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In the news section of this week’s edition of Farmer’s Weekly, light is being shed on the table grape industry who is expected to exceed last year’s export figures of 71.5 million cartons this year. Ryan adds that is despite the logistical challenges.

AJ Griesel, CEO of the South African Table Grape Industry (Sati), says that the original estimate was for volumes to range from between 70.6 million and 77.7 million cartons. This indicates that this year’s figures will be closer to the top of the range. Griesel ascribes the good export figures to favourable climatic conditions in combination with the use of improved varieties and production practices. There are also a lot of new vineyards coming into production.

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Another story takes a look at the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa. According to Ryan, at the moment livestock producers who are unwilling to implement sustainable and thorough biosecurity measures on their farms are deemed to be irresponsible. 

James Faber, Chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), says FMD could force the local red meat production industry to its knees if left unchecked, causing a financial disaster for the entire value chain in South Africa.

Furthermore, CropLife South Africa warns that South Africa is sitting on a time bomb as far as the contamination of its water resources, and groundwater in particular is a concern. Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, Operations and Stewardship Manager at CropLife South Africa, explains that the poor management of the country’s water resources in general needs to be revisited by the authorities as a matter of urgency to prevent a total collapse.

Verdoorn says that he was most concerned about the state of groundwater resources in and around towns and cities. This poses a threat to the entire economy and specifically the agriculture industry.

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Also, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has called for a quality assurance mark to be displayed on poultry products once they have been inspected by a health and safety officer. Isaac Breytenbach, General Manager: SAPA’s broiler organisation, says that the poultry industry was particularly concerned about poultry meat that enters South Africa without being inspected by health and safety officers.

He says that unethical exporters are getting away with these transgressions because of a lack of health and safety officers at ports.

Lastly, South Africa’s wheat demand for the current marketing season, which ends in September, has largely been met by imports from Argentina, Brazil and Poland, amongst other countries. With the Ukraine and Russia conflict, wheat prices have sky-rocketed over the past few weeks.

Ryan adds that it has become more and more difficult for countries to secure wheat because of the high prices and a lack of supply to the market. 

Corné Louw, Senior Economist at Grain SA, says that combined with local production, the country has more than enough to meet the demand of 2.4 million tons. However, the escalating global wheat price as a result of the Ukraine and Russia conflict will invariably push local prices up considerably. In order to meet its demand, South Africa imports 2.2 million tons of wheat on an annual basis.

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