Technology

Growing awareness of the interconnectedness between water, energy and food security is resulting in a more holistic way of measuring sustainability, says Dr Nadine Methner from the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town.

Every year, the Royal Show features exhibitors and agricultural equipment quite different from those at Nampo. The Royal Show is also a showcase for smaller and local manufacturers.

Five of the most common questions around gumboots and selecting the perfect pair for the job.

Denene Erasmus, who attended the Agrishow Brazil in May, reports on some of the highlights of the show’s machinery exhibition, which attracts manufacturers from around the globe.

Drone technology, combined with satellite images and soil samples, provides macadamia farmers with more precise orchard health data than ever before. Gerhard Uys spoke to Martin Taljaard and Jaco Prinsloo about how they’re helping producers cut input costs and increase profits.

Implements in this category continue to grow larger and wider, and a considerable number demonstrated this trend at Nampo Harvest Day this year.

The powerful, versatile and fuel-efficient S374 tractor was the centre of attention at Valtrac’s Nampo stand.

Groundwater resource conservation should be the most important aspect of any irrigation farming concern in South Africa, say geohydrology consultant JL van Vuuren and drilling contractor Marnus Nel. A lack of proper management of these resources poses a serious threat to the future of the irrigation industry.

An electric car is environmentally expensive to manufacture, and its ‘fuel’ is only as clean as the nearest power station.

Turnerland Manufacturing has developed equipment that allows onion growers to harvest their crops directly from the land with minimum labour.

The Hippo hammer mill was launched at the 1928 Pietermaritzburg Royal Show. Joe Spencer takes a closer look at the company.

Smart technology is a hot topic these days – and notably so in agriculture, where there are many uses, from drones and remote water monitoring, to soil analysis, animal tracking, irrigation control and more.

Four Amazone machines received the world-renowned Design Label at this year’s iF Design Awards.

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.

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.

Northmec is conducting a series of demonstrations of the latest addition to the Case IH Patriot self-propelled sprayer range.

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.

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.

The latest seed drill from the Clean Seed Capital Group in British Columbia, Canada, takes seeding technology to new heights.

Yanmar has joined Case and other companies by introducing an autonomous tractor. So, is the day of the autonomous electric tractor drawing near?