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Erasmus highlights the July 31 issue of Farmer's Weekly, focusing on the new round of rolling out black outs which have had an impact on farmers harvesting, especially those farming with fruit, citrus and avocado. These farmers need to make use of the cold chain that has been under huge pressure. Animal production sectors, including poultry farmers are also suffering due to the new round of black outs. This has massive implications. The larger corporations that have the resources to put generators in place are less affected, but smaller producers especially the smaller poultry producers are under pressure. These producers do not have the resources to put in place to keep their birds warm. They are in for a dire couple of months if Eskom can not get its act together and supply South Africa with electricity. 

Another news story in the magazine focuses on the negative outlook for agricultural employment despite a good harvest which is expected for all types of grain, especially maize.  She adds with recent rain in the Western Cape  the outlook for winter wheat also seems good, but due to the impact of the Covid-19-pandemic it is likely that farmers, especially in intensive sectors like fruit, might try and make due with fewer employees.

The magazine also continues to follow the impact of the renewed ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks especially on the wine and brewing sectors. 

There is a story on egg production. Despite a higher demand for eggs the sector still remains under pressure in terms of prices realised and farm margins.  

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