Caxton Magazines
Super Canola winner’s recipe for success
The 2008 southern Cape Super Canola Farmer of the Year Andrew Beukes, explains his strategy for growing canola on sloping land and how he harvests it over lucerne. He managed to achieve a yield of 2,4t/ha of canola and a gross margin of R7 337/ha in a particularly difficult season. He tells Wouter Kriel how.
Issue date : 01 May 2009
Issue date : 01 May 2009
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Harvesting & marketing your melons
Farmers need to determine the best harvesting stage for their melons to ensure they'll have good eating qualities by the time the customer takes them off the shelf.
Issue date : 01 May 2009
Issue date : 01 May 2009
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Complexities of markets
South Africa's 20-odd fresh produce markets play an essential role in distributing fresh fruit and vegetables to the nation - a role that's not appreciated enough by farmers and political leaders.
Issue date : 01 May 2009
Issue date : 01 May 2009
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Afrikaners & Drakensbergers: no ticks get under their skin
Free State research into the relationship between hide thickness and tick resistance in cattle found Drakensbergers and Afrikaners are well-protected by their thicker hides and sleeker coats. Annelie Coleman spoke to researcher Liesel Foster.
Issue date : 01 May 2009
Issue date : 01 May 2009
Water laws don’t apply to minister’s husband
While farmers are fighting for their survival and trying to prevent minerals and energy minister Buyelwa Sonjica from issuing mining licenses to coal operations in Mpumalanga, another ministerial household is profiting from an illegal coalmine in the province.
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Farmers and minister in life and death water battle
Several farming organisations have been launched in Mpumalanga to prevent the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, from approving over 200 mining applications, which could spell the end of agriculture.
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The facts behind agriculture’s export dip
The South African agricultural sector has managed a turn-around to become a nett exporter again, despite a 9% drop predicted in global trade this year. The sector posted a deficit last year.
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Renewable energy tariffs to boost sector
The renewable energy sector welcomed the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa) recently announced feed-in tariffs for renewable energy into the national grid. "These tariffs will stimulate investment in the market," said Leila Mohamed-Weideman, director of Genesis Eco Energy. "They're substantially higher than before, so Nersa has heeded industry stakeholders' input."
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Claimants get nearly 14 000ha of Mondi land
Seven KwaZulu-Natal communities collectively regained 13 989ha of land from timber and paper giant Mondi recently. These communities were originally dispossessed by the Native Land Act of 1913 and weren't justly and equitably compensated at the time.
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Business confidence in agriculture crashes
Confidence in agribusiness tumbled in the first quarter of 2009 on the back of the global financial crisis, alongside business confidence in the small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME) sector.
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Mohair&wool promotions get glamorous
Dressing the Proteas cricket team and a glitzy Cape Town event are only two of Mohair SA's new fibre promotions, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
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Tobacco defies the world economy
Despite global upheavals 2008 ended with excellent results for tobacco, rounding off a decade of value creation with a total shareholder return of 486%, according to the British American Tobacco (BAT) group. Developing markets in Eastern Europe and East Asia are expanding and the group expects the profit pool to grow.
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Make sure about that trout pond
Alien fish species found outside demarcated areas will soon face certain death and the humans harbouring them without permits, will face the wrath of the law.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is closer to drafting regulations to bring the distribution of alien invasive freshwater fish species under stricter control, to protect indigenous and endemic freshwater biodiversity.
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When the site dictates
I received a call from Stephanus and Marlien to view their future home development site on the family farm. Three new homes would eventually be required. The couple had selected a beautiful site with commanding views.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
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Fire eyes
Birds that play 'chicken' on roads, are attracted by fire and have long, trailing feathers? Abré J Steyn introduces the intriguing nightjars.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
High quality&heavy duty vacuum packing
German-made vacuum-packing machines, which are user-friendly, fast and hard-wearing, are now available in South Africa. Chris Nel reports.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
The gospel of conservation agriculture
Faced with poverty and hunger at his remote mission in the Lesotho mountains, Rev August Basson realised providing food for the soul alone wouldn't sustain his flock for long. Conservation agriculture proved to be the answer to his payers. He tells Peter Hittersay how his teachings are improving lives.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
A tale of two coltson an African adventure
Ross Millin had a dream - to introduce new genetic material that would rejuvenate the South African Saddle Horse industry. It took time, patience and ingenuity, but the plan is at last coming to fruition. Louise de Wet reports.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Great tasting premiums from grass-fed beef
A niche market is growing for grass-fed beef amongst consumers. An entrepreneurial couple in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands is tapping into this, with their all-natural beef fetching around R20/kg more than grain-fed beef at R69,98/kg.Lloyd Phillips reports.
Issue date: 24 April 2009
Issue date: 24 April 2009
Managing lions on small reserves
The reintroduction of large predators is becoming an increasingly popular ecotourism strategy on small reserves, but ranchers should note that just a few lions can kill a lot of prey animals every year. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
