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The Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni Nxangisa, would like to alert livestock farmers and farmers at large of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province. This comes after investigations were done on three farms following a suspicion of movements of cattle from the North West and Gauteng Provinces. Tests conducted on two farms in Viljoenskroon have confirmed only one positive case. The other farm where samples were conducted, tested negative. The farms have, however, been placed under quarantine. A third farm is being investigated in the town of Frankfort following the procurement of calves from a speculator in Randfontein.

ALSO READ: Three farms in Free State under quarantine as FMD investigations continue

Reënvooruitsigte toon dat meer as 20mm reën oor die grootste deel van die Vrystaat hierdie naweek verwag kan word, met temperature wat ook ‘n daling kan toon. Reën het reeds die afgelope naweek in sentraal Suid-Afrika voorgekom met gebiede wat vanaf die 1ste April tot 100mm reën gekry het. Johan van den Berg, ‘n onafhanklike landbouweerkundige, sê Hoopstad het sowat 50mm reën gemeet en Vredefort het amper 70mm reën gekry.

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has placed five farms under quarantine following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Potchefstroom area. Since the outbreak in the area, a joint operation centre has been set up, consisting of farmer's unions, a provincial disaster management team and the National Department of Agriculture, amongst others. Departmental spokesperson Emelda Setlhako, says they call on farmers not to panic as relevant personnel are hard at work to ensure that all precautionary measures are undertaken to prevent the further spread of the disease. She advises farmers to be on the lookout for clinical signs that may resemble the disease and to report them immediately to the nearest state veterinarian.

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Suid-Afrika se somergewasproduksieskattings is van Februarie-vlakke af opgehef, sê Wandile Sihlobo, hoofekonoom by die Landboubesigheidskamer van Suid-Afrika, of Agbiz. Hy sê einde Maart het hulle verdere bevestiging gekry dat Suid-Afrika se someroes nie so sleg is as wat sommige dalk aan die begin van die 2021/22-produksieseisoen gevrees het nie, toe swaar reën die opbrengs bedreig het. Sihlobo sê die data wat deur die Oesskattingskomitee vrygestel is, het algehele verbeterings in die meeste oesproduksieskattings vanaf die Februarie-syfers getoon.

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