Caxton Magazines

With the European market saturated, South Africa needs to explore other export markets. Charles Hughes, chief executive officer of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, believes the Far East, and China in particular, present local producers with opportunities. He shared these insights at the recent Agri Outlook conference. Cornelia du Plooy reports.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

Jeffrey Skermand was crowned the Farmworker of the Year and has the important task of overseeing an innovative in-vineyard packing scheme on La Ferme Derik grape farm. Glenneis Erasmus finds out what makes Jeffrey a born leader.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

Last week, soil scientist Neil Miles discussed the role animals play in the nitrogen fertilisation of pasture. This week, he tells farmers how to get the most out of soil organic matter.

The first clinical trial investigating the health benefits of rooibos is under way in Cape Town. The first rooibos Science Café was held recently in the MTN Café in Canal Walk, Cape Town. A ccording to Dr Jeanine Marnewick, a senior researcher in the Antioxidant Research Group at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, speaking at the function, says there is significant evidence of the health benefits of rooibos in animals: from delaying the ageing process to fighting cancer.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

The production of pure wool has declined so much in SA and Australia that processors fear long-term shortages. “The increase in wool prices over the last 16 months is (currency considerations apart) the direct result of this shortage, and is set to continue unless the availability of good Merino wool changes,” says John Lapersonne of SBL Wools in Port Elizabeth.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

Beneficiaries of a trust, formed by BKB for wool and mohair growers in the former Ciskei and Transkei, received R1,7 million in dividends for 2007.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

Fuerte avocados will in future have a “maturity tested” logo attached to assure buyers that the avos will ripen.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

While concern is mounting over the implementation of the Municipal Property Rates Act among farmers around Tzaneen Agri SA members have negotiated with their local municipality to put their tax to good use and benefit the entire rural community.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

Illovo Sugar expects this year's average local raw sugar price to be almost US5c/lb lower than last year. “The world raw sugar price has been volatile, but recently stabilised at around US10c/lb,” says managing director Don MacLeod.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

In the wake of Allegations of financial mismanagement and disarray in the operations of world-renowned and respected conservation organisation, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, its board's accounting authority has been suspended for four months.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

The recent Agriculture Africa Export and Investment Symposium highlighted the export of agricultural products to Africa. “Doing business in Africa can be daunting, yet there are boundless opportunities in the profitable export industry. All you need do is identify the risks and manage them accordingly,” said Ismail Dadabhay, general manager of Credit Guarantee Insurance Corporation's export division.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

International prices for dairy commodities continued to trade at extremely high levels in October, with most commodities at or marginally below record levels.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

World cotton production is expected to decline by 2% in 2007/08 to 26,1 million tons, with world cotton imports forecast to rise by 10% to 9,1 million tons, due to an expected rebound in Chinese imports to 3,5 million tons.
Issue Date: 30 November 2007

The highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 bird flu has reached England for a second time this year with a confirmed case on a turkey farm on the Suffolk-Norfolk county border.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

Better water and land management will enhance the worldwide supply of food and fibre, according to the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage. The commission's second conference, held in Muldersdrift recently, focused on the natural, human, social, physical and financial resources needed to improve water and land management and the productivity of irrigated and drained lands.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The competition commission has referred a complaint by New Scotland Sawmill against state-owned Komatiland Forests (KLF) to the competition tribunal.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

South African cane spirit Mainstay was recently named the best vodka in the world by the exclusive selection panel of the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The second-last mohair sale of the winter season was characterised by good competition among all five buying houses.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The SA Communist Party (SACP) and Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) organised a march of about 500 farmworkers through Rustenburg in North West on 17 November to protest against living conditions on farms and the poor state of rural clinics.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

A R3 million purpose-built trading hub for goat traders in Ezimbuzini, KZN, due to open in December, will catapult traders into the 21st century.
Issue date: 30 November 2007