Caxton Magazines
Positive growth for potato industry
I recently attended a Potatoes SA (PSA) Information Day at Patensie, not far from Port Elizabeth. The area is well-known for its citrus and potatoes, which seem to occupy all of the limited, open flat spaces available.
Rand blows out past R11/$1
The rand has plunged to its lowest level in five years amid strikes in the platinum mining industry.
I know that’s my cow, but how can I prove it?
Chris Nel discusses traditional methods of identifying livestock. These methods may work well for day-to-day flock and herd management, but their limitations are apparent when subjected to the demands of a modern livestock industry.
Decline in chicken prices
The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has reported a decline in the retail price of chicken despite high input costs and last year’s tariff increase on imported chicken.
Agri company scores in sustainability rankings
Monsanto has achieved a ranking of 37 out of 100 most sustainable companies.
Undercover farming expo drives efficiency
The third annual Undercover Farming expo and conference will take place from 4 to 6 March in Pretoria under the theme ‘What drives modernisation in the Industry’.
Afriforum increases support to farmers amid attacks
AfriForum has announced an action plan to intensify its fight against farm murders. The plan includes an intensified awareness and protest campaign to put pressure on the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, to prioritise farm murders, as well as an extensive local self-protection strategy.
Managing cheetah: a co-ordinated approach
Cheetah on commercial farmland have value as part of a
free-roaming population and should not be removed or relocated.
Roelof Bezuidenhout talks to Vincent van der Merwe of the EWT.
2014: the Year of Family Farming
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has named 2014 the International Year of Family Farming.
Will Madiba’s principles live on?
South Africans should elect leaders who will follow Mandela’s footsteps and put people’s needs first.
Something fishy about timing of publications
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is not renowned as the most efficient government department in South Africa, as compared to say, SARS. So whenever DAFF actually does something, anything, it seems to be news.
FS Agri’s Young Farmer 2014 competition
Fancy yourself a leading farmer with a strong management philosophy and technical skills? Now is your chance to enter the Free State Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year 2014 competition.
Electricity prices to remain stable
No further energy hikes are on the cards for the next two years, according to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
Salt water aquaculture
Salinity – at the coast or inland – is rarely a barrier to successful tilapia farming.
Absolutely extensive Ngunis
Ted and Liz Reilly played a big role in putting the Swazi Nguni ecotype back on the map. Their cattle are run with game animals and receive no special treatment.
Livestock Disease Trends – December 2013
Weather conditions: Good rains fell in the eastern part of the country, but extremely dry conditions persist in the western and central regions. Very wet conditions occurred in some areas of the Western Cape.
Controlling the ‘famine weed’
Integrated management is needed to control parthenium, a member of the Asteraceae family and a noxious weed that threatens food security, biodiversity and human and animal health.
Bumper global soya crop depress prices
The price of local soya bean-based food products and animal feed may decline due to bumper soya bean crops in Brazil and Argentina, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Lions get comfortable in new home
The first four lions reintroduced into the uMkhuze section of KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park after a 44 year absence of the carnivore there, are reportedly doing well.
A website to create pig profitability
JSR Genetics, a UK company that provides pig producers worldwide with a range of products and services, including top-quality breeding stock and semen, has an easy-to-use online meat/ton of feed (MTF) calculator at www.jsrgenetics.com
