12
e-Newsletter
23/17
30 June 2017
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Agbiz supports BUSA with inputs to the Davis Tax Committee

Tax
The Davis Tax Committee was initiated in 2013 to assess South Africa's tax policy framework and its ability to achieve the national objectives of inclusive growth, employment, development and fiscal sustainability. The committee is currently investigating the possibility of a general wealth tax as well as additional taxes on the value of land as a mechanism to reduce inequality in the country. In response to a call for public comments, BUSA prepared a document and Agbiz seized the opportunity to make constructive inputs.    Theo Boshoff, Agbiz Head: Legal Intelligence, provides more information in the   linked article»
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
SA's annual food producer price inflation decelerates to 5.7%

The benefits of the uptick in agricultural production are already reflected in producer price inflation. Data released on Thursday showed that South Africa's food producer price inflation slowed to 5.7% year-on-year in May 2017 from 6.4% in April 2017. This suggests that consumer food price inflation could moderate over the coming months, as lower producer prices are transmitted to the retail and consumption end of the food chain. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz Head: Economic Intelligence, provides more information in the linked update» 
SA set to harvest the biggest soybean crop on record

Despite revising the country's soybean production forecast to 1.23 million tonnes in May, the Crop Estimate Committee has again winched up its forecast to 1.34 million tonnes - making this season's crop the largest on record. This means South Africa could be a net exporter of soybeans this season (albeit being a net importer of soybean oilcake and oil). The exports are expected to reach 30 000 tonnes this season.   Wandile Sihlobo provides more information in the linked update» 
Daily view on commodity markets

Daily commentaries on agricultural commodity markets and macro-economic trends are available on the Agbiz website
www.agbiz.co.za
AGBIZ GRAIN
Agbiz Grain Mini Symposium 

The annual Agbiz Grain Mini Symposium will take place on Tuesday, 15 August 2017 at the CSIR, Pretoria.  This all-day event is focused specifically on aspects of importance the upper level operational managers and decision makers involved in grain handling and storage, and also in new farmer development with the aim to enlarge their procurement base.
 
The programme will be interactive to provide a platform for exchange of information, to engage in discussions, to share opinions and to ask open questions.  About 120 delegates are expected at the Mini Symposium. In line with the theme of "Risk Management" this year, the topics will cover the new Integrated Value Information System (IVIS) that enables comprehensive scenario planning and impact assessment system, grain handling and storage issues affecting storage operators such as mycotoxin detection, methyl bromide alternatives and major crop biosecurity concerns for grain production in South Africa as well as the insurance and maintenance of silos.  Confirmed speakers who will present at the Mini Symposium are from BFAP, Grain SA, Ekodesign, Agri-Enviro Solutions, SAGL and Santam.
 
The last item on the programme is a panel discussion regarding mobile applications for new farmers featuring prominent role players who are making a difference to the way we envisage new farmer development.

Programme»

Register now»
MEMBERS NEWS
DEKALB® maize seed price change

The average increase of seed prices for Monsanto's DEKALB maize seed for the 2017/2018 summer crop production season is only 5.5% (approximately 1% below the current CPI)  - Read more»  

Loren Trimble is the new South African Breeding Lead for hybrid seed production at Monsanto, a big responsibility which will contribute to food production and security, especially maize  - Read more»

"No one in this community goes to bed hungry," says Mavis Hlatshwayo. Mavis is one of the beneficiaries of the Farmer Development Programme (FDP), initiated by Grain SA in partnership with Monsanto and several other sponsors, which is aimed at developing sustainable black farmers, including black commercial farmers, so that they can contribute to food security - Read more»
OTHER NEWS

USAID's Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub launched its Strategic Partnership Fund to leverage ideas that are aligned with the Hub's goals to accelerate trade across the region -  More information»

Historically disadvantaged farmers (or "New" farmers) find it challenging to compete with farmers with sufficient resources. Over and above the normal impediments of agriculture, these HDI's (black, coloured and Indian farmers) have, in most cases, to overcome limited access to farming land and capital, as well as insufficient knowledge of farming and business practices. Nevertheless, some of these farmers had overcome all these barriers and, by utilising all the available opportunities, had become very successful and competitive commercial farmers and is performing extremely well. The objective of this competition is to recognize and reward exceptional farmers by identifying and selecting them by means of a competition for "new" farmers  More information»
UPCOMING EVENTS
11th Agribusiness Africa Conference
4-5 July 2017 |  Emperors Palace | Johannesburg

Tutwa Consulting Group monthly internal seminar
Making Sense of South Africa's Foreign Investment Regulatory Policy Direction: From Protection of Investment Act to Continental Free Trade Area
13 July 2017 | Pretoria
More information

ExtruAfrica 2017
1-4 August 2017
Agbiz Grain Mini-Symposium
15 August 2017 |  CSIR, Pretoria
More information

PMA Fresh Connections Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show
16-17 August 2017 |  CTICC | Cape Town

Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Symposium
23 August 2017 | CSIR, Pretoria
Enquiries: [email protected]

Agro-processing Investment & Technology Summit
29-31 August 2017 | Premier Hotel | OR Tambo International Airport | Johannesburg 
Skills Development Summit
31 Aug - 1 September 2017 | CSIR | Pretoria
More information

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

SA Innovation Summit
6-8 September 2017 | Cape Town

13th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition
12-14 September 2017 | Premier Hotel OR Tambo
Contact:  Julie McLachlan on  [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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

International Conference on Global Food Security 
3-6 December 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
Conference Theme: Food Security: Global challenges, local solutions
More information
SOCIAL MEDIA
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