Great projects, or great promises?

Locating government’s latest agricultural project in the president’s home village has raised eyebrows.

Archipelago meat

Swedish consumer demand for free range, naturally produced meat has reached new heights as island-style meat is growing in popularity.

Common pig diseases – 2

This week we look at lameness, salt poisoning, diarrhoea and other ailments common in small pig herds.

Eskom considers gas as an alternative

With its coal-fired plants planned for retirement from 2050, it’s necessary for Eskom to consider accessing natural gas resources to add capacity and build cheap power plants in a short period of time.

More common potato diseases

Early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani, and attacks tomatoes as well as potatoes.

Food insecurity remains despite surpluses

Despite an increase of 5.8% in the agricultural sector, food insecurity still remains at a high level in South Africa.

Learning the ropes

Many people think that when they plan to market their fruit or vegetables, their first stop should be a supermarket.

Mastitis in a dairy herd

Udder health problems, especially mastitis, can significantly limit profitable dairy farming, says vet Dr Vincent Turner. Robyn Joubert reports.

Harvesting correctly

Some simple steps will enable you to harvest in an efficient way and prepare well for the next crop. Snap the maize stalks down with your foot and lay them down in the rows.

Keep consumers informed

Farmers are frequently blamed for high food prices, and this is just one of several misconceptions that have to be urgently addressed.

Game or the stock exchange?

Johan Rabie compares the investment performance of high value game species – with specific reference to buffalo and sable antelope – with investing on the JSE and other prominent stock exchanges.

Wheat farming in the Western Cape

Pierre Heydenrych, a fourth generation wheat farmer in the Western Cape, talks about the difficulties of the weather and the low wheat price.

Illegal hunting with dogs an ongoing problem in KZN

There appears to be no immediate solution in sight for the ongoing problem of illegal hunting with dogs in KwaZulu-Natal.

Producing organic food just isn’t paying

Organic farming has come under fire by one of the world’s leading organic food producing countries. Helena Jonsson, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers...

Biofuel breakthrough, but the devil is in the detail

The compulsory blending of a minimum of 5% biofuel with mineral diesel and 2% to 10% with bio-ethanol announced in the Government Gazette on 23 August has been hailed as a breakthrough by the agricultural industry.

CapeNature denies claims of political intimidation

The DA-led government in the Western Cape has been accused of putting political pressure on CapeNature to permit certain lethal methods of controlling problem animals on livestock farms in a bid to win support from farmers in the province.

A retirement farm home

In this issue Jonno designs a single storey retirement home for FW reader Makabongwe.

Making tracks

Fordson, Ford and New Holland have a long history of using track conversions. Now the latest SmartTrax system has hit the US market. Joe Spencer reports.

Favourites for the 2012 season

With the Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation’s 2012 season currently underway, Thomas Smit looks at some of the favourites.

Late blight: fast & very destructive

Late blight in potatoes is caused by airborne spores of the Phytophthora infestans fungus. The disease manifests as irregular dark lesions on the stems and leaves and spreads quickly.

Caxton Magazines