SA agriculture can do without subsidies

ï¿½Agriculture can do without subsidies, but then government will have to live up to its promises.ï¿½
Issue date: 14 March 2008

The human edge

We are told that the chill, deep caverns know as the Sterkfontein Caves today, were once inhabited by primitive ape-men as far back as 4 million years ago. Later, Australopithecus sheltered there. Such prehumans teetered on the brink of survival because

First practical alternative to the tractor PTO

A recent edition of the American Farm Progress magazine reported on the launch of two new John Deere tractor models that can supply electrical power to drive implements. Joe Spencer explains the implications of this technological breakthrough.

Top black farmers left to rot on prime land

While land and agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana makes strident calls for expropriation to speed up land reform, the smallholders at Hereford wait in vain for her department to honour its promises to grant them title to an irrigation scheme they invade

The joys of a DIY wheat silo

While many South African wheat farmers continue to complain about unfair wheat grading and high silo costs, Kobus Wessels ï¿½ 2007 Grain SAï¿½s Farmer of the Year ï¿½ decided three years ago to build his own grain storage facility. He told Glenneis Erasmus

Biotech in SA: the good and the bad

South Africaï¿½s adoption of biotech crops has been prolific, with 57% of our maize planting area currently occupied by GM maize. However, farmersï¿½ apparent confidence isnï¿½t shared by all consumers and researches, partly because of the lack of consumer

Biogas not only for big boys

Methane-from-manure operations are viable for farmers both large and small, who should think carefully before signing away the rights to any carbon credits they earn in the process, writes Shelby Tyne.
Issue date: 14 March 2008

Jacob Zuma – Agricultureï¿½s unlikely champion

Jacob Zuma, the newly elected president of South Africaï¿½s ruling African National Congress (ANC), is hardly the commercial farming sectorï¿½s first choice for president.
Issue date: 14 March 2008

Ranchers Blast Eskom

Relations between and Eastern Cape Valley Bushveld game ranchers reached breaking point at an emergency meeting to discuss Eskom’s plan to put up 55m pylons in a 180m-wide serviture for two high-voltage lines to Port Elizabeth.
Issue Date: 14 March 20

Abnormal timber prices irresponsible

A furore has erupted over state-owned forestry operation Komatiland Forests’ (KLF) announcement that from 1 April, it’ll be increasing pine sawlog prices to its long-term contract holders by 36%. Roy Southey, executive director of Sawmilling South Africa,

Tongaat Hulett profits in challenging year

Agri-processing business Tongaat Hulett continued to increase profit from operations, despite what company CEO Peter Staude called a challenging 2007. The company’s operations, which include integrated components of agriculture, property development and l

Trade negotiations to continue with the EU

Lodewijk Briët, EU ambassador to Africa, stressed the importance of trade negotiations between the and at a recent Fruit and Vegetable Canning Association (SAFVCA) function in Aston, Western Cape. A ccording to Briët, the considers a dual economy and inte

TAU sings MEC’s praises

TAU SA North has expressed their gratitude to Limpopo agriculture MEC Dikeledi Magadzi for her prompt assistance to its members. TAU North chairperson Dries Joubert said immediately acted on a letter TAU send her regarding communication infrastructure in

Excise duties hit wine industry hard

Minister of Finance Trevor Manual’s increase in the excise duties on natural wine, spirits and tobacco products is bad news for the wine industry.
Issue Date: 14 March 2008

Maize prices, tonnage good, but input costs still a thorn

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) released its revised area and first production forecast for summer crops, as well as its final production estimate for winter cereals recently.
Issue Date 14 March 2008

Land Bank faces fresh fraud alert

The Land Bank received another grilling in Parliament late last month with MPs taking its executives to task for spending millions on forensic audits and turnaround strategies that yielded no results, as well as a dramatic revelation that Ernst & Young ha

Study shows the economic impact of electricity shortages

Electricity shortages resulting in a productivity loss of only 1% in the whole South African economy could lead to a 3% decrease in gross domestic product, translating into a loss of R52 billion.
Issue Date:14 March 2008

Wild birds not susceptible to bird flu virus

A recent study funded by the US Poultry & Egg Association found that H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has a low likelihood of becoming established or maintained in wild avian populations.
Issue Date 14 March 2008

New EU labelling requirements proposed

The European Commission published its proposal to revise the EU’s general food-labelling requirements recently. While the proposal mainly consolidates existing requirements scattered over different directives, a number of important new requirements are

Mafisa under fire from ANC

The agriculture department’s micro-finance scheme aimed at helping subsistence farmers become small-scale entrepreneurs with the help of cheap loans has come under fire from ANC members for trapping beneficiaries in a vicious poverty cycle. D uring a parl

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