Agriculture gets a boost in Argentina deal

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has signed a bilateral agreement with Argentina on cooperation in the agricultural sector.

• SA and Argentina trade grows
• Agri-sector boosts 54 000 new jobs
• Minister welcomes R6.2bn for small farms

R37m coconut boost for small farmers

A joint venture worth R37m between Agri-Vie and Vida Oils International is set to benefit small-scale producers of coconuts.

• Boost for cattle farming in Tanzania
• Do more with boom, UN tells Mozambique
• SA, Moz sign port memo of understanding

Chicken importers head to court

The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters plans to file an application, which relates to import duty costs, in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

• Chicken price hike battle hots up
• Chicken prices set to soar
• Feathers fly in chicken price war

Guptas linked to huge state-owned farm

A multi-million rand state-funded dairy farm in the Free State reportedly has links to the controversial Gupta family, although they have denied it.

• Gupta flight plan 'gobbledegook'
• Gupta parliamentary debate turns sourwatch
• Prasa splashes out R3m on New Age

Pinot vs panda as climate changes

The question of which is more important, pandas or pinot, may become real sooner rather than later.

• French zoo to recycle panda poo
• China pandas face bamboo shortage
• Early grape ripening linked to warming

World agriculture suffers from loss of wild bees

Falling numbers of wild bees and other pollinating insects are hurting global agriculture, a study found.

• Beware of bee stings
• Talking about the birds and the bees

Sorghum digestibility improved

Agricultural researchers say they have found a gene that boosts the digestibility of sorghum, transforming a humble grain into a potential famine-beater.

• Flower has longest genome
• Gene secrets of opium poppy unlocked
• GM crop technology backfires

Union expects no less than R100 on farms

The Food and Allied Workers Union says it expects the minister of labour to announce a new minimum wage for farm workers that is no less than R100 a day.

• 179 violent protests in Western Cape in 2012
• Farmworkers strike expected to endwatch
• Farmworkers shouldn't back down - Lamola

Farmworkers to hand over 'peace policy'

Farmworkers are “trying a new strategy” and are set to march in De Doorns to hand over a “peaceful strike policy”, the Food and Allied Workers’ Union says.

• Workers accuse police, farmers of brutality
• Commission to probe abuse claims
• N1 remains closed in De Doorns

No violence yet as farm strike continues

No violent incidents have yet been reported in any of the areas affected by the farmworkers' strike in the Western Cape, police say.

SABC car stoned in De Doorns

An SABC car has been stoned by striking farmworkers in De Doorns in the Western Cape just as a radio news team was interviewing workers at an informal settlement.

• Cops attacked while patrolling De Doorns
• CCMA offers help in Western Cape strike
• Protests flare up again in De Doorns

Truck hijacked in De Doorns, set alight

Police say a truck was hijacked in De Doorns and then set alight nearby, but the situation is otherwise calm as talks continue to resolve the farmworkers' strike.

• ANC calls for end to farm strike
• Farmworker strike: 'Oliphant must step up'
• 80+ arrested in farmworkers protestwatch

Farmers, unions set to meet on De Doorns

Police have continued patrols on the N1 at De Doorns ahead of talks between farmers and unions following violent protests this week.

• 80+ farmworkers arrestedwatch
• Sanef condemns attack on journalist
• Police use water cannon in De Doorns

Situation in De Doorns still volatile

The situation has remained volatile in De Doorns, Western Cape where clashes between police and striking farmworkers continued.

• Police take on protesting farmworkers
• Farmworkers: Western Cape cops on high alert
• Farmworker clashes continue

Farmworkers: Western Cape cops on high alert

Western Cape police remain on high alert and some roads are still blocked off as farmworkers continue their protest over wages.

• Journalist tells of attack by farmworkers
• Farmworker strike turns violent, 50 arrested
• Farm protests in Western Capeview

Rubber bullets fired at striking farmworkers

Police have fired rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of striking farmworkers who had barricaded the N2 near De Doorns and pelted passing vehicles with stones.

• Farm protests in Western Capeview
• Non-striking farmworkers turned away
• Dept provides aid for Cape farmworkers

ANC must be responsible - TAU-SA

The ANC should heed calls by religious leaders and big business to take responsible decisions in Mangaung, the Transvaal Agricultural Union says.

• 'Mangaung a watershed event'
• TAU SA calls for land summit
• TAU SA: Zuma land plan not feasible

Farmers rush to insure property

Hundreds of South African farmers have rushed to insure their property in the wake of violent protests in which vineyards, storerooms and machinery have been destroyed.

• Farm protests: Teen claims shot by cops
• Man bust with gun at Worcester roadblock
• Farmworkers end strike

Aussies develop pina-colada pineapple

Australian researchers are working on a new breed of pineapple - one that is not only sweet and juicy but which has the added tropical taste of coconut.

• GM food not a 'silver bullet'
• Action urged to diversify crops
• GE salmon a frankenfish - claim

Water rights appeal upheld

An appeal judgment against the water affairs department about the transfer of farming water rights has been welcomed by commercial farming body Agri-SA.

• Hope for water supply in Mpumalanga
• Call for water to be prioritised
• DA hails water rights ruling

Striking Western Cape farmworkers gather

Farmworkers have begun gathering across the Boland in the Western Cape to resume their strike over labour issues.

• Cape braces for second wave of farm strikes
• Police monitoring Western Cape farms
• Farmworker wage talks delayedwatch

Police warn farmworkers ahead of protests

Western Cape police are ready for anything protesting farmworkers can throw at them, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer says.

• Farmers dividing workers, Cosatu claims
• Superguards protect farms
• Police monitoring Western Cape farms

Farmers dividing workers, Cosatu claims

Farm owners in the Western Cape are trying to divide workers and provoke xenophobia in the province, Cosatu and Passop say.

• Police monitoring Western Cape farms
• Western Cape farm strike suspended

Farmworkers force govt's hand on wages

Western Cape farmworkers have forced the government's hand by agreeing to suspend their protests on the condition that their R70 a day minimum wage be renegotiated.

• Western Cape farm strike suspended
• Farm protests political, says Agri SA
• Govt to review farmworkers' wages