Grain SA recently added its voice to so many others, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the violence on farms. Producers feel incredibly fragile in their honest efforts to produce food. The latest wave of violence and murder leaves one cold and distressed. Grain SA would like to express its sympathy to the families who have suffered tremendously in recent years. The situation is totally unacceptable.

Grain SA is cooperating with umbrella organisations (such as Agri SA), responsible for rural safety, to improve the situation. Grain SA, along with everyone, calls on the Government to improve the security situation of all its citizens. Grain SA is further concerned about the impact of violence on the economy due to the sabotage of the transport system.

Actions that limit the ability of producers to supply the market with food are selfish, and cannot be condoned for any reason whatsoever. Maintaining law and order is, and remains, a basic requirement of a democracy and a human right.

This competition, in collaboration with Grain SA, John Deere, Syngenta, First National Bank and Santam, offer producers the opportunity to test new and innovative production practices and processes, to improve productivity and to maximise yields.The DuPont® PIONEER® Weigh & Win National Yield Competition, currently in its 4th consecutive year, has maize, soy and sunflower producers from all over South Africa, raging.

Participating grain farmers will compete in different regional categories to harvest the various maize, soya and sunflower accolades. The information collected by DuPont Pioneer during this competition is another way in which the company collaborates with producers to promote research initiatives and to improve farm’ yields per hectare by planting the correct products.

For further information, rules and regional layouts, download the competition information sheet here or visit www.weegenwen.co.za

It is well known that beekeepers in the Western Cape establish their hives in canola fields during flowering. Although it is the responsibility of the beekeeper to obtain permission from the farmer and to draw up a formal agreement, Grain SA has drafted a Best Practice and Guidelines for Communication-document to assist. Most importantly, producers should only use agricultural chemicals registered under Act 36 of 1947 for the specific purpose of use.

Click here to download the Best Practices and Guidelines for Communication-document

Click here to download the list of agricultural chemicals registered on canola

The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) is currently engaged in a desktop study to determine the factors which have a significant impact on the competitiveness of the Agrochemical value chain. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the factors that affect the competitiveness of the Agrochemical value chain in an effort to: (i) empower industry role players to make better decisions in positioning themselves appropriately, (ii) empower organizations in the industry to improve their service delivery by focusing on those issues which are of greatest importance to the Agrochemical value chain, and (iii) inform policy makers and other directly affected groups of the factors that affect the Agrochemical industry.

The purpose of this questionnaire is to solicit stakeholders’ opinions on the factors that are most likely to influence the level of competitiveness in the Agrochemical value chain.  Respondents are also requested to weigh these factors in order of importance in terms of their impact on competitiveness.

Producers are encouraged to participate as each opinion is regarded as a significant contribution to better position the Agrochemical industry, not only in South Africa, but globally.

To download a copy of the Agrochemical Industry Competitiveness Questionnaire, click here 
To complete the questionnaire online, click here

Closing date for submissions: 12 July 2019