Farming for Tomorrow

Keep up to date with the latest farming technology and precision farming updates from South Africa and the rest of Africa.

New insecticides from sea anemone toxins?

The venom from Anthopleura may soon be used to develop environmentally friendly pest control and new medicines.

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....

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,...

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...

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...
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