Professor Michiel Scholtz, an affiliated professor in animal breeding at the University of the Free State, explains that heat stress is a common cause of reproductive inefficiency in bulls as it affects their semen quality. He was a keynote speaker during the North West Department of Agriculture's 4th annual animal husbandry research symposium. Scholtz further adds that heat stress also affects female reproduction, citing that it alters the cellular functions of various tissues in the reproductive system. Scholtz warns that if livestock production is negatively influenced by climate change, it will increase the carbon and water footprint of the product.

There have been calls for the government to remove newly imposed duties on imported french fries. XA Global Trade Advisors says this comes on the back of the International Trade Administration Commission’s recent imposition of provisional duties on frozen fries imported or originating from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. CEO Donald MacKay says the duties on fries have increased the price by 88%, from R16/kg in 2021 to R30kg in 2022.

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The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has refuted claims that there is an imminent shortage of liquid fuel in the country. This follows after it noted public comments made by the Liquid Fuel Wholesale Association of a possible impending shortage. The department assured South Africans in a statement that the supply chain of the petroleum sector is resilient, even as the disruptive geopolitical war in eastern Europe rages on. These reports come as fuel prices have been on the rise, taking more money out of already struggling farmers' pockets.





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