Farming for Tomorrow

With 40% to 60% of all household energy-use spent on water heating, conventional geysers are unaffordable for many South Africans.

A website and visualised data make up the Virtual Irrigation Academy, which teaches farmers to develop effective irrigation infrastructure through soil monitoring. Siyanda Sishuba reports.

Reducing spray drift while ensuring effective leaf coverage is a challenge for crop farmers.

Biological pest control could speed up the farm-to-fork process and save the macadamia industry millions of rands, according to the initial results of an ongoing research project. The researchers have found that bats and birds can keep the crop’s most significant pests, stinkbugs, under control.

The latest herd management apps and associated technology can make a livestock farmer’s life considerably easier. Amongst other features, these digital marvels monitor cow health, reduce paperwork, provide accurate record-keeping, and even warn when a cow is about to calf. All this means more than just greater convenience; it ensures improved productivity and cow health.

At the 2017 SA Avocado Growers’ Association research symposium, University of Pretoria researcher, Mart-Mari Nieuwenhuizen, presented new findings on the best pollinisers for Hass avocados. She also explored the effectiveness of bees as pollinators. Alita van der Walt reports.

Prof Gert Venter explains the benefits and disadvantages of semi-hydroponic structures.

While hydroponic farming has been around since the Middle Ages, many developments over the years have made it far more efficient and affordable. Prof Gert Venter explains.

The most important variable affecting plant growth is light exposure, and it is therefore important to measure the amount of light your plants receive. Prof Gert Venter explains how this is done.

Prof Gert Venter discusses an affordable, easy-to-implement measure to protect a crop from extreme weather. No fuel or electricity is used, resulting in considerable cost savings.

Seawater greenhouses may be the answer to the world’s water scarcity problem, says Prof Gert Venter.

About 70% of the earth is covered with surface water, but 97% of this is seawater. With only 3% consisting of freshwater, and less than 1% available to living organisms, hydroponic production can play an important role in reducing agricultural water usage, says Prof Gert Venter.

The spate of applications to explore large areas of South Africa for natural resources to mine is of increasing concern to the agricultural sector. Agri SA executive director, Omri van Zyl, and TAU SA general manager, Bennie van Zyl, share their farmers unions’ views on the subject with Lloyd Phillips.

The saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is certainly applicable to intensive farming systems such as hydroponics and aeroponics. Planning should encompass climate control, handling, processing, value-adding and marketing your products, writes Prof Gert Venter.

In this instalment of our series on alternative crop production methods, international hydroponics consultant, Prof Gert Venter, outlines the various elements that plants need for optimal growth.

In the second instalment of our series on alternative crop production methods, international hydroponics consultant, Prof Gert Venter, highlights common mistakes made by farmers.

Crop farmers often unknowingly lump all insects into the ‘destructive’ category. However, according to Dr Annemie Erasmus of the Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute, many are beneficial to crop farmers.

In the first of a series on alternative crop production methods, international hydroponics consultant, Prof Gert Venter, explores hydroponics as a viable solution to global food security challenges, including water and energy constraints and a shortage of available agricultural land.

An ultrasound cleaning technology for drip irrigation systems, produced by SA inventor Leon Lingnau and marketed as Greendrum, was proven to be highly effective during recent trials by the Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ARC-IAE). Felix Reinders, programme manager at the ARC-IAE, spoke to Gerhard Uys.

Eco-Lyte is an environmentally-friendly disinfectant that eliminates pathogens. Gerhard Uys spoke to Rowan McDonald, chief technical officer at ECA Technologies Africa, about the new technology.