Farming for Tomorrow

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.

Scientists have called for radical transformation of the agricultural sector to cope with climate change and food security, writes Alan Harman.

Arguments about CLIMATE change have been dominated by the role greenhouse gas emissions play, but the old sunspot theory is regaining lost ground. Will Alexander, a retired professor from the Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, insists there's a link between solar activity, climate and drought.

Storing household cleaning agents incorrectly can cause defects in ammunition, reports Roelof Bezuidenhout.
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Despite looking almost identical, a large population of sable antelope found in western Zambia do not, to the dismay of conservationists, belong to the same subspecies as the critically endangered giant sable of central Angola, genetic research at Stellenbosch University revealed. Denene Erasmus reports.

To apply herbicides and combat weeds efficiently, crop farmers must select, maintain and manage their sprayers and nozzles with care. Grant Orsmond of TeeJet Technologies spoke to Lloyd Phillips on how to get the most out of your spraying equipment.

Concerns over long-term use of chemical pest control has popularised biopesticides. But none targeted ticks, until now, writes Alan Harman.

As frogs are reliable bio-indicators of the health of an environment or ecosystem, farmers should be worried about a decline in frog populations on their farms. Lindi van Rooyen investigates.

South Africans are used to seeing giraffe in parks and reserves, but the reality is this mega-fauna is under threat. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

In South Africa, about 42% of agricultural land suffers zinc deficiencies, lowering crop yields, writes Lindi van Rooyen.

Cover crops can improve soil and crop health, says Agricol's KZN sales manager and agronomist Dustin Beckerling, who gives Lloyd Phillips some pointers on selecting appropriate cover crops.

Dairy farmers wanting to increase the number of calves and the percentage of heifers born on their farms should consider in-vitro fertilisation as opposed to artificial insemination, reports Alan Harman.

The US agriculture department now also feeds impoverished school children during the holidays. Roelof Bezuidenhout discusses what South Africa is doing for its 14 million hungry citizens.

Researchers have found that termite mound size and distribution, linked to vegetation and landscape patterns, can predict ecological shifts, writes Alan Harman.

Harvesting mistletoe is one of the most cost-effective drought survival measures available to stock farmers, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

A new trial found that camels could help control and possibly eradicate sweet thorn encroachment, which may be a far better solution than Boer Goat browsing or fire control.