Caxton Magazines
Fascinating ‘Small Five’
The obsession with the Big Five sees Africa inundated with tourists determined to see them live in the game reserves. But there are many equally fascinating small creatures that deserve as much, if not more attention and respect. Abré J Steyn discusses his 'Small Five'.
Issue date 20 March 2009
Issue date 20 March 2009
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ON THE HORIZON: solar-powered cellphone
Samsung leads the way with the first-ever solar-powered cellphone, bound to appeal to farmers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Horse breeding – is it profitable?
Horse breeding is attractive to farmers, but there are many overt and hidden costs - horses need to be fed, stabled and cared for for a minimum of three years before they can be sold, writes Dr Mac.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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What’s in a name?
Melons come in many colours, shapes tastes and sizes. We tend to be rather conservative and stick to what we know, and most consumers have never seen the varieties which are popular in some other countries.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Back to basics
As usual, electioneering statements are being made about agriculture which bear little resemblance to reality. All we can hope for is that most of the electorate will see through the smokescreens come election day.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Lessons from ‘a beginner’
Pigeon Racing fancier Hein Rheeder is a member of the Southern Suburbs Specialist Club under the banner of the Golden Reef Pigeon Association. After nine years in pigeon racing he still refers to himself as a beginner, because he believes there's still a lot to learn.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Census figures show worrying trends
Higher wages were a direct cause of job losses in agriculture. Government will have to reconsider its agricultural employment policies.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Farming as an investment
Investors need to understand a farm's dual role as a business and a property investment, explained Prof Nicola Shadbolt, an associate professor in farm and agribusiness management at New Zealand's Massey University, at the 2009 SA Large Herds Conference. She gave advice on making investment decisions in these tough times.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Hungry cows can’t wait
Imagine 100 000 head of hungry cattle bellowing to be fed - to avoid that, the team at Karan Beef feedlots in Gauteng needs to prepare almost 900t of feed every day. They need equipment they can rely on and they've found it in Manitou Maniscopic machines. Joe Spencer reports.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Using nature for top quality production
Jonathan Grieve, viticulturist and owner of Avondale Wine Estate
near Paarl, Western Cape, is pioneering an ecosystem management strategy called Bio-LOGIC, which transformed his run down old vines through a combination of organic and biological methods and a strong focus on soil health. Wouter Kriel reports.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Eastern Cape lechwe herd under legislative siege
Howard Ballantyne pioneered game farming in the typical cattle country of Adelaide in the Eastern Cape. Over 30 years he built up the biggest privately owned herd of Kafue lechwe on 2 100ha, attracting lucrative business from international hunters.
But as Mike Burgess discovered, all his efforts may be nullified by legislation entrenched in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Less stress with once-a-day milking
Since the beginning of commercial dairy farming, new ideas to improve the industry have often been ridiculed. But some of these supposedly outlandish ideas have gradually become the norm. Lloyd Phillips takes a closer look at the new concept of once-a-day milking that's emerged out of New Zealand.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Local farmers speak out
Mandla Fundulile, an independent ploughing contractor from Gunge village about 17km from Mazeppa Bay, got his friends together for a heart-to-heart with Orrock Robertsen about agriculture in the former Transkei. The meeting was held at the house of Mxolsilise Dayimani, owner of 40 head of Nguni cattle, and joined by Robson Mvumbi and Mxolsilise's wife Nonikile.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Where have the farmers gone?
Having grown up as a farm boy on the Transkei border and being fluent in isiXhosa, Farmer's Weekly correspondent Orrock Robertsen took some survey work in a deep rural district of the Eastern Cape as an opportunity to judge for himself the current state of agriculture there. This is his personal account.
Conservation agriculture necessary to feed the world
Shivaji Pandey, director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, warns sustainable farming is the only way to feed the world. Alan Harman reports.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Conservation agriculture necessary to feed the world
Shivaji Pandey, director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, warns sustainable farming is the only way to feed the world. Alan Harman reports.
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Save on energy, save on tax
Farmers will soon get tax breaks for savings on energy-efficient projects. Details are expected by the middle of year, writes Drieka Burger.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Optimise nitrogen with maize & onion rotation
Ardell Halvorson and his team at the US Agricultural Research Service have found maize excels at mopping up the nitrogen onion crops don't use, saving on nitrogen fertiliser for about four consecutive crops. Alan Harman reports.
Issue date: 20 March 2009
Issue date: 20 March 2009
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Filling the information gap
Farmer's son from Ficksburg and ex-English teacher Craig Macaskill is the man behind The National Agricultural Directory, an extraordinary collection of everything and everyone important in local agriculture. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to him.
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