Caxton Magazines
Wine harvest 4% down, but quality outstanding
South Africa’s 2015 wine harvest was expected to conclude at the end of this month with 75% of the grapes already harvested by mid-March.
Ladismith Cheese factory fire probed
Ladismith Cheese executives are still counting their losses following a fire that allegedly completely destroyed the stock, cheese and butter stores at the Western Cape factory recently.
2nd Bergplaas Merino Stud Production Sale
Highest: (Ram) R13 500
Preserving the indigenous Mbuzi veld goat
With the advent of industrial agriculture, Southern Africa’s indigenous goat breeds faced extinction. However, some farmers such as Hilton Sanders of RH Ranching Mbuzi Stud, are dedicated to ensuring that these ecotypes remain relevant, and they are doing so profitably.
More on species and strains
What characteristics are sought for improvement in a strain development programme? How far beyond simple growth improvement must one go?
Gauteng plans to boost agro-processing
Hundreds of emerging farmers gathered in Soweto, Johannesburg, recently, to hear from agriculture stakeholders how they planned to turn Gauteng into an agro-processing hub in the continent.
Land reform in Ceres: farmers give away 30%
A recently launched land reform initiative in the Western Cape’s Witzenberg region has the potential to become one of South Africa’s greatest success stories in agricultural transformation.The farmer-driven project requires little support from government but substantial buy-in from commercial producers.
Why do we fear technology?
Effective hi-tech (and sometimes low-tech) solutions abound, yet many farmers are slow to adopt them.
Hoogstede Merino Stud Production Sale
Highest: (Ram) R19 000
Dairy safety standards – the dangers of non-compliance
Breaching food safety regulations in the dairy industry would not only risk consumer health, but seriously harm the image of the entire dairy value chain. Jompie Burger, managing director of Dairy Standards Agency, spoke to Lloyd Phillips about the importance of monitoring products.
Crusted chicken breasts with lemon butter sauce
This requires only a few simple ingredients and can be prepared quickly. But it tastes absolutely marvellous. What’s more, it goes with nearly any vegetable or salad you desire.
Heidelberg has SA’s largest pumpkin
A massive 483,6kg pumpkin grown by Pinkie Swart from Heidelberg, won him the title for the largest pumpkin grown in South Africa for the second year in a row.
Rounding off lambs in a feeding pen
When mutton prices are high or grazing is scarce, this practice can be extremely profitable.
A cottage among the acacia trees
Mark, a previous client of mine who owns a game farm in Limpopo, visited my studio on his way to the KZN coast.
Ram sells for R200 000
Google, a super fine wool ram belonging to William and Acton van Aardt of Fairworld Fine Wool, Cookhouse, Eastern Cape, recently sold for R200 000 at the Merino stud’s 27th ram auction.
Tractors: East meets West
Established Western manufacturers are increasingly turning to Asian assembly plants and ‘joint venture’ factories.
New plans to increase the profitability of wheat production
A transparent and well-functioning cash market was the best option to revive South Africa’s ailing wheat production industry, according to Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA.
There’s little space to swing the fiscal cat…
SA’s low growth expectations, crumbling infrastructure and increasing social burden means that minister Nhlanhla Nene must take some brave decisions, says Agbiz economist Lindie Stroebel.
Bureaucrats hampering progress
The five-point plan to address South Africa’s energy crisis was announced in December, yet the MPs responsible for implementing it are still waiting for a proper briefing.
Agribusiness in Africa must react to global changes
The world was changing fast and there were significant shifts happening in demographics, economical and political power, as well as the natural environment.
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