Five myths in breeding

Retired after many years at the University of the Free State's animal science department, Prof Gert Erasmus talks to Roelof Bezuidenhout about five myths in breeding and explains why there's no such thing as the “ideal” animal. Issue Date: 16 February 2007

The Indigenous Veld Goat debuts as SA’s new breed

By mid-February, SA will have five indigenous goat breeds. The Indigenous Veld Goat will soon be officially registered as a breed and a breeders' society established. Issue Date:9 February 2007

Bumper harvest as farmers rise above race

Too often the South African dream of a united, prosperous farming sector has turned into a nightmare of land invasions, boundary disputes and farm murders. Now a small community of grape exporters in North West is showing the dream can come true if a few simple rules are followed. Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Crop census to gauge data reliability

In an effort to make crop estimates more reliable, the Maize Trust of South Africa has commissioned SiQ, a company specialising in field surveying, agricultural statistics and software development, to conduct a census of planted crops this season.

Avo group rejects abuse claims

Israeli produce group Agrexco Carmel has dismissed allegations that it is producing avocados under conditions in which workers' rights are abused.Issue Date: 16 February 2007

Plan promises better competition for fruit canning

The fruit canning industry task team recently finalised a business plan to enhance global competitiveness.Issue Date: 16 February 2007

China deal a ‘big step forward’ for SA

SA agricultural industry LEADERS have welcomed the export agreements that were signed with last week, saying the deals will open up huge new markets for SA produce and result in cost savings for exporters.Issue Date: 16 February 2007

Setback for Bothaville ethanol plant

Ethanol Africa has temporarily halted construction of its Bothaville, Free State ethanol production plant due to delays in raising additional funding and indecision over which construction model would be most suited to the project.Issue Date: 16 February 2007

Clover still faces four charges

National dairy processor Clover has been let off the hook for one charge by agreeing to cooperate with the Competition Commission in its investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the dairy industry. Issue Date 9 February 2007

Parmalat pays farmers 15c/litre more

Parmalat South Africa recently increased the price it pays to members of the SA Milk Cooperative (Samilco) by 15c a litre. Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Milk shortage to cause price rise

Consumers will be forced to FORK out a little more for milk and dairy products due to an international and local milk shortage.
Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Perspective – 9 February 2007

The iconic, sphinx-shaped hill at Isandlwana, KZN, looms above the whitewashed cairns erected in memory of the British soldiers who died here in the battle against the Zulus in 1879. It's on this battlefield, and others in northern KZN such as Rorke's Drift, where David Rattray, renowned historian and expert on the Anglo-Zulu War, conducted his famous tours.
Issue Date 9 February 2007

Tongaat-Hulett invests R1,3 billion in Mozambique

The Tongaat-Hulett Group (THG) plans to increase its annual sugar production capacity in Mozambique by 155 000 tons following the approval of R1,3 billion to be used to expand its operations there.
Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Senwesko Feeds re-branded

Senwesko Feeds has been re- branded to Nutri Feeds. Issue Date 9 February 2007

SA winemakers will get by

A few SA wine producers will be negatively affected by the loss of 168 French oak wine barrels and wine equipment after the MSC Napoli ran aground at Branscombe in the UK. Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Official linked to murder

An Mpumalanga Home Affairs official has been arrested in connection with the murder of Johan Prins who was shot dead on his farm in Groblersdal last month. Issue Date 9 February

Flood Relief Scheme being redrafted

Agri Eastern Cape has expressed disappointment with the agriculture department's draft Flood Disaster Relief Scheme for the period ending 31 December 2007, saying it's “discriminatory against commercial agriculture”. Issue date 9 February

Mbeki urged to break deadlock

The controversy concerning reported remarks by land and agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana that rape and assault of farmworkers were rife in the sector looks set to continue. Issue Date: 9 February 2007

Wine tourism – an answer to the wine industry’s woes?

The wine surplus across the globe is putting the livelihoods of wine farmers under pressure. While there are no easy answers, key role-players in the South African wine industry feel wine tourism has an important part to play in the survival and growth of the industry, and are urging local producers to embrace all they have to offer. Sonja Burger reports.

No to half-baked habitats

This is the first in a series of five articles on habitat planning in which habitat designer and wildlife biologist Ben Breedlove explains how to create a fully functional and optimised habitat when farming on a fragment of land, thus getting the most out of animals and visitors.

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