Farmer's Weekly 18 November 2022

In a recent statement, the Mexican government announced that it would not reconsider its ban on genetically modified (GM) maize, set to be implemented by 2024 (see story on page 19). Mexico imports more than 90% of its maize demand from the US, where around 92% of the maize crop is genetically modified. Roughly 25% of the total exports of US yellow maize goes to Mexico, thus the impending ban on GM maize is a major blow for trade between the two countries. Mexico was also planning to move ahead with its ban on maize produced with herbicides such as glyphosate. While many stakeholders in the US maize sector have argued that a total ban on the importation of GM maize would be near impossible, as about 90% of all maize produced…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer's Weekly. This is an edited version of Dr Imtiaz Sooliman's address at the recent Agri SA congress. Sooliman is the founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster response non-governmental organisation of African origin on the continent. “Do you think the country is falling apart? It is not. The reason I say this is due to the spirit of our people. I've seen my team of South Africans go into a humanitarian crisis situation on many occasions, and observers have been in awe of their skills. Yet South Africans don't believe in themselves! Obviously, we must be realistic: our country does require serious intervention. However, I certainly don't believe that South Africa is falling to pieces.…

The South African Lipizzaners are once again putting on a spectacular Lipizzaner Christmas Celebration to celebrate the festive season in December The show will include Christmas carols and musical fun, performed to the hoof beats of the renowned dancing white stallions. The show will run on various dates throughout December. Email stallion@lipizzaners.co.za, phone 079 716 4792, or visit bit.ly/3Ny7LKN CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 17 TO 18 NOVEMBER Agribusiness Conference 2022, Protea Hotel, Sandton. Email Buhle Ndokweni at buhle@mathema.co.za, or phone 011 862 4001. 17 TO 18 NOVEMBER Sustainable Innovative Producers and Emerging Farmers Conference, Protea Hotel Balalaika Sandton, and online. Email karabo@mathema.co.za. 18 TO 20 NOVEMBER The Cannabis Expo, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za. 24 TO 25 NOVEMBER Drones and Unmanned Aviation Conference 2022, Emperors Palace. Email info@bussynet.co.za. COURSES AND TRAINING 14 TO 18 NOVEMBER Beef Cattle Short Course, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Phone…

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of its Dual Project, French multinational foodproducts corporation Danone recently signed an agreement with Ncora Dairy, located in the town of Ncora in the Eastern Cape, to commit to the upliftment of the community. The partnership is worth R75 million per year, with 2 400 Jersey-cross cows producing approximately 10,5 million litres of milk. More than this, though, the deal will indirectly benefit more than 1 200 community members living in the vicinity of the farm, with approximately 35 community members employed on the farm itself. PERPETUATING A LEGACY In 1972, Danone's late former CEO Antoine Riboud created a legacy moment when he stated that the company's corporate responsibility would not end at the factory gate, but would also serve social progress. At the signing ceremony for the…

Dear Farmer's Weekly, I read a news article in one of your earlier issues about concerns over the lack of women employed in agriculture (see FW, 9 July 2021). When you look back through history, particularly in Africa, it was the women who farmed, while the men went off to hunt and fight in wars. However, things suddenly changed, and women are now lagging behind in agriculture. Instead, they should be encouraged to participate to a greater extent in the agriculture sector and become leaders within it.…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA 'CAPTIVE LION INDUSTRY A CONDUIT FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE' A newly released report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project has uncovered new evidence that the bones and body parts of captive lions bred in South Africa are being exported to Asia in large quantities. Read the full article at bit.ly/3zEH9Cj, or scan here: Posted: 2 November 2022. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM INSTAGRAM We ran a poll on our Instagram page asking our followers which breed of guard dog they would choose. Here are the results of the poll: PHOTOS OF THE WEEK (below and below left) The Tea Guy @The_Tea_Guy “The rain has brought everything back to life! Glad to be home” Via Twitter. Posted: 2 November 2022. AGRI NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BIG AGRICULTURE WARNS FARMING MUST CHANGE OR RISK 'DESTROYING THE PLANET' Food…