Caxton Magazines
A green revolution launched at ZZ2
One of South Africa's largest farming operations, ZZ2, needed dramatic production changes to stay sustainable. They formulated natuurboerdery, which gave them all the benefits of organic farming without a major fall in production. Glenneis Erasmus reports on how this approach is starting to pay off.
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
The most important melon diseases
Melons are notoriously susceptible to a fairly wide range of diseases and for this reason, areas with safer climatic conditions are usually selected for production. But sufficient varieties in a class are needed to select a suitable powdery mildew-resistant one.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
The tail wagging the dog
On our fresh produce markets, most of the agencies operating there pay their salespeople on a commission basis.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Retail sector may surprise us
There are clear indications that retail sales and food demand will improve despite the current financial crisis.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
‘Protect the Karoo lamb brand!’
Tell anyone about a juicy Karoo lamb chop and they will know what you are talking about. But, argues Prof Johann Kirsten, Karoo farmers run the danger of losing control over this potentially premium brand. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
What the desert needs
The Karoo Development Foundation will need buy-in from farmers if it is to solve the region's biggest problems - creating enough decent jobs for its marginalised communities without destroying its soul or natural resources, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Issue date : 24 April 2009
Sterkfontein Kalahari Red
Installing irigation and oversowing the mixed grass pasture with clover has enabled Zelda Brits to increase the Sterkfontein Kalahari Re goat Stud by one-third in a year - to 325 animals on just 6,5ha.
Issue date: 17 April 2009
Issue date: 17 April 2009
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Congo farming information session at the end of April
The first information session about farming opportunities in the Republic of Congo will take place on 29 April.
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Monsanto’s pollination investigation is well on track
The first phase of the investigation into the pollination problems in three Monsanto white-maize hybrid seed cultivars has been completed, according to Kobus Lindique, MD of Monsanto sub-Saharan Africa. The issue was a traditional seed-production technique used with hybrid breeding.
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Taxpayers union wants to ‘privatise’ sewerage works
The National TaxPayers Union (NTPU) intends to take over dysfunctional sewerage works from municipalities and run them privately. NTPU chairperson Jaap Kelder said sewerage works aren't being managed effectively and sewerage is being pumped into rivers at an alarming rate.
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Court papers filed on Free State border case
Free State Agriculture (Agri Free State) has handed an application against 14 respondents in the Bloemfontein High Court over the collapse of law and order on the Lesotho border. The documents will be served shortly on the president and a number of government departments.
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Snubbed farmers might still get market value
Farmers who were forced to accept below-market related prices for land sold to the state for restitution might still get the chance to be fully compensated.
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Bee disease threat
It's unclear how a highly contagious brood disease entered South Africa, but it could devastate commercial and hobby apiarists, and farmers depending on bees for pollination. Haylee Robbins reports.
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Minister defies law in eviction drive
On 8 April, land and agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana "reposessed" a second farm in Gauteng as part of her "use it or lose it" campaign, through which she's replacing "unproductive" land reform beneficiaries with groups of women she believes will do a better job. Peter Mashala reports.
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Dramatic surge in Zim land grabs
Farmers' rights group Justice for Agriculture (JAG) has evidence of a dramatic upsurge in farm invasions since the formation of Zimbabwe's unity government, between Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in February.
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Tito’s recession not all bad news for farmers
Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni's comment that he wouldn't be surprised if South Africa posted a second consecutive quarter of negative growth - a sign that the country's in recession - was echoed by the Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC).
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The Vaaljapie returns!
The Ford 8N tractor, released in 1947, sold 500 000 units by 1952.
Now New Holland intends to cash in on the nostalgia surrounding popular tractors, like the good old Vaaljapie, by launching a brand new model, with all the latest specifications but using the distinctive 8N styling.
Issue date: 17 April 2009
Issue date: 17 April 2009
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Designer mutton breyani
Breyani, one of the jewels in the KZN culinary crown, is a magnificent dish that touches every base - there's meat, there's vegetables, there's rice …
A stilted beach house
Thanks for all the photos of your site at the sea. It certainly helps to conceptualise an appropriate home. I've stilted the house as high as would be aesthetically pleasing - about one storey.
Issue date : 10-17 April 2009
Issue date : 10-17 April 2009
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