Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
World in brief
Sheep farmers across the country are saying that they fear a shortage of lamb production due to the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV). The virus apparently causes lambs to be born deformed. The Animal and Plant Health Agency said a vaccine has been developed but is not yet available. The agency said the virus is transmitted from “midges that bite an infected animal … and pass the virus on to another animal”.
Symptoms include reduced milk production, fever and diarrhoea.
INDIA
India’s latest crop estimates released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare show that West Bengal, which used to be the top rice-producing state, has slipped to fourth position. The ministry said that production and yield data show that the productivity of rice in West Bengal has been declining. “Compared to other states, the adoption of climateresilient varieties is slow and the procurement of rice for the central pool is also low. Besides, the state has not grown in terms of irrigation coverage …” said the ministry.
AUSTRALIA
The largest sheep farm in Australia has been flooded after the West Australian rainfall devastated the country recently. Most of the roads that link Perth to other states have been closed and the sheep station in Rawlinna is completely flooded. The station has more than
60 000 Merino and is almost covered in water. According to
£ǰȱȱȂȱ¢¢ȱ rainfall average was exceeded in four days. The government has also reported cases of missing people and deaths as a result of the flooding.