Eskom responds to allegations of sabotage by senior executive

This weekend, a City Press report alleged that police are planning to arrest an Eskom senior executive on allegations of sabotage. State power utility Eskom countered that it…

Polish and Spanish officials take down gang hiding drugs in fruit and vegetable shipments

Law enforcement officials in Spain and Poland have taken down an international drug trafficking organization, suspected of bringing vast amounts of drugs into Poland, hidden…

Zimbabwean smallholder farmers take up the baton to export peas

Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe benefit from the space that opened up in the export pea sector as large-scale commercial farmers in Zimbabwe switched to blueberries. Right: Memory Gonye, a smallholder farmer who now also grows export peasZimbabwean pea exporters are unable to meet the demand for peas…

South Africa: Rand hits new low amid dollar strength

On Tuesday, May 30, the South African rand hit a record low on the back of a strengthening dollar. Also, this soured local investor sentiment that has seen massive capital…

EU considers granting drought relief to Spain

Talks will be held in Brussels this week as the EU Agricultural Ministers meet to discuss the ongoing drought in several member states, including Spain, Portugal, and Italy.…

The limits of a plastic covering in a weak supply chain

Climate change and the related weather phenomena are increasingly bringing focus on agricultural production systems. In May, Italy was plagued by bad weather, and while Emilia Romagna suffered more than any other region, the weather in Sicily also showed little spring-like conditions. Prolonged rainfall…

Dollar's status as dominant global currency under scrutiny again

Several factors have put the dollar's status as the world's dominant currency under fresh scrutiny. Apart from the rivalry with China, the fallout from the war in Ukraine and…

Cocaine found in banana containers at Malta Freeport

A total 270 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted by Customs in two containers loaded with bananas. These were intercepted at Malta Freeport, sailing from Ecuador to Slovenia.…

"Temporary housing increasingly considered when it's picking time"

"From March/April, we've begun getting a lot of requests for the new top fruit harvesting season," says Emma Hamers van Flexotels. This Dutch company initially specialized in temporary accommodation, mainly for the event sector. However, when that sector shut down entirely in 2020 and 2021, the fruit and…

Without AGOA South African citrus loses its edge in the US

South Africa’s citrus exports to the United States have over recent years grown to a value of almost R1.7 billion (close to 808 million euros), a consistent performer during the past few turbulent seasons – but it is at risk if the United States decides not to extend their free trade agreement with South…

Growing beans or melons in China? Then, beware of the agriculture police

Chinese President Xi Jinping's so-called agricultural police numbers 87,000 officers. They check that growers in China cultivate only government-approved crops. These often unprofitable crops like rice, soy, or corn are meant to boost self-sufficiency. It is strictly forbidden to plant products such as…

Willa Phoenix on being the first pineapple leather shoe brand to grace the Oscars

Recently, Willa Phoenix made a name for itself by becoming the first pineapple leather shoe to walk the Oscars 2023 red carpet. A multitude of celebrities have all worn Willa…

Eskom management claims capacity troubles could last until august

Eskom hopes to meet the massive generation capacity shortfall expected for electricity demand this winter. Executive Bheki Nxumalo stated that despite all their efforts to…

Fruit importing company ships one ton of cocaine into Armenia

According to sources within the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia, approximately one ton of cocaine was imported into Armenia by a fruit importing company. During the…

Call for flood review to prevent future risk

NSW Farmers is calling for a comprehensive, ongoing review of devastating flooding during La Nina to prevent future threats to people, property and livelihoods. Communities…

Australia is finally raising its working holiday visa age for UK citizens

Australia is finally raising its working holiday visa age for Brits, as well as Italians and Danes. The country agreed to increase the age limit for UK citizens from 30 to 35…

Mintec

Weakening Lira causes uncertainty in commodity markets amid Turkish elections

Simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Turkey on 14th May. The results are set to have a significant impact on several commodities, including nuts, dried fruit, and steel, of which Turkey is a key exporter, and the Turkish lira. The incumbent Justice and Development Party…

