Grain SA 2013 congress: suave and sophisticated
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – South Africa’s grain producers run a world class business! This is underscored by the very professional and, dare I say,...
The law can help with labour costs
Most farmers want to avoid having to retrench workers as a result of dramatically increased labour wages and costs associated with conditions of employment. Attorney Rob McCarthy, a specialist in...
SA food safety in jeopardy
Gareth Lloyd-Jones, MD of Ecowize, a health and sanitation company that services the food and beverage sector, believes South Africa needs a dedicated food control agency to ensure that regulations...
It’s time for Eskom to surrender power
Eskom is currently seeking further potentially crippling electricity price increases. Trade union Solidarity argues that new power provider entrants should be allowed to deal directly with consumers and have the...
Inky pinky ponky, SA’s been fed a donkey!
Oh boy, how I love the South African sense of humour! Even in the worst of situations it pops up and makes us laugh at ourselves. And the current scandal...
The Kruger Park’s jumbo jigsaw puzzle
Ron Thomson, conservationist, hunter, former game warden and author, takes aim at the Kruger’s no-cull elephant management strategy. The plan, he argues, is not only inhumane, but a sure way...
SA: reasons for optimism
Violent strikes. Hostility towards private enterprise. Corruption and ineptitude. Our country seems to be on a slippery slope. Yet the SAIRR’s Frans Cronje is bullish about South Africa.
Minimum wages: testing agriculture to the max
A report compiled by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, under the leadership of Dr Ferdi Meyer, argues that recent labour unrest in the farming sector is not about...
Agriculture leaders must ‘uithaal en wys’
Mr Organised Agriculture Chairman: complacency is a dangerous thing. Don’t underestimate the value of your support base. Do not lose contact with your membership on a local level.
Losing loyalty
Drawing on his own experience, as well as the work of agri writer Simon Fiske, top rose farmer Ludwig Taschner offers an interesting take on why land reform projects fail.
Cellphones and the Internet are great, but…
The world really has become a village. I’ve been on a virtual trip through southern Africa the past few months that’s been mind-boggling.
New Year messages
2012 has brought many challenges to the farming community and many of the problems will continue into 2013. Some agricultural union presidents share their messages of hope for farmers.
Will sanity prevail this year?
I don’t have any new resolutions for 2013, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t dream about a South Africa filled with love, light and laughter.
Quo vadis South African agriculture?
The National Development Plan (Vision 2030) presents a way forward for agriculture, recognising the importance of commercial and smallholder farming and advocating a pragmatic, engaged approach, explains John Purchase, CEO...
Is Zuma trading land for votes?
Atholl Trollip, DA spokesperson for rural development, believes that President Jacob Zuma might be using the Masibambisane initiative to garner support for his upcoming party leadership battle.
Friersdale’s prize-winning library
Friersdale in the Northern Cape is a small hamlet on the banks of the Orange River, roughly between Keimoes and Kakamas.
De Doorns: will we heed the lessons?
Management consultant, experienced farmer and regular Farmer’s Weekly columnist Peter Hughes stresses the importance of building good relationships with one’s employees and paying fair wages.
Focus on animal health to reduce antibiotic use in livestock
The negative consequences of the widespread, and sometimes indiscriminate, use of antibiotics in livestock production are of growing concern as it could lead to antibiotic resistance. Dr Hans-Joachim Götz, president...
A Free State Christmas braai
How I wish I could have invited all of you to the real Vrystaat Christmas braai we’ve just had. Especially after the rains, it was a particularly festive occasion for...
Reflections on De Doorns
There is a great need for change in a society where the gap between rich and poor grows ever wider. Luke Metelerkamp looks at possible reasons behind the recent destructive,...
