How to protect your assets

Beware, foolish or "lazy" business decisions can part you from your assets! And running a business in your own name can be especially dangerous.

Treating white line disease

White line disease is an infection of the hoof wall of a horse, mule or donkey, which causes it to disintegrate, writes Dr Mac.

A rare game initiative on stock farms

When Abel Erasmus bought five stock farms near Philippolis in the Free State to establish the 14 000ha Otterskloof Private Game Reserve, he focused on breeding rare game species, including disease-free buffalo, roan antelope and sable antelope. Mike Burgess spoke to him about his success converting stock farms into a game reserve.

Nafu SNAFU

South Africa urgently needs a strong body to represent emerging farmers, and agricultural leadership should always be a case of "for farmers, by farmers", writes New on the Land editor Peter Mashala.
Isue date: 12 November 2010

New colour solution for table grapes

Achieving good colouration in table grapes is an important marketing tool, but very warm temperatures in some of South Africa's table-grape-growing regions hamper this. Research presented at the International Table Grape Symposium suggested a new growth regulator can encourage stronger berry colour in table grapes. Denene Erasmus reports.

Is this the first blackgora?

While mohair purists advocate only pure white fibres, Roelof Bezuidenhout discovers a rare black specimen of fine quality.

Controlling bovine viral diarrhoea

Effectively controlling Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in cattle herds takes an integrated farm biosecurity system. This includes keeping farm fences in good condition and limiting the movement of unauthorised people and cattle on and off the farm. But a pillar of any system should be a comprehensive vaccination programme.

British police get serious about farm thefts

An unusual sight at recent agricultural events in the UK was a John Deere 6630 tractor decked out in police livery, complete with the obligatory blue light.

‘Don’t plant yourselves out of business’

Maize farmers mustn't plant themselves out of business, but rather diversify to other crops and livestock for long-term survival, says Tom van Rooyen, a 2010 Grain SA Grain Producer of the Year finalist.<

Demystifying ‘us’ and ‘them’

In the "us vs them" game no one wins, and the divide between the government and commercial farmers has largely been created by "stone-throwing politicians", says Agri Eastern Cape president Ernest Pringle.

Meet Nerpo’s new CEO

Zimbabwean Dr Langelihle Simela recently replaced firebrand Aggrey Mahanjana as the CEO of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers Organisation (Nerpo). Peter Mashala spoke to her about unions, livestock and Nerpo.

Mines target the Free State and the North West

Reports of two prospecting licences being granted for 354 locations in the Free State and the North West have sent shockwaves through the agricultural community.
Issue date : 05 November 2010

Milk producers aid Cedara

Fifteen years ago, Cedara was recognised as one of the best research stations in the world. But as its research capacity has declined over the years, so too have the extension services offered to commercial farmers.

African imports put pressure on fruit farmers

South Africa is one of the fastest growing fresh fruit markets in the world.

Strong leadership needed for black farmers

Some of South Africa's top black farmers are calling for strong agricultural representation and leadership that has farmers' best interests at heart, saying the National African Farmers' Union of South Africa (Nafu) hasn't adequately represented black farmers.

Proper planning can eradicate hunger in South Africa

With proper planning and production support, South Africa has the potential "for efficient domestic production and supply all year round," said agriculture minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson at the recent World Food Day summit held in Pretoria.

Evergreen agriculture is the future of farming

Scientists have called for radical transformation of the agricultural sector to cope with climate change and food security, writes Alan Harman.

Sun spots behind droughts?

Arguments about CLIMATE change have been dominated by the role greenhouse gas emissions play, but the old sunspot theory is regaining lost ground. Will Alexander, a retired professor from the Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, insists there's a link between solar activity, climate and drought.

Agriculture occupies central role in SA’s new growth plan

The agriculture value chain is one of six key sectors in the government's new growth plan recently endorsed during a special cabinet meeting.

North West success with conservation agriculture

When Farmer's Weekly last reported on Hannes Otto (19 October 2007), he was about to adopt no-till on a quarter of his farm's arable land, after trials conducted the season before. Its success led him to adopt conservation agriculture practices on all 2 200ha of his arable land. Peter Hittersay reports.

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