Turkish currency traders are bracing for chaos

The Turkish lira is already facing some of the most volatile conditions across global currency markets. Now, the nation is well into the presidential elections, with traders predicting a likely collapse if incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan retains his presidency. Turkey is holding both its presidential and…

Hurricane relief assistance for citrus farmers passes US House

On Thursday, House Lawmakers passed the Block Grant Assistance for Citrus Farmers. The legislation aims to provide relief for agriculture producers devastated by Hurricanes…

Governor Ron DeSantis signs strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718 to combat the effects of illegal immigration caused by the federal government’s border policies. This legislation makes…

Peru's currency reaches strongest level in a year this week

Peru's national currency has emerged as a mainstay of relative stability among Latin American foreign exchange markets, reaching its strongest level in a year this week. After…

South Africa: Rand plummets

The South African rand has taken a severe tumble, reaching an all-time low at one stage of R19,51/US$1. The currency’s drop, which has accelerated the downward trend of South Africa’s exchange rate,…

Agrivoltaics is an asset for fruit growers in times of drought

"Installing solar panels above crops reduces evapotranspiration and limits the temperature during heat peaks. Photovoltaic panels can be an ally of farmers by limiting the effects of climate change on crops, enhancing the attractiveness of agricultural jobs, and providing additional income." Active since…

Trouble ahead if no power to pump diesel to the generators running water pumps, packhouses and cold stores

When you see Kent mangoes in a greengrocer at the moment, priced at R50 (2.38 euro) for a tree-ripened fruit, you are looking at the only mangoes this time of year harvested in South Africa and produced under close to impossible conditions.“I don’t know if we even have six hours of electricity a day,”…

"Improving Eskom's energy availability is essential to address load shedding"

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the improvement of the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) is indispensable to resolve the current…

Bulgaria hopes to adopt the euro by 2025

According to the Bulgarian authorities, they are hoping to be ready to adopt the euro currency no later than January 1, 2025. According to the Ministry of Finance, the country…

Pound to surge as bankers admit they were mistaken about UK economy

The pound is forecast to rise sharply against the dollar after one of the analysts admitted they had been wrong to underestimate Britain's economic prospects. Sterling is…

Macfrut 2023 marks the turning point

At its 40th edition, Macfrut, an international fruit and vegetable fair for professionals from Italy and abroad, has reached its full potential with full halls like never before, more booths, exhibitors, and visitors from all over the world. More importantly, there is still much room for improvement. The…

Food Futures Conference Program Released

The program for Australia’s largest conference on agricultural development in northern Australia has officially been released. The three-day, Northern Australia Food Futures, program features a wide range of agricultural experts from Australia and around the world to discuss the future of farming in the…

South Africa: President Ramaphosa deploys 800 military to protect Eskom power stations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 880 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to safeguard several Eskom power stations around the…

"We are starting to see shifts in shopper behaviors to tighter budgets"

Australia is currently in a year of evolution in terms of the grocery consumer landscape, after a few years of social disruption, according to major global consumer intelligence company NIQ. Speaking at Hort Innovation's Consumer Outlook webinar, Director Customer Success Marco Silva shared a perspective…

Farmers want taxpayers and importers to pay more to keep pests and disease out of Australia

For Australia, the threat of pests and disease is increasing, leading to a greater demand for biosecurity services. According to the National Farmers' Federation (NFF),…

US: Farm sector Chapter 12 bankruptcies in 2022 lowest since 2004

In 2022, the Chapter 12 bankruptcy rate reached the lowest level in nearly two decades, 0.78 bankruptcies per 10,000 farms. Under Chapter 12 bankruptcy, a financially distressed family farmer can propose and carry out a plan to repay their debts fully or partially, and the total number of these…

