Technology

Farmers are continually required to do more with less: in other words, improve yield without boosting inputs. Optimising orchard health is therefore crucial, and it starts with the correct diagnosis. This is where drone technology is showing increasing promise, as it reveals what is invisible to the naked (and earthbound) eye.

Buying a generator might seem like a daunting and expensive undertaking, but given South Africa’s unpredictable electricity supply, they are becoming increasingly valuable tools for homes and businesses. Here, Husqvarna provides some tips for choosing the right generator for your needs.

Hentie Breedt, marketing and communications manager for John Deere Africa and the Middle East, writes about the exciting John Deere products and machinery that will be on display at Nampo 2022.

A range of problems, including weak commodity prices many years before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, has contributed to the worldwide dearth of new tractors on the market. As a result, some farmers have had little choice but to turn to second-hand machines for their operations.

Thanks to Milesight’s Internet of Things solutions, introduced to the country via MiRO, South African farmers stand a better chance of overcoming challenges arising from climate change.

Investment in smart-irrigation companies has been on the increase over the past few years, and this trend shows no signs of abating. Janine Ryan and Glenneis Kriel look at some of the companies in the industry, both local and international, that are likely to make headlines in the near future.

The fouling of fresh water supplies with pollutants emanating from primary agriculture has become a serious issue in South Africa. In this article, the Agricultural Research Council discusses the origins and impact of so-called contaminants of emerging concern.

Two of the 16 silver medals awarded at Agritechnica 2022 went to Continental’s Agro ContiSeal and Krone’s ExactUnload, which make transport in the field safer and easier to manage.

John Deere Financial’ s agricultural asset finance packages are created with each farmer’s unique situation and cash flow requirements in mind. This frees up producers to get on with their core business of farming.

With interest in the production of orchard crops on the rise, Massey Ferguson has launched the MF 3300 narrow-width tractor series in SA.

Given the advanced technological capabilities of agricultural equipment designed and produced overseas, South African farmers might be tempted to import their implements. However, with locally manufactured machinery and tools come a host of benefits, says Grethe Bestbier of Agrico.

The beneficial role of insects in agriculture should not be underestimated, and this is equally true of dung beetles. As these fascinating recycling experts go about their daily business of breaking up and distributing dung in nature, they also offer a variety of benefits to the agriculture sector.

The Fendt 200 VFPS Vario specialist tractor series recently launched in South Africa offers a wide range of configurations that allow farmers to tailor a tractor to suit their specific needs.

In 1984, when Charl van der Merwe purchased Brakfontein in the Northern Cape for sheep production, he could never have guessed that his farm would one day become a key element in the creation of a 240 000ha interprovincial protected area. Wouter Kriel spoke to two people involved in this far-reaching development.

Jenna Robinson, Go to Market Manager for Husqvarna, looks at seven reasons why battery-powered machinery is making waves in the farming industry.

John Deere offers fruit farmers tractors with improved power and reduced fuel consumption in the aim to help growers increase their profitability.

The UK-based agriculture solutions company, JF Hudson, has designed a first for the dairy industry: an attachment that can help to greatly reduce feed wastage in dairy sheds and save farmers money.

A new report has identified the five most likely reasons for tractor breakdowns, and also suggests ways to keep farming machinery in prime condition.

Agrico’s new website makes it easier for customers to get into connect with Agrico’s experts. A colourful journey through irrigation projects in Africa, an interactive experience with Agrico centre pivots and multimedia encounters with robust implements, are just a few of the features that customers can enjoy on Agrico's brand-new website.

South Africa looks to be heading for another large-scale brown locust outbreak this season, according to Dr Gerhard Vedoorn of CropLife South Africa and Dr Roger Price of the Agricultural Research Council. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the most effective means of combating these swarms.