Frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and African swine fever suggest weakness in biosecurity controls and the effect of climate change

For South Africa to maintain its current access to red meat, wool and other livestock products, it must continue to strengthen its biosecurity and revive vaccine manufacturing

We do need to focus on the tariffs but we should not ignore other essential interventions for the long-term growth of local agriculture

This could be good for consumers as prices drop.

Despite this drop, trade figures remain encouraging, but various departments need to address policy and other issues to boost exports

The mid-summer drought and animal diseases resulted in reduced crop yields and hurt the poultry, piggery and cattle sectors

South Africa must remain vigilant to prevent outbreaks which are costly to farmers and harm the export market

There are weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity system, including the measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases

Importers have called for a flexible poultry policy that allows for the suspension of punitive import tariffs implemented to protect local production

UFS team undertakes research to test the presence of ammonium compounds used in sanitisers in the ecosystem, which lead to resistant micro-organisms in water systems

An extraordinary low-voltage power supply in the Coligny area caused the deaths of Herman du Preez’ broiler chickens from suffocation

On top of record-breaking fuel hikes and rising costs of grain-based feed, consumers can expect a steep price increase in chicken

Supply constraints in fertiliser-producing countries, coupled with rising shipping, oil and gas costs has pushed up the price of imported commodities such as fertiliser,…

The doors to the EU and the Middle East are open. The challenge now is to enter them

The facts are not clear and only time will tell which argument holds water, which may come too late to save the local industry and – local jobs.

If South Africa cannot use trade policy to help our country grow its productive base, then what purpose does it serve?

Many of the country’s exports could be affected by what the government decides in the next 60 days.

The United States wants South Africa to make concessions on animal health rules for poultry, pork and beef before trade can resume.

A poultry industry row with the United States could cost South Africa billions of rands and thousands of jobs.

SA’s second-largest food producer by value, Pioneer Foods, is calling it quits after a tough year in the broiler industry.