Impact of market deregulation on the competitiveness of commercial milk producers in East Griqualand: a unit cost ratio (UCR) analysis: 1983-2006

This study investigates the impact of dairy market deregulation on the competitiveness of milk producers who comprise the East Griqualand (EG) study group in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study uses a microeconomic approach, the unit cost ratio (UCR) method of competitiveness analysis, to assess changes in the relative competitiveness of EG milk producers from 1983 – 2006. Findings of previous research indicate that dairy market deregulation in the 1980s and 1990s caused lower real milk producer prices, increased uncertainty and higher exit rates in the South African dairy industry. Results of the UCR analysis suggest that EG milk producers were not competitive based on the net local price received for milk but were competitive when dairy cattle trading income was included. This suggests that dairy cattle trading income played an important role in enhancing the profitability of EG dairy enterprises in the study period. Further UCR analysis revealed that the top one-third of EG milk producers were relatively competitive from 1983 – 2006 due to higher real milk prices and lower unit costs. A panel data study of individual EG milk producers could be used to identify other important factors affecting milk producer competitiveness over time.dairy market deregulation, East Griqualand milk producers, competitiveness, unit cost ratio analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

An evaluation of the limitation imposed upon freedom of testation by section 13 of the Trust Property Control Act 57 of 1988

Section 13 of the Trust Property Control Act bestows on the High Court the power to vary the provisions of trust instruments. This section’s applicability to testamentary trust provisions occasions its frequent classification as a statutory limitation on South African testators’ freedom of testation. Section 13’s common law counterpart, namely variation of testamentary trust provisions ob causam necessariam, is however, not likewise classified as a common law limitation on freedom of testation. It appears from case law that the latter instance of variation, although occasioning a departure from the wishes of the founder of a testamentary trust, still occurs in consonance with such wishes, rather than in contradiction thereof. The non-classification of variation ob causam necessariam as a limitation on freedom of testation therefore appears justified. Section 13, however, exhibits somewhat of an ambivalent character in the above regard, in that its limiting effect on freedom of testation is, it is submitted, dependent upon the content of a court’s order under this section as well as the facts of the particular case. In this contribution, case law on section 13 is analysed in support of this contention

Ontwikkelingsvooruitsigte in die Oos-Transvaalse Laeveld

Hierdie landstreek is ongetwyfeld die deel van ons land waar in die naaste toekoms die grootste ontwikkeling gaan plaasvind, nie alleen op landbougebied nie, maar ook op minerale-en nywerheidsgebied

* ’n Toekomsblik.

’n Gebrek aan bekwame bestuurders word werklik in Suid-Afrika ondervind. Nuwe fabrieke en besigheidsinrigtings het geen ander uitweg as om bestuurders van gevestigde sake te lok nie, om hulle dienste dan weer te verloor aan ander wat beter vooruitsigte aanbied. Dieselfde geld natuurlik vir deskundiges op tegniese gebied en in die ingenieurswese

Los gedagtes oor die plek van landbou in ons volkshuishouding.

Die bepaling van die plek van landbou in enige volkshuishouding kan van meer as een aspek benader word

„In die jaar 2000.”

Die mens is gewoonlik bevrees vir wat die more te voorskyn mag bring.Die geskiedenis laat hom nie toe om van sy erfenis weg te vlug nie. Terselfdertyd is dit die geskiedenis wat die mens in staat stel om met ’n enigsinsvoorbedagte beplanning op te tree. Alle lewe is ’n proses en alle prosesseis van nature iets dinamies. Dit is tevergeefs om daarna te strewe, metenige hoop van sukses, om ’n oomblik van die verlede te herwin. Suksesis nooit finaal nie. As die mens ’n beter muisval bou, sal die natuur mettertyd’n skelmer muis baar

Musica Alma

Dit is gesê dat musiek ’n uiting is van persoonlike, en dus geestelike en maatskaplike, gevoelens. Die kultivering van musiekwaardering en om met genot musiek te kan hoor van verskillende tydperke en skole, en van wisselendegrade van ingewikkeldheid, kan dus alleen verruimend werk. Dit bring die luisteraar in noue aanraking met die gees van verskillende volkere en tydperke

Factors influencing the long-term competitiveness of commercial milk producers: evidence from panel data in East Griqualand, South Africa

This study investigates factors influencing the long-term competitiveness of 11 commercial milk producers from East Griqualand (EG), South Africa using unbalanced panel data for the period 1990 to 2006. Results of a ridge regression analysis show that dairy herd size, the level of farm debt, annual production per cow, technology and policy changes over time, and the ratio of trading income to total milk income influence the long-term competitiveness of these milk producers. To enhance their competitiveness in a deregulated dairy market, relatively small and profitable EG milk producers should consider increasing their herd sizes, as the importance of herd size in explaining competitiveness suggests that size economies exist. All EG milk producers should consider utilising more pasture- and forage-based production systems to lower feed costs and select dairy cattle of superior genetic merit to improve milk yields on pasture.Commercial milk production, competitiveness, panel data, Production Economics,