Caxton Magazines
Lower than expected retail trade sales
Retail trade sales, measured in real terms increased by 1,9% year-on-year in April, compared to the 2,7% growth in March and 3,9% in February, Statistics South Africa reported.
Red meat abattoirs encouraged to invest in latest systems
The need for stakeholders in the red meat abattoir sector to ensure that their operations had the very best productivity and quality control systems in place was highlighted at a recent conference of the Red Meat Abattoir Association in Stellenbosch.
SA and Argentina strengthen ties
South Africa and Argentina signed a bilateral agreement to work together to improve the agricultural sectors in each country.
Selling your produce
I wonder how many farmers appreciate the work involved in selling their produce? When you walk onto a busy market floor, you’ll see agents engaged in animated debate with buyers and the whole scene looking and sounding decidedly chaotic.
DuPont expands in the Ukraine
Agri-company DuPont opened a $40 million (R400 million) maize, sunflower seed and oilseed rape hybrids production facility in Ukraine last week.
Maize uncertainty
Maize producers and maize users will have to watch the markets carefully in coming months.
Precision farming – a global perspective
Precision agriculture (PA) allows farmers to operate more efficiently and become better decision-makers. Australian Tim Neale and Sharon Clay from the US took part in a PA conference in Potchefstroom. Annelie Coleman compiled this report.
New joint marketing venture for fynbos farmers
A new international marketing collaboration between South African fynbos producers and European management and marketing companies promises exciting export opportunities for local farmers.
Wage exemptions trickle in
Only 18 farmers had been granted temporary exemption from the new minimum wage for farm workers at the time of going to print.
SA Sugarcane grower at helm of global body
KZN commercial sugarcane grower Roy Sharma was recently appointed president of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG) at its 11th conference in India. He spoke to Robyn Joubert about the industry.
Unions: healthy competition?
Spurred by the formation of Afasa, Nafu is at last getting its act together.
Cutting the risks of planting early
In frosty areas, growers usually want to start planting as soon as it’s safe to do so. But due to late frosts, the timing isn’t always easy to determine.
Milling company helps with land reform sugarcane farms
While it’s well-known that the vast majority of South Africa’s land reform transfers have failed due to factors such as inadequate
post-settlement support, in Mpumalanga the opposite is happening, thanks to TSB Sugar’s proactive approach. Lloyd Phillips reports.
KZN couple and son arrested for stock theft
A couple from Dannhauser in KwaZulu-Natal and the woman’s son were recently arrested by the Glencoe Stock Theft Unit for allegedly being involved in a syndicate that stole cattle and then quickly sold them again.
Nu Dawn Eggs: production tips and secrets
Seo Mtetwa, MD of Nu Dawn Eggs, talks about the company's beginning, success and future.
Managing heifers and first-calvers
It’s expensive to grow out heifers until they calve for the first time. It pays to invest in the heifer group, says the ARC’s Leslie Bergh.
Estate planning tips
In a recent seminar, Prof Willie van der Westhuizen discussed errors that could lead to tax costs.
Getting the most out of Google
Your internet searches can become more accurate if you know a few tricks, says Greg Miles.
The Albrecht System: uneconomical & outdated?
Local soil scientists are refuting the relevance of this 70-year-old
system when advances in soil science point to its lack of scientific value and many shortcomings in field conditions.
Imports take shine off sugar prospects
With favourable sugarcane growing conditions, the prospect of an improved season ahead is realistic – with the 2013/2014 crush estimated at 20,14 million tons.
