The first cattle auction in the history of the experimental farm of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) will be held on Friday 25 February 2005 at 11:00 . Cattle of small and upcoming farmers in the area will be auctioned.

The auction is part of a tri-partite collaboration agreement between the UFS, the National African Farmers Union (NAFU) and the Mangaung Local Municipality that was signed at the end of 2004.

The agreement entails the provision of training and mentorship to small-scale and emerging farmers, including those recently settled under the on-going land redistribution programme. It also forms part of the Faculty’s strategic plan to support the on-going reform process in the country, of which Black Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (Agri-BEE) is an important part. The Free State Provincial Department of Agriculture is also actively supporting this initiative.

Die auction will be handled by Lengau Auctioneers, a company comprising of NAFU, the Mangaung Local Municipality, the UFS and Vleissentraal Bloemfontein (Hentiq 2004 (Pty) Ltd).

The experimental farm is situated about 12 kilometer outside Bloemfontein on the Reddersburg road.

For enquiries about the auction, Dr Léan van der Westhuizen can be contacted at 083 453 9364.

Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
16 February 2005