Caxton Magazines

Dieter Sellmeyer of Lynx Wines, a small boutique winery near ­Franschhoek, believes CDs are for the birds - ­metaphorically, not ­literally.

In 2003 Reuter Sorour and Andrew Tilsley, joined later by neighbour Alec Botha, began producing organic-in-conversion milk for Woolworths via their national organic centre for milk production near Bloemfontein, Homsek Dairy. Today Andrew and Alec have reverted to conventional milk production while Reuter remains deeply disillusioned, thanks to what they call a controversial certification process and a battle to receive significant premiums for their milk. Mike Burgess visited the farmers near Ficksburg to hear their side of the story.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to improve the emotional, and in turn the physical wellness of the animal being treated.

Buks Bradbury was practically born in the pigeon lofts of his father Peter, but only took up the sport later in life.

There are few British culinary experiences more appalling than the so-called ploughman's lunch.

If you remove virus-infected plants and insects at the start of the season, you can start off with a clean slate.

Inducing systemic activated resistance is one of the active defense systems that can protect crops against disease attack. Joel Williams said inducing systemic resistance can be effective in achieving quality without sacrificing yield.

Farmers can pick up plant nutrition deficiencies before they become visible in the field by means of a leaf analysis, says Joel Williams.

The “big four” approach Joel Williams said Zimmer's discovery, known as the “big four” approach, focuses on building maximum sugar production and microbe support.

'The outlook for agricultural product prices remains good; there is little sign of a downturn in demand ...'

The reduction in farm labour is due to globalisation, agricultural competition, the lack of skilled labour, rigid ­employment legislation and ill-timed land tenure laws, says Prof Doreen ­Atkinson, visiting professor at the ­University of the Free State and author of Going for Broke, a new book about the history and plight of farmworkers.

The debate around whether global warming exists is well and truly over, says Dr Stephanie Midgley, a leading scientist in the field of climate change at the University of Stellenbosch. Her most recent research shows that climate change is already having a significant effect on agriculture in the Western Cape - the SA region that scientists predict will be hardest hit by rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall. Anneliese King reports.

Last week's article showed the impact that leafroll virus can have on vine quality and production, and stressed the need for vigorous measures against mealybug. This week Glenneis Erasmus covers effective monitoring and control protocols.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the National Emergent RED Meat Producers' Organisation (Nerpo).
Issue date 6 July 2007

The Popela judgment by the Constitutional Court is probably the most important legal benchmark in land reform law since the Richtersveld ruling in 2004. It has widened the definition of restitution and lent legal clarity to previously grey areas like the definition of a community, and the strength and scope of customary land rights. Stephan Hofstätter unpacks the implications.

Some 32 000 hectares of land worth R1 billion was officially handed over recently to four communities as part of the Greater Tenbosch land claim in Mpumalanga's deep rural Nkomazi area.

Land claims on the world heritage site, Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (GSLWP) in northern Zululand, are being settled quickly and amicably between affected parties.

The revived Doha development round has yet again failed to achieve consensus on cuts in subsidies and tariffs.

KZN land reform estate, CHARLESTOWN ranches, received a major boost last month with the launch of a R38-million raspberry-exporting venture that will eventually be owned by land claimants.

Over R1 billion in unspent funds returned to Treasury, delays in reviewing the willing buyer, willing seller (WBWS) policy and reforming communal land ownership, and difficulties in implementing eviction laws were among the issues raised when the Department of Land Affairs presented its annual report for 2005/06 to the select parliamentary committee on land and environmental affairs on 19 June.