Caxton Magazines
Ongeluksnek getting the landless productive again
In the late 1970s, Ongeluksnek Valley near Matatiele in the Eastern Cape slipped into productive obscurity, after its commercial farmers faced compensated removal by the nationalist government to increase the size of the former Transkei. Mike Burgess visited Ongeluksnek recently, to see how former resident Vivian Haviside and emerging farmers have joined forces to restore the area to its former productive glory, despite serious challenges.
DIY tracking gives peace of mind
The Tracking Key takes the guesswork out of tracking people and possessions. Chris Nel writes.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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How much nitrogen to use on cucurbits
Farmers like to be given a programme for virtually everything, but the truth is this isn't practical. Soil composition is a variable, as is the amount of rain.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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How to mitigate risk in this Blessing
'Getting hot under the collar, bemoaning the poor quality of many government officers, wringing your hands about the lack of integrity and honesty of many politicians, all amounts to being distracted by the warthog. Forget it! Keep your eye on the buffalo.'
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Jan Botes – gold medal breeder
JAN Botes's passion for racing pigeons began when was young. He collected several medals and championship titles throughout his life, becoming a member of the Randburg Racing Pigeon Club in 2008, where he teamed up with his son-in-law, Leon Viljoen.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Desperate for scientists & funds
Investment in agriculture has decreased over the years, but research has become all the more important to stay globally competitive and food-secure, says Agricultural Research Council (ARC) CEO Dr Shadrack Moephuli. Peter Mashala ask him how the ARC plans to increase research efforts and attract investment.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Families go hungry – land reform to blame?
They received over 2 000ha from land reform, but the inhabitants of the Muden area are still going hungry. James Martin consolidates research from the International Land Coalition showing how over-complicated, under-delivering systems let them down - and suggests ways to streamline the land reform process.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Will hydrogen power the tractors of the future?
New Holland Agriculture's NH2 hydrogen-powered tractor won the prize for innovation at the SIMA Show in Paris in February. The NH2 is a key element in New Holland's Energy Independent Farm concept, which aims to free farmers from the cost of buying fossil fuel and let them achieve fuel autonomy. Joe Spencer reports.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Grape expectations in the Hex River Valley
Theuns Rabie won the 2009 Hex River Valley Table Grape Block competition with 1,3ha Crimson Seedless, which yielded 5 700 cartons of export grapes. No stranger to accolades, he believes a winning block is established within the first year or never. Wouter Kriel visited the farm Buffelsrug and heard about Theuns's particular brand of grape TLC.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Diesel-powered vs solar-powered bulls
International economic recession, high energy prices and global warming are increasingly important factors in beef-cattle breeding. Stud breeders and commercial cattlemen will be forced to reconsider the merits of large, grain-fed, feedlot or "diesel bulls" against smaller, veld-adapted "solar bulls" such as Afrikaners. So says Albert de Villiers, Afrikaner breeder from Koopmansfontein in the Northern Cape. Annelie Coleman reports.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Falling in love with engines
Part-time curator Ted Archer took Orrock Robertsen on a walk through Stutterheim's Stationary Engine Museum, a community project that's now home to about 100 machines, from pumps and generators to jet engines - many of which are in full working order.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Symposium focuses on fertiliser use
Economics are forcing farmers to produce more with less. This especially applies to fertiliser, a major agronomic input. A recent combined symposium by the Fertiliser Society of South Africa and the International Zinc Association of Southern Africa in Pretoria addressed the hows, whats, whys, whens and how muchs of efficient fertiliser use. Chris Nel was there.
Issue date : 13 March 2009
Issue date : 13 March 2009
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Further milk price increases needed
While South Africa's milk farmers are pleased with the price increases since the beginning of March, the milk production industry is hoping the increases won't be the last for 2009
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Expect clampdown on illegal water use
Agriculture won't get more water from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). In fact, DWAF will only become stricter about the sector's water use.
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Farmers urged to reinstate Rift Valley fever vaccination programmes
Recent outbreaks of rift valley fever (RVF) in the Creighton area are under control, and farmers mustn't panic. A Kwanalu statement said there had been unconfirmed reports of RVF in the Howick and Merrivale areas, but the results of sample tests had yet to be released.
"All farmers should start intensive vaccination programmes," urged Kwanalu.
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Horsesickness in Eastern Cape
A number of African HorseSickness (AHS) outbreaks have been reported in the Eastern Cape, according the Department of Agriculture. Most are still confined to areas of the Cacadu District Municipality, but there's also been a report from the Amathole District Municipality.
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No hope for Zim farmers
Despite a recent power sharing deal in Zimbabwe, the situation keeps deteriorating for white farmers. President Robert Mugabe has dismissed an order by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal in Windhoek not to evict white farmers.
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Inflation drops as food prices stabilise
Consumer and producer prices are moving downward. As reported by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the year-on-year increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food for January 2008 to January 2009 was 16,1%, 1% lower than the figure released in December 2008.
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Tongaat Hulett thrives in difficult times
While 2008 was a shocking year for cane farmers and the world economy, agriprocessing company Tongaat Hulett's profits held up well.
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Silos save the day for Afgri
Bumper maize crops and an IMPROVED farming environment in Afgri's major operating areas of Mpumalanga, North West and Free State resulted in record receipts into the group's silos, and boosted its interim financial results for the six months ended December 2008.
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