Caxton Magazines
Brazilian beef ‘won’t rock the boat’
The impending lifting of the ban on Brazilian deboned beef – which was imposed in 2005 following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease – is not expected to have a negative effect on local producers.
Zim farmer Ben Freeth awarded an MBE
British/Zimbabwean farmer Ben Freeth was awarded the status of Member of the British Empire (MBE) as part of the British queen’s birthday celebrations.
Table grape season highest volume yet
The 2009/2010 table grape season registered the highest production volumes since the start of deregulation.
Changing commercial farmers’ public image
The views and expectations of South Africa’s farmers are being misrepresented by some groups and, all too often, the media. KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) president Robin Barnsley says the commercial farming community must set about marketing the truth about themselves. He spoke to Lloyd Phillips.
Why biodiversity is everyone’s business
This year is the International Year of Biodiversity and it is time that we remind ourselves of the major impact that biodiversity has on our businesses says Dr Bob Scholes, ecologist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and chair of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network. There is after all a direct relationship between the economy and biodiversity.
How to draft a business plan – Part 2
A farmer's production plan, describing the farm’s resource potential, the type of enterprise, planned production output, and the existing output is an important part of a business plan.
Are your chickens healthy?
If you know what to look for, you can treat sick chickens, prevent diseases from spreading in your flock and select healthy chickens when buying new ones.
One-Day Loft racing
Thomas Smit defines the One-Day loft - and describes the benefits of this form of pigeon racing.
Farming one herd: answer to communal poverty?
Getting communal cattle farming to work has always been difficult, as many farmers refuse to cooperate. But the Vuvha community in Venda has found that sharing resources and managing all community cattle as one herd, is a great way to ease poverty in the community, writes Peter Mashala.
Gadgets galore to explore
The annual Boerepatente Kompetisie always showcases great ideas to improve and simplify the farming experience, including devices to conquer load shedding and the dangers it brings. Joe Spencer reports.
Ngunis – a boon to these timber farmers
Nguni cattle can complement a timber business nicely – and are likely to captivate their owners with their beauty and no-nonsense traits. Brett Peatie and Brian Magor of Midlands Imperial Investments spoke to Robyn Joubert about Ngunis.
Food for Africa!
Africa is the third fastest growing region in the world after Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim. Since 2000 some 90 million Africans have moved to cities, and the continent now has as many cities as Europe.
The Ultimate Pigeon Race
A whopping combined cash prize pay-out of R3 375 000 will be up for grabs in Dinokeng Lofts’ Ultimate Pigeon Race. Thomas Smit provides all the details.
How to draft a business plan
A business plan will differ according to the size and technical complexity of the business.
Afrikaners on veld – this female farmer’s success
Whether producing feedlot or veld beef, the Afrikaner is an excellent choice. A hardy, easy-calving breed with high disease-resistance, it excels under a wide range of conditions. Commercial cattle farmer Susan Scheepers from Stoffberg, Mpumalanga, has struck a balance between meat production and fertility, making her Samaroux herd of Afrikaners profitable.
Keeping bridles & saddles clean
A regular cleaning regime is the best way to keep your tack clear of mildew. Dr Mac discusses an effective step-by-step routine.
New bird species boosts ecotourism potential of stock farm
The Garingboom Guest Farm near Springfontein in the southern Free State has had 15 000 guests pass through it in the past 14 years, many of whom came to catch a glimpse of two new bird species discovered as late as the 1990s. Mike Burgess visited the farm.
SA pear producers get cheeky
Cheeky, the newest blushed-pear variety to be released to the South African industry, is the result of 16 years of hard work by renowned plant breeder Taaibos Human. Industry sources see it as the first significant new addition to South Africa's range of pear varieties in two decades, an early ripening variety that can be marketed before the highly profitable and popular Forelle.
Using radish to control cyst eelworm
A fodder radish crop can exterminate up to 95% of a cyst eelworm population and be used for biofumigation, writes Bill Kerr.
Selling seedlings to communal markets
After producing vegetable seedlings for almost 40 years, Dux Meintjes knows how to adapt to market demands. These days, that may mean less reliance on commercial farmers and more attention to the hawker, communal and emerging sectors.
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