Technology

Farmers can use the Solvita test’s rapid testing technology to analyse biological soil health on their farms to determine whether their land can adequately support sustainable and profitable production. Wilma den Hartigh finds out how the technology works and why biological soil health should be a greater priority.

Massey Ferguson staged the most impressive display of its products in Africa for years at the recent ‘Vision of the Future’ mechanisation event at the AGCO Future Farm in Lusaka. This was the first appearance of the MF 5700 tractor series on the continent.

Pecan production mechanisation has seen steady improvement in efficiency. Joe Spencer examines some of the latest equipment on offer locally.

Greenhouse farming can become expensive if improvements are not made continually to achieve greater production efficiency. Hydroponic consultant, Herbert Stolker, highlights three strategies to accomplish this.

Joe Spencer takes a closer look at this international company’s latest tillage and seeding solutions.

Greenhouse crop farmers are increasingly making use of retractable roof technology to create optimal growing conditions, and to reduce exposure to extreme climates.

A wine grape grower has found that smaller tractors can perform most of the tasks normally carried out by much larger machines.

The JMC Landwind SUV spearheads the Chinese invasion of this SA car market sector. Chris Nel gives his impressions after driving it for a week.

The final production model of what is claimed to be the world’s first driverless tractor was launched at Agritechnica.

[Examining the global opinions] A research group led by Dr Heidi Hawkins, research director at Conservation South Africa, conducted a study into the differing views on holistic planned grazing across the globe.

The use of quality packaging safeguards the time and effort a grower has put into producing top quality fruit. Dawid Groenewald of Citrus Research International (CRI) spoke about the latest packaging developments and trends at a recent CRI workshop in Stellenbosch.

Better ride quality, performance and build are just some of the features that make this the most significant new Hilux in decades, says Gavin Foster.

As part of our 105th anniversary issue, Joe Spencer takes us back to when men were men, and tractors were temperamental beasts.

Two-a-Day’s Dr Mias Pretorius and Daan Brink described to Glenneis Kriel how picking platforms are improving the company’s production.

The seed company recently invested R11 million in new Monosem planting technology.

Joe Spencer continues his overview of what’s new from Valtra and Pöttinger.

More than 100 products were presented at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture. Denene Erasmus looks at some of the inventions that can improve efficiency on smaller farms.

Valtra’s new tractors and Pöttinger’s latest implements could benefit SA farmers. Examples were on show at Agritechnica.

According to a global study, smallholder farmers who attract more wild bees and other pollinators to their land could harvest up to 24% more crops. In contrast, commercial farmers remain reliant on managed beehives. Ecological entomologist Dr Ruan Veldtman of the SA National Biodiversity Institute and Stellenbosch University contributed to the research.

Joe Spencer takes a closer look at New Holland’s award-winning T7.315 tractor as well as improvements in other models.