Latest articles
Improved efficiency with heat pumps
If managed correctly, a heat pump can be an affordable and effective alternative to the hot water cylinder or geyser.
Beware the time bar in future payment agreements
A High Court judgement clarifies the issue of capital gains when a property is returned, as well as the time limits for making objections to SARS rulings.
Moratorium on rhino horn trade reinstated
According to a statement recently released by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the moratorium on domestic trade in rhino horn has been reinstated after Edna Molewa, minister of the DEA, filed for leave to appeal the SCA’s decision in May to lift the ban.
Free State water crisis worsening
The water crisis in the Free State is worsening, according to Roelf Jacobs, a member of Free State Agriculture’s Water and Irrigation Committee.
KwaZulu-Natal farmer donates 800 bales
Nottingham Road potato and maize farmer, JJ van de Velde, has donated 800 bales of hay to drought-stricken farmers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Why conserving Africa’s biodiversity is so crucial
While the topic of food security is being increasingly discussed in many parts of the world, it appears that in Africa this vitally important subject receives far too little attention, says renowned conservationist and environmental consultant, Dr John Hanks.
Paralysis tick outbreaks reported in the Karoo
Several Angora goats are reported to have died in the past week due to outbreaks of the Karoo paralysis tick (Ixodes rubicundus).
New dragon fruit varieties for SA growers
Dragon fruit is not well-known in South Africa, but the people behind a new venture based in Limpopo believe this niche fruit offers attractive commercial potential for local farmers.
BKB acquires majority shareholding in Fruits du Sud
BKB has acquired the majority shareholding in Upington-based raisin and fruit mince supplier, Fruits du Sud, for an undisclosed amount, thereby expanding its foothold in the Northern Cape.
Asian fusion soup-stew
The thing about South-East Asian food is that you find it everywhere in that region, regardless of the country. This recipe, a good basic winter’s meal, lies between a soup and a stew, and has delicious familiar accents such as nam pla (fish sauce), coriander and lime juice.
Two recipients receive Agbiz Honorary Award
At the South African Agriculture Business Chamber’s (Agbiz) biannual congress held in Somerset West recently, two recipients were awarded the Agbiz Honorary Award for their services to agriculture.
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A training session with Case IH
Case IH recently organised a training camp for its dealers from Africa and the Middle East, followed by a Customer Day that attracted 400 visitors. Joe Spencer reports.
First commercially-grown black truffles for KZN
Three black Périgord truffles (Tuber melanosporum) were discovered on Max Bastard’s Willowdale Farm near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Select for fertility above all, urges geneticist
Fertility is without question the most important trait that beef cattle producers should select for, according to Prof Frikkie Neser, geneticist at the University of the Free State.
El Niño weakening, but rain stays away
Although El Niño has been showing signs of weakening, high temperatures and late rains in most of the Western Cape could have had an effect on winter grain and fodder production, according to a statement issued by Western Cape Agri.
Why simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
As business gets more complex, managers have responded by making business processes more and more complicated. This approach is wrong-headed.
Botswana beef exports: opportunities for SA farmers?
Preferential access to the EU should be fully exploited by Botswana’s beef producers and feedlots. More cattle need to be exported, with local demand being met by imports from South Africa, say Absa’s Wessel Lemmer and the BMC’s Dr AK Tombale.
Frustration as government fails to declare drought a national disaster
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT), Des van Rooyen, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), said that eight provinces have been declared drought disaster zones.
Kroonstad marinated game steak
About a million years ago when I was in Std 7, my parents sent me to my tweetalige oom in Kroonstad to improve my Afrikaans, this being impossible in Durban. The oom in question was a weekend hunter and this is what I remember of his uitstekende marinade for game steak.
Agribusiness confidence index at record negative levels
The latest Agribusiness Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2016 showed that the long-term outlook for the sector remained at record negative levels.
