Field Crops

Herbicide-resistant weeds are becoming an increasing threat to South African crop production, with some of the most troublesome species surviving more than one herbicide group. Understanding where resistance is emerging, recognising the warning signs and preventing weeds from setting seed are essential to keeping the problem under control. Lindi Botha reports.

Herbicides have become central to weed control in conservation farming, but resistance is forcing producers to rethink how much of the burden chemistry should carry.

Providing food for a growing population on limited arable land is no longer the only challenge farmers are facing. Farmers are increasingly facing adverse weather conditions making sustainable food production even more challenging.

Topics across the extensive subject of conservation and regenerative agriculture were addressed during two days of intense workshops, field demonstrations, and collaborative learning at the recent Conservation Agriculture Research Forum meeting in Potchefstroom.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are becoming a serious challenge for farmers and the agriculture sector globally. Magda du Toit asked industry experts how farmers can manage this problem.

Theunis Meiring, area sales manager at Syngenta, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the importance of early weed control in summer crops. Meiring explains why the period before and immediately after crop emergence is critical for protecting yield potential, and discusses application timing, herbicide resistance, seedbed preparation, and integrated weed-management strategies.

As South African grain farmers contend with increasingly variable production conditions, locally tested genetics are becoming ever more important. Driaan Bresler of Corteva Agriscience, shares his knowledge about developing and testing technologies to help farmers maintain yields and build resilience under shifting field conditions.

The South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) welcomed various role players in the South African seed industry at the Annual Stakeholder Engagement Meeting (ASEM) in Pretoria. Farmer’s Weekly attended the session filled with conversations and expert insights focused on shaping the future of the seed sector and research investment.

A field may look uniform, but the soil beneath it rarely is. Soil texture, nutrient status, water-holding capacity, and yield potential can vary from one zone to another. When every hectare is treated the same, some zones may not receive enough support, while others may receive more input than they need.

From crops that can better withstand extreme weather to varieties that stay fresher for longer or require fewer inputs, plant breeding is undergoing a technological revolution. Advanced sensors, big data, and precision gene editing are giving breeders powerful new tools to develop the next generation of crops.

At an average of 2,5t/ha, South Africa’s soya bean yields lag behind those of major producers like the US, at 4t/ha, and Brazil, at 3,2t/ha, partly due to limited access to genetics. But record yields in this year’s Grain SA Grow for Gold National Yield Competition suggest significant room for further gains.

Developing a new crop protection product typically takes more than a decade, by which time the target pest or disease may have evolved. Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping researchers identify promising compounds faster, optimise them, and focus field testing where it matters, shortening the journey from laboratory to farm.

Koos Blanckenberg told Octavia Avesca Spandiel that canola has become essential in improving soil health, controlling ryegrass and strengthening crop rotation systems as grain producers navigate rising costs and climate uncertainty.

Every successful crop starts long before the seed goes into the ground. It begins with the soil: its composition, its limitations, its water-holding capacity, and the dynamics beneath the surface.

Sclerotinia white mold replenishes the soil with resilient sclerotia that survive for over a decade. Applying the biofungicide LALSTOP Contans WG directly destroys these structures, safeguarding future susceptible crops.

The development and evaluation of new potato cultivars are helping local producers meet changing consumer and processing demands while improving yield, adaptability, disease resistance, and long-term production.

Post-harvest handling remains a key challenge in South Africa’s cannabis sector, with expert Natie Ferreira warning that poor drying, storage and consistency issues drive losses.

The Zunckel name is synonymous with no-till farming in South Africa. Egon Zunckel, a pioneer in the field and a passionate advocate for soil health, shared with Lindi Botha the lessons he has learnt over the years about building resilient soils and sustainable farming systems.

The Camerons from Lobería in Argentina not only farm crops but have also reinvested in their land through regenerative production practices. They have a strong commitment to diversification and innovation, a testament to the transformation that is taking place in agriculture in Argentina.

Roean Wessels, Syngenta’s head of research and development for field crop seeds in sub-Saharan Africa, attended a pre-conference workshop on nitrogen-use efficiency at the 4th International Wheat Congress in Bologna, Italy, and he shared key takeaways with Farmer’s Weekly.