UBISI MAIL YEAR-TO-DATE REPORT 2010

During 2010 Ubisi Mail has achieved all of its goals, as set per its project outline to Milk SA. The magazine was produced in its normal A5 format, consisting of 52 pages (except for the last edition of the year, when it was 48 pages, with various sections covering different aspects of mainly dairy farming.

The March edition was posted to all of its subscribers. The content of the edition entailed the following (per section):

  • Main feature: Buying cattle at the auction.
  • Ubisi news: News articles on: A dairy production farmers’ day hosted by the Department of Agriculture and attended by CenDel and the MPO’s Institute for Dairy Technology; A reminder to attend the All Africa Dairy School and Ekspo; News on the Agricultural Writers of South Africa’s emerging farmer of the year; News on an empowerment project in Oudtshoorn; News on the MPO Institute for Dairy Technology’s dairy courses; A calendar of agricultural events for 2010.
  • Empowerment: An article on training conducted by the MPOInstitute for Dairy Technology on the farm of Mr Cees Legemaat near Cullinan.
  • Let’s solve it: Instructions on how to build a cattle crush.
  • Technology: Articles and illustrated pages on the following subjects: Body condition scoring for milk goats; Bulk milk collection; Steps to successful milking procedure; Sheep diseases; Starting a pig farm; Rift Valley fever.
  • Enrichment: Two articles: The first regarding the dairy market and understanding the principles of price, profit and competition. The basics of fruit farming.

The June edition was produced on deadline and was posted to all of its subscribers within the prescribed deadline period.The content of this edition entailed the following (per section):

  • Main feature: Load your livestock.
  • Ubisi news: News articles on: The emerging dairy farmer of the year, Jan Zim.; news from the United South African Agricultural Association in the Western Cape; an empowerment project by Potatoes SA; the newly-established Hex Valley Table Grape Association’s farm worker association; training by the MPO Institute for Dairy Technology at Zaaiberg Dairy; IDT training in Limpopo.
  • Empowerment: An article on two junior cheese-makers from Kimilili Farm, who recently judged at the SA Dairy Championships.
  • Let’s solve it: How to catch up rainwater in your farm dam.
  • Technology: Articles and illustrated pages on the following subjects: Vaccinating milk goats; Testing for milk quality; Steps to successful milking procedure (liner slip); Sheep diseases (Orf); Starting a pig farm (Housing); Blackquarter among dairy cows.
  • Enrichment: An article on Fifa’s rules and regulations for being a vendor during the Soccer World Cup.

The September edition was produced on deadline and was posted to all of its subscribers within the prescribed deadline period.The content of this edition entailed the following (per section):

  • Main feature: On greener pastures (the FortHare dairy Trust).
  • Ubisi news: News articles on: Lucky Khoza takes honours, Agri partnerships bring success, the big Clover clean-up, Limpopo female farmers honoured and farmers sought for Nguni project.
  • Empowerment: An article on the manufacturing of fermented dairy projects, with relevant detailed information.
  • Let’s solve it: How to save water on the farm and in vegetable gardens.
  • Technology: Articles and illustrated pages on the following subjects: Milk fever in milk goats, Choosing a cattle breed, Steps to successful milking procedure (teat disinfection), Sheep diseases (‘jaagsiekte’), Construct a bunker silo and The mastitis checklist.
  • Enrichment: An article on the power of groups, explaining cooperatives, again with relevant sketches and translations..

The December edition was produced on deadline and was posted to all of its subscribers within the prescribed deadline period.The content entailed the following (per section):

  • Main feature: Pulling people from poverty
  • Ubisi news: News articles on: SA’s agricultural reform programme failing, Worker shot for playing loud music, and the National 2010 female entrepreneur of the year; with information on the provincial winners (Limpopo. North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
  • Empowerment: Milk for life –
  • Let’s solve it: Fix your hanging farmgate –
  • Technology: Articles and illustrated pages on the following subjects: Postnatal care of farm animals, wastewater at a dairy farm, basic fly control, handling heartwater beter, dipping facilities and Rift Valley Fever.
  • Enrichment: Articles on Long way from home, Opening a savings account and Immunising your baby.

Other goals

  • For the March edition, Ubisi Mail managed to expand its dedicated subscriber base by the addition of 331 names to its database. For the June edition, Ubisi Mail expanded its database with another 159 names, while, for September, another 160 names was added to its database.
  • The Milk SA logo was now prominently displayed and recognised on the editorial page in all editions this year.

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