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Aging subsistence farmers in the Sterkspruit district are reluctant to farm commercially. They shared their reasons, including small herds and resistance to moving, with Dohne Agricultural Development Institute researcher Wiseman Goqwana. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Issue date: 10 July 2009

The Western Cape could be facing an armageddon as a result of climate change. So said the new provincial agriculture minister in the Western Cape, Gerrit van Rensburg, at an agribusiness and climate change conference in Somerset West.

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The Agricultural Research Council's Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ARC-ISCW) has been running a project over four seasons to demonstrate commercial conservation agriculture (CA) practices on 4,7ha in the Qunu area of the Eastern Cape. The main aim has been to show farmers that its implementation can curb land degradation and results in higher soil productivity and yield and improved profit. Peter Hittersay reports.
Issue date : 29 May 2009

Although watermelons prefer warm conditions, you often have to start in cooler conditions to be in production at the right time for market demand.
Issue date : 22 May 2009

A massive plague of Achaea lienardi moths and caterpillars will not directly damage fruit, even though A. lienardi is known as the "fruit-piercing moth. The invasion in the Eastern Cape and extending into parts of KZN, is likely to end soon as the country moves into winter.

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The world economy will recover within the next three to six months, and South Africa will follow suit, growing at 5% a year while agriculture faces a period of prosperity. So says Roelof Botha, joint MD of research company Gopa Group SA, former economics lecturer at the Universities of Pretoria and Johannesburg, 2005 Sake24/ABSA Economist of the Year and son of former foreign affairs minister Pik Botha.
Issue date : 08 May 2009

The international scramble for farmland is causing unrest around the world, in some cases even bringing down governments, and farming has become a serious business with an estimated 1 billion people going hungry by the end of 2008. Robyn Joubert investigates.

The international scramble for farmland is causing unrest around the world, in some cases even bringing down governments, and farming has become a serious business with an estimated 1 billion people going hungry by the end of 2008. Robyn Joubert investigates.

The 2008 southern Cape Super Canola Farmer of the Year Andrew Beukes, explains his strategy for growing canola on sloping land and how he harvests it over lucerne. He managed to achieve a yield of 2,4t/ha of canola and a gross margin of R7 337/ha in a particularly difficult season. He tells Wouter Kriel how.
Issue date : 01 May 2009

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Soilmix Africa is breaking all the limits on crops' root systems, from annual grains to perennial orchards. Their machine mixes and homogenises soil to a depth of 1,2m, compared to an ordinary plough's 20cm and also applies a cutting-edge soil correction programme. Mastermind Koos Stofberg, a winemaker and soil preparation expert, spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
Issue date : 01 May 2009

The South African agricultural sector has managed a turn-around to become a nett exporter again, despite a 9% drop predicted in global trade this year. The sector posted a deficit last year.

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Faced with poverty and hunger at his remote mission in the Lesotho mountains, Rev August Basson realised providing food for the soul alone wouldn't sustain his flock for long. Conservation agriculture proved to be the answer to his payers. He tells Peter Hittersay how his teachings are improving lives.
Issue date : 24 April 2009