Termites and grazers: a complex, subtle relationship
After a number of farmers near Middelburg in the Eastern Cape expressed concern about increasing termite activity, James Hagan, an MSc student in ecology, conducted a study on the effects of livestock grazing on termites.
100 years of John Deere tractors
One of the greatest success stories in the agricultural machinery industry started a century ago with the launch of the Waterloo Boy tractor in the US Midwest.
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Case IH introduces a new Patriot sprayer
Northmec is conducting a series of demonstrations of the latest addition to the Case IH Patriot self-propelled sprayer range.
The need for variable valve timing
Air has inertia, which creates breathing problems in an engine with traditional fixed valve timing. Many of today’s engines employ variable valve timing to solve this difficulty, explains Jake Venter.
Do you know how healthy your ‘soil skin’ is?
The crucial link between soil health and optimal, sustainable crop yield is well established. Dr Neil Miles, a soil scientist with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute, explores this subject, focusing in particular on the upper surface of the soil.
Smart seeding from Clean Seed
The latest seed drill from the Clean Seed Capital Group in British Columbia, Canada, takes seeding technology to new heights.
The autonomous electric tractor, Yanmar
Yanmar has joined Case and other companies by introducing an autonomous tractor. So, is the day of the autonomous electric tractor drawing near?
Top innovators at LAMMA 2018
There were more than 80 entries for the ‘Awards for Innovation’ at the annual LAMMA Show in the UK in January. Joe Spencer takes a look at the winners.
A spread of innovations from Amazone
Two new ideas from Amazone have attracted much attention. One is the precise operation of two spreaders on one tractor, the other is a machine that compensates for crosswinds when spreading fertiliser.
Shaydan inclinometer: safety on the slopes
A tractor-mounted slope alarm that improves operator safety and prevents expensive accidents is now available.
Smart Farming in South Africa
A South African farmer was amongst a number of producers selected by the German Agricultural Society to highlight the success that smart farming can achieve.
Harvesting the ‘Hands-free Hectare’
The ground-breaking Hands-free Hectare project, which sought to grow a crop using only autonomous vehicles, has come to an end with a successful harvest.
Pöttinger Multiline: The new all-rounder
The Pöttinger Multiline concept is a combination of either a compact disc harrow or a stubble cultivator, and a seed drill.
Correct feeding can slash dairy cows’ methane emissions by 30%
Josef van Wyngaard, a doctoral student at the University of Pretoria, has found that South African dairy cattle emit less methane than initially thought, and there is room for significant reductions through strategic feeding.
Massey Ferguson opens new branch in KZN
Farmers were recently invited to view a range of Massey Ferguson and Radium equipment over three days at the Swartberg Polo Club near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal.
French innovation aims to reduce water usage in farming
A new product developed in France has been specifically formulated to support plant growth and development under dry conditions. Marketed in South Africa as Polyter, the innovation has shown promising results in local trials.
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Wuhlf’s Skerpioen: stinging its competitors
Wuhlf Equipment recently launched the first articulated tractor-loader-backhoe made in SA. With useful features and at a reasonable price, the Skerpioen offers excellent value, says Joe Spencer.
Technology to turn you into a truly smart farmer
Production data is invaluable for enhancing farm management and improving profitability. However, collecting and analysing this information efficiently can be daunting. Western Cape farmer Wolfgang von Loeper explains why this need not be the case.
Vermeer ZR5 self-propelled round baler
Vermeer, the inventor of the big round baler in 1971, has announced its latest innovation: a self-propelled, big round baler.
Waste management: How Spier Estate turns trash into cash
Worldwide, waste generation is fast overtaking landfill availability. Heidi Newton-King, sustainability and human resources director at Spier Wine Estate, recently shared how the estate has succeeded in reducing its proportion of landfill waste to total recycled waste to less than 2%.
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