Field Crops

Research conducted in Hopefield, Western Cape, aim to show that with an understanding of protea nutrition farmers could improve their protea yields while supporting biodiversity. Issue date: 23 February 2007

Zimbabwean expatriate Paul Hanly has persevered since he began promoting local katambora rhodes grass seed production for export to the Middle Eastern dairy industry. Issue Date: 16 February 2007

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.

Stuart and Grant McMurray are reaping the rewards of essential oil production in Zululand, KZN, after identifying the need for a South African operation that could supply the growing international demand for the organic product.

Magwa Tea Estate in the Eastern Cape has long been regarded a political white ­elephant, mired in ­corruption and kept afloat by state subsidies. With an expected record yield and its land claim finally settled, Magwa now looks set to turn a corner and could become the springboard for expanded agricultural investment in the region. Stephan Hofstätter reports.

Lifelong Eastern Cape stock farmers Pam and Ivan Buchler left their farm near the small hamlet of Bolo almost two years ago to face retirement. As Mike Burgess learned, an idle life was never an option for the couple, who quickly established a vibrant flower business on 12ha of land on the outskirts of Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape.

Olive farmers Silvana and Richard Atkinson of Waterfall River farm in Franschhoek, Western Cape, won the trophy for the Best Extra-Virgin Olive Oil at the recently held SA Olive Awards in Paarl.

A healthy recovery in the maize price and a general improvement in the agricultural economic climate have contributed to services company Afgri's growth in the first half of its financial year.

A national onion shortage and a dramatic increase in prices are expected following a devastating hail storm that recently struck a large onion-­producing area in the Northern Cape.

Getting to the root of healthy maize The management of soilborne plant diseases is one of the greatest challenges facing modern agriculture, as Lloyd Phillips discovered during an information day of the KwaZulu-Natal No-Till Club in Bergville.

TO AVOID A REPEAT OF THE CRISIS WHICH

Organic farming is one of the fastest-growing disciplines within the local and international agricultural sector, with an estimated annual growth of up to 300% in South Africa, says David Wolstenholme, exhibition director of the Natural and Organic Products Exhibition 2006. Fidelis Zvomuya reports.