Technology

Distributors and their dealers demonstrated machines from the ever-increasing range of conservation agriculture implements at the KZN No-Till Club's 2010 annual conference near Bergville. Peter Hittersay reports on some new products.

Achieving good colouration in table grapes is an important marketing tool, but very warm temperatures in some of South Africa's table-grape-growing regions hamper this. Research presented at the International Table Grape Symposium suggested a new growth regulator can encourage stronger berry colour in table grapes. Denene Erasmus reports.

While mohair purists advocate only pure white fibres, Roelof Bezuidenhout discovers a rare black specimen of fine quality.

Effectively controlling Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in cattle herds takes an integrated farm biosecurity system. This includes keeping farm fences in good condition and limiting the movement of unauthorised people and cattle on and off the farm. But a pillar of any system should be a comprehensive vaccination programme.

An unusual sight at recent agricultural events in the UK was a John Deere 6630 tractor decked out in police livery, complete with the obligatory blue light.

Scientists have called for radical transformation of the agricultural sector to cope with climate change and food security, writes Alan Harman.

Arguments about CLIMATE change have been dominated by the role greenhouse gas emissions play, but the old sunspot theory is regaining lost ground. Will Alexander, a retired professor from the Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, insists there's a link between solar activity, climate and drought.

Storing household cleaning agents incorrectly can cause defects in ammunition, reports Roelof Bezuidenhout.
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Despite looking almost identical, a large population of sable antelope found in western Zambia do not, to the dismay of conservationists, belong to the same subspecies as the critically endangered giant sable of central Angola, genetic research at Stellenbosch University revealed. Denene Erasmus reports.

Transporting 1kg tomatoes in a 40t rig from ZZ2 in Polokwane to the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market probably has a smaller carbon footprint than a housewife driving in an SUV to buy the same from her local supermarket. New developments in Barloworld trailer designs will certainly widen the gap. Joe Spencer reports.

It may seem like Bell Equipment is going retro with its new Bell Series III Haulage Tractors, but the company is simply providing for the operating needs of their customers at the lowest cost per ton hauled, reports Joe Spencer.

To apply herbicides and combat weeds efficiently, crop farmers must select, maintain and manage their sprayers and nozzles with care. Grant Orsmond of TeeJet Technologies spoke to Lloyd Phillips on how to get the most out of your spraying equipment.

Concerns over long-term use of chemical pest control has popularised biopesticides. But none targeted ticks, until now, writes Alan Harman.

As frogs are reliable bio-indicators of the health of an environment or ecosystem, farmers should be worried about a decline in frog populations on their farms. Lindi van Rooyen investigates.

Manitou Southern Africa, in conjunction with French parent company Manitou, recently hosted a group of South African olive farmers in Spain.

South Africans are used to seeing giraffe in parks and reserves, but the reality is this mega-fauna is under threat. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

In South Africa, about 42% of agricultural land suffers zinc deficiencies, lowering crop yields, writes Lindi van Rooyen.

Cover crops can improve soil and crop health, says Agricol's KZN sales manager and agronomist Dustin Beckerling, who gives Lloyd Phillips some pointers on selecting appropriate cover crops.

Dairy farmers wanting to increase the number of calves and the percentage of heifers born on their farms should consider in-vitro fertilisation as opposed to artificial insemination, reports Alan Harman.

The US agriculture department now also feeds impoverished school children during the holidays. Roelof Bezuidenhout discusses what South Africa is doing for its 14 million hungry citizens.