Caxton Magazines

On watching a local pilot land his fixed-winged aircraft on the family farm in the 1950s, Peter Goldsmith instantly knew he would one day fly his own aircraft. Six decades later he decided to build his own gyrocopter and enjoy the delight of flight while making the most of the practical advantages it can offer. Mike Burgess reports.

Ongoing land reform claims is one of the top concerns of local commercial farmers. The land reform department has already legally dealt with many land reform claims and promises that it will be over soon. Mtobeli Mxotwa, spokesperson for Rural Development and Land Reform minister Gugile Nkwinti, spoke to Lindi van Rooyen.

Every farmer has to be vigilant and watch out for changes that could adversely affect their farming operation.

Beef and lamb prices have increased substantially since 2008, while poultry prices have stagnated. What’s the future outlook for these products?

Not for nothing has boron been described as the pump that pushes that all-important calcium up in the plant. Yet farmers rarely apply it, and their forage suffers the consequences.

An Israeli company has cracked the code for mass-rearing a predatory wasp which could help control the destructive mealybug. Trials are underway in Eastern Cape in conjunction with Citrus Research International. Robyn Joubert reports.

The Delmas and Sundra districts in Mpumalanga have been placed under quarantine after pigs with African swine fever were found in nine different informal piggeries in the region.

Transnet is forging ahead with its decision to implement an 18,06% port tariff increase for the 2012/13 financial year. It has defended the proposed stiff hike, saying it’s necessary to tackle an infrastructure backlog in rail, ports and pipelines.

A five-year agricultural trade agreement between Namibia and China, widely publicised in the Namibian media, is reportedly of no immediate use to beef exporters.

The international community is avoiding deeper structural reforms in agriculture, leaving the world at risk of another devastating food crisis, according to a new report from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the Global Development and Environment Institute at US-based Tufts University.

Grain producers in the eastern and north-western Free State are concerned about stalk borer infestations in Bt maize cultivars with the MON 810 gene,...

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) intends spending around R4,5 billion over the next five years to develop the country’s agro-processing sector.

Farmers and agribusinesses who, according to the latest figures, hold debt of more than R78 billion, got some welcome news recently when the Reserve Bank announced interest rates will be kept unchanged.

Water and environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa’s new plan for recycling tyres – the Integrated Industry Waste Tyre Management plan – could impose a significant cost on farmers, especially those who use fat-tyred machinery.

A Limpopo farmer and animal nutritionist has become the country’s fifth farm murder victim this year. The shooting of Francois du Toit(38) on Kwalata Farm near Roossenekal has left his family and colleagues devastated, and has seen Roossenekal farmers doing as much as possible to assist the police to apprehend the three alleged killers.

No progress has been made on the R500 million Masibuyele Emasimini project, which is supposed to provide emerging farmers with tractor services in Mpumalanga.

Because food prices are a combination of many factors, they’re a good indicator of a country’s economy. What’s more, food inflation affects different consumers very differently. For the affluent, food accounts for a small part of their salaries, while the poorest can spend over a third of their income to feed their families. An inability to put food on the table will increase social grievances, which will affect the ANC’s popularity, says Saliem Fakir, an independent columnist for the SA Civil Society Information Service.

The Constitutional Court heard two cases last week, in which the Competition Commission appealed against decisions made.

Agriculture's concerns about climate change were unlikely to play a part in multilateral negotiations at the 17th Conference of the Parties.

To many, a curry is a good old Anglo-Saxon stew destroyed by some stale yellow powder out of a cardboard box. This opinion could not be more misinformed: Indian-influenced cuisine is an irresistible combination of subtle tastes and aromas. What we have here are two delicious recipes, with the pilau giving a loud, hearty wake up call to the rice.