Caxton Magazines
Gearing up for the big one
The 13th annual Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SCMDPR) is just around the corner. Fanciers from more than 30 countries will anticipate the return of about 3 400 pigeons on 31 January, after they've flown some 552km.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Solid agribusiness shows the way
Agribusiness Suidwes achieved excellent financial results three years in a row with a nett profit increase of 68% for the 2007/08 financial year. Fanie van Zyl, Suidwes board chairperson, ascribes this to ruthlessly pursuing a return on shareholders' funds and using as much of their own capital reserves as possible. Annelie Coleman spoke to him at the Suidwes headquarters in Leeudoringstad, North West, on the eve of the company's 100 birthday.
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Be technically & economically efficient or you’re out!
When times are tough, farmers have to become and remain technically and economically efficient.
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Agri SA takes a stand against restitution bungling
Many farmers, local and foreign media reporters and stakeholders in business and industry were surprised when Agri SA, at its annual conference, officially called on members to no longer offer their land as willing sellers in the restitution process.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Ntingwe tea packing a punch
Ntingwe Tea Estate in KwaZulu-Natal's rural Nkandla district has survived tough economic conditions and continues to produce a premium export product. Ntingwe is also the single biggest employer in that remote region, and like so many other tea estates largely remains supported by government to prevent large-scale unemployment, writes Robyn Joubert.
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
No handouts for this can-do farmer
With frustration increasing over the slow pace of land reform and emerging farmer projects failing everywhere, Fanyana Jacob Sibeko established a successful
Santa Gertrudis stud without handouts. His only encounter with government loan structures puzzled him because of their lack of support, writes Lloyd Phillips.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
The return of the Trekbokke
Until 1896 the Karoo was the scene of Africa's largest wildlife migration,
when the trekbokke - a grand migration of springbok - periodically filled the veld as far as the eye could see. Now the Nama-Karoo Foundation (NKF) wants to revive what could be South Africa's biggest tourist attraction, says NKF's spokesperson Marina Beal.
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
Issue date : 23 Janaury 2009
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A dedicated dairyman
Keeping a beady eye on milk recording data and the wellbeing of his cows, Charlie MacGillivray runs an award-winning Holstein herd, writes Robyn Joubert.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
A young Charolais breeder holds his own
Having grown up in the Limpopo bushveld, Nico Wagner has the blood of a stockman coursing through his veins. This young farmer has already had two of his bulls represent the Charolais breed in the Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class. In 2008, one of his cows received the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Cow award. Jasper Raats reports.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Agribusiness: key to farming’s solutions
The private sector leaves supporting emerging farmers to government, while government leaves it to the private sector to find ways of dealing with small producers that make good business sense. We need an incentive system that will help us build on contract arrangements already in place, writes Prof Johann Kirsten.
Issue date : 23 Januay 2009
Issue date : 23 Januay 2009
This land is my land!
Like in South Africa, land reform in Namibia is criticised for being poorly planned, poorly executed and too slow. With an election year coming up, land hunger is set to take on a political hue and exacerbate tensions. Servaas van den Bosch spoke to Erika von Wietersheim, author of This land is my land! about the emotions shaping land reform in Namibia.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Rand might get weaker before getting stronger
Rand Merchant Bank says the rand might depreciate even more against the dollar before recovering from its current level. But no matter what the rand does in 2009, it will have a direct impact on agricultural production and agribusiness.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
A maize surplus and R1 700/t predicted
Commenting on the current summer grain plantings Ernst Janovsky, head of Absa Agribusiness, said he is positive despite the recent pessimism from commodity organisations. "There was an overreaction, especially with commodities, but international markets are starting to stabilise," he summarised.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Cheaper bank charges will not come soon
The recommendations made by the Competition Commission after its inquiry into bank charges doesn't mean consumers can expect to pay less for banking services any time soon. Ernst Janovsky gives advice on how farmers can cut banking costs.
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Issue date : 23 January 2009
Two -winged nuisance
Flies are not always the pests we imagine them to be. In fact, some of them are beneficial to the ecosystem. Abré J Steyn takes a closer look at these underdogs of the insect world.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Solar water pumps- a good investment
Solar water pumping technology has come a long way since the first home-grown units were installed in Namibia's rural areas. It has now improved to the point where investing in a solar pump is worthwhile, even though it is difficult to get insurance for a unit on an isolated farm, writes Servaas van den Bosch.
Solar water pumps- a good investment
Solar water pumping technology has come a long way since the first home-grown units were installed in Namibia's rural areas. It has now improved to the point where investing in a solar pump is worthwhile, even though it is difficult to get insurance for a unit on an isolated farm, writes Servaas van den Bosch.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Cultivars double profitability
The Western Cape Farmer of the Year 2008, Wouter Beukes, has managed to increase turnover by 70% over the past three years, doubling profitability of his grapes. He carefully chooses seedless cultivars to export to leading UK supermarkets like Marks & Spencer, all the while honing his planning, practicality and teamwork, writes Wouter Kriel.
Issue date: 16 January 2009
Issue date: 16 January 2009
Climate change – arid areas need new crops
Last year's Monsanto/BASF agreement, and the accompanying massive investment in producing drought-tolerant maize, wheat, sorghum, cotton and soya beans, show the big companies have identified drought as both the next big global crop risk, and a lucrative opportunity.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Agenda for a newly elected government
Irrespective of the results of next year's election, the new government will still face the same problems in agriculture. Prof Johann Kirsten has some advice for the future South African Department of Agriculture.
Issue date : 16 January 2009
Issue date : 16 January 2009
