What are risks to feed prices for the South African livestock and poultry industries?
Farmer's Weekly|July 28, 2023
AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Wandile Sihlobo
What are risks to feed prices for the South African livestock and poultry industries?

The livestock and poultry industry has had a difficult past few years. A variety of external shocks made for a challenging operating environment for many farmers and agribusinesses. These shocks included animal diseases and rising input costs, such as yellow maize and soya bean prices.

While the spread of diseases may be slowing, and organised agriculture and government continue to collaborate to address biosecurity risks, concerns about renewed increases in animal feed prices persist. This is particularly the case in the expected El Niño period, which might result in a lower harvest compared with recent seasons of bumper crops.

The livestock and poultry sector hardly enjoyed the gains of a large domestic harvest of the past two seasons because this did not bring any meaningful reduction in feed prices. For example, since December 2020, yellow maize prices have broadly traded over R3 000/t, while soya bean has generally been over R5 000/t. This has been a different experience compared with prior seasons where large harvests led to a decline to much lower feed prices than we observed in the past two years.

The major reasons for this were higher global maize and soya bean prices on the back of drought in South America, rising demand in China, COVID-19 related supply chain disruptions, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 28, 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 28, 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من FARMER'S WEEKLY مشاهدة الكل
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Farmer's Weekly

Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation

Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Farmer's Weekly

Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards

Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.

time-read
1 min  |
November 22, 2024
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
Farmer's Weekly

Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards

The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.

time-read
1 min  |
November 22, 2024
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Farmer's Weekly

Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach

Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
Farmer's Weekly

Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic

The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Farmer's Weekly

Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting

Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 22, 2024
THE HITCHING POST
Farmer's Weekly

THE HITCHING POST

I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Farmer's Weekly

Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!

Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
Farmer's Weekly

Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?

In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
Farmer's Weekly

Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season

In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024