Technology

Casper and Estie Badenhorst recently visited the EIMA Exposition in Bologna Italy. The visit was part of a sponsored study tour to Italy, which was the prize Casper won for achieving the Farmer of the Year award.
Issue date:23 March 2007

The new Challenger four-wheel-drive articulated tractors made their European debut at this year's Sima show in Paris in March. The four tractors in the MT900B series range from 320kW to 425kW (459kW with power reserve) and are currently leaders in the power competition at the top end of the agricultural tractor market.
Issue Date 16 March 2007

Since its introduction in 2005, the success of the Falcon side discharge mulcher, and the keen interest and assistance of users has led to some major improvements in the versatility and performance of this unique implement.
Issue Date: 9 March 2007

Following on the award received for best overall professional equipment at the Four Oaks Agricultural Trade Show in Macclesfield in the UK in 2006, the German company Mantis® ULV-Spreuhgeraete GmbH's Mankar® weed control systems elicited great interest at the Bien Donné Expo at Paarl in the Western Cape in November last year. Issue Date 23 February 2007

The largest - and what some say, the smartest - three-row tomato harvester has made its debut on the agricultural scene. Joe Spencer describes this impressive implement with its nine pumps that run 38 hydraulic motors to operate various functions. Issue date: 23 February 2007

Cyrus McCormick's invention of the first successful mechanical reaper in 1831 revolutionised harvesting productivity. Issue Date:16 February 2007

With the WaterMaker and a power source, hospital-quality water can be produced from atmospheric moisture, writes Robyn Joubert. With solar energy, it can be available in the middle of the desert, and is currently being used by US troops in Iraq.

Disputes and farming are synonymous, be it about boundaries, water rights, servitudes or, lately, land claims. Selective memories and emotions often distort facts, specifically where written records are absent. One solution is the comparison of aerial photographs taken at various periods. These photographs, when analysed by an expert, do not lie and provide neutral information. Chris Louw spoke to forensic imagery interpreter Adie Gerber about the use of aerial photography in dispute resolution.

It is said that you cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but good presentation will take you halfway there! Customers don't taste the carrots before buying them and rely on what they see to make the decision. Producers recognise their products' good quality and think this is enough. Not so! It has to be seen to be good quality and this is done through careful packing and packaging.

PML Coetzee, who designed and manufactured the first mobile harvester and ground nut sheller in South Africa, founded the South African company Staalmeester in 1951. The firm went on to make a number of machines especially suited to local conditions; some of these were exported and found to be equally suitable for operation in many parts of the world.

Tunnel technology improves

Fidelis Zvomuya speaks to Grain SA Emerging Grain Producer of the Year finalist Elias ­Pangane and finds out about his bean production practices that contribute to yields of approximately five tons per hectare.