Caxton Magazines
An empowerment success story
Phangisile continues her investigation of the forestry sector and finds a co-op that has empowered emerging black farmers since the 1970s.
Straight talking from a trapper
While organised agriculture tries to persuade government not to fall for the impractical legislation animal-rights activists want to force through on predator management, the black-backed jackal and caracal continue to tear the heart from the small-stock industry. Experienced problem animal hunter and trapper Niekie Mostert, from Smithfield in the Free State, discussed some solutions with Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Start by supporting commercial farmers
Dr Reuel Khoza is a black farmer and chairperson of Aka Capital and the Nedbank Group. His family trust owns a 200ha export avocado and macadamia farm near Hazyview and is a 50% partner in the export packhouse HL Hall & Sons.
Are you insured?
What do farmers and ranchers need to know about agricultural and wildlife insurance? Heather Dugmore speaks to insurance broker Mike Wadge who has 20 years experience in the field. He manages the Port Elizabeth branch of SATIB Risk Solutions, which specialises in wildlife, hospitality and tourism insurance.
Lesotho stock thieves run rampant
Despite promises from Police minister Nathi Mthethwa, the SA Police Service (SAPS) has failed to tighten up security along the Lesotho border in the Matatiele and Maluti region, in the foothills of the southern Drakensberg.
Eskom scrounges for cash
Hundreds of residents in East Griqualand farming communities Cedarville, Matatiele, Kokstad and Swartberg received letters from Eskom's Revenue Recovery Project saying that their meters were faulty and their accounts would be backdated to recover lost revenue.
Equity schemes to make a comeback
The government wants to lift the moratorium on farm equity schemes by January next year, said land reform minister Gugile Nkwinti.
Latest meat levy figures get industry thumbs-up
The latest livestock and meat statutory levies, recently signed into law by agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, have been met with the full approval of the main roleplayers in the country's single largest agricultural sector.
Grain SA fights for VAT-free farmer development
The Grain SA farmer development programme emerged victorious in a court battle against the South African Revenue Services (SARS) at the Free State High Court recently.
Long overdue organics policy under discussion
The department of agriculture is circulating a sixth-draft discussion paper on a much needed national organic farming policy. It draws attention to several problems in the sector that people involved in organics have known about for a decade.
Three National Land Audits underway
There's been very little research on landownership in South Africa since 1994, but now it seems there are three separate national land audits being conducted simultaneously.
Farm prices slowing down
Farm property valuations showed a slight weakening in the second half of 2010 after something of a mini-recovery in the first half of the year, according to First National Bank (FNB's) third quarter National Farm Valuations Index.
Pick ‘n Pay plans to sell organic products premium-free
Pick 'n Pay could be looking into selling its organic fresh produce premium-free in the future.
Valuer-general on the cards for land sales
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform wants to create a "valuer-general" for South Africa to ensure the department sets the "norms and standards" when it comes to the price of land.
Pioneer expresses interest in KWV
Fresh from concluding a deal with the Competition Commission, Pioneer Foods is now contemplating making a bid for the country's second largest wine and spirit company, KWV Holdings.
‘No more dilly-dallying,’ says minister
Agricultural minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson called on government to stop "dilly-dallying" when it comes to agricultural extension officers.
DA leader visits Limpopo water project
During a visit to Limpopo, DA leader Helen Zille took time to meet farmer Koos van Amstel, who provides water for a local community in Blouberg, a rural, mostly agricultural area between Alldays and Lephalale.
Tide turns for African Farmers
Africa is the only continent which doesn't grow enough food to feed itself. But a revolution is underway that can change that, and it's affecting everyone from smallholer farmers to governments and corporations. So says Kofi Anan, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former secretary general of the UN from 1977 to 2006 and chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in AFrica, which is working to improve the continent's agriculture.
Ubuntu in the platteland
Despite what many people, particularly politicians, in the cities say, white farmers show time and time again they're willing to help their emerging black counterparts, writes New on the Land editor Peter Mashala.
Are disease-resistant sheep less fertile?
Researchers have discovered an odd relationship between disease-resistance and fertility in Soay sheep. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
