Status of Bactrocera dorsalis: Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental Fruit Fly) is a quarantine pest of Asian origin capable of infesting various commercial fruit crops (400 recorded hosts). It was previously described as the Invader fruit fly (Bactrocera invadens). It is now found in 65 countries…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp If you attended one of Hortgro’s events over the past year, you walked away with a Morsbag. You might be forgiven for thinking “mors” refers to the Afrikaans word “waste”. Unfortunately, Saffas cannot claim honour for this…
Elise-Marie Steenkamp reports on the NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show from Bothaville. A HORTGRO team joined thousands of people and more than 700 exhibitors to attend the annual NAMPO agricultural show. The show which is spread over 24 hectares with a…
In an effort to support growers and keep them informed Hortgro held a webinar addressing issues regarding the new National Minimum Wage in February this year. Please find attached a supporting document to help growers negotiate these changes. NMW: Minimum…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Rawsonville. – The South African economy has endured a turbulent few years marked by rolling power cuts, failing infrastructure, spiralling costs, and a volatile global backdrop. While there are glimmers of progress, both domestic and international headwinds…
Deur Elise-Marie Steenkamp Foto’s en video Carmé Naudé Vroeg in Maart vanjaar het ‘n windstorm Grabouw en omgewing bykans 24 uur laat steier. Met winde wat plek-plek tot 90 km/uur gehaal het, was swaargelaaide vrugteboorde kwesbaar. Dramatiese foto’s in die…
Hortgro has launched two new platforms to help keep industry stakeholders informed: The Quick Identification Guide for Key Phytosanitary Pests of South African Deciduous Fruit and the Postharvest/Packhouse Action Group App. Dr Shelley Johnson compiled the Phyto ID Guide several years…
After closely following and monitoring the FCM pest status for many years it now has unfortunately become a regulated pest in the European Union (including the United Kingdom). A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to…
Dr Ivan Meyer, Provincial Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape, has officially announced Dr Mogale Sebopetsa as the new Head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA). Minister Meyer: “I am looking forward to working with the newly…
Text: Elise-Marie Steenkamp Last week, a diverse group of agricultural stakeholders gathered in Stellenbosch to discuss the future of pesticide regulation in South Africa. The Department of Agriculture (DoA) called for the colloquium, themed “Transforming Agricultural Regulatory Policy within the…
