Latest crop estimate figures show planting increase

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has released its preliminary figures on area planted for summer crops and its production forecast for winter crops. Some 2,79 million hectares of commercial maize were planted, compared with last season’s 2,55 million he

Callais farm expropriated, but questions remain

Callais 226KT in the Hoedspruit district, the second farm in South Africa to be expropriated for land restitution, was officially acquired by the state on 24 January 2008, and handed over to Strategic Farm Management (SFM) the same day. SFM is a privately

Woes are here to stay, says Agri SA

Agri SA and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) met with Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga in late January and the conclusion was that power shortages are here to stay – the issue is how best to manage them.
Issue date: 08 February 2008

Eskom’s practical tips for farmers

Eskom has been running an electricity conservation programme called Demand Side Management (DSM) since 2003, which encourages consumers to use less electricity especially during peak times (6:30am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm). Because peak consumption has incr

Eskom-free industry possible

Eskom’s immediate answer to the country’s electricity shortage is to encourage consumers to reduce their electricity consumption. Agriculture is mandated to reduce its electricity consumption by 5%. Two of the industries that have already reduced their de

State-vet shortage problems

The alarmingly small number of state veterinarians currently employed by the Department of Agriculture has had a definite impact on the country’s livestock industries say industry roleplayers. Department of Agriculture spokesperson Eddie Mulaudzi said tha

Milk price scandal deepens

The Competition Commission has announced that it has enough evidence implicating supermarkets in milk price domination. The Milk Producers Organisation (MPO) asked the Commission, which is already investigating dairy processing companies, to include retai

60 years on, most stock theft still in former Transkei

Tsolo and Qumbu, towns in the former Transkei, have the highest and third-highest incidents of stock theft in the country, according to the latest statistics released by the Stock Theft Unit head office in Pretoria. And according to historian Professor Je

Good rainfall set to continue

SA’s cooler and above-average rainfall conditions have been attributed to a La Niña season. Whether it will be repeated next year is still too early to tell, but indications are that the rainfall will continue. “We’ll be able to forecast what the next rai

Limpopo hasn’t been this wet in decades!

Widespread showers in Limpopo have seen most of the province’s rivers flooding, with dire consequences for many farmers. “It’s a bitter-sweet situation for agriculture in the province,” says Willie Lewies of TAU SA. “While cattle farmers welcome the good

Large offering can’t curb wool’s bullrun

Wool prices soared for a second consecutive week despite a large offering. Cape Wool’s Merino (CWM) indicator finished the day up 5,4% on last week at R64,65/kg (clean). “This is a seasonal high, up 15,5% on the opening sale, and 3,7% above the previous h

Forestry to work with claimant communities

Land on over half of Mondi Group, Komatiland Forests and Sappi land don’t have them worried since they plan to either hire the land back from the claimants or train and empower them in order for the companies to buy their produce. The amount of Mondi’s la

Bad hair day – or a painful one?

There is nothing as pretty as a healthy, shiny horse. It’s the pride of many a horse-owner to have a beautiful, short-haired horse in their yard. This takes a lot of dedication, good food and hours of grooming.

Crocosmia and Chasmanthe

Crocosmia and Chasmanthe originate in Southern Africa ï¿½ one species in Madagascar and seven in South Africa ï¿½ but as their habitat degrades, theyï¿½re more likely to be found in cultivation here and in the UK.

A mesh to reinforce hard-wear grassed areas

A new landscaping product for stabilising hard-wear grassed areas will soon be available in South Africa. GrassProtecta grass protection mesh is a flexible, heavy-duty, thick, extruded thermoplastic grid for protecting and reinforcing grassed areas prone

Picking tomatoes

When it comes to choosing a tomato variety, much attention needs to be given to the target market. When starting off, don’t choose a variety on the basis of it’s yield alone without first going to your sales outlet and having a look at what customers expe

A superior pasta classic

Youï¿½ve got to believe this. Here is an all-time pasta classic, so potent it usually appears as a high-priced specialist item at superior Italian restaurants, yet so simple, that you ï¿½ the beginner kitchen mechanic ï¿½ can make it at home, in a flash, just like that.

When are you rich?

didn’t know what woke me, but suddenly I was wide awake. My eyes tried to pierce the intense dankness around me, but it was like a solid wall. A t that moment I had no idea where I was.
Issue date: 01 February 2008

Pre-final update of the SCMDPR

The 12th annual Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SCMDPR) will be held on 2 February. Fanciers from 26 countries entered their best youngsters for the event, which pays a whopping US0 000 (R1,4 million) cash to the first bird home in the final race. <

The Biowatch legal battle and the media

The quality of the mass media’s reporting on the landmark Biowatch case on GMOs has been thoroughly one-sided and inaccurate, writes advocate Donrich Jordaan, head of the unit for policy studies at the Centre for International Political Studies (CIPS) at

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