Caxton Magazines

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

Geoff Kingwill, a wool producer from Murraysburg, was unanimously elected chairperson of Cape Wools at a recent board of directors' meeting following the AGM.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

Namibia's land reform programme is a “zero-sum game” that merely swaps one form of poverty for another, according to an independent report on attempts to find an equitable solution to racially skewed land ownership.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The EU has banned certain meat products, but the SA Department of Agriculture says it's because they recommended the ban. Priscilla Sehoole, spokesperson for the department, says the ban only includes commodities that are exported at very low levels such as pork, lamb, chicken and milk, and not game and ostrich.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

TAU SA leadership recently met a DA delegation of leader Helen Zille, former agriculture minister Kraai van Niekerk, Maans Nel and former Bothaville farmer Andries Botha, to discuss matters affecting agriculture, especially the new land tax.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) convened a two-day regional conservation agriculture (CA) expert panel discussion in Harare, Zimbabwe, earlier this month. Representatives of SADC, FAO and CA experts analysed the state of in the region with the aim of establishing national and regional task forces.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

There seems to be some reprieve ahead from searing heat farmers in the northern regions have experienced over the last couple of weeks. Early last week farmers in Limpopo and North West expressed concern that, despite good early rains, the scorching sun was killing new grass. Buks van der Walt, a farmer in Limpopo's Koedoesrand district, says he fears another “green drought” - a phenomenon where the veld appears green, but has too little moisture to facilitate enough growth to sustain livestock.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs has taken out an advertisement in Business Day denying five Bank board members were fired because of irresponsible lending to their friends and misappropriation of up to R1 billion. This follows a report by the SABC that chairperson Lungile Mazwai and directors Litha Nyhonyha, Charles Davies, Raisibe Morathi and Moira Tlhagale were fired.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

The restructuring of the South African tobacco industry has led to an anti-competitive complaint to the Competition Commission. The commission has, however, found no grounds for a referral to the Tribunal. “Restructuring was an inclusive process in which all players in the industry took part,” says François van der Merwe, chairperson of the Tobacco Industry of SA.
Issue date: 30 November 2007

Western Cape agriculture minister Cobus Dowry says agriculture will play a vital role in helping the state achieve its 6% economic growth target. However, poorly coordinated land reform, access to foreign markets and the Chinese threat remain challenges.

'Another benefit is that fuel can be manufactured regionally or even on the farm.'
Issue date 23 November 2007

Good things come in small packages and miniature salad leaves, herbs and veggies are no exception. Steve Botha from Porterville in the Swartland harvests his plants sometimes as early as five days after sowing. These delicacies, known for their intense flavour, striking colour and crisp texture are sold to a niche market of top local chefs. Robyn Joubert reports.
Issue date 23 November 2007

Rising input costs, a worldwide wine glut and exorbitant land prices make the wine industry a hard nut to crack for black entrants. But black-owned wine label Blouvlei near Wellington is steadily making its mark - with a little help from its benefactor, Mont du Toit. Stephan Hofstätter reports.
Issue date 23 November 2007

Miles Dicke, born into a pioneer Brahman breeding family, believes the breed's economic value lies in the hybrid vigour produced when Brahman bulls are crossed with other recognised beef breeds. Mike Burgess visited him on the sour coastal plains near Kei Mouth, where he runs a combined commercial and stud herd of 500 cows.
Issue date 23 November 2007

Susan Botes spoke to hydrogeologist and South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) chairperson John Weaver, and found that starting a bottled water brand presents farmers with a salesperson's challenges.
Issue date 23 November 2007

SA can't seem to get land reform right, despite having far more resources than other countries that have done it successfully. The Besters case in KwaZulu-Natal holds the secret to solving this riddle. But, as Stephan Hofstätter found out, officials have latched onto other ideas that risk compounding past failures.
Issue date 23 November 2007

When it comes to effective nitrogen fertilisation on pasture, respected KZN soil scientist Neil Miles warns farmers not to underestimate their most valuable source of NPK - their animals.
Issue date 23 November 2007