The most appropriate thing to write today, given that I am currently gazing over the beautiful wine farms of Stellenbosch, would indeed be wine. Instead, I will be blogging about good old maize, as I have just received the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report for major grains and oilseeds.

October is traditionally a good month for South African tractor sales as summer grain and oilseed farmers are typically preparing for the planting process.

Farmers face a dual challenge. How can they produce the food required to feed the world, while protecting the planet at the same time? The solution will rest on finding effective ways to minimize the losses of energy, water and nutrients associated with farming.

One should never preannounce the focus of their next column, because one never knows what the next day might hold.

When thinking of careers to pursue most of us don’t consider a career in the agricultural sector, but it is one of the most important industries when it comes to any country’s development and food security.

South Africa is 121 000 000 hectares. Only 4 000 000 hectares is under summer cropland = 3.3% of total land.

Indian Agriculture sector — Facts

U.S. Department of Agriculture has paid out nearly $840 million to farmers to date as part of a promised $12 billion aid program rolled out by President Donald Trump last July to offset losses from the imposition of tariffs on American exports.

African cities, according to a World Bank report, are home to 472-million people — almost half of Africa’s total population. This number is expected to double by 2050.

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.

The growing need to boost rural economic activity through agricultural development hasre-introduced the discussion on the subdivision of land to create as many small farms as possible that will benefit communities in South Africa.

Butterfly farming for commercial purposes has proven to be an appealing business venture. This is especially when you consider the fact that the returns start from Ksh. 70 and Ksh. 30 for an active pupae and a dormant one, respectively.

Yellow and white maize prices and soybean prices have increased significantly in the past two months. This is in line with industry expectations, the Rand drooped tremendously in the past 2 months which supporting maize exports, hence supporting prices.

The global food system has a lot to answer for. It is a major driver of climate change, thanks to everything from deforestation to cows burping. Food production also transforms biodiverse landscapes into fields inhabited by a single crop or animal. It depletes valuable freshwater resources, and even pollutes ecosystems when fertilisers and manure washed into streams and rivers.

According to experts, the African population is expected to double by 2050, which means that food demand on the continent is expected to at least double by then.

After entering a technical recession in the second quarter of the year, the South African agricultural economy recovered in the third quarter, boosted by higher production of horticulture and animal products.

In a country where it’s common to find apples from South Africa, potatoes from India and carrots from Australia — all marked at a price to cover the import costs — in supermarkets, some farming initiatives in recent years are bringing to reality a new breed of green agriculture that seeks to produce more crops in less space and water, and is efficient, easier and kinder on the natural environment.

World total grains production is forecast to hit a three-year low, falling short of demand and keeping global trade strong, the International Grains Council said following its 48th Council Session on Dec. 4 in Paris, France.

The conditions will become more favourable for summer rainfall over the northeastern half of the country. Meanwhile sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean have exceeded El Niño thresholds for more than a month.

Agriculture – including crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry – absorbs around 26 percent of the total damage and losses of climate-related natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, in the developing world.