Technology

Farmers can help in a research project on kudu populations in the Eastern Cape.

Here’s a chance to help farmers and policymakers address the problem of livestock predation, say Graham Kerley and Craig Tambling of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology.

In a study by researcher Dr Paul Williams, chemical imaging has been shown to be a fast, effective means of detecting fungus-infected maize.

In a breakthrough, New Zealand researchers have identified a gene that will allow them to breed out small-calf syndrome, which mainly affects Holstein-Friesian crossbreeds.

This year’s Nampo featured a plethora of planters for all levels of farming. Joe Spencer reports.

Every year, Nampo sees the prices of agricultural equipment climbing steeply, which makes South African-manufactured products that much more attractive. Joe Spencer reports.

Producers who feed pigs with saturated fats to undo the fat-softening effect of a diet that includes distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are wasting their time and money, according to new research.

The use of treated mosquito nets in cow sheds has more than doubled the milk yields of small-scale farmers in Kenya. Robyn Joubert reports.

Researchers in Argentina believe they have found the ideal stocking rate for an ecological feedlot system, which allows for optimal land use. In winter, the land is used as a feedlot and in summer for crop cultivation.

Forage harvesters, fertiliser wagons and a proven design that’s making a comeback. Joe Spencer reports.

Land Rover’s Freelander 2 combines everything you need to be able to travel South Africa’s highways and byways in comfort and safety. And there’s plenty of power and driving performance in the package too. Lloyd Phillips was in the driving seat.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, this year’s Boerepatente competition introduced a change in its rules to encourage entries from young farmers.

If the 2,4l petrol model is anything to go by, Mitsubishi’s new 4x2 Triton Single Cab bakkies have the potential to make a name for themselves as highly efficient workhorses. Lloyd Phillips took it for a test drive.

Swopping model trains and tractors for the real thing so entranced Wilfred Mole that he has dedicated himself to preserving Southern Africa’s transportation heritage. And the 1 000 visitors to the annual Stars of Sandstone Steam Heritage Festival in Ficksburg could not be more pleased. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

It’s not too late to restore damaged palmiet wetlands, says Alanna Rebelo of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Conservation and Entomology. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to her about the value of these remarkable wetlands.

Ionised gases are being used to kill food pathogens on packaged food. This method could bypass current heat treatment and chemical sanitising methods.

Plants of the brassica family can act as natural biofumigants when chopped up and worked into the soil, says plant pathologist Dr Reinette Gouws of the Agriculture Research Council.

The Royal Show, SA’s oldest and largest mixed exhibition, took place in Pietermaritzburg from 24 May to 2 June. Joe Spencer describes some of the vehicles that Bell Equipment had displayed.

Precision agriculture (PA) allows farmers to operate more efficiently and become better decision-makers. Australian Tim Neale and Sharon Clay from the US took part in a PA conference in Potchefstroom. Annelie Coleman compiled this report.

The new Challenger RoGator RG1100 high-clearance self-propelled sprayer offers more power and boom-to-boom benefits to cut fuel consumption, emissions, maintenance and operator fatigue.