Eucalypts and other honey bee forage plants – what you can do to help our honey bees
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog By Mbulelo Mswazi and Carol Poole, South African National Biodiversity Institute A recent study undertaken by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) revealed that gum trees, certain crops, indigenous trees and shrubs, flowering plants in suburban gardens and even roadside wildflowers or weeds are all critically important […]
Out in the streets
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog This afternoon, whilst I was mid-stream checking updates for the “Forage & pastures” chapter in the next Agri Handbook, the power went off. Step one in such an event is to go stand outside in the street. If you are the only one out there, then proceed with step […]
Living with other people’s narratives
This past week a certain country disputed the findings of a United Nations report, saying it rejected the UN’s “narrative”. It is not the name of the country that is important here, but this: if you lived in that country, what would your response have been been? Considering its frame of reference (or narrative), every […]
Farmers in France (and elsewhere)
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog It is with great concern that we read the article High suicide rate highlights plight of French farmers. Let us remember that most of us have lost touch with the vocation which allows us to be businessmen, doctors, bankers, lawyers etc. Somebody else cultivates the food that sustains you, and so […]
Do penguins eat white maize or yellow maize?
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog Hats off to Dr Herman van Schalkwyk, CEO of the AMT, for including a contribution by Philip Lymbery, author of Farmageddonand CEO of Compassion in Worldwide Farming, at the AMT Conference in the week just passed. The book and the presentation pose serious questions to future scenarios of agriculture. Included […]
Matatiele farmer reaps reward of a dream come true
In David Mongoato’s office is a picture of himself as a small child, standing in a field of tall, ripe maize plants. He knew than that he wanted to be a farmer. But the path to your destiny is seldom a straight one. David and his wife Selloane worked as teachers for many years before […]
Growing meat and houses in science labs
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog Human evolution has gone hand-in-hand with the eating of meat. Over the centuries, the days and nights around the fires of feasts where meat was cooked must be countless. And the barbeques (braais in South Africa) of today go on. If you are unfamiliar with the production of meat […]
The serious business of eating in the city
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog You are probably aware of how dependent people in the city are on supermarkets (and other shops) and the supply chains for their food. And as we head towards a scenario of 75% of the earth’s population being city dwellers, urban agriculture certainly assumes high priority. Urban agriculture […]
Exchange rates and agriculture
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog The South African currency, the rand (ZAR) is significantly worth less than it was a year ago. What are the implications for agriculture? It is good news for exporters because they are paid in the currencies which are stronger than the local one. It is good news for grain producers as grain […]
Toys for pigs
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-06-05 In Blog Were you bored at school? From your own experience you may recall certain teachers — the way they dressed, spoke, smiled (or did not smile). You may remember the smell of the classroom, the view through the windows … worse, the whole experience might just be a blank! […]