According to the editor of Farmer's Weekly, Janine Ryan, a farmer in the region who is also the vice-chairperson of Grain SA’s winter grain working group, André Kirsten, says that farmers in the small pockets of the Swartland that had received high rainfall, had above-average harvests, while those in drier areas have poor harvests.

This had led to many farmers having carry-over debt as their yields were not high enough to make up for the high input costs that are associated with the planting season.

Grain SA’s regional representative in the Western Cape, Toit Wessels, confirmed that overall grain production in the Swartland region is about 10% – 15% below the long-term average. 

However, the quality is exceptional, which results in good prices. Ryan says this is especially positive for farmers who fixed prices before the recent price declines.

Another news story takes a look at the status of animal vaccines at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). According to Ryan, in the wake of a third difficult year, in terms of animal disease outbreaks, South Africa’s National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) expressed its scepticism about OBP’s ability to produce sufficient quantities for 2023.

The chairperson of the forum, Gerhard Schutte, says OBP has failed to produce adequate volumes of vaccines within the required timeframes over the past few years. In turn, this has compromised the country’s herd immunity.

Schutte adds that there is a real danger of an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever this season. He was responding to a recently released statement by OBP in which the interim CEO reassured that it was working hard to ensure the availability of critical vaccines for the upcoming vaccination season.

Furthermore, this week’s edition also takes a look at the global citrus sector. Ryan shares that despite challenges faced in the sector throughout the year, there is room for growth provided health messaging has stepped up.

This was according to industry experts who addressed this year’s global citrus congress. Speakers had discussed ways of bolstering the sector as it navigates the current challenging landscape.

The World Citrus Organisation’s (WCO) secretary-general, Philippe Binard, said inflationary pressure and logistical challenges were making life difficult for citrus suppliers. He also added that the long-term outlook remains bright, with plenty of scope to grow the category through targeted promotions.

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