Caxton Magazines

Tony Matchett says "no-till" means sowing maize and soya beans directly into the stubble of the previous crop by one pass of the planter. He has achieved great results.

'In a novel way of diversifying from farming, Kevin created Kevard Adventures.'
Issue date 7 September 2007

While the local sugar industry plays a pivotal role in the development and economic life of the country's rural areas, Rodger Stewart, chairperson of the South African Sugar Association, says that more partnerships are needed to expand this role into other spheres of the economy.
Issue date 7 September 2007

Apart from grass-fed cattle emitting far less harmful greenhouse gases than grain-fed cattle, the beef of grass-fed cattle are also nutritionally superior. Wilma den Hartigh asked Graeme Sait, creator of the nutrition farming concept and CEO of Nutri-Tech Solutions, how farmers can adopt their cattle's feed to benefit both their pockets and the environment.
Issue date 7 September 2007

'Cornelis uses higher-grade stainless steel for the irons to ensure longevity.'
Issue date 7 September 2007

Following the lead of Chris Roode of Lichtenburg (Farmer's Weekly, 20 July), Dirk and Frik van Sittert of North West adopted no-till five years ago. Now their yields are up by 0,5t/ha, soil erosion is almost nil and they have swapped four smaller tractors for one larger-kilowatt no-till machine, decreasing labour costs significantly and cutting diesel consumption by 40ℓ/ha. Peter Hittersay writes.
Issue date 7 September 2007

No-till has taken root all around the world, transforming dust bowls into productive land and making cropping practical and economical in areas formally useless for conventional tillage. No-till is getting a lot of publicity as a system for field crops, but for some reason it's not considered for vegetables. Bill Kerr uses no-till to grow magnificent vegetables with a lot less cost and effort and he points out a multitude of advantages - better resistance to pests, superior taste, longer shelf life and a substantial saving in fuel, tractors and implements.
Issue date 31 August 2007

This is an extremely destructive and greatly feared disease of beans
Issue date 7 September 2007

New dynamic recommendations for row width and planting density in Western Cape conservation tillage systems have been developed by key players in agriculture, including Dr Mark Hardy (Western Cape Department of Agriculture), Prof André Agenbag (Department of Agronomy, University of Stellenbosch) and numerous producers who hosted trials over the past five seasons. John Tolmay, the project leader and also senior researcher at the ARC Small Grains Institute, Bethlehem, summarises these guidelines.
Issue date 8 June 2007

The original homestead on our farm was built in 1935. Pressed steel ceilings, Oregon pine floors and tin roof, with an afdak stoep on two sides
Issue date 7 September 2007

Tom Lock, veteran South African champion, did for the pigeon racing fraternity what Mohammed Ali accomplished for boxing and Gary Player did for golf.

If you keep a stallion you have to “stallion-proof” your property. Not all stallions are difficult, but there is always an exception to the rule
Issue date 7 September 2007

'Members of effective organisations work as a team, but there are also clear chains of command. Everyone knows where they fit in, and to whom they report.'
Issue date 7 September 2007

'The current increase in interest rates may have the desired effect on demand. If so, this may be the last interest rate hike in the current cycle.'
Issue date 7 September 2007

Despite contrasting views on the sustainability of pastoralism in Africa in the 21st century, the truth remains that 125 million of Africa's poor depend on it for their livelihoods. Irin News reports on a recent conference where 15 African states discussed the formulation of a policy framework on pastoralism and the needs of those it represents.
Issue date 7 September 2007

Work with nature and understand the dynamics of proper grazing, says holistic farmer Dick Richardson, and your veld will help you achieve higher profits. Cornelia du Plooy attended his workshop.
Issue date 7 September 2007

Across the world businesses are committing to countering global warming through carbon reduction or carbon offset programmes. Big retailers such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer have made it clear that reducing their carbon footprint will become a central business driver - a move that will impact on South African agribusinesses as well. In 2006 trade in carbon credits was worth US billion, according to a 2007 World Bank report. South African farmers cannot afford to be ignorant of developments in the carbon market. In this series Sonja Burger explains how the carbon market works. She explores the opportunities and challenges associated with carbon reduction schemes and talks to the experts about how to reduce a farm's carbon footprint.
Issue date 7 September 2007

Using these simple, central organisms, biologists are developing a new way of monitoring the ecological health of wetlands that can work in conjunction with existing tests. Chris Nel reports.
Issue date 7 September 2007

GMG Power SA of Isando has been appointed the sole distributor for the full range of Atespar implements
Issue date 31 August 2007

Unique, emotional issues attach to a family-run farm, especially when succession is in question. How has the extended Collett family, which has owned farms in Fish River for four generations, adjusted to passing on the reins, and what lessons do they have for farmers facing similar challenges? Paula Marais reports.
Issue date 31 August 2007