Eskom announces that load shedding will be ramped up to higher stages

State power utility Eskom has announced that load shedding will be ramped up to higher stages due to delays in the return to service of at least nine generating units. Stage 6…

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USDA is providing $130M in assistance to help growers facing financial risk

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers…

Argentina: Customs suspends 59 exporters over currency exchange violations

The Argentine Customs Bureau has suspended the export licenses of 59 companies for failing to convert their dollar export earnings into pesos in the timeframe required by…

Elgin packhouses empowered SA growers to irrigate during load-shedding

This past season, two Elgin packhouses - Fruitways and Kromco - have assisted growers by providing two generators to the Groenland Water User Association (GWUA). Commercial…

NFU warns: Loss of parallel imports could cost sector '£10 million pounds'

Although parallel trade permits have allowed plant protection products to be imported into the UK, based on regulatory assessment work done in another EU country, sales of…

Welsh flabbergasted by 'pebble statue’ that looks like a 'baked potato wrapped in tin foil'

A Welsh council has spent £6,000 on a commemorative sculpture to mark the start of the scenic Wales Coastal Path walk. It was intended to resemble an enormous, glittery pebble, welcoming hikers to the Welsh coastal path. But the lumpy art installation was immediately likened to ‘a potato wrapped in tin foil’…

General Directorate of Narcotics Control

Saudi Arabia finds over 12 million amphetamine pills among pomegranates

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) announced it had foiled an attempt to smuggle over 12 million amphetamine pills. The GDNC thwarted an attempt to smuggle 12,729,000 tablets of amphetamine concealed in a shipment of pomegranate fruit passing through the Jeddah…

Florida growers file lawsuit intended to block new federal rule about farmworker wages

Florida farmers and agriculture groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new federal rule about wages for farmworkers. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in…

Israeli irrigation systems hit by cyber attack

A cyber attack that targeted irrigation systems in Israel, causing trouble for some farms in the Jordan Valley, is thought to be part of an annual “hacktivist” campaign that…

Conflict in Sudan paralyzes agricultural exports

The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan on April 14 has brought agricultural exports to a standstill. According to a Sudanese exporter, reporting the situation on condition…

Class action by Georgia farm workers alleges labor trafficking

A class action lawsuit has been filed in a Georgia federal court against a Georgia woman and a blueberry grower on behalf of immigrant farm workers. The plaintiffs say the…

Eskom is working towards improving energy availability

Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana says the power utility is working hard to improve plant performance and reduce load shedding. This as Eskom’s Generation Turnaround Programme…

Important news on the horizon for agri-voltaics

Over the past few days, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security approved a decree to apply for grants for advanced agri-voltaic plants and to obtain an incentivized tariff for selling the energy back to the network. Applications from individual farms may not exceed 1 megawatt capacity. To…

US neonicotinoid regulation update

The proposed neonicitinoids (neonic) regulations have been reviewed by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and were completed on April 12, 2023. The regulation, which will…

Environment Agency/Natural England

Herefordshire farmer jailed for 'ecological vandalism' of River Lugg

A Herefordshire farmer has been jailed for 12 months for damaging a protected stretch of the River Lugg. John Price was disqualified from acting as a company director for three years. The Environment Agency estimated that Price caused £600,000 worth of damage after he used a bulldozer to reprofile the…

Reuters

Shifting rates give European currencies fresh legs

The euro and pound are being hurried along by a conveyor belt of interest rate hikes in Europe just as U.S. rates near a peak. This is a reversal of the trends that drove them to multi-decade lows last year. The euro and pound have rallied 4-5% against the dollar since March as market ructions triggered…

Reuters

UK inflation unmatched by other Western European countries

Five pounds in Britain today will only go as far as four pounds did in 2019 - a rate of inflation unmatched by other Western European countries over the same period. Annual consumer price inflation (CPI) in Britain fell to 10.1% last month, defying forecasts for a bigger drop from February's 10.4%. The…

