Technology

The Pietermaritzburg Royal Show has a policy of introducing a number of new exhibitors every year. This year, Finnish machinery manufacturer, Avant, makes its debut.

Reapers Agriculture introduced a remarkable low-profile self-propelled sprayer at the Royal Show recently.

The Pérard ‘chaff harvester’ brings a new solution to a growing problem.

The lack of meaningful statistics on agriculture-related accidents suggests that attitudes towards farm safety are quite slack.

Sparex, the international wholesaler of spare parts for tractors and agricultural machinery, is celebrating 50 years of successful business, writes Joe Spencer.

The Ford 4x4 one-tonner is even more capable than the XL, says Jake Venter.

Mitas, known in South Africa for its Continental brand tyres, continues to develop the PneuTrac concept, writes Joe Spencer.

High performance and efficiency were clearly the emphasis when Case IH unveiled its new products at the recent SIMA Show in Paris.

Two MF dealers and two local manufacturers used the occasion of the ploughing competition at Weston Agricultural College to demonstrate tractors and implements.

Key factors determine the application, irrigation efficiency and economics of cost-effective sprinkler systems, whether hand-movable, solid set or centre pivot.

The KwaZulu-Natal regional heat of the SA National Ploughing Championships was held at Weston Agricultural College recently.

A dairy cow management system that allows cows to exercise 'free choice' about eating, resting and milking has showed positive results in the Netherlands.

Milk and animal production has an environmental impact – regardless. But intensifying the process can reduce this impact. Research in the Netherlands is showing the way.

One way to improve production is to increase working speed. But this sacrifices accuracy. John Deere’s high-speed precision seed drill is breaking this ironclad law.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture is financing technology that enables fruit growers to measure water-use efficiency and plant growth. This could potentially save farmers thousands of rands.

Acacia karroo is a potential source of cheap protein for goats during the dry season, says researcher assistant David Brown.

Stellenbosch student Lobke Steyn won an award for the best MSc dissertation in Animal Science in 2014. Farmer’s Weekly presents an overview of Steyn’s paper, which examined the potential of feeding non-forage fibre supplements to milking cows in winter.

OAD milking is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, but can it work in SA?

An alternative waste handling solution being piloted in Secunda aims to convert potentially harmful biosludge into an environmentally-friendly compost.

Local, regional and national government, the World Wide Fund for Nature and Nedbank’s Green Trust are partnering with farmers in a project aimed at restoring water balance in the Umgeni catchment of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and other catchments countrywide. The aim is to insure water for the future.