Farmer's Weekly reports this was according to Andries Wiese, national business development manager at Hollard Insurance. This followed a statement issued by the agriculture department, warning farmers about a scam in which fraudsters conned unsuspecting farmers out of “their hard-earned cash” after applying to the COVID-19 agricultural relief fund, by promising to fast-track their applications. OFM News' Elsabé Richard reports Wiese stressed that government would never ask for payment to speed up a process.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on South Africa's deciduous fruit production for the 2021/22 season, forecasting a continuous growth in the production of apples, pears, and table grapes. According to the Agricultural Business Chamber, Agbiz, this is on the back of favourable weather conditions, new areas coming into production and high-yielding varieties. Agbiz says the USDA forecasts a 1% year-on-year increase in South Africa's apple area plantings in 2021/22 to 25 400 hectares. OFM News' Cathy Dlodlo reports this will likely be in the Northern and Western Cape regions.

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A warning of severe thunderstorms during the course of this week for the Free State has been released by the South African Weather Service. The weather service says cool to warm conditions can be expected over the province, with scattered showers and thundershowers on Monday. There are also chances of severe thunderstorms that might result in hail, lightning, localised flooding, and strong winds over the western, northern, and eastern parts of the Free State. Forecasts for Tuesday and Wednesday show that temperatures are expected to rise, which may result in fine, warm to hot weather conditions. This, while on Thursday isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the eastern parts of the Free State. These are expected to spread over the central parts of the province from Friday to Sunday.

OFM News