Caxton Magazines
Getting your melons on the go
Although melons can be directly sown onto the land, transplanted seedlings are usually used, as the high cost of most varieties means farmers need every seed to grow.
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Beware of ‘Pie in the sky’!
Beware of 'Pie in the sky'! It's also quite natural for people to want to do the best or build something different.
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Issue date : 03 April 2009
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Organic is not enough
Biological farming provides a way for farmers to survive the price/cost squeeze, but it's not a quick-fix solution.
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Issue date : 03 April 2009
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A game rancher’s wish list
The authorities don't recognise wildlife ranchers as agriculturists. Farmers who sell or hunt game on their properties can't benefit from land tax rebates or drought relief even though many run mixed livestock/game enterprises.
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Greed disguised as BEE
For years organic farmer and activist Koos Pretorius has battled mining degradation on the Mpumalanga Highveld. Chairing the Escarpment Environment Protection Group which tries to protect sensitive catchment areas, Koos has experienced coal miners' unaccountability first hand on his farm and says it is because they're too close to politicians.
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Issue date : 03 April 2009
Ethnic appeal
A phone call from Marmello in Lesotho and an explanation of her housing requirements resulted in this ethnic-styled cottage. The biggest challenge was to fit a two-bedroom family home into a 70m² floor area.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Kanniedood
An olive thrush with a broken wing is an inspiration to Abré J Steyn, having overcome what to other birds would have been a death sentence. His courage and tenacity is a lesson for all humankind.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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Fulvic acid helps plants grow – and animals too
Fulvic acid products from Fulvimed, and it's development and marketing arms Fulvivet and Fulvigro, enhance the performance of both crops and livestock. Glenneis Erasmus gets the specifics.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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New Holland gives willows a reason to weep
A new UK electricity plant running on biomass has found the perfect partner in a New Holland header specially designed to harvest coppice willow. Joe Spencer reports.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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Dealing with the Five Forces?
'There are forces which impact on your competitiveness. Here's how they work and what you can do about them.'
Issue date : 27 March 2009
Issue date : 27 March 2009
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International protectionism: a real danger to food security
These are dangerous times if emerging and industrial countries don't keep their markets open, says Carole L Brookins, an international consultant and former US executive director of the World Bank. She was the keynote speaker at the recent Grain SA congress where she explained the possible impact of protectionism on 60-odd years of market liberalisation. Annelie Coleman reports.
Issue date : 27 March 2009
Issue date : 27 March 2009
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A Teacher’s Way – the principles of George Ehlers
A teacher and cattle farmer found his passion for pigeon racing late in life and today is reaping the rewards of starting out with an extraordinary gene pool.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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Mimosa Stables in full bloom
The Du Plessis family of Mimosa Stables can proudly say they show horses which are trained by amateurs in their free time. Over the years, they have been extremely competitive against professionally trained opponents. Louise De Wet reports.
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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Did you know
I've often extolled the many virtues of fresh fruit and vegetables, and South Africa grows, distributes and consumes the most incredible range of products on earth. Here are just a few examples:
Issue date: 27 March 2009
Issue date: 27 March 2009
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Green-fleshed melons
The melons, generally referred to as "honeydew" types, typically have a smooth, light rind and thick, green flesh. The flesh can vary from deep green to almost white and also has a more crisp, sweet taste, without the musky flavour often associated with orange-fleshed melons. We usually use the name "sweet melon" to describe honeydews in this country.
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Can farmers be talked into beet deal?
It looks as if the long-awaited sugar beet ethanol project near Cradock in the Eastern Cape is about to bear fruit. The project needs at least 4 000ha of sugar beet, which will create 1 500 jobs, but farmers are reluctant to commit to 10-year contracts for a time-intensive crop that may not be profitable. Julienne du Toit reports.
Issue date : 27 March 2009
Issue date : 27 March 2009
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Why dairymen are bleating
Allan Penderis, manager of Midlands Milk, analyses trends in the producer and retail price of milk and explains why dairy farmers are justified in wanting a bigger slice of the consumer cake - and what's standing in their way of getting it. Robyn Joubert reports.
Issue date : 27 March 2009
Issue date : 27 March 2009
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Some good news from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean authorities released Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC's) designated deputy agriculture minister from prison and supermarket shelves are starting to feel the weight of food again.
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The world economy taking its toll on BEE
About R41 billion worth of potential BEE deals have been wiped out due to unfavourable trading conditions in the past two years, according to statistics from the BEE rating agency EmpowerDEX. Last year alone the total value of BEE deals sealed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange declined five-fold from R66 billion in 2007 to R13 billion.
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