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e-Newsletter
30/17
18 August 2017
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
Farmers need a smart strategy for profit

Whilst the discussion in South Africa's agricultural sector has been dominated by the record grain harvest, the discussion has been steadily shifting towards weather related issues and production strategies. The fast-approaching 2017/18 production season poses challenges as farmers will have to decide on best mix of crops and they will need to apply better price risk management strategies, given the low prices of most agricultural commodities at the moment.    Click to read Wandile Sihlobo's  column  which appeared in BusinessDay on 17 August 2017.
A 5% increase in fuel price on the cards in September 2017

Following a slight uptick in the beginning of August 2017, fuel price is set to increase further on 06 September 2017. The prices of diesel and petrol could increase by 5% from the previous month to the highest level in four months. While this fuel price increase is set to come during a relatively quiet period in the agricultural sector, farmers in the eastern parts of the country will be at the initial stages of soil preparations for the 2017/18 production season which commences around mid-October 2017.   Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz economist provides more information in the linked update»

Click here to read the daily market view on commodities and the weekly wrap.  
MEMBERS NEWS

The linked document provides insight into The Co-op's financial models to assist emerging farmers and farming businesses, and it also provides information about current and new projects.

About fifty (50) young active farmers have been selected to be part of the 2nd Annual AFASA Young Farmers Summit (AAYFS) 2017 that was held on 14-15 August, at the Standard Bank Global Leadership Centre in Sandton.
Under the theme, The Business of Farming, this platform aims to create mutual benefiting linkages and relationships between the young farmers and the involved agribusinesses. The main sponsors were Standard Bank, Harvest Time Inv. /AFGRI and Land Bank -  Read more»
OTHER NEWS
PMA Fresh Connections conference focuses on global connections, collaboration and technological innovation

PMA Fresh Connections in Cape Town laid emphasis on the need for companies in the fresh produce sector to function collaboratively within an ecosystem, in a world of rapidly changing technology. "The opportunity to grow markets overseas is massive but we need an aggregate effort. You can't do it on your own, you need an ecosystem" said Tommie van Zyl, CEO of ZZ2 Farming Operation.  Cathy Burns, the global CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, gave a dense and insightful overview of the trends in the fresh produce sector, from changing consumer tastes to the rise in branded products as well as the increase of plant-based protein in Western diets, projected to account for 43% of protein consumption by 2020 -  Read more»
Transforming agricultural education through technology 

African entrepreneurs are interested in helping farmers to improve their yields and are beginning to deliver solutions to small-sized African farms at cost models that farmers can afford. In June, the Subtrop Transformation Summit identified three key issues required for successful transformation of the agriculture industry: the need for co-operation between commercial farmers and emerging farmers; access to funding; and proper training - Read more»
UPCOMING EVENTS
Agro-processing Investment & Technology Summit
29-31 August 2017 | Premier Hotel | OR Tambo International Airport | Johannesburg 
Skills Development Summit 
31 Aug - 1 September 2017 - POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2018
Basic Meteorological and Climatological understanding Course
1 September 2018 | Bolepi House | Pretoria

South African Association for Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST) 22nd Biennial International Congress and Exhibition 
3-6 September 2017 | Century City Convention Centre | Cape Town

No-Till Conference
5-6 September 2017 | Bergville | KwaZulu-Natal

SA Innovation Summit
6-8 September 2017 | Cape Town

How to Tender workshop 
7-8 September 2017

Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) 55th Annual Conference
19-21 September 2017 | Elangeni Hotel | Durban
More information

MPO National Congress
20 September 2017 | Protea Hotel King George | George
Contact:  Julie McLachlan on julie@mpo.co.za

Potatoes SA Congress
28 September 2017 | Premier Hotel OR Tambo | Johannesburg

Agbiz information session for agribusinesses
5 October 2017 | Western Cape
More information will follow soon

East and Southern Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference 2017
9-11 October 2017 | Maputo | Mozambique
More information

AGRI 5 Commodities Workshop & Expo
20-21 October 2017 |  East London Show Grounds
More information:  info@atoneworks.co.za

13th SIAMAP International Show
31 October to 5 November 2017 | Tunisia

International Conference on Global Food Security 
3-6 December 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
Conference Theme: Food Security: Global challenges, local solutions
More information
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AGBIZ?
Being a member of Agbiz provides various benefits and opportunities

- Agbiz is the only organisation that serves the broader and common over-arching business interests of agribusinesses in South Africa.
- Agbiz addresses the legislative and policy environment on the many fronts that it impacts on the agribusiness environment.
- Agbiz facilitates considerable top-level networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international organised business environment.
- Agbiz research provides sector specific information for informed decision making.
Agbiz newsletter publishes members' press releases and member product announcements.

Please visit the Agbiz website for more information.
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