this year is being presented under the theme “The future of the red meat industry”. He says one of the discussion points will be research by the University of the Free State on the true impact of the drought on the sector:
Feature: Modern day student politics and activism in discussion
Something that affects people directly and indirectly, whether they like it or not, is politics. The topic of politics, student politics to be more precise, has become the topic of discussion on the academic landscape. A book which discusses the direct or indirect impact of student politics on society at…
Teachers trained to teach all elements of agriculture
Mpho Makhanya of the Agricultural Research Council says the training for teachers was initiated after content gaps were identified in the new Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements, or Caps, syllabus. Makhanya says a broad range of practical and theoretical areas will be covered: