Cucurbit irrigation considerations

The usual irrigation choices are drip, sprinkler and centre pivot, and there are pros and cons with each system. I prefer drip irrigation, which is favoured where water is scarce
Issue date : 06 March 2009

Racing for riches

The richest pigeon race in the WORLD, THE Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race, awards US million (R9,88 million) in combined cash prize payouts and five cars to the winners.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

The strain on fruit exports

Developing new markets is essential in spreading and managing market risk. Where New Zealand and Australia have secured new markets for their fruit, South Africa seems to struggle to maintain the ones we already have. The managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, Charles Hughes, spoke to Glenneis Erasmus.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

Fertiliser prices in the spotlight

'The question no longer is whether a farmer should adopt biological farming methods, but rather if a farmer can afford not to do it.'
Issue date: 06 March 2009

Simmentaler profitability assessed at a glance

Thanks to breeder and animal scientist Dr Johan Kluyts, the Simmentaler cattle breed is the first to benefit from breeding values for profitability. Rudi Massyn reports.
Issue date: 6 March 2009.

Taking a stand against food price hikes

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholephi Mthimkhulu has been meeting with food industry roleplayers to find ways to curb high food prices. In Durban he explained how the global economic crisis has come to local shores, and put his faith in cooperation.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

Get into exports, without the school fees

If you're thinking about exporting, but are intimidated by the complexity, why not simply use someone else's marketing, logistics and distribution network? Yes, it's now that simple.
Issue date: 27 February 2009.

Case IH: innovation for more efficiency

The 73rd edition of SIMA, the biennial Paris-based international agribusiness show, was bigger and better than ever. Pride of place on the Case IH stand went to the latest Puma CVX.

Soya bean rotation: cane’s saving grace

Sugarcane has been monocropped in South Africa for over a century, but recently local cane farmers began looking at crop rotation to improve and sustain soil health. Field trials are currently determining the viability and effectiveness of rotating cane with soya beans, reports Lloyd Phillips.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

Success through self-reliance & risk

After part-time Free State cattle farmer Selekiso Matasane acquired 388ha, he taught himself how to plant sunflower, wheat and maize. Never relying on handouts and taking good neighbourly advice, he gradually expanded his successful farming operation, writes Peter Mashala.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

From culling to major venison processor

Dillon Lindhorst of Adelaide, Eastern Cape, reinvented himself from butcher store employee to the managing director of one of the biggest venison deboning and processing businesses in South Africa. Starting out with 500kg of venison per week, he now processes 100t of carcasses a week.
Issue date: 06 March 2009

Grass-clover pasture a winning mix

A rising demand for environmentally friendly production practices, combined with escalating fertiliser prices, forces farmers to find more natural and economical ways to optimise production. Bennie van Greunen tells Glenneis Erasmus how clover helps him and his brothers attain this goal.
Issue date: 06 March 2009

Holistic farming for minimum input & high profit

A limited budget didn't stop Gerrit Nieuwoudt from turning a degraded stock farm in the Molopo area of the North West into a commercial success.
Issue date : 06 March 2009

Save with slurry

The ingenuity of a qualified diesel mechanic and ex-sugarcane farmer from KwaZulu-Natal Shelby Tyne, now CEO of his consultancy Biogas Power, could provide dairy and pig farmers with an economical biogas digester system using slurry on their farms to generate electricity, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
Issue date : 27 February 2009

GM crop plantings up 9,4%

In 2008 genetically modified (GM) crops were planted on 125 million hectares by some 13,3 million farmers in 25 countries on six continents. This is a 9,4% increase on the 12 million farmers in 23 countries who planted 114,3 million hectares in 2007.

Farming shines as gross domestic product drops

Agriculture was the saving grace of the gross domestic product (GDP), which declined by 1,8% compared to the third quarter of 2008 - the first time in 10 years the GDP lost ground.

Agri lending remains healthy despite slump

While commercial banks are treading carefully in granting personal and small-business loans, it's clear they're growing their share of credit to farmers. Of a total of about R4 billion loaned to farmers in 2007, R2,5 billion came from commercial banks.

Caxton Magazines

Cucurbit irrigation considerations

Racing for riches

The strain on fruit exports

Fertiliser prices in the spotlight

Simmentaler profitability assessed at a glance

Taking a stand against food price hikes

Get into exports, without the school fees

Case IH: innovation for more efficiency

Soya bean rotation: cane’s saving grace

Success through self-reliance & risk

From culling to major venison processor

Grass-clover pasture a winning mix

Holistic farming for minimum input & high profit

Save with slurry

GM crop plantings up 9,4%

Farming shines as gross domestic product drops

Agri lending remains healthy despite slump

Minister to appear in court

Long-term agri deal with Saudi Arabia

About 40 000ha of maize may yield nothing

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