Farming for Tomorrow

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.

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.