'Government action overdue in cyclone ravaged communities'

Horticulture New Zealand sent an open letter to the New Zealand Government, stating:  "It is now more than two months since Cyclone Gabrielle struck, causing widespread devastation…

A specialised fertiliser aiming to help fruit and veg growers maximise yield in an environmentally-friendly way

A specialised nitrogen fertiliser that is aimed at being more efficient and environmentally stable is gaining ground in Australian fruit and vegetable crops, as growers seek more sustainable options to improve marketable yields. A specialised fertiliser that helps fruit and veg growers maximise yield in…

No authorization needed to set up water tanks for agriculture

Climate change often leads to prolonged drought and persistent heat, which means agriculture needs to be ready with emergency irrigation. However, companies need to equip themselves with water tanks, even for less urgent situations, if they do not have the option to use water courses or wells.    Claudia Cilio and Lami…

Stage 5 and 6 load shedding to be implemented by Eskom

Eskom is expected to implement various stages of Stage 5 and 6 load shedding until further notice. Stage 5 load shedding will be implemented between 5am and 4pm daily, with…

Irish veg processing and packaging business paid Sunday allowance of 5 cents per hour

A vegetable processing and packaging business paid a Sunday allowance of 5 cent per hour to a minimum-wage worker who was regularly required to work 15-hour days. That is why,…

Letsitele citrus grower comes closer to its community

Groep 91 Uitvoer, a family-owned citrus producer from Letsitele has been successfully growing and exporting lemons, grapefruit and Valencia oranges across the globe for more than three decades, but it’s their work through the Kaross Foundation that really excites Jan-Louis Pretorius, Groep 91 Uitvoer CEO…

Russian currency continues to fall

The Russian ruble has continued to fall relative to major Western currencies. On April 7, it reached more than 90 rubles to the dollar (for the first time since April 14,…

PHOTO REPORT: 10th World Avocado Congress 2023 - Auckland New Zealand

As the World Avocado Congress wrapped up in Auckland, New Zealand, South Africa was announced as the host of the 11th event to be held in 2027. Held over three days, local hosts welcomed around 1,200 attendees; with those representing 33 countries joining key members from the local avocado industry. It…

Horticulture featured in US TV documentary on food security

Prospiant, a U.S. provider of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) greenhouse solutions, is featured in an episode of the award-winning documentary series “Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid.” The documentary includes a short video highlighting CEA’s role in solving food security concerns, where team…

India promotes trade in domestic currency

India is taking steps to promote the use of its own currency for international trade. This is part of a push to boost its exports in countries that are grappling with a…

Chinese yuan replaces US dollar as most prominent currency in Russia

Little over a year after the invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese yuan has replaced the US dollar as the most traded currency in Russia. In February, the yuan surpassed the dollar…

Moldova is to receive $25 million from World Bank to restore irrigation systems

The $25 million loan agreement between the government of the Republic of Moldova and the World Bank is expected to be signed on May 10. Earlier, MAIA Minister of Agriculture…

Pakistani rupee at record low against US dollar

Negative economic indicators and uncertainty over resumption of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme pushed the Pakistani rupee towards a new historic low against the US dollar, as the currency settled over the 287 level for the first time in the inter-bank market on Tuesday. The State Bank of…

Addressing global supply and demand challenges is a key issue at World Avocado Congress

Increasing market demand for avocados, ahead of an expected production oversupply, has been one of the issues front and centre of the 10th World Avocado Congress that is taking place in Auckland, New Zealand this week. President of the World Avocado Congress Committee and CEO of New Zealand Avocado, Jen…

Argentina to institute “agro dollar”

Last week, Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa announced the creation of the so-called “agro dollar,” a new exchange rate for agrifood exports. This should replenish the…

Pound sterling surges to become best performing currency this year

Sterling has gained 2.3pc against the dollar this year, ahead of all others in the so-called G10 group of major economies. This means that the pound has surged to become the…