This is after the dam, which is located in the Vaal triangle, has surpassed the 100% capacity mark. It reached 107% yesterday. One sluice gate at the Vaal Dam was opened following consistent heavy rains in the past two weeks. The Department of Water and Sanitation is monitoring the system and might open another sluice gate if heavy rains continue. Meanwhile, the weather service has warned that rains and thunderstorms in Gauteng can continue for the next few days. - Paila Chauke

Various stories made agricultural news headlines this year.  Denene Erasmus, the editor of Famer's Weekly, reflects on the year that was and notes that one of the stories that made headlines was tropical storm Eloise, which caused widespread damage to crops in southern African countries. Erasmus adds other stories that made agricultural news headlines were the high fertilizer and fuel prices.

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The producer prices of beef, mutton and lamb are expected to move sideways in 2022, unless the industry increases exports. Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the South African Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, says South Africa currently exported 4% of its beef production, 1% of its mutton and lamb, and less than 1% of live small-stock for slaughter. Schutte further adds that South Africa’s red meat producers are in an ideal position, given that local red meat trades for considerably less than the global prices. This creates ideal opportunities for exports. He says while only 4% of South African beef is exported, there’s scope to push it up to 20%.

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