Top maize farmer ups profit with minimum till

Top Free State maize producers Johan (Snr) and Johan (Jnr) van Huyssteen counteracted increasing grain input costs by phasing out wheat and sunflower crops in favour of maize. This made for 50% of lands lying fallow, a marked cut in production costs and minimum till practices. Annelie Coleman reports.

Amazing Appaloosa patterns

These horses are very popular in South Africa, but consistently breeding a particular pattern of spots is complicated, says Dr Mac.

Is there an agreement?

After lengthy discussions following the violent farm worker protests in the Western Cape, Agri SA said that no agreement was reached regarding any minimum wage level.

Vigilant – but no further wage strikes expected

Farmers in the Western Cape will remain on high alert throughout December. This follows after violent strikes that erupted in November, with protesters demanding higher wages for farm workers.

Agri MEC moves on wastage and spending irregularities

Irregular expenditure at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) has been exposed, with dumped agricultural equipment and inputs worth over R5 million discovered at the department’s office in Inchanga.

Egg drop soup, Italian style

Cantonese egg drop soup has long been a favourite. And then along came Italian egg drop soup with delicious Mediterranean accents heightened by lemon zest and nutmeg.

Fracking can be managed – New Zealand

A New Zealand inquiry into fracking found that the environmental risks associated with the procedure could be effectively managed, provided best practices were enforced through regulation.

Winters Drift Wines stay on track to open the restored tasting station

Clock strikes as Tasting Station opens on time for the festive season on historic Glen Elgin Farm, home of Winters Drift Wines.

Agri SA asks for a national prayer day

Agri SA president Johannes Möller has called on all church denominations to use Sunday, 16 December 2012 as a national day of prayer for a violence-free society;

Controlling acid mine drainage in the Western Basin not enough

Acid mine drainage (AMD) decant at the Western Basin in Gauteng is slowly being brought under control, with the flow halted. Mariette Liefferink, CEO...

Swallowing the ‘365 pill’

The pigeon racing off-season might be a time for rest, but that doesn’t mean you must neglect your birds, cautions Thomas Smit.

Money saver goes commercial

A unique oil-fired furnace has been perfected and is now for sale, with quite a number already working in the field. Joe Spencer reports.

Fiddling while Rome burns?

In her speech at the AGM of the African Farmers Association of South Africa, agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson spoke glowingly of the Walmart initiative to support small-scale farmers.

Why prune tomatoes?

There are instances where tomatoes have to be pruned and cases where pruning is entirely optional. We therefore need to know why we prune and when or if it’s necessary.

Namibian Simmentalers survive & thrive

Stephan Voigts, owner of the historic Voigtland Simmentaler herd in Namibia bases his breeding objectives on the commercial cattleman’s requirements. The commercial sector determines the value of any cattle breed, and that is why the Simmentaler is doing so well in Namibia, he told Annelie Coleman.

Predator debate

Dr Dan Parker (23 November, pg 40) suggested that the solution to the conflict between the academic community and the agricultural community with regard to the control of problem animals was for 'individual egos and intellectual arrogance to take a back seat'.

Talk first, shoot later

The Glenconner & District Predator Management Forum said in an article published in Farmer’s Weekly last week that jackal and caracal populations are increasing and that drastic steps must be taken for small-stock producers to survive. Dr Dan Parker of the Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group at Rhodes University responds. Nan Smith reports.

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