A fireproof house – made of straw
This unique design, using hay bales with fire-retardant cladding, can withstand the heat of the fiercest bushfire.
Fox vs jackal: always in balance
Cape fox and bat-eared fox numbers are strongly influenced by fluctuations in the population of black-backed jackal, according
to research conducted near Kimberley by Dr Jan Kamler of Oxford University. This conclusion holds implications for conservation of the two species, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Breeding crop varieties to order
A conventional, non-GM breeding programme by the University of KwaZulu-Natal is developing high-yielding, virus-resistant crop varieties specifically for African small-scale farmers.
Weeding out the problem
Precision camera technology offers automated weed control – and an intelligent means to tell the good guys from the bad. Robyn Joubert reports.
Phytases: unlocking the benefits of phosphorus
Phosphorus is a vital nutrient in livestock production, but what is the best source? Multi-national animal nutrition company DSM provided answers at EuroTier 2012 in Hanover, Germany.
Electricity savings: the power is in your hands
Increasing energy costs have cut into many a farmer’s profitability. With more increases from Eskom on the cards, producers need an action plan to cut usage wherever possible. Koos Bouwer, an industrial engineering consultant, gives practical advice on reducing a farm’s electricity bill. Lindi van Rooyen reports.
Chemicals: the best weapon against slangbos
Prof Hennie Snyman warns that slangbos (also known as bankrupt bush, bankrotbos or vaalbos) is steadily eroding farm values. So the expense of chemical control is well worth it. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Organic & ordinary milk: ‘the same benefits’
US researchers have found that there are no significant differences between organic and conventional milk. Alan Harman reports.
Masses of manure – the answer to rehabilitating old mine sites?
US experiments demonstrate that the carbon in compost kick-starts the natural organic cycle.
Consumers sensitive to high price of Karoo lamb
Karoo lamb is a sought after product but consumers think twice before paying more for it, according to a survey by researcher Henriëtta du Plessis.
Protein for poultry, and it’s free grub too
Midlands poultry producer Chris Slater is using plump, live fly grubs to replace expensive poultry feed. His story, which first appeared in Farmers Weekly on 19 October, generated such positive reader response that Robyn Joubert revisited the Slaters to find out more.
Compensatory growth in Dorper lambs
Researchers from the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute studied the effect of the early growth environment on the development of Dorper lambs.
