Caxton Magazines
Newcastle disease (NCD)
is a serious poultry disease and can affect any kind of poultry operation, from backyard production to large commercial poultry farms.
Caring for cabbages
Cabbages are heavy feeders and need plenty of food to grow. Without enough water, the heads will dry out and taste bitter, so fertilising and watering the plants is important.
Is this the future of farming in SA?
An often overlooked threat to food security in South Africa is the fact that many farmers are nearing retirement age, while fewer youngsters enter the sector. This trend isn’t only prevalent among commercial and small farmers. Peter Mashala visited the Itumeleng Food Project near Pretoria, a once successful initiative, now struggling to stay afloat as its members become too old to work the land.
Johan’s Drakensbergers win again
Johan Rautenbach has won the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Drankensberger cow award for the third time, and lets Wayne Southwood in on his secret.
Animal improvement ‘needs a rethink’
Kevin Watermeyer, president of the Nguni Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa, shares his views about the way forward for animal improvement and the future of the Nguni. Heather Dugmore reports.
The fight over Gas in the Karoo
Since an Australian company applied for gas exploration rights in the southern Karoo, the local community has taken a stand to protect the environment against international fortune seekers. Heather Dugmore investigates.
Feeding rules – Part 2
Last issue Kim Dyson covered the basics of feeding your horse. This week, she looks at how much to feed your equine sidekick.
I told you so!
it gives me no pleasure TO REMIND South African market agents that "I told them so" a few years ago, but it must be said.
Long-term success with no-till
In 2007 Farmer's Weekly reported on the success of father and son Dirk and Frik van Sittert's no-till practices. Peter Hittersay looks at the continuing no-till success Frik has enjoyed in the three years since then.
Big Hopes for Biserrula
Extremely drought-tolerant, this amazing legume might be a great way of growing your own nitrogen in areas where dryland winter wheat can grow, saving you money in the process, writes John Fair.
Finding food for Africa
South Africa's commercial farmers can help contribute to food security in Sub-Saharan Africa where half the population faces starvation.
The giraffe now an endangered species
South Africans are used to seeing giraffe in parks and reserves, but the reality is this mega-fauna is under threat. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Zinc deficiencies hinder optimal yields
In South Africa, about 42% of agricultural land suffers zinc deficiencies, lowering crop yields, writes Lindi van Rooyen.
What to remember when choosing a cover crop
Cover crops can improve soil and crop health, says Agricol's KZN sales manager and agronomist Dustin Beckerling, who gives Lloyd Phillips some pointers on selecting appropriate cover crops.
Europe and India drive wool demand
BKB's merino wool indicator rose by 1,6% to end at R53,96/kg (clean) at the season's fifth wool sale - 4% higher than last year's sale, while the rand has appreciated by 6% against the US dollar over the same period.
Vink new president of African Association Agricultural Economists
Prof Nick Vink, well-known agricultural economist and chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Stellenbosch, was elected the first South African president of the African Association for Agricultural Economists (AAAE) during the organisation's annual general meeting (AGM).
Drought sees cane estimates sink lowest in 18 years
The severe drought in many of KZN's canegrowing areas has caused staggering losses in the sugar industry. Reduced production means that 318 000t of sugar will not be exported, robbing the industry of R1,1 billion of foreign exchange Of this, KZN growers will lose R665 million.
‘We won’t be small-scale’, say emerging farmers
Five emerging farmers received aR15,6-million farm in the Eastern Cape after completing an intensive three-year course in the farming of angora goats and sheep.
Food security a higher priority than transformation
Government's handling of land reform and agricultural transformation has caused too much uncertainty for commercial farmers, and the sector as a whole needs to be thinking about how to produce food for a growing population in a sustainable way.
Overproduction & less consumer spending hits hard
South Africa's broiler industry is hoping that things will pick up towards the December season's typical peak chicken-consumption period, following a year of low prices.
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