Caxton Magazines
MPs support Onderstepoort’s appeal for government funding
Onderstepoort Biological Products(OBP) desperately needs state funding to upgrade its infrastructure and equipment that was acquired back in 1968.
SA rural safety plan accepted in principle
GOVERMENT'S NATIONAL RURAL safety plan has been accepted in principle by the authorities, but there are two issues that need to be finalised, said Agri SA safety and security chairperson Andre Botha.
Don’t eat the seed!
Commercial farmer Johannes Fourie and his farmworkers, from Groblershoop in the Northern Cape, have proven that successful BEE farming is possible in South Africa. The Sanddraai Arbeidsgenot BEE farming project came into being in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength, producing grapes, pecan nuts and lucerne. Willem Block, one of the directors, says it’s all due to prayer, cooperation, communication and strict financial discipline.
Consumer class action against bread cartel to go ahead, despite setback
The parties seeking to take action against Tiger Brands, Pioneer Foods and Premier Foods for bread price fixing have vowed to go ahead with the suit, despite the Cape High Court's recent dismissal of their application to formally certify the claim as a "consumer class action".
Farmworker HIV infection rates shock
DA Shadow Minister of agriculture Lourie Bosman said he's shocked by the fact that more than half of the farmworkers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga are HIV positive after an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) study found that farmworkers in these provinces have the highest HIV prevalence among any working population in southern Africa.
Why markets remain important
The late Peter Venter captured the essence of fresh-produce markets when he said, "When a country needs to import most of its fresh produce, then it doesn't require markets to establish prices, as these will have been done by the importers and wholesalers who bought the fresh produce across the borders.
No more backyard shacks
The key to successful pigeon racing lies in good pigeon health, which you won't achieve if pigeon housing is poor. Thomas Smit presents a beginner's guide to building an effective racing pigeon loft.
Soil pH – the cure for clubroot in cabbages
Clubroot really is a revolting disease -that's literally the reaction of any farmer who pulls out a sickly-looking plant and sees what the root system looks like. Clubroot is also destructive enough to wipe out a crop.
Revitalising local chicory
Imported, inferior-quality chicory has severly hurt local production. Almost half South Africa's producers left the industry in the last few years, causing a huge drop in production. But Chicory SA's Loddie Greyling believes the industry can be saved. Lourens Schoeman spoke to him.
Absorption of undegradable proteins
Food proteins that can't be broken down by microbes are passed down to the duodenum and digested enzymatically. Malcolm Stewart-Burger examines these undegradable proteins and how they are absorbed.
Drowning in muck
The Vaal River used to be one of Abre' J Steyn's favourite fishing spots as a young boy. Back then it was a pristine river brimming with life. But like the Oliphants River, one of the most heavily polluted rivers on the continent, the Vaal is on a slippery downward slope, with mining as its biggest problem.
Summer + horses = flies
Summer brings flies and diseases to your stables. Kim Dyson gives some advice on how to protect your horse against the other critters and ailments the warm weather brings.
Farmers celebrate compensation from Zimbabwean government
Three white Zimbabwean commercial farmers are celebrating as one of the attached Zimbabwean-government-owned properties in Cape Town will finally be auctioned off and some of the proceeds used to partly compensate farmers for legal costs incurred fighting their country's internationally condemned land reform programme.
Competition Commission clarifies what industry bodies can and can’t talk about
While the South African Milk Processors' Organisation (Sampro) recently received word from the Competition Commission that the information it exchanges with members doesn't fall foul of the Competition Act, other industry bodies weren't as lucky.
Getting through to horses for a living
By the time Riekert Erasmus could walk, he was picking up tips on how to break in horses from his father. At 16, he was taming and training wild horses for pocket money.
KZN gets 205 assistant agricultural extension officers
The leadership of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development (KZN DAEARD) recently showed their committment to resurrecting agricultural extension services by employing 205 national diploma graduates as assistant agricultural extension officers.
Record export crop for citrus
South Africa's citrus industry achieved a record export crop in 2010 after a tough 2009 season.
World food prices expected to spike sharply
Higher global food prices can be expected in 2011, unless production of major food crops increases significantly, according to the latest Food Outlook released by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
IDC to invest billions in biofuel projects
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) plans to invest more than R3 billion in three biofuel projects.
Europe buying fine wool
The Merino indicator WAS 2% down compared to the previous sale, closing at R67,28/kg (clean). But this was still 16% up on the opening sale, according to Ona Viljoen of Cape Wools.
