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The 3 September issue of Farmer’s Weekly takes a look at some of the challenges being faced with the vaccination of farmworkers. Erasmus adds that organised agriculture is currently assisting the Department of Health in identifying farms and farming operations in the rural communities where there is a greater need for more Covid-19 vaccination sites.

Theo Boshoff, Manager: Legal Intelligence, at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), says the Department of Health and Business for South Africa have indicated that South Africa has managed to secure sufficient vaccinations for the third and fourth quarters of 2021.

However, Erasmus says that although supply may no longer be a constrain, there are some challenges relating to accessibility, especially in the rural areas where agriculture and agribusiness are primarily located.  

Another article also takes a look at why South African beef producers are now paying more for bulls.

Over the last two years, a number of new records have been set for the highest prices ever paid for registered bulls from different breeds sold at auctions. According to Denene Erasmus, editor of Farmer's Weekly, in July this year a Beefmaster stud bull from Bos Blanco in Kroonstad in the Free State, sold for a record price of R1,1 million. This, while last year a Boran bull sold for a record price of R1,7 million.

According to Connie van Vuuren, managing director of Cona National Livestock Marketing, average prices paid for bulls at local auctions had increased by at least 20% over the past year. Producers can now expect to pay on average of between R80 000 and R100 000 for a registered bull earmarked for the commercial market.

Erasmus adds that these higher prices were closely correlated with the increase in weaner prices.

Weaner prices for August increased from about R29 per kilogram in 2019, up by 24% over the last two years to about R38 per kilogram this year. These higher bull prices, however, were not only driven by the increase in weaner prices, but also by higher input costs.

Lastly, the outlook for South Africa’s berries this season is another article featured in this edition.

Elzette Schutte, operational manager for Barriers ZA, says blueberry producers in Limpopo suffered losses because of frost damage towards the end of July. This could result in an 8% reduction in production volumes.

But, the blueberry season is heading for a record harvest, thanks to new plantings coming into production. Exports are expected to rise by about 60% from last season to 25 000 tons.

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