Weeklikse Afrikaanse Landbou Nuusoorsig - Die Afrikaanse/Engelse Nuus is die afgelope paar dae op AGRI NEWS NET geplaas, saam met nog ander artikels. 

Weekly summary of some News in the  Agri and Farming media. 

Somergewasoeste is op ’n mespunt. Goeie, algemene reën binne die volgende dae is nodig vir redelike oeste. As die reën wegbly, is die risiko vir skade groot, volgens terugvoer van Graan SA se lede.Corné Louw, hoof van toegepaste ekonomie en lededienste by Graan SA, sê die terugvoer van die meeste lede is dat dit tans baie kol-kol reën en dat daar reeds skade aan gewasse op sommige plekke is.Derek Mathews, voorsitter van Graan SA wat buite Sannieshof in Noordwes boer, sê hul eerste mielies en sojabone het al skade. “Dit is maar kritiek droog hier in ons streek. As dit van nou af normaal reën, kan ons nog ’n gemiddelde oes verwag. Daar is egter nie meer sprake van enige iets bogemiddeld dit nie.“Dit is ’n baie moeilike jaar om voorspellings te waag.Sojabone begin verdroog in die distrik Balfour in Mpumalanga aan die begin van Februarie, met warm en droë toestande wat tot ten minste middel-Februarie oor groot dele van die land verwag word. Mielies het van bo af al begin vrek in die distrik Balfour in Mpumalanga. Sojabone begin verdroog in die distrik Balfour in Mpumalanga aan die begin van Februarie, met warm en droë toestande wat tot ten minste middel-Februarie oor groot dele van die land verwag word. 

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally traded food commodities, averaged 118 points in January, down 1% from December and 10.4% from its corresponding value a year ago. The cereal price index declined by 2.2% from the previous month. Global wheat export prices declined in January driven by strong competition among exporters and the arrival of recently harvested supplies in the southern hemisphere countries. Meanwhile, those of maize fell sharply, reflecting improved crop conditions and the start of the harvest in Argentina and larger supplies in the United States of America. The vegetable oil price index rose marginally by 0.1% from December - but was still 12.8% lower than a year earlier - reflecting moderate increases in international palm and sunflower seed oil prices offsetting declines in the prices of soy and rapeseed oils.

South Africa's farmers will earn lower profits in 2024 and will not just be able to expand their operations. This is because the country's infrastructure is failing and government policies create great uncertainty. The majority of agricultural economists who recently took part in a new poll on sentiment in this industry say that profitability will fall over the next twelve months, while farmers' debt will increase. The poll, called the Agri Econ barometer, appeared for the first time last week and will now be released quarterly. Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist and co-compiler of the poll, says the answers reflect the views of 85 practising agricultural economists across a variety of sectors.  According to Willemse, the dire condition of South Africa's ports has a significant influence on the profitability of certain agricultural sectors in particular. Fruit farmers estimate, for example, that the bottlenecks and delays at the port of Cape Town will result in losses of more than R2 billion. City Press recently reported on soft fruit farmers' struggle to get their produce to overseas markets on time. In the first week of January, the average turnaround time (for ships to load cargo and start sailing to export destinations) was 17 days, against a target of four days. Only 9123 cargo containers were moved against a target of 20 000. Willemse says that almost two-thirds of the agricultural economists who took part in the poll also expect the infrastructure crisis to worsen in the coming months. Another determining factor for lower profits is the fact that consumer spending is under so much pressure, says Willemse.

Ocean freight's largest line by capacity has announced it is launching an additional direct export cargo service from South Africa’s Port of Ngqura near Gqberha (Port Elizabeth) to Northern Europe.The new service by Mediterranean Shipping Company from the deep-water port will add tremendous cold-chain value for citrus exporters from Sunday’s River Valley during the high season. MSC said: “This service will operate every Tuesday from week 22 to week 36 to accommodate your European, Mediterranean and Canadian cargo.“This will offer additional sailings to our existing network, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable shipping experience.”Coming as it does at a time when fruit shippers face mounting challenges to get fruit from South Africa to Europe in time, an additional direct service is expected to secure enthusiastic support from the market to sustain the country’s position as the second-biggest citrus exporter in the world,The service’s announcement also comes on the eve of the Fruit Logistica fresh-produce convention in Berlin from February 7-9.MSC has said there couldn’t be a more auspicious occasion for introducing this service, free of transhipment, to the market.

Update- Commodity Snapshot - 

Wine farming in the Northern Cape has plummeted, as farmers give up on grapes due to unprofitability and unpredictable weather patterns. Over the past five years, the province has uprooted 42.5 hectares for every hectare of vines planted, but 2022 was its worst year yet when only five hectares of vines were planted and 394 hectares were uprooted. SA has lost more than 10% of its total area under vines since 2013, due to prolonged drought conditions, sharply rising cost pressures and reduced profitability. Some producers have uprooted vines in favour of more profitable crops such as citrus, plums and blueberries. READ MORE 

It is essential that there is infrastructure to support digitalization and incentives that enable farmers to invest in their future. Access to electricity and broadband is a prerequisite for almost all technology and a barrier to adoption in places like Africa where about 60% of people rely on smallholder agriculture for food and income, but only 20% are online. Education, training and government-sponsored research also play important roles. READ MORE 

With a downgraded outlook for Brazil outweighing increases elsewhere, 2023/24 global soyabean production is forecast 3m t lower than in November, at 392m (+6% y/y). Nevertheless, given expectations for record supplies, consumption and stocks are seen expanding, the latter to a five-year peak; largely on an increased figure for Argentina, major exporters reserves are pegged about 5m t higher m/m. Trade is projected broadly steady m/m, at 168m t (-2%). READ MORE 

In the macadamia industry – where the development and growth of new orchards has been exponential from 2015/16 with soaring prices and the decline of the country’s sugar industry since 2009 – prices for an averaged blend of crop exported as dry nut-in-shell and kernel have plunged from R73.82 a kg in 2019 to just over R30 this year. Farmers are expected to produce more than 90 000 tons in 2024, with a slight bounce back in the price at R48-a-kg dry nut-in-shell predicted. READ MORE

CRA MEDIA is tans besig met die ontwikkeling van 3 nuwe insetels vir ons mediums.  Ons gaan binnekort ook toetree tot ander mediums wat Landbou op nog 'n beter vlak sal neem. Ons internasionale vennote wil baie graag betrokke raak by ons mediums.  Ons span is baie kreatief en is altyd besig met nuwe idees en programme-  Ons is tans besig met die beplanning van 'n baie eksklusiewe program een sy soort.  Ons sal eersdaags ons nuwe Ekonomiese afdeling in plek.

EXCITING NEWS - EXCLUSIVE -  COMING UP - 

Awards function for Competition for Women in Agriculture – Friday March 1, 2024 at 11:00 – 15:00

Villa Arcadia, Hollard Head Office, Parktown.

Final days for entries – Deadline on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.

Link for entries …………………………

HURRY UP - its almost the end of 31th January  2024 - We awaiting your  VIDEO

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