Caxton Magazines
A lesson in breeding a winning beef carcass
Winners of the Royal Show's carcass competition hold the prestigious title of producer of the best beef carcass in KwaZulu-Natal for a year. Lloyd Phillips visited Weston Agricultural College to hear how they did it in 2010.
Ngunis go commercial
After 25 years of trading and farming in Elliotdale in the former Transkei, Zolani Tyali eventually settled on Brooklyn, a commercial farm near Morgan’s Bay in the Eastern Cape. He transferred most of the family’s Ngunis to the new farm and improved his herd by introducing bulls acquired from farmers belonging to the East Cape Nguni Club. But without fencing on his farm, that herd’s integrity is at risk.
Eye infections & blindness
Conditions involving your horse's eyes are potentially serious and should be treated by a vet, warns Kim Dyson.
Issue date : 10 September 2010
Issue date : 10 September 2010
Organically grown vegetables VS conventionally grown vegetables
The answer is yes and no. IT depends. A prime benefit of organic produce is that it's free of pesticide residue, which is blamed for the progressive increase in cancer.
Joint venture at Durban Fresh Produce Market
Something quite significant has happened on the Durban market. I recently contributed to a week's training session there for prospective salespeople. The significance is that this was a joint venture between the Durban Market Authority and the Durban Market Agents, the first of its kind on markets in South Africa.
Vegetable production in Queenstown
When Brad Turner began to farm in the Queenstown region in 2005, many in the area warned him about the size limitations of his 900ha stock farm, Mountain Glen. Undaunted, he began producing vegetables under irrigation that today contributes 89% of his turnover, a feat that recently resulted in his crowning as the 2010 Eastern Cape Toyota / Agri SA Young Farmer.
Keeping an eye on Doha
The Doha Round will, in time, result in more freedom for the international market. This will reduce South African agriculture's competition with highly subsidised countries, but also remove a lot of our markets' protection against cheap imports.
Power hikes deadhead flower farmer
Once Eskom's poster boy for electrified greenhouse heating, cut-flower farmer David Gates feels he has now been hung out to dry by the state utility. The annual fees he's charged are up to R150 000 before he's even flicked on a switch, and they're crippling his business.
Water crisis warriors
Government's attitude towards our water crisis seems to be changing from denial to tentative action. This is largely thanks to the activism of a few determined men and women. Sean Christie spoke to three of them and found that each has learned unique lessons from agriculture that can help solve the current water crisis.
The truth about labour
It's a tall order, but why not take the politics out of
farm labour and concentrate on what will actually work, asks journalist and farmer Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Budgets – why do we need them?
Working without a budget is like swimming in a rough sea with no life saver – you’re sure to drown, writes Susan Pletts.
Cost-effective crèche design
I got a call from a mining company in the Natal Midlands. For their mining licence to be renewed, certain socio-economic services and structures were required. A crèche was one of them.
Mushrooms: income for the poor
Poverty alleviation and improved food security in KwaZulu-Natal has found an ally in the tasty and sought-after oyster mushroom. With help from the Chinese government, KwaDindi residents are now diversifying their diets and earning much-needed cash.
The South African Prestige Invitational Race (SAPIR)
Training for the first year of the South African Prestige Invitational Race is in full swing. Thomas Smit takes a look at this event.
Universal veld management system
The Fodderbank Grazing Management System allows an entire farm to be grazed annually, but only one third is grazed during the active growing season. Jorrie Jordaan of the Towoomba Research Station
says this system can be applied almost anywhere in the world.
All about spurs
Some people think those "cowboy" spurs look cool, others believe they're barbaric. Are they just for show, or can they serve a purpose, especially when it comes to Western riding? Dr Mac investigates.
Stud game – big money in horns
South Africa’s stud game industry is making great strides in breeding genetically superior stock, but are the high prices being paid at auctions healthy – or the start of a big problem? Heather Dugmore investigates.
Can marigolds really control eelworm?
Studies have found that marigolds increase the populations of nematode-trapping fungi, and other fungi that attack and destroy eelworm eggs.
More about credit sales
Last week I gave A broad view of the issues surrounding credit sales on fresh-produce markets.
Tunnel farming with cucumbers methods for success
Moving from 600ha in Underberg to a 2ha tunnel farm in Margate involved a major leap of faith for Lewis and Charmaine Alcock. Today, they have reach peak production with tunnel farming with cucumbers.
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