Farming for Tomorrow

An Israeli company has cracked the code for mass-rearing a predatory wasp which could help control the destructive mealybug. Trials are underway in Eastern Cape in conjunction with Citrus Research International. Robyn Joubert reports.

Hazyview farmer Isak Fick lost the battle against termites - only to find that his mango and macadamia nut orchard boomed. Termites create superior compost right where the tree needs it most, boosting yields and soil fertility. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

A new production facility to rear and release sterile codling moths is geared to produce more than 2 million moths a week and currently supplies at least 3% of the local pome fruit industry. It's a new era in bio-control, writes Denene Erasmus.

Dr Roger Hunsley, former animal science professor at Purdue University in the US, told cattlemen how they can breed for feed efficiency without producing over-sized animals that burn through expensive feed. Annelie Coleman reports.

Summer weight loss in sheep can be a major problem for sheep farmers in hot climates. Alan Harman looks at new research.

A collaboration between a research geneticist from the US Department of Agriculture and South African animal scientists could take the benefits of the Nguni cattle breed global. Robyn Joubert reports.

New livestock can bring disease as well as new genetics into your herd. That's why a good biosecurity system is vital, Pfizer's Dr Chris van Dijk explains to Annelie Coleman.

Planting a pasture ley crop is good for your soil – but is it good or bad for your bank balance? Robyn Joubert finds out.

A new study indicates that if FMD-affected cattle are promptly identified and removed from the herd, there may be no need for pre-emptive culling in the immediate area of an infected farm.

A new herbicide is proving more than a match for weeds in groundnuts.

A new test for salmonella in poultry and eggs will produce faster and more accurate results.

The effects of veldfires on the atmosphere and climate aren't straightforward - and a recent study of South Africa's veldfires yields some surprising results, writes.

The World Bank has launched a new programme that aims to put a value on a country's ecosystems in the same way GDP is measured.

Researchers have discovered an odd relationship between disease-resistance and fertility in Soay sheep. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

Glyphosate-based broad-spectrum systemic herbicides are invaluable in most farming enterprises. But follow simple guidelines to avoid sub-optimal and economically wasteful results. Lloyd Phillips reports.

An ultra-light biodegradable styrofoam substitute may put an end to plastic pollution and overburdened landfills, writes Alan Harman.

With consumers growing ever more health-conscious and the food industry under pressure to get rid of "bad" cooking oils, this new speciality canola couldn't have been launched at a better time. Demand is only likely to increase, and so will farmers' bottom line. Kobus van Tonder reports.

Achieving good colouration in table grapes is an important marketing tool, but very warm temperatures in some of South Africa's table-grape-growing regions hamper this. Research presented at the International Table Grape Symposium suggested a new growth regulator can encourage stronger berry colour in table grapes. Denene Erasmus reports.

While mohair purists advocate only pure white fibres, Roelof Bezuidenhout discovers a rare black specimen of fine quality.

Effectively controlling Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in cattle herds takes an integrated farm biosecurity system. This includes keeping farm fences in good condition and limiting the movement of unauthorised people and cattle on and off the farm. But a pillar of any system should be a comprehensive vaccination programme.