Caxton Magazines

Generally, Broccoli matures earlier ­ than cabbage or cauliflower. Early ­maturation is becoming increasingly ­popular, especially with pre-packed ­products.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

'But nowhere, not once, have I yet heard of anyone in management at Cricket SA … accepting responsibility.'
Issue Date 25 May 2007

What makes teenagers, adult men and women so interested in the world of racing pigeons?

he suggestion by ANC national chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota to reduce the number of provinces from nine to four to address administration and service delivery problems on a provincial and local level has caused a definite flutter in the dovecotes. Prof André Duvenhage, a political scientist and specialist in the field of sustainable social development at North West University, Potchefstroom campus, doubts the feasibility of such a restructure. Cornelia du Plooy reports.

The world economy is expected to grow robustly during 2007 and 2008, but at a slightly lower rate than in 2006.'
Issue Date 2007

Following revelations that the ­KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and ­Environmental Affairs (DAEA) was in a dismal financial and ­operational state due to poor management, the ­latest incumbent of the post of MEC for this ­department, Mtholephi ­Mthimkulu, has had his hands full in planning a ­turnaround strategy for the DAEA. In his inaugural 2007/08 budget speech, in a ­remarkable display of transparency, Mthimkulu gave a candid account of the problems within the KZN DAEA as well as outlining possible solutions to them.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Mechanical pruning of branches of tall trees in citrus orchards is always a problem. When thick branches have to be cut, the tractor has to move at a very slow speed, which plays havoc with the clutch. Charl Tibshraeny seems to have the answer. Joe Spencer reports.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Root diseases overwinter in crop residues on the land pose a significant threat to no-till enterprises. No-till experts have joined forces to find the best methods of overcoming this challenge. Lloyd Phillips reports.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Sceptics often expect emerging farmers to fail, but Phopi Ralentjena, an emerging farmer from ­Blouberg in Limpopo, is disproving this ­notion. He and his mentor Auwke Jongbloed are proof that white commercial ­farmers can ­successfully mentor black emerging farmers. Susan Botes tells of these farmers' passion for their land and ­community.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Just as much as a farmer without a bakkie is still a farmer, an Nguni without horns is still an Nguni. So says retired Limpopo farmer Henk Holtzhausen. Susan Botes chats to this legendary polled Nguni breeder to learn more about the man behind the herd.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Roses and mining have little in common. But Goldfields, the giant mining company, has ­established the Living Gold rose farm near its Carletonville mines. Gwenda van Zyl finds out about the corporate social investment project that has become a highly successful business.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

The revival of Qamata, once one of SA's top irrigation schemes, has been on the cards for years. But when Farmer's Weekly ­visited Qamata basin this month there was plenty of finger-pointing but little evidence of agricultural activity. Stephan Hofstätter reports.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

In the light of the increased popularity of ultrafast-growing maize cultivars, Gideon Britz, an agriculturalist from Ficksburg and expert on hail damage, investigated the influence of defoliation at the same growth stage on the crop yield, by comparing a medium- to long- and ultrashort-season cultivar.
Issue Date 25 May 2007

Omnia Fertiliser has launched its Chemtech Agri lab in Sasolburg, which specialises in biological analysis and the analysis of soil, sap and ­irrigation water. MD Trevor Grant has called the lab 'the Nasa of agriculture,' and says the most effective farmers today are those who apply a range of sophisticated technologies to ­realise the highest yields, product quality and profits. Yet at a recent SA Fertiliser Society symposium, Prof Martin Fey of ­Stellenbosch University suggested the current emphasis on soil health was little more than 'agricultural ­homeopathy' and said farmers could make discerning and self-interested decisions about nutrient management. Gwenda van Zyl asks Omnia's Dr Johan van Biljon why they feel scientific analysis is so important for the farmer.
Issue date 18 May 2007

Ken Clark began dairy farming back in 1980 in the Dordrecht district with five hand-milked cows. Using valuable savings, he increased the size of his herd.
Issue date 18 May 2007

TAU SA's Strategy for Sustainability warns the government of the disastrous impact its ­policies, such as those on land reform, are having on food security and rural economies. Global warming provides an ominous backdrop. TAU SA ­general manager Bennie van Zyl summarises the issues.
Issue date 18 May 2007

SA farmers are starting to see the advantages of mechanical handlers, which can ­perform a wide variety of tasks including those performed by conventional tractors. One Manitou rough terrain telescopic handler replaced three tractors at the ­Thorneycroft dairy farm near Alexandria in the ­Eastern Cape, with dramatic results. Joe Spencer reports.
Issue date 18 May 2007

Twelve years ago the SABC,sponsored by Total SA, ran a country­wide nature quiz on radio.
Issue date 18 May 2007

'Farmers must keep their eyes open, for export opportunities will open up again.'
Issue date 18 May 2007

With farmers and organised agriculture continuously seeking better ways to catch and effectively prosecute stock thieves, a determined Mpumalanga anti-stock theft crusader has suggested an additional legal method to punish those behind the scourge.
Issue date 18 May 2007