News

David Burton, sector director for African agriculture in the UK Department of Business and Trade, says the UK offers sovereign debt finance options to South African farming projects that invest in British technology.

Focus areas, goals and projects are in place to transform the red meat industry from a marginal surplus producer to a sustainable and competitive sector, writes Koos du Pisanie.

Hard skills are the bedrock of successful business, but soft skills are what create winning teams, motivate people and build profitable businesses. How well are you doing with them?

Micromanagement is seriously detrimental to any company, manager and employee. Beware of it creeping into your management style, says Peter Hughes.

Understand the role of humour in your success because even in the most difficult of times, a smile or a laugh goes a long way toward making everyone feel better.

Nachos: do they even need an introduction? Surely everyone has eaten nachos at some point? Today, we share a recipe of this timeless and immensely popular snack.

Willie Clack, senior lecturer in criminal justice at Unisa, and a farmer in North West, analyses statistics from the South African Police Service over the past 30 years to determine the trend in stock theft.

Many of us believe that government is tardy on delivering title deeds to applicants, but a quick Internet search will dispel this idea.

The analogies between a good farmer and a good manager abound! Farmers have no excuse for bad management at any level.

Communication is paramount in business, and yet many managers give little thought to its importance. Are you one of those, asks Peter Hughes, or are you giving it the attention it deserves?

Here, we have a Spanish Sweet Palermo tortilla for you. Although it might seem easy, cooking a good tortilla actually takes a bit of experience. But don’t let that stop you trying – because the more effort you put into making something, the more you enjoy the final result, right?

Managers should do their best to create a work environment where employees truly enjoy their jobs. This isn’t as easy as it sounds! It takes planning and effort to establish a pleasant, positive atmosphere, says Peter Hughes.

Len Dekker, senior director at law firm Len Dekker Attorneys, breaks down the recent Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that may be of interest to farmers.

Outstanding managers are always good communicators, and good communicators are always good listeners, says Peter Hughes.

We all know the expression ‘charity begins at home’, but why then do so many people make a mess of it in their own lives and businesses?

Consumers and legislators in the EU are pushing for food production methods that neutralise carbon emissions. What impact will this have on food availability, costs, exports and imports? Lindi Botha asked Michaël Wilde, director of Bionext in the Netherlands, a body that represents the organic food industry.

Erence Manyako, researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Natural Resources and Engineering division, looks at available technologies to offset continuous load-shedding in South Africa.

Prof William Beinart shares insight into his fascinating book, 'The Rise of Conservation in South Africa, Settlers, Livestock, and the Environment 1770-1950', and the current state of the Karoo.

Local communities should be treated as valued stakeholders and sustainability partners in conservation and tourism, say Ian Gordon-Cumming and Prof Kevin Mearns of Unisa’s Department of Environmental Sciences.

We don’t like thinking or even talking about death, but it’s essential that we prepare our family and business successors for the event. Have you done so?