Young black farmers
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2018-04-16 In Blog In an article which appeared in The Conversation last week, Mnqobu Ngubane looked at the obstacles facing a young black farmer. He interviewed aspiring farmer Lonwabo Jwili, who bought a piece of land near Johannesburg. Jwili speaks of the three challenges for young farmers. These are access to information, finance and markets. Information: […]
Perhaps they’ll listen now
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2018-03-27 In Blog The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) released a statement in 2015: “Pigs scream in ‘ínhumane’ gas pits before slaughter“. Sounds dramatic. What was the commotion about? It is usual practice in abattoirs to stun an animal before slaughter. This renders the beast unconscious before it is dispatched. (Of course inefficiency here […]
Speciality fertilisers: Soygro before parliamentary committee
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2018-03-20 In Blog Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Tim Odendaal, Soygro Director, said Soygro produces biological products for agricultural purposes, not chemicals. Soygro produces fresh inoculants. Imported inoculants are old and carry poor performance. Imported soybean Rhizobium strains contaminate South African soils with inferior inoculants races and reduce yield. […]
Tse leshome: the Rustler’s Valley blogs
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2018-03-06 In Blog Rustler’s Valley (part I): the rumour Rustler’s before Earthrise TrustRustler’s Valley (Part II): What problem do you most want to solve? Possibilities: a sketch by Gino Govender (Earthrise Trust)Rustler’s Valley (Part III): the hike An early morning look at the scenery that has drawn visitors for decadesRustler’s Valley (Part IV): return to the lodge Jappie Lephatsi speaks […]
Lowering of food standards in UK a result from any trans-Atlantic deal?
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2018-01-17 In Blog On Tuesday, The Guardian reported concern in the UK about any US-UK free trade deal. Several practices, outlawed in the EU are accepted in the US. These are listed as: Chlorine-washed chicken (banned in the EU). Hormone-treated beef (banned in the EU). Ractopamine in pork (banned in the EU). Chicken […]
Famous Brands Cheese company and Coega Dairy empower communities with cash for cows
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-11-29 In Blog Famous Brands Cheese Company (FBCC) and Coega Dairy will collectively contribute R3 million to five black-owned community dairy farms in the Eastern Cape to finance the purchase of more than 300 dairy cows. The funds will be disbursed over a three year period, with FBCC and Coega Dairy […]
Of cattle and men
Cattle of Ages, by Cyril Ramaphosa (text) and Daniel Naudé (photography), has been released. For our overseas readers, Cyril Ramaphosa has a trade union background, and was Mandela’s right-hand man during the negotiations which allowed for a peaceful transition of political power to the African National Congress (ANC) in 1994. He was also Mandela’s […]
Rustler’s Valley (part VII): nurseries and a healing centre
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-09-17 In Blog Generally Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) has a low profile in the country, which makes the “Indigenous medicinal plants” chapter quite a task every time we update the Agri Handbook! Imagine our delight to find out that Byron Maclean and Soozi van der Linde are medicinal plants experts! Idealism without […]
Rustler’s Valley (Part IV): return to the lodge
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-09-17 In Blog As we descended, we caught intermittent glimpses of a figure in the distance, probably making his way towards us. We smiled to see the person whose team had given us such a welcome on the previous evening – Jappie. After greetings all around, we set off, treading […]
Rustler’s Valley (part VIII): view from a neighbour
By Craig Macaskill Posted 2017-09-17 In Blog It was Gino’s idea that we meet a neighbouring commercial farmer or two; see what they had to say about developments at Rustler’s Valley. We had met Ray Strydom briefly the day before and so I jumped at the second name offered – Christian Findlay. The road […]