Devoting a quarter of cropland to flowering economic crops could attract pollinators and boost crop yields, new research has found.

This week starts with a positive message for soybean markets as the White House indicates that China has agreed to start purchasing agricultural products from US farmers immediately.

Diversified chemicals group Omnia says its innovative nitrophosphate plant under construction in Sasolburg will materially improve the company’s overall competitiveness in the production of fertilisers, despite an upward revision to the project’s capital cost.

It may seem like a drop in the ocean but opting for wool products can have a positive impact on the planet.

The government has lost out on more than R1bn in VAT from drought-stricken farmers who were forced to cut production after their irrigation water from the Cape supply dams was radically reduced a year ago.

Of the 64 countries globally which have embarked on land reform, 17 had restitution programmes in place and only 11 have claimed to be successful, says Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers Association.