OFM News
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
Feature: APAC Conference
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
Slap in the face to tell dairy producers to do better
Japie Nel of Hernanja Jerseys in the Schweizer-Reneke district, says it feels like a slap in the face to hear they must do better when they are already pulling out all the stops.
Inland dairy producers want to earn their due
OFM News recently visited several dairy producers in the northern milk producing region. Both small and larger producers are struggling to keep heads above water. Japie Nel of Hernanja Jerseys in the Schweizer-Reneke district, inland producers run at huge input costs to provide consistent volumes all year round:
SA Studbook gets international stamp of approval
Manager of Production Recording for SA Studbook, Dr Japie van der Westhuizen, says the International Committee on Animal Recording, Icar, has issued SA Studbook with a Certificate of Quality, which is valid until March 2019. He says this certification is a good benchmark in terms of international best practices:
Police recover sheep before farmer opens stock theft case
Police spokesperson Ian Gaobepe says two suspects were arrested in the Edenville area on stock theft charges in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He says when the farmer arrived at the police station to report his animals stolen, he found out he was too late.
Icar guidelines aimed at ensuring best practices
Manager of Production Recording for SA Studbook, Dr Japie van der Westhuizen, says the International Committee on Animal Recording certification applies to both genetic and production recording. Guidelines range from sample control to how the data is handled:
Feature: Tourism month
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
VKB proud to announce highest ever profit
VKB Group Managing Director Koos van Rensburg says they revealed during their AGM last week that although the agriculture activities were slightly down on the previous year, the industry leg of the business showed tremendous success:
Significant organisational changes for Land Bank
Chief Financial Officer of the Land Bank, Bennie van Rooy, says the Bank performed well last year despite the sluggish economy, the impact of the drought and a significant organisational review within the bank that was ordered by Treasury.
Emergency plans activated in two FS farm attacks
Free State Agriculture's Tommie Esterhuyse says there were fortunately no serious injuries in two farm attacks in the province this morning. He says what is very positive is the preparedness of farmers and the speed at which the rural safety emergency plans were activated:
Land Bank reports 27% like-for-like profit
Chief Financial Officer of the Land Bank, Bennie van Rooy, says they are very pleased to have been able to report an almost 28% increase in profit on a like-for-like basis in the last financial year.
Shortage expected to drive weaner prices to R27 p/kg
Agricultural economist Professor Johan Willemse says the general consensus is that cow herd numbers are low and many livestock producers will be going into a herd rebuilding phase. He says, however, feedlots will be looking for weaners:
Organised agri needs better financial clout
Agri SA Executive Director Omri van Zyl says organised agriculture counterparts around the world have much greater access to financial resources. He says the organisation’s financial resources not even comparable to small agri businesses:
Food security issues NB for country
Agri SA Executive Director Omri van Zyl says efforts to serve the agriculture sector are not just about looking out for the interests of farmers, but are also about the good of the country:
Feature: The importance of Social Services in communities
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News
Agri economics student thrilled to learn from sector leaders
An agricultural economics masters student from the University of the Free State, Pascalina Mohlotsane, has described her interaction with top level sector roleplayers during an Agbiz leadership summit in Bloemfontein, as a powerful career enabler.
Introduce children to all aspects of agri sector ASAP
Agricultural economics masters student from the University of the Free State, Pascalina Mohlotsane, says she believes the best way to draw more young people to careers in the agriculture sector is to introduce them to the various aspects of the sector while they are still children.
Agri SA intends sparking robust debate during Congress
Agri SA’s Executive Director Omri van Zyl says they have brought in a lot of top level experts for the organisation’s annual Congress in Pretoria on October 13 and 14. He says they are looking forward to robust debate on issues affecting the farming community:
Bogus labour inspectors target farming community
The spokesperson for the Department of labour in the Free State says farmers in the Free State are being targeted by individuals posing as inspectors from the labour department.
Feature: PhD student transforms Jagersfontein through research
OFM News, in touch with your world. Covering local and national news focusing on the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and the Vaal. See more: https://www.ofm.co.za/News