Caxton Magazines
Promotion tops list of wool industry objectives
The KwaZulu-Natal branch of the National Woolgrowers’ Association (NWGA) recently held its series of annual regional meetings at Utrecht, Mooi River and Cedarville. Lloyd Phillips reports on issues of importance that emerged at the Mooi River event.
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‘Grain still viable for Transnet’
“We’re not planning on leaving the grain industry,” said Sandile Simelane, communications officer at Transnet Freight Rail, in response to concerns that Transnet is neglecting agriculture and focusing on “other more profitable industries”.
Issue date:
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SAB slow with new price mechanism
Southern Cape barley producers are still waiting on South African Breweries Ltd (SAB) to announce a new mechanism for malting-barley price determination. Producers actively negotiated the implementation of a new mechanism the whole of last year, due to di
Farmers want a new wheat grading system.
Farmers again voiced their discontent with the wheat grading system at the recent Grain SA regional meeting, held at Elsenburg research centre in the Western Cape.
Issue date: 22 February 2008
Issue date: 22 February 2008
What will it take to rescue the wheat industry?
SA has become increasingly dependent on wheat imports over the past five years, but the current international wheat shortage is sending import prices soaring – and the bread price through the roof. Yet Glenneis Erasmus finds we do have the capacity to sup
Hard work & savvy always pay off
Hard work, humbleness and a keen sense of responsibility come to mind when one thinks of Shilling Shai, a black farmer in the Tzaneen district. He took lessons learned from his lifelong employer and incorporated them into his own ideals to overcome the dr
Load-shedding costs farmer 60% of his crop
Ten years ago Hennie Fouché bought the farm Rietvallei outside Mookgopong in the Limpopo province. Besides being fenced off, the 215ha farm was undeveloped. Fouché now produces about 200t of cocktail tomatoes and 100t of sweet peppers in a state-of-the-ar
Mixed feelings on state of the nation
President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation Address on 8 February did not leave issues affecting agriculture “in the cold”, says Agri SA executive director Hans van der Merwe. Among the objectives government plans to address are the weaknesses in processi
It’s hotter than you think
Climate change and reduced water availability have food security implications for the nation and managerial implications for all farmers, concludes Pprof James Blignaut of the Department of Economics at Pretoria University. The day of reckoning could come
Weak rand pushes up wool price
The Rand’s sharp fall played a major role in pushing the Merino indicator to a fresh seasonal high of R66,35/kg (clean), up 3,1% on the week and 18,6% on the opening level, said Ona Viljoen of Cape Wools.
Issue date: 22 February 2008
Issue date: 22 February 2008
Good prices beckon tobacco producers
Farmers can look forward to firmer tobacco prices over the next year, said Francois van der Merwe, CEO of the Tobacco Institute of South Africa (Tisa), which facilitates cooperation between producers, buyers and processors.
Issue date: 22 February 2008
Issue date: 22 February 2008
No water crisis – DWAF
The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry has strongly refuted recent statements suggesting a developing water crisis. In reaction to media reports predicting that SA is facing a water crisis similar to the electricity crisis, Minister Lindiwe Hendricks
Plastic food for soil
Problems associated with disposing plastic film used in agriculture, and plastics used by society in general, seemed to have no solution – until now.
Issue date: 15 February 2008
Issue date: 15 February 2008
Tomatoes need a close-up
Tomatoes, being an expensive crop to produce, require that you get everything right at the lowest cost. This does not mean taking risky shortcuts, but the economics of every decision needs to be carefully considered.
Issue date: 15 February 2008
Issue date: 15 February 2008
The speedsters of pigeons racing
There are various debates surrounding the flying speed or velocities of racing pigeons. Naturally the fastest pigeon will win the prize money – or not?
Issue date: 15 February 2008
Issue date: 15 February 2008
Merit in predator-friendly farming
Farmers from Botswana Dr Mark Bing and Dr Jane Freeman, discuss the advantages of predator-friendly management practice, in response to an opposing article by Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Farming in Zimbabwe: ‘we’ve chosen to stay’
For South African farmers, the plight of their Zimbabwean counterparts is a horror story they hope won’t repeat itself here. On a recent trip to Zimbabwe, Sharon Gottard found farmers who not only have managed to survive the political turmoil, but amazing
Putting dairy goats onto pastures
Commercial dairy goat operations in South Africa traditionally use complete feed systems for their animals, but Roy and Sue Caldecott of the KZN Midlands have developed an efficient pasture-based feeding system for their Saanen flock. Lloyd Phillips repor
The profit sticks here
Farm income increased substantially from 2005/06 to 2006/07, but farmers still earn a much lower profit than the processing and retail sectors. Farmer-controlled businesses offers a solution.
Great year for live game trade
Statistics show 2007 was an outstanding year for all stakeholders in the live game industry, with average auction prices improving for most species. Roan went for nearly R75 000, buffalo for nearly R135 000, but lions dropped from R25 000 to R7 500. Roelo
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