Caxton Magazines
Final Nampo roundup
Exhibitors' fears about the demo cancellation and losing customer contact were laid to rest at this year's Nampo show. In fact, more staff were available to deal with specific enquiries - with the range of hi-tech machines available, a one-on-one with an expert beats a glimpse of a machine as it heads up the field.
Leafroll virus is not so innocent
While its true that the leafroll virus doesn't destroy grapevines, it can nevetheless have a severe impact, often resulting in crop losses of up to 60%, which adversely affects wine quality. In a two-part series, Glenneis Erasmus reports on the latest research into this problem.
Communal cattle farming: culture versus competition
Over 50% of all stock in the Eastern Cape belong to communal farmers, which is why efforts are being made to absorb these animals into mainstream marketing channels and to enable cultural producers to compete successfully in this intricate market.
Tri-national pride in Angus gene pool
South African cattle breeder Nico Olivier has negotiated semen and embryo exchange with top studs in Paraguay and Brazil. Animals from Nico's Angus Africa stud are winning championships and strengthening gene pools in the huge South American cattle industry. Glenneis Erasmus found out more.
SA tobacco: necessary monopoly?
Like many other South African agricultural products, tobacco had to overcome huge difficulties when thrown into the free market. The tobacco industry devised a solution to ensure its survival, but under the new system, tobacco farmers seem to have lost the control they had over their product and the profits they shared from processing it. Alita van der Walt takes a closer look at this controversial industry.
‘We feel secure’
With the option of buying a controlling share in Kanhym Estates, one of South Africa's most successful agribusinesses, empowerment consortium Kgomo Kgolo seems to have done a good job in allaying any fears the estate's management might have had about AgriBEE. Today Khehla Mthembu is non-executive chairperson of Kanhym Estates and, as Susan Botes reports, the business is more bullish than ever about its prospects.
Biofuel strategy remains hush-hush
Government's biofuels task team presented its final strategy document to a ministerial committee on 13 June amid fears that proposed state support would be insufficient to lure substantial investment needed to establish the industry in SA.
‘Promote African competitiveness’ – Mbeki
'There is no doubt that Africa has sufficient untapped agricultural potential.'
Can New Hair undo CMH damage?
At the recent mohair producers' conference held in Port Elizabeth in early June, the buying houses, for once, were not the hot topic of debate. Gordon Wright was there and shares his view of events that played out at the conference.
BFAP’s five-year agricultural baseline
The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) recently announced its June 2007 to 2012 baseline for SA's agricultural sector. The baseline is not a forecast, but rather a benchmark of what could happen to commodities under a particular set of policies and demographic assumptions over a
five-year period. Wilma den Hartigh reports.
KZN dip tank project revived
MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in KZN, Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, has committed R100 million to the rehabilitation of dilapidated livestock dip tanks and the formation of livestock associations in the province's communal areas this year.
SA is set for its best-ever olive harvest
“Olive farmers are experiencing a bumper crop this year,” said Andries Rabie, chairperson of the South African Olive Producers' Organisation.
Europeans come to see SA’s old tractors
No fewer than 29 men and 11 women from as far afield as England, Wales, New Zealand, British Columbia, and Scotland visited SA recently on a Kelsey Publishing Group Tractor & Machinery Holiday Club tour to view vintage and classic tractors and machinery.
Issue date 29 June 2007
Issue date 29 June 2007
The benefits of hunting on communal land
A study by two Swedish researchers has found that hunting tourism in Namibia benefits rural households and urban wage earners more than the owners of private game farms and that every extra Namibian dollar a visiting hunter spends translates into one extra Namibian dollar in national income.
Issue date 29 June 2007
Issue date 29 June 2007
Learners make a difference in Mooi River
The Grade 12 Geography class of Weston Agricultural College near Mooi River in the KZN Midlands won a Merit Award for Environmental Best Practice in Community-based Organisations in the Mail & Guardian's Greening the Future Awards. These boys were also runners-up at Nedbank's Green Trust Awards.
Issue date 29 June 2007
Issue date 29 June 2007
‘We made a mistake’ – Parmalat CEO
“With hindsight it is clear that the 2005 decision was an unfortunate one.” This was said by Parmalat CEO Theo Hendrickse, with regard to the dramatic decrease in the farmgate price of milk in February 2005.
‘Get into gear’ says former DG
It is time to stop regurgitating the same issues and start doing something about them.
Another disappointing G8 summit
Those in the agriculture sphere echoed local press sentiments as the recent G8 summit disappointed once again.
‘Emerging farmers need farmers’ help’
New black farmers in SA NEED THE support of organised agriculture and agricultural commodity organisations to become valued and successful contributors to the country's economy, said president of the Farmer Development Trust (FDT), Teddy Matsetela.
Constitutional court turns Popela case on its head
In a landmark victory for the Limpopo Land Claims Commission, the Constitutional Court has overturned the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in the case between the Popela community and Goedgelegen Tropical Fruits.
