Caxton Magazines
Struggling to farm in a land of plenty
Eastern Cape's Umnga flats was once a highly productive commercial farming area. But it slipped into decay in the early 1980s, when commercial farmers were relocated and the farms were leased to emerging farmers and incorporated into the former Transkei bantustan.
Dealing with bots
Related to the nasal worms found in sheep, the larvae of the bot fly can cause digestive problems in horses, writes Dr Mac.
When is the bolting season for vegetables?
You can lose a lot of money if your crop goes to seed when you don't want it to. You need to know why and when this happens to take precautions.
Some good news, some bad
'I see three previously disadvantaged farmers, but not one commercial farmer, market agent or buyer on the panel. They account for most of a turnover exceeding R8 billion and they don't even have a say!'
Green manure for soil rehabilitation
Vegetable farmer Gary Fyvie is using green manure crops to replenish tired soil and to fight weeds.He told Robyn Joubert how he sacrificed 6% production for healthier soil over the long term.
Mound predictions
Researchers have found that termite mound size and distribution, linked to vegetation and landscape patterns, can predict ecological shifts, writes Alan Harman.
Magic mistletoe
Harvesting mistletoe is one of the most cost-effective drought survival measures available to stock farmers, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Western Cape to allow most game species
Most game species indigenous to South Africa could soon be allowed into the Western Cape, following amendments to CapeNature's translocation policy. Some changes will be implemented from as early as end September 2010.
Rural areas wait for rollout of security units
Safety in rural areas is back under the spotlight with police minister Nathi Mthethwa announcing that rural crime-fighting units - comprising policemen and reservists - would be introduced by March next year.
Expropriate game farms, golf courses – Cosatu
Cosatu released a policy discussion document entitled A Growth Path towards Full Employment, which made news early September when a draft copy was leaked to City Press newspaper.
Water Affairs has no plan for SA’s critically polluted dams
About 62% of South Africa's dams and reservoirs are eutrophic, where increased nutrient content causes phytoplankton blooms that starve water bodies of oxygen.
Drought starting to cost sugar farmers big
Sugarcane growers in the Darnall and Maidstone areas of KwaZulu-Natal have already lost more than 35% of their revenue to the drought.
New Rift Valley vaccine out soon
Clone 13, the long-awaited new Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccine, will be distributed throughout the country in the first week of October, according Willie Botha, Onderstepoort Biological Products' special projects executive.
Land reform neglect is rural ‘pressure cooker’
A re-dedication ceremony in memory of victims of crime in KZN's farming community was held at Kwanalu's annual congress at the Pietermaritzburg Royal Showgrounds.
End to price differences for grapes
The growth of table grape production in countries where grapes can be harvested all year round could bring an end to price differences for early and late season grapes, said Gawie van der Merwe of Capespan, a global fruit marketing company, at a feedback session on the recent International Table Grape Symposium.
Agri EC against new Information Bill
The planned Protection of Information Bill will affect all Agri EC's members and the organisation strongly disapproves of it, said Agri Eastern Cape president Ernest Pringle.
Tariff implementation timeline to be cut
The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) told parliament it plans to improve the implementation of anti-dumping measures and shorten the tariff application and execution process.
Stock thieves target expensive Mpumalanga stud bulls
Brazen stock thieves, believed to be part of a syndicate, have stolen three stud bulls worth more than R100 000 each from various Mpumalanga farms over the past two months.
Arson costs Free State farmers millions
A report on the eastern Free State veld fires that destroyed 151 000ha and cost farmers R121 million was submitted to the MEC by Dr Thuso Masiteng, agricultural support services director in the Free State agriculture department.
China courts SA’s commercial farmers
Against the backdrop of increased diplomatic interaction with China, it has emerged that commercial agriculture, in the form of Agri SA deputy president Dr Theo de Jager and sugarcane farmer Charl Senekal, has also been approached by representatives of China's government and agribusinesses